Depression is a real and often misunderstood medical condition that affects millions of people of all ages around the globe.
Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental health has suppressed open discussions about it. However, it’s essential to understand that depression is just another mental health condition and is treatable.
With proper treatment from a psychiatrist, most people with depression feel better and can enjoy their life to the fullest.
Let’s demystify depression by exploring its causes, symptoms, and treatment options and explore some strategies to overcome depression.
What Depression Exactly Is?
Depression is a mood disorder that impacts a person’s ability to feel emotions, think clearly, and carry out day-to-day tasks. It can be acute or chronic and can manifest differently in individuals.
Depression has many types:
- Major depression
- Minor depression
- Dysthymia
- Atypical depression
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Postpartum depression
Symptoms of Depression
The symptoms of depression can vary based on depression type and may range from mild to severe. They can include:
- Being chronically in a depressed mood or feeling sad
- Having no interest in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite that result in weight gain or weight loss unrelated to dieting.
- Loss of energy
- Extreme fatigue
- Slow movement or speech.
- Difficulty thinking, focusing, or making decisions.
- Feeling worthless
- Suicidal thoughts
For a diagnosis of depression, the aforementioned symptoms must last at least two weeks and represent a change in your previous level of functioning.
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it’s essential to seek professional help.
Causes of Depression
Depression can be caused by various factors such as genetics, life events, substance abuse, medical conditions, and more. Family history of depression, trauma, prolonged stress, and hormonal changes can also be contributing factors.
It’s important to note that depression can affect people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
Treatment of Depression
Depression is one of the most treatable mental illnesses. Approximately 80% to 90% of people with depression respond well to depression treatment.
Depression can be treated effectively with a variety of treatments, including the following.
Medications – Antidepressants are prescription medications that are used to treat depression. They work by changing the brain chemistry and thereby improving depression symptoms. Antidepressant medications have many types, and your psychiatrist will work with you to figure out which antidepressant is best for you.
Psychotherapy – This is the type of psychiatric treatment that helps identify and change unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that lead to depression.
Electroconvulsive therapy – This therapy is commonly recommended in cases where medications and psychotherapy fail to manage depression.
Electroconvulsive therapy involves passing electrical currents through the brain to impact the function and effect of chemical messengers in your brain.
Tips to Manage Depression
The following are some coping strategies that you can practice at home to improve your emotional well-being and manage depression.
- Get regular exercise and eat a healthy diet to improve your mood and overall energy level.
- Make time for activities that you enjoy and spend time with loved ones.
- Get enough sleep to cope with stress and manage your emotions.
- Write a journal to process your emotions and gain insight into your thoughts and feelings.
- Practice mindfulness and meditation to tame stress
- Spend time outdoors and connect with nature.
- Seek professional help when needed.
Mental Clinic in Atlanta, GA
Depression is an experience that no one should go through alone or in silence. It is not something to be ashamed of but something to be addressed and treated.
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression and are looking for a mental clinic that offers treatment for a comprehensive range of mental health problems, look no further than Chastain Psychiatry.
At our mental clinic, we understand that mental health is crucial to achieving a balanced life. We provide personalized care and evidence-based treatments to our patients dealing with mental health conditions like depression. Our highly compassionate psychiatrist, Dr. Browning, performs a thorough evaluation and recommends the right treatment for our patient’s unique mental health needs.
To schedule a one-on-one consultation with our providers, call us today at (404) 963-2647 or fill out our online appointment request form.
