Depression is a
serious disease that carries a negative effect on your feelings, ways of
thinking, and how to act in person.
Depression has a
variety of symptoms, but the most common symptom is a feeling of deep sadness
characterized by loss of interest or pleasure in doing the activity.
Some other symptoms
are as follows:
• Changes in appetite
resulting in weight loss is not associated with diet
• Insomnia or
excessive sleeping instead
• Loss of energy or
increased fatigue
• Restlessness or
irritability
• Feelings of
worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty
thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Have thoughts about
death or suicide, or suicide attempts
Depression affects
nearly one in 10 adults each year. The incidence in woman two times more than men.
The important thing
to note, that depression can strike at any time, but the average is usually
first appear during late adolescence until middle age of 20. Depression is also
common in older adults. Fortunately, depression is treatable.
What's the Difference
Between Depression and Sad?
The death of a loved
one, job loss, or end a relationship is a difficult experience for someone. So
naturally when it finally came feelings of sadness or grief in response to the
situation.
Those who have
experienced it often describe themselves are experiencing
"depression."
When in fact not the
same sadness and depression. Feelings of sadness will decrease over time,
whereas depression can last for months, even years.
Anything that Can
Cause Depression?
Depression can affect
anyone-even someone who seems to live in relatively ideal circumstances.
There are several
factors may play a role in triggering the occurrence of depression, namely:
Biochemistry
Abnormalities of the
two chemicals in the brain, the serotonin and nor epinephrine, contributing to
the emergence of depressive symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, and
fatigue.
Other brain tissue is
definitely involved as well, until now scientists are still searching for new
knowledge in this area.
Heredity or Genetic
Factors
Depression can arise
when there is a history of other family members who've been there.
Personality
People with low self
esteem, easily affected by stress, or generally a pessimist would be more
susceptible to depression.
Environmental Factors
Frequent exposure to
violence, persecution, harassment, or poverty may make people who are already
prone to depression will become increasingly more vulnerable again.
Poor health conditions,
such as brain tumor or vitamin deficiency can also cause depression. Therefore
it is very important for the psychiatrist or physician to evaluate the
patient's overall health condition.
How The cure?
For most people,
depression cannot always be controlled simply by exercising, changing dietary
patterns, or on vacation.
However, others are
able to respond to treatment assignment, even not a few others that can reduce
the symptoms of depression they experienced.
Before specific
treatment is recommended, a psychiatrist should conduct a thorough diagnostic
evaluation, which consists of interviews and physical examinations.
The purpose of this
evaluation is to reveal the specific symptoms, medical history and family,
culture conditions and environmental factors in order to get a proper diagnosis
and can determine the best treatment.
Drugs
Antidepressants are
usually prescribed to correct biochemical imbalances in the brain. These
medications are not as sedatives, as well as forming behavior. Antidepressants
will show some improvement results in the first week or second week of
treatment.
Full benefits will
not be achieved for two to three months. If the patient feels little or no
improvement at all after a few weeks, the psychiatrist will change the dose of
medication, supplement, or replace antidepressants.
Psychiatrists usually
recommend patients to continue taking medication for six months or more after
symptoms improve.
If it appears two or
three episodes of major depression, long-term treatment with the purpose of
maintenance may be advisable to reduce the risk of re-emergence of depression.
Psychotherapy
To overcome mild
depression psychotherapy or "talk therapy" is sometimes used without
the help of medication. While the depression of moderate to severe depression,
psychotherapy combined with antidepressant medication.
Psychotherapy may
involve only one patient only, or also include other people. For example, a
family or couple can help address specific problems that arise in
relationships.
Psychotherapy can
also be done as group therapy, which involves several people who experienced
the same conditions.
This process can go
several weeks or longer, depending on the severity of depression. However, many
cases that experienced significant improvement after 10 to 15 sessions of
psychotherapy. []
Sources: American
Psychiatric Association
