Types of Depression

Depression is experienced by millions of people as they go through daily living. This type of mood disorder bring feelings of hopelessness, sadnes...

 

Depression is experienced by millions of people as they go through daily living. This type of mood disorder bring feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and can even lead to suicidal tendencies when unchecked. Sadly, most people experiencing depression dismiss most of its symptoms and consider the feelings as “blues” or “downtime”. Later, episodes of depression slowly impairs normal function such as working, eating, sleeping and maintaining interpersonal relationships. A depressed person may become withdrawn, lose interest in one’s hobbies and stop socially interacting even with loved ones. Indeed, recurring bouts of depression should immediately be arrested lest it impairs healthy living. It is not easy to overcome depression since it is not just a feeling but a serious type of disorder that needs therapy and/or medication from a mental health professional. Usually, a psychiatrist prescribes anti-depressants that can correct the chemical imbalance that produces depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, it is a must for people with depression to undergo psychoanalytic sessions in order to detect the underlying causes of the disorder. The good news is that there are many available medicines that can be safely used by affected people so they can resume their normal lifestyle. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that the different types of depression that can affect a person, namely:

Major Depressive Disorder

When this is experienced by an individual, the person’s normal lifestyle is drastically affected since even his sleeping or eating habits have changed. More so, the person completely lost interest in activities that were once interesting such as hobbies. This type can recurrent and emotionally debilitating that is why medical attention should be sought once symptoms are detected.

Postpartum Depression

After giving birth, there is a sudden shift in hormonal balance in women thus depression sets in from a period of one to six months.

Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms of this depression includes sudden emotional highs or lows which seems like a roller coaster ride. This sudden change in mood can lead to reckless behavior ( such as deviant sexual behavior) that can be destructive. This can be corrected by psychotherapy and drug treatment.

Seasonal Affective Disorder
Commonly known as SAD, people experience lethargy and sadness when subject to gloomy weather such as winter and even overcast days.

Substance induced mood disorder
As the name implies, some medications can also induce depression especially when abused. Other toxins such as alcohol can influenced moods and produce depression.

Severe Depression Symptoms

 

Millions of people get depressed everyday due to the stressful modern lifestyle. Some people are more predisposed to depression due to heredity or hormones. Hormonal imbalance affects not only bodily system including mental disposition as well. Normally, women who just gave birth experience post-partum depression as a result of the sudden drop in hormones. After a few months, the mother can adjust to her new baby and resume a normal lifestyle. Adults who also experienced early trauma during childhood days experience depression at a higher rate .Sudden changes in life events can trigger also depression since people usually resist change. In an economic downturn, people can become seriously depressed as they lose jobs and face high mortgage loans that needs to be paid. In fact, during the Great Depression period, a lot of income earners (usually husbands) committed suicide or abandoned their family as a way of reacting to troubled times. Changes in marital life such as divorce or death of a spouse is a stressful event that individuals who experience such situations find a hard time coping with reality.

Nevertheless, depression can also simply a case of chemical imbalance in the brain due to lack of neurotransmitters such as serotonin or epinephrine. No matter what causes depression, it is important to arrest the case as early as possible especially when the behavior manifested indicate symptoms of severe depression. A major depression is characterized by very low self-esteem, loss of interest in things that used to be pleasurable such as a hobby, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, chronic sadness and mood swings. It is also possible that the person talks about impending death or considering suicide. When these traits manifest, the person is severely depressed. Severe depression is not easy to treat since it is already a mental disorder that should be handled by a health professional. It is possible that the person may also have hallucinations and delusions. Psychiatrists usually prescribe medicines that would stop the hallucinations since the person can commit acts that are not safe such as hurting oneself. Severe depression symptoms include hearing voices inside one’s head and seeing things that do not exist. The person can become irritable or angry at most times although there is no rational explanation. Feelings of inadequacy or guilt are often felt by people who are severely depressed. In such cases, it is best to seek a mental health professional before the person can hurt himself or other people.

Mental Health Depression

 

Among the mental health disorders, depression is one of the most common that affects people from all walks of life regardless of age and gender. The World Health Organization reports that there are no less than 120 million people affected by the disorder which is the leading cause of disability. Higher incidence of depression is predicted to rise due to the stressful lifestyle of modern living. For this reason, depression should be immediately treated once symptoms are present. Medical health professionals such as psychiatrist are equipped with training and education to handle depression ranging from mild cases to severe ones. Common symptoms of depression include change in eating or sleeping habits, lethargy, feelings of low self-esteem, disinterest in hobbies, loss of focus on tasks, and social withdrawal. Some people disregard the symptoms thinking that it is normal to feel blue from time to time; however, unchecked recurrent bouts with depression can become complicated as it develops to a more sever type known as bipolar depressions. There is also a high correlation between depression and suicide since most people who commit suicide are initially depressed. The key to solving mental health depression is effective primary healthcare. As soon as symptoms are detected, an individual can consult a psychiatrist for a complete assessment of the severity and type of depression.

