What is depression?
depressed, also known as major depressive disorder, is amood swingsAs a result, you often feel sad or have no interest in life.
Most people feel sad or depressed at times. This is a normal response to a loss or life challenge. But when intense grief -- including feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness -- lasts for days to weeks and prevents you from living your life, it may be more than just sadness. you can haveclinical depression, a treatable condition.
Can depression be cured?
There is no cure for depression. Over time, your symptoms may disappear, but the condition does not.
But with care and treatment, you can find relief and live a long, healthy life.
depressive symptoms
According to the DSM-5, the handbook doctors use to diagnose mental disorders, you havedepressedIf you have five or more of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks:
- Your mood is low most of the day, especially in the morning.
- You feeltiredOr being out of spirits almost every day.
- You feel worthless or guilty almost every day.
- You feel hopeless or pessimistic.
- You find it difficult to concentrate, remember details, and make decisions.
- You can't sleep, can you?sleepToo many, almost every day.
- They have no interest or pleasure in many activities almost every day.
- Do you often think about death?suicide(not just the fear of death).
- You feel restless or sluggish.
- you lose or you winweight.
You can also:
- feeling moody and restless
- loss of enthusiasm for life
- eating too much or not feeling hungry anymore
- there is pain, pain,Headache,crampor digestive problems that don't go away or get better with treatment
- Feeling sad, anxious, or "empty"
Although these symptoms are common, not everyone with depression has the same symptoms. They vary in severity, frequency, and duration.
Your symptoms may also come in a pattern. For example, depression comes with seasonal changes (formerly known as depression).seasonal affective disorder).
It is not uncommon for people with depression to experience signs of this condition. They can include:joint pain,back pain, digestive problems,sleepProblems and appetite changes. You may also slow down your speech and movements. BecausebrainChemicals linked to depression, especially serotonin and norepinephrine, play a role in both mood and depressionpain.
childhood depression
childhood depressionIt is different from the normal "blues" and everyday emotions that most children feel. If your child is sad, it doesn't necessarily mean they are depressed. If sadness persists day in and day out, depression may be a problem. Disruptive behaviors that interfere with normal social activities, interests, school work, or family life can also be a sign of a problem.
teen depression
a lot ofteenagerFeeling unhappy or moody. When grief lasts longer than 2 weeks and the teen has other conditionssymptoms of depression, there may be problems. Take care to stay away from friends and family, slow down at school, or stay away from themAlcoholorpoison.Talk with your doctor to see if your child may be suffering from depression. There is an effective treatment available to help teens overcome depression as they get older.
causes of depression
Doctors have not yet identified the exact cause of depression. They believe it may be a combination of factors, including:
- brain structure. There appear to be physiological differences in the brains of people with depression compared to those without depression.
- brain chemistry. Chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters affect your mood. If you suffer from depression, it may be that these chemicals are not working as well as they should.
- hormone. This changes your hormone levelsPregnant, postpartum problems,thyroid problems, menopause, or other reasons. This can trigger depressive symptoms.
- genetics. Researchers haven't identified a gene that might cause depression, but if you have relatives with depression, you're more likely to develop it.
types of depression
Doctors can diagnose several types of depression, including:
- unipolar major depressive disorder
- Persistent depressive disorder, also known as "persistent depressive disorder".dysthymiaIf depression persists for at least 2 years
- A disruptive mood disorder in which children and adolescents become very depressed and angry, often experiencing violent outbursts that are more severe than a child's typical response
- premenstrual syndromeWhen a woman has serious emotional problems that are worse than usual before menstruationpremenstrual syndrome(premenstrual syndrome)
- Substance-induced mood disorder (SIMD), if you develop symptoms while using drugs or alcohol or after you stop using them
- depression caused by another medical condition
- other depressive disorders, such as mild depression
Your depression may have other specific features, such as:
- Anxious and sad. You worry a lot about what might happen or losing control.
- Hybrid function. you have depression toomanic– A period of high energy, talkativeness and high self-esteem.
- Atypical features. Happy events make you feel good, but you also feel hungrier, need more sleep, and are sensitive to rejection.
- Psychotic traits. They believe things that are not true, or see and hear things that are not true.
- catatonia. You cannot move your body normally. You may be silent, unresponsive, or unable to control your movements.
- Perinatal depression. your symptoms started during or after pregnancyborn.
- seasonal pattern. Your symptoms can worsen with the seasons, especially during the cooler, darker months.
Which diseases are associated with depression?
People often need other medical orMental HealthDepression-related problems, such as anxiety,obsessive compulsive disorder,Panic Disorder,phobia, substance use disorder andeating disorder.If you or someone close to you has depression or any other type of symptomscrazy, talk to your doctor. Treatment can help.
depression and suicide
Anyone thinking or talking about hurting themselves should be taken seriously. Don't hesitate to call your local suicide hotline immediately. Call 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433). 800-273-call (800-273-8255); or the Hearing Impaired Hotline at 800-799-4889. or contactMental HealthBe professional as soon as possible. If you are thinking or planning suicide, go to the emergency room right away.
Warning signs include:
- Thoughts or conversations about death or suicide
- Thoughts or conversations about hurting yourself or hurting others
- aggressive behavior or impulsiveness
Watch for these signs when your child or teen starts takingAntidepressants.In some cases, people under the age of 25 may have increased suicidal thoughts during the first few weeks after taking these drugs or when the dose is changed.
depression diagnosis
To diagnose whether you have depression, your doctor will use a variety of methods, including:
- Body checkup.Your doctor will examine your general health to see if you may have other medical conditions.
- lab testing. For example, blood tests may be done to check certain hormone levels.
- Psychiatric examination. Your doctor will be interested in your mental health and will ask about your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. You can also fill out the questionnaire.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The American Psychiatric Association lists criteria for depression in this handbook. Your doctor can use these criteria to compare your symptoms to see if you meet the criteria.
depression treatment
If you or someone you know has symptoms of this condition, talk to your doctor. They can examine you and provide you with treatment or refer you to a psychologist.
The type of treatment your doctor recommends depends on your symptoms and their severity. You may need one or more of the following:
- drug. Antidepressants (withtreat) are effective for most people with depression. There are many types of antidepressants. You may have to try several types before finding the one that works best for you. You may need a combination of both. Or your doctor may prescribe another medicine to help your antidepressant work best, such as: B. Mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or antidepressants.anxiety medicationor stimulants.
- psychotherapy. Regularly discussing your depression and other issues with a mental health professional can help manage symptoms. There are a variety of approaches available, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) andtalk therapy.
- Hospitalization or hospitalization. If your depression is severe enough that it is difficult for you to take care of yourself or you may harm yourself or others, you may need psychiatric treatment in a hospital or inpatient facility.
- Electroshock Therapy (electrocardiogram). With this brain stimulation therapy, electricity is passed through your brain to make your neurotransmitters work better. You usually do not use this therapy unless antidepressants are not working or you cannot take them for other health reasons.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Your doctor usually only recommends this if antidepressants don't work. This therapy uses coils to send magnetic pulses through your brain to stimulate nerve cells that regulate mood.