|
Depression is not something which you can just snap out of, and it isn't
something which can just go away or that you can alter if you put your
mind to it. It is more serious than just having an off day or feeling
blue for a day or two, it is a serious medical condition and those who
suffer need help. A depressive disorder is an illness which affects the
body, mood and thoughts, and can begin to totally take over the sufferer's
life.
Symptoms of depression can last for weeks, months or even years and can
make the sufferers life a misery. However with the proper care and medication
the person can be helped to break the bond of depression and enable them
to live a normal life again.
The different types of depression
Depression comes in many different forms and the severity of the depression
can differ from person to person, there are three main types of depression
and these are, major depression, dysthymia and bipolar depression, which
is a manic-depressive illness.
People suffering from any type of depression will be faced with a variety
of symptoms, with some people showing more symptoms than others suffering
from the same type of depression. Symptoms associated with all types of
depression are:
* A persistent feeling of sadness
* A feeling of hopelessness or pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
* A loss of interest in things they once enjoyed
* A decrease in energy levels, fatigue and a general feeling of lethargy
* Difficulty in concentrating or remembering
* Problems with sleep such as insomnia, waking early or oversleeping
* A loss of appetite, losing weight or over eating and gaining weight
* Thoughts of death and even being suicidal
* Feeling very irritable and restless
* Headaches, problems with digestion, chronic pain or any symptoms which
don't respond to treatment
The causes of depression
Certain types of depression can run in the family such as bipolar disorder
and major depression, with the illness going from generation to generation.
However depression also occurs in families who have no previous history
of depression and major depression has also been associated with changes
to the brains structure or function. People who are prone to stress and
anxiety attacks are also more prone to developing the condition and those
who have low self-esteem or who are generally pessimistic are also thought
to more at risk of developing it.
Treatment for depression
Several different types of medication are used in the treatment of depression
with anti-depressants being the more popular in treating patients, very
often several medications will have to be tried before a suitable one
is found and most anti-depressants usually take around eight weeks before
the full effects can be felt.
It is important that you give the medication time to work and also not
to stop taking medication when you start to feel better. Many of the medications
used in the treatment of depression are used in the long term and it is
advisable that the medication be taken for a period of not less than 12
months to avoid reoccurring attacks of depression.
|
 
|