There are many types of depression such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, Post-partum(for women who gave birth), substance induced, bipolar disorder, major depression or even psychotic. Once an accurate type of depression is diagnosed, appropriate treatment can be given. Mental health depression is usually treated by antidepressant medications such as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). These are newer types of medicines that usually correct the chemical imbalance in the brain and thereby improve mood. Increased levels of norepinephrine helps in fighting depression. There are some types of depression ( like bipolar disorder) that are unresponsive to mild medications and are usually treated with Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) . However, MAOIs are not well tolerated by some people since it has side effects. It is also possible to combine medication with psychotherapy to relieve depression. Having a health professional to share one’s thoughts with is comforting and therapeutic. Lastly, depression can also be fought by getting adequate sleep (7-8 hrs. daily) that would relax the mind and body so it can build immunity against other diseases.

Fighting Depression

 

Depression affects millions of people world-wide , in fact, this affliction can be experienced by even young people today due to a stressful lifestyle. When depression sets in, people’s lives are affected since they stop doing their normal routines. There are many factors that contribute to depression such as death of a loved one, sudden changes in one’s life, mood-altering drugs, giving birth, or even seasonal changes. A change in sleeping or eating habits comes along with depression as well as withdrawing from social interaction. Depressed people spend most of their time being alone and prefer not to be talk about their feelings even to their loved ones. Sadly, severe depression when unchecked can lead to suicide as revealed by most studies on this topic. It is important then to fight depression as much as possible so a person can resume a normal and happy lifestyle. There are many ways of fighting depression aside from taking anti-depressants. Although once is advised to consult a mental health professional to avail of medication and other treatment such as psychotherapy.

Nevertheless, one can fight depression by adopting some of these habits that would surely help in enhancing your mood. First suggestion, get a good night’s rest. Sleeping relaxes the body and mind thereby reducing tension. One can get a good night sleep through scented candles or listening to calming music. It is also beneficial to have a 15-20 minute naptime that can refresh one’s energy for the second half of the day. Next to having enough rest is to manage stress. Loud noise can also contribute to stress so listen to music in low volume. Meditation or prayer can help clear anxiety so one could get peaceful sleep. Inner noise such as worry, guilt, fear and other negative thoughts contribute to depression. Fighting depression also means having a more positive mindset. One can try reading inspirational books, or watching good movies that can be encouraging. Exercising regularly can also help fight depression since oxygen is fed into our brain when we exercise.

Running outdoors gives a breath of fresh air and a change of scenery. Also, exposure to sunlight means additional lighting that can beat the blues instead of sulking in a dark room. Along with exercise, drinking enough water and eating healthy food can nourish the body so it can build a stronger immune system to fight disease during depression. Fighting depression is not hard, it is a matter of determination.

Elderly Depression

 

Depression affects millions of healthy people everyday especially the elderly. In fact , elderly depression should be immediately given attention since this disorder can lead to suicide according to studies made by the National Institute of Mental Health. There have been studies made by Conwell and Brent that indicated the correlation of high suicide rates and depression among older adults. Apparently, adults fall into depression more likely than younger people. Contrary to popular belief, depression is not really normal among the elderly especially when these people are accomplished individuals who have enjoyed their family and career when they were much younger. As people grow older, their physical functioning becomes restricted as rheumatism, high blood pressure, diabetes and other disease affect the body. Nevertheless, this should not automatically lead to depression since there are many treatments and therapies available. In fact, doctors should advise the elderly patients to enjoy a normal lifestyle since they are now more free to pursue hobbies since their children are already adults.

When older people start to feel more “down” or “blue“ than normal, it is advisable to seek treatment. Relatives or caregivers of old people should seek consultation with a mental health professional once signs of depression such as social withdrawal, changes in eating/sleeping habits, chronic bouts of sadness and thoughts about death or dying are manifested . Also, depression can aggravate other illness experienced by the elderly or it can delay recovery. Despite all these issues associated with elderly depression, there are many available treatments for depression among this group. One of the options is prescribing anti-depressant medications which can be done by a psychiatrist once assessment has been made on the patient. Due to the sensitive health condition of the elderly, newer medicines that belong to the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are being prescribed by doctors since these can be tolerated well by the elderly. SSRIs can improve the chemical imbalance in the brain thereby enhancing the mood of the patient.

