AM I DEPRESSED?



"Colin Grange(Psychologist and Clinical Director of Lifeworks) explained that “We often get mixed up between low mood and unhappiness and depression. The two things are very different. Depression isn’t about feeling unhappy, it’s feeling you’ll never be happy again.”

Are you okay? If you’re feeling low, is it starting to interfere with your day to day life? Are you not doing things that you used to do? Are you losing motivation in and enjoyment of life? Are you starting to not enjoy your hobbies? Is everything becoming an effort?”

People suffering from clinical depression often experience a range of symptoms – both physical and emotional – which can interfere with day to day life. Discovering whether you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms could be an important step towards getting the help you need.

We all feel a little down from time to time. Whether we’re going through a difficult time with work, have fallen out with friends or are just physically run-down, most of us feel sad or a little depressed once in a while.

So how do we know if our feelings are a normal emotional reaction to stressful times, or whether we’re suffering from the symptoms of depression?

Here are some questions for you to know that at what level you are depressed? Answer the questions and know the real meanings of those answers.

HERE IS THE LINK OF QUIZ. Click here to take it now

Signs of Depression

ü Hopeless outlook

ü Lost interest

ü Fatigue

ü Anxiety

ü Irritability in men

ü Appetite changes

ü Emotions

ü Suicidal thoughts

ü Getting help

What Are the Main Causes of Depression?

ü Abuse. Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can make you more vulnerable to depression later in life.

ü Age. People who are elderly are at higher risk of depression. ...

ü Certain medications. ...

ü Conflict. ...

ü Death or a loss. ...

ü Gender. ...

ü Genes. ...

ü Major events.

 

TREATMENT:

 

Depression is treatable, and managing symptoms usually involves three components:

 

Support: This can range from discussing practical solutions and possible causes to educating family members.

 

Psychotherapy: Also known as talking therapy, some options include one-to-one counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

 

Drug treatment: A doctor may prescribe antidepressants.

 

Medication

Antidepressants can help treat moderate-to-severe depression.

  • Several classes of antidepressants are available:
  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  • tricyclic antidepressants
  • atypical antidepressants
  • selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Each class acts on a different neurotransmitter or combination of neurotransmitters.

A person should only take these medications as their doctor prescribes. Some drugs can take a while to have an impact. By stopping the drug, a person may not experience the benefits that it could offer.

Some people stop taking medication after symptoms improve, but this can lead to a relapse.

Raise any concerns about antidepressants with a doctor, including any intention to stop taking the medication.

Here, learn more about antidepressants and how they can help.

Medication side effects

SSRIs and SNRIs can have side effects. A person may experience:

Find out more about the possible side effects of antidepressants here.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require Trusted Source manufacturers to add warnings to the packaging of antidepressant drugs.

The warnings should indicate that, among other risks, these medications may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment.

Natural remedies

Some people use natural remedies, such as herbal medicines, to treat mild-to-moderate depression.

However, since the FDA do not monitor herbal remedies, manufacturers may not be truthful about the quality of these products. They may not be safe or effective.

The following are some of the more popular herbs and plants that people use to treat depression:

St. John’s wort: This is not suitable for people who have or may have bipolar disorder. Learn more here.

Ginseng: Practitioners of traditional medicine may use this to improve mental clarity and reduce stress. Find out more here about ginseng.

Chamomile: This contains flavonoids that may have an antidepressant effect. For more information about chamomile, click here.

Lavender: This may help reduce anxiety and insomnia. Learn more here about lavender.

It is essential to speak to a doctor before using any type of herbal remedy or supplement to treat depression. Some herbs can interfere with the action of drugs or otherwise make symptoms worse.

Supplements

A person may take the herbs above as supplements to treat symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression. Other types of supplements may also help treat these symptoms.

It is important to remember that the FDA do not monitor supplements to ensure that they are effective or safe.

Nonverbal supplements that may help treat depression include:

S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe): This is a synthetic form of a natural chemical in the body.

5-hydroxytryptophan: This may help boost serotonin, the neurotransmitter in the brain that affects a person’s mood.

Some research has suggested that SAMe may be as helpful as the prescription antidepressants imipramine and escitalopram, but more investigation is necessary.

Learn more about how herbs and supplements may help relieve depression.

Food and diet

Eating a lot of sugary or processed foods can lead to various physical health problems. Results of a 2019 study Trusted Source suggest that a diet that includes many of these types of food could affect the mental health of young adults.

The study also found that eating more of the following foods helped reduce depression symptoms:

  • fruit
  • vegetables
  • fish
  • olive oil

Can other foods worsen or improve depression symptoms? Find out here.

Psychotherapy

Psychological, or talking, therapies for depression include CBT, interpersonal psychotherapy, and problem-solving treatment, among others.

For some forms of depression, psychotherapy is usually the first-line treatment, while some people respond better to a combination of psychotherapy and medications.

CBT and interpersonal psychotherapy are the two main types of psychotherapy for depression. A person may have CBT in individual sessions with a therapist, in groups, over the telephone, or online Trusted Source.

Interpersonal therapy aims to help people identify:

  • emotional problems that affect relationships and communication
  • how these issues also affect their mood
  • how all of this may be changed

Exercise

Aerobic exercise raises endorphin levels and stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which is linked with mood. This may help relieve mild depression.

Brain stimulation therapies

Brain stimulation therapies are another treatment option. For example, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation sends magnetic pulses to the brain, and this may help treat major depression.

If depression does not respond to drug treatment, the person may benefit from electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. This may be effective if psychosis occurs with depression.

 

 

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