Blog
What is Depression?
What is Depression?
Depress.. can affect anyone even those who seemingly have it all. Several factors can play a role in depress…. Several factors can play a role in depression:
- Biochemical: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain (such as the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine) may contribute to symptoms of depression.
- Genetic: Depress.. can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has depress…, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.
- Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic may be more likely to experience depress…
- Environmental: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty can also pose risks for developing depress…
Depress… is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 70% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. What is Depress… | depress… treatment http://www.gatesopioidspharmacy.com
To diagnose depressio, a healthcare professional will conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation that includes a comprehensive interview to discuss your symptoms in addition to your personal, medical and family histories. Moreover, a physical examination should be performed to screen for underlying medical conditions that may mimic depression such as hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, neurological problems and drug or alcohol use. Laboratory and imaging tests may also be included in the evaluation as part of the medical screening. The evaluating medical professional will take all of these factors into account as they formulate a diagnosis and recommend an individualized treatment plan.
Medication
Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression and may factor into their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants may be recommended. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquilizers. They are not addictive. http://www.gatesopioidspharmacy.com
Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first week or two of use yet full benefits may not be seen for two to three months. If a person feels little or no improvement after several weeks, their psychiatrist/healthcare professional may recommend adjusting the dose, adding a new medication, or switching to an alternate antidepressant. In some situations, other classes of psychiatric medications, such as mood stabilizers, may be helpful. It is important to let your healthcare professional know if you have concerns about your mediation(s) or experience any side effects of the medication.
gates opioids pharmacy usually recommend that patients continue to take medication for six or more months after the depressive symptoms have improved. For certain people at risk for example, those who have experienced multiple episodes of depress… in the past, or those with a strong family history of depress… longer-term maintenance treatment may be suggested to decrease the risk of future episodes.
Psychotherapy
gatesopioidspharmacy, or “talk therapy,” is also often recommended. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most common forms of psychotherapy, has been found to be effective in treating depress… CBT focuses on recognizing and correcting unhealthy thinking patterns with the goal of changing thoughts and behaviors to respond to challenges in a more positive manner. It may be used alone or in combination with antidepressant medication.
Psychotherapy may involve one or more people. For example, family or couples therapy can help address issues within these close relationships. Group therapy brings together, in a therapeutic environment, a cohort of people who are similarly experiencing depression, providing an opportunity for mutual learning and support. http://psychiatry.org
Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment with psychotherapy can last a few weeks or longer. Significant improvement can aften be made in 10 to 15 sessions.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is a medical treatment that is generally reserved for those with severe depressive episodes who have not responded to other treatments. ECT has been used since the 1940s, and many years of research have led to major improvements and the recognition of its effectiveness as a mainstream rather than a “last resort” treatment. ECT is a procedure performed under anesthesia during which the brain is stimulated electrically to induce a brief seizure. A patient typically receives ECT two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. It is usually managed by a team of trained medical professionals including a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse or physician assistant.
Self-help and Coping
There are a number of things people can do to help reduce the symptoms of depression. For many people, regular exercise helps create positive feeling and improves mood. Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol (a depressant) can also help reduce symptoms of depress…
Depress.. is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people with depression will overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, a first step is to see your family physician or psychiatrist. Talk about your concerns and request a thorough evaluation.
Related Conditions
The tabs below provide brief descriptions of six conditions related to depression: perinatal depression (previously postpartum depression), seasonal depression (also called seasonal affective disorder), bipolar disorders, persistent depressive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
Depression Is Different From Sadness or Grief/Bereavement
The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed.”
But being sad is not the same as having depressed. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depress… may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities. They are also different in important ways:
- In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depress.., mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.
- In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.
- In grief, thoughts of death may surface when thinking of or fantasizing about “joining” the deceased loved one. In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depressed.
Grief and depression can co-exist. When grief and depression co-occur, the grief is more severe and lasts longer than grief without depression. Distinguishing between grief and depress… is important and can assist people in getting the help, support or treatment they need.