Another recommended treatment for elderly depression is psychotherapy. In this treatment method, the elderly can share their thoughts about death and dying to a psychiatrist who are well-trained to deal with such concerns objectively. The sessions are considered therapeutic since most elderly people also need someone to talk with. More importantly, mental health professionals can combine prescription drugs and psychotherapy to produce better results in combating depression among the elderly.

Diagnose Depression

 

Depression affects millions of healthy people everyday especially the elderly. In fact , elderly depression should be immediately given attention since this disorder can lead to suicide according to studies made by the National Institute of Mental Health. There have been studies made by Conwell and Brent that indicated the correlation of high suicide rates and depression among older adults. Apparently, adults fall into depression more likely than younger people. Contrary to popular belief, depression is not really normal among the elderly especially when these people are accomplished individuals who have enjoyed their family and career when they were much younger. As people grow older, their physical functioning becomes restricted as rheumatism, high blood pressure, diabetes and other disease affect the body. Nevertheless, this should not automatically lead to depression since there are many treatments and therapies available. In fact, doctors should advise the elderly patients to enjoy a normal lifestyle since they are now more free to pursue hobbies since their children are already adults.

When older people start to feel more “down” or “blue“ than normal, it is advisable to seek treatment. Relatives or caregivers of old people should seek consultation with a mental health professional once signs of depression such as social withdrawal, changes in eating/sleeping habits, chronic bouts of sadness and thoughts about death or dying are manifested . Also, depression can aggravate other illness experienced by the elderly or it can delay recovery. Despite all these issues associated with elderly depression, there are many available treatments for depression among this group. One of the options is prescribing anti-depressant medications which can be done by a psychiatrist once assessment has been made on the patient. Due to the sensitive health condition of the elderly, newer medicines that belong to the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are being prescribed by doctors since these can be tolerated well by the elderly. SSRIs can improve the chemical imbalance in the brain thereby enhancing the mood of the patient.

Another recommended treatment for elderly depression is psychotherapy. In this treatment method, the elderly can share their thoughts about death and dying to a psychiatrist who are well-trained to deal with such concerns objectively. The sessions are considered therapeutic since most elderly people also need someone to talk with. More importantly, mental health professionals can combine prescription drugs and psychotherapy to produce better results in combating depression among the elderly.

Depression Treatment

 

Depression is an ailment that does not easily go away as some people perceive. It is not just about emotions or feeling down for a certain time period; in fact, it can even be an underlying symptom of a disorder that must be brought to the attention of a health professional. Millions of people are affected by depression on a yearly basis which results to unproductive performance in the workplace. Aside from lost working hours due to depression, personal relationships can also be affected as the person becomes withdrawn and reclusive. A sudden drop in interest over a hobby, disconnecting from other people or change in sleeping habits should be given attention for these can indicate depression. Fortunately, there are many available depression treatments nowadays brought about by advances in medical research. Usually, the first line of treatment is consulting with a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist so a proper assessment of the severity of the depression can be made. Besides, there are also many types of depression that can affect an individual that a psychiatrist can accurately determine. Some types of depression are post-partum, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder, substance induced etc. There are many types of treatment or depression but the most frequent solution are antidepressants which are prescribed by doctors. Taking antidepressants does not bring immediate results until a few weeks; thus, it is important to regularly take the medicine.

These antidepressants act by correcting the chemical imbalance in the brain which affects mood as well as eating and sleeping habits.

Depression treatment has many options since there are many types of antidepressants available in the market. Intake of the appropriate type of medicine can alleviate symptoms of depression and lead the way to recovery. One of the common forms of antidepressant is known as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This drug regulates the serotonin in the brain which can lead to enhanced mood. Another new-type of drug is Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) which is similar to SSRIs but this one also increases norepinephrine as well. A least preferred are Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) since they have side effects that patients have a hard time tolerating. More severe forms of depression need to be advised with Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) which are known to be potent even for other mental illness. However, there should be extra caution in taking this drug since it does has contra-indications against some foods like alcohol, wine, and dairy products.

Depression Therapist

 

Depression is a mental disorder that can interfere with a person’s lifestyle. Changes in eating or sleeping habits, sudden dislike for favorite activities, social withdrawal and even low self-esteem are symptoms of depression that should be given immediate attention by seeking a depression therapist. Since depression afflicts the brain which controls emotions, thoughts and actions, depressed people should look for a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist. For starters, a consultation with a general practitioner or the family doctor can be helpful since they can lead you to a specialist. It is also important to confirm the symptoms as depression so that treatment would be appropriate. Checking with one’s health insurer can provide beneficial information about the costs of seeking professional help for depression. Some health insurers may not cover expenses for depression therapists and this can be a financial constraint in seeking treatment. When it comes to cases of depression ( since there are many types of depression), a psychiatrist is the best professional to seek since this is their field of specialization. Psychiatrists can act as a counselor by prescribing counseling sessions and issue prescriptions for antidepressants. The only downside of this approach to treatment is that is expensive to pay for the services of a psychiatrist. Some people often attend psychological treatment sessions with psychologists or even counselors. People who belong to a religious group also seek the advice of their pastors as a form of depression therapy.

