Depression

Depression

Let's start with the most well-known word, Depression.

Depression is a mood disorder which includes disorders that have a disturbance in mood as

the predominant feature. In depressive disorders, there is a noticeable loss in interest in all activities for at least 2 weeks or more.  In children and adolescents, the mood may be irritable rather than sad.

 

Symptoms

There are major changes in appetite or weight, sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia), and psychomotor activity; decreased energy; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions. It's not just feeling blue. It's actually forgetting how to come back from a self-induced sadness. Decreased energy, tiredness, and fatigue are common. There may be thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.

Causes 

The causes of depression are not fully understood. Depression is likely to be due to a complex combination of factors that include

• genetics
• biological - changes in neurotransmitter levels
• environmental
• psychological and social (psychosocial)
• Culture can influence the experience and communication of symptoms of depression.

Treatment 

Depression is a treatable mental illness. There are three components to the management of depression:

1. Support from close ones

2. Psychotherapy

     In psychotherapy, the patient is sent to a psychiatrist for talking things through and resolving         emotional issues so as to get the patient to feel guilt-free.

3. Drug treatment

    This course of treatment is usually paired with psychotherapy sessions for faster and efficient relief. There have been many drugs developed to treat all kinds of depression.

4. Exercise and outdoor activities