How many times have you described yourself as feeling "depressed"? It's a common term we use when we are feeling especially low or miserable. However, there are instances when these feelings simply don't clear up after a few days. And in some cases this can be because the individual isn't simply feeling depressed, but actually suffering from depression.
Depression is actually a very common disorder. When taken in conjunction with anxiety, depression is the most common mental disorder in England, suffered by 9.7 per cent of the population (The Health & Social Care Information Centre 2009). In addition, the ONS found that one in ten people in Britain will suffer from depression at any one time.
Anxiety and depression tend to get combined in such research as they share a lot of similar symptoms. In addition, the two seemed to be closely linked to each other in that a depressed individual may experience anxiety. Similarly, someone suffering from an anxiety disorder may experience depression. The way in which depression manifests itself can also pose a problem when it comes to diagnosis. Some symptoms include tiredness, feeling irritable towards others, weight loss, loss of sex drive, getting teary, weight gain and insomnia.
The trickiness in diagnosing depression is that the symptoms are very commonplace. We all feel down in the dumps from time to time, but how can we tell that this is the onset of depression? If you are concerned, then ask yourself how long you have had these feelings. If you have suffered several of these symptoms over a two week period then it is recommended you make a doctor's appointment.
How your depression is treated will vary depending on its severity. As with the symptoms of depression, there is no one definitive cause of depression. There is a suggestion of a genetic basis to manic depression (bi-polar disorder), but not so much with the depression we are discussing here. Nevertheless, if you have a family history of depression then you are more likely to develop it as well.
Other causes of depression include a sudden change which can trigger the symptoms discussed. For instance, a relationship breakdown, moving house or other such stressful events can contribute to the onset of symptoms. In some circumstances, drugs and medication can trigger depression. There has also been a link established between food and mood, meaning that your diet can effect depression as can exercise.
Diagnosing depression usually factors in the patient's medical history and their current symptoms. This diagnosis should have an affect on the type of treatment offered. Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, these usually help more in cases of severe depression. For milder forms of depression there are many other types of treatment available that do not involve drugs.
Your doctor might want to initially monitor you before prescribing a treatment because depression can often subside after a short time. However, there are psychological therapies that can be prescribed and are very effective. These include guided self-help, which is reading a course of recommended self help books and material in accordance with guidelines from a healthcare worker. Cognitive behaviour therapy or CBT is also known to be successful with some forms of depression. This is a solution based therapy which aims to dispel the sufferer's negative thoughts and feelings through a serious of exercises designed to modify their behaviour. Whatever form of treatment is recommended, the most important step is to seek help when you know something is wrong.
Depression is actually a very common disorder. When taken in conjunction with anxiety, depression is the most common mental disorder in England, suffered by 9.7 per cent of the population (The Health & Social Care Information Centre 2009). In addition, the ONS found that one in ten people in Britain will suffer from depression at any one time.
Anxiety and depression tend to get combined in such research as they share a lot of similar symptoms. In addition, the two seemed to be closely linked to each other in that a depressed individual may experience anxiety. Similarly, someone suffering from an anxiety disorder may experience depression. The way in which depression manifests itself can also pose a problem when it comes to diagnosis. Some symptoms include tiredness, feeling irritable towards others, weight loss, loss of sex drive, getting teary, weight gain and insomnia.
The trickiness in diagnosing depression is that the symptoms are very commonplace. We all feel down in the dumps from time to time, but how can we tell that this is the onset of depression? If you are concerned, then ask yourself how long you have had these feelings. If you have suffered several of these symptoms over a two week period then it is recommended you make a doctor's appointment.
How your depression is treated will vary depending on its severity. As with the symptoms of depression, there is no one definitive cause of depression. There is a suggestion of a genetic basis to manic depression (bi-polar disorder), but not so much with the depression we are discussing here. Nevertheless, if you have a family history of depression then you are more likely to develop it as well.
Other causes of depression include a sudden change which can trigger the symptoms discussed. For instance, a relationship breakdown, moving house or other such stressful events can contribute to the onset of symptoms. In some circumstances, drugs and medication can trigger depression. There has also been a link established between food and mood, meaning that your diet can effect depression as can exercise.
Diagnosing depression usually factors in the patient's medical history and their current symptoms. This diagnosis should have an affect on the type of treatment offered. Anti-depressants are the most common form of treatment, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, these usually help more in cases of severe depression. For milder forms of depression there are many other types of treatment available that do not involve drugs.
Your doctor might want to initially monitor you before prescribing a treatment because depression can often subside after a short time. However, there are psychological therapies that can be prescribed and are very effective. These include guided self-help, which is reading a course of recommended self help books and material in accordance with guidelines from a healthcare worker. Cognitive behaviour therapy or CBT is also known to be successful with some forms of depression. This is a solution based therapy which aims to dispel the sufferer's negative thoughts and feelings through a serious of exercises designed to modify their behaviour. Whatever form of treatment is recommended, the most important step is to seek help when you know something is wrong.
About the Author:
There are a number of good self help books and more specifically, books on depression which you may find useful.
No comments:
Post a Comment