Aside from one’s health insurer, local directory of doctors in hospitals or doctor’s associations can lead to one’s search for a depression therapist. There are also extra precautions that should be considered when seeking therapy for depression. One, beware of people claiming to be professionals when they cannot show their license as doctors or psychiatrists. Remember that medicines would be prescribed along with the treatment sessions to effectively cure depression. Buying medicines with an illegal prescription can get a patient into trouble with the law. Also, it is good to interview the counselor or depression therapist in the type of approach they would use for treatment. Some therapists usually combine medication with psychoanalysis or cognitive behavior modification. It is important that you feel comfortable in sharing with the professional you choose since issues are sensitive.

Lastly, no matter how good a depression therapist maybe all type of treatment takes time. While the doctor fulfills his part, you must be committed to the whole treatment process as well.

Depression in Children

 

It is a fact that depression afflicts millions of people every day and that includes children. Perhaps, some people do not acknowledge this fact since children are typically viewed as leading stress-free lives since all they have to do is study, eat, and play. This is a wrong perception since a child’s life can also be very stressful that can cause depression in many children around the world. Usually, adults believe that “temper tantrums” are normal for children especially when they do not get what they want. Some children do also cry a lot especially when those who have sensitive personalities. There are those kids with disruptive behavior as a result of their playfulness and curiosity. These are quite common behavior and happens to children from all race, gender, or creed. The difference lies when certain behaviors such as persistent sadness or repetitive occurrence of disruptive behavior is manifested most of the time. This result s to disputed school work as well as socialization with playmates. Children who constantly hit playmates for no reason are suspect of having depression. There is also a probability that such behavior can be an underlying symptom of ADHD.

Children behave differently from adults since they do not have well-developed defense mechanisms yet. They show behavior as it is, cry when sad or shout when angry as observed by teachers. It is important then that parents give attention to such behavior to determine if the child is already depressed. Some children are vocal about their thoughts especially fearful ones and ask questions from adults. Some children get depressed when a loved one dies such as a grandparent.

Children are also affected by sudden changes such as transferring to a new school or neighborhood. Parents must support their children in adjusting to life’s changes. Divorce of parents is often a stressful situation in a child’s life that can lead to depression. On the other hand, some children hide their feelings and exhibit irrational angry behavior. Parents should quickly notice changes in their child’s behavior since kids usually have a routine. Depression in children can be detected by the following symptoms: They eat at a certain time change in appetite, withdrawal from play sessions, unexplained irritability, change in sleep patterns, poor concentration, inability to perform regular tasks such as playtime, sudden dislike from hobbies, fatigue etc. Whatever the cause of depression is, adults should seek immediate professional treatment to minimize trauma in childhood.

Depression Causes

 

It is reported that hundreds of million people are affected by the mental disorder depression. If that is the case, it is important to ask the question” Why do people get depressed?” There are three categories that generally caused depression, namely: psychological, physical/chemical, or social according to the National Health Service of UK. The first cause which is psychological can be best described as changes in people’s lives. Normally, people live normal lives where everything is almost predictable since there is a fixed routine. People wake up, take a bath, go to school/work, and go home after a long day. The time is then spent for relaxation by socializing with friends or family members. One of the main reason why people get depressed is because of change. Change is stressful since most people are satisfied with their situation except for those who are really discontented in their relationships, career or finances. Nevertheless, any type of change whether positive or negative is stressful. For example, being promoted is a good change but it does bring anxiety too since there is a need to adjust to a new environment. When a negative change happens to a person such as losing a job due to the downturn, depression is more likely to set in. The job that has been lost is thought of as something permanent that is why finances depend on it. Losing a job, death of a loved one or even having a divorce is unsettling and can trigger depression. Some people resort to alcohol or substance abuse as coping skills which aggravates the situation.

Aside from changes in life, a major cause of depression is brought about by chemical imbalance in the brain. Other factors such as heredity, illnesses, and substance abuse are part of this category. There has been research indicating that family members who experience depression may have inherited it from their ancestors. Chronic illness such as heart disease, kidney problems, HIV/AIDS etc also cause depression since patients often lose hope due the suffering they are going through specially when there seems to be no hope anymore for the medical condition. It is important then that loved ones or health providers guide the patient’s attitude since depression complicates the illness which could lead to early morbidity. It is also possible that depression can be self-induced by abusing substance such as alcohol and drugs. In such cases, professional help should be sought for treatment.