What is depression?
Depression symptoms and treatment. Depression is a mental health condition described by anger, loss of interest, sadness, and grief. It affects an individual’s way of thinking, behavior, and emotions. It interferes with daily routine and can lead to self-harm if therapy and treatment are unavailable.
Although it is not uncommon to go through brief phases of “sadness”, it cannot be categorized as “depression” unless it persists for longer. If it triggers daily, clinical intervention is necessary, in the form of prescription for antidepressant drugs.
What are the symptoms of depression?
The symptoms of depression depend on the condition’s severity. People commonly experience the following symptoms frequently:
- Lack of energy
- Feeling hopeless or sad
- Having thoughts of suicide
- Being easily irritable
- Change in eating behavior
- Rapid weight loss
- Insomniac or change in sleeping pattern.
- Loss of pleasure or interest in some activities.
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating.
- Trouble making decisions
- Sexual dysfunction
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Feeling guilty and worthless
- Back pain and headaches
What is the best treatment for depression?
According to studies, depression is easy to treat. However, it also depends on how an individual responds to the treatment. Different treatments including psychotherapy and medications are available to treat depression. Here’s an in-depth explanation of these treatment options:
Psychotherapy
This treatment involves verbal communication with a mental health expert. Also called talk therapy, this treatment helps a person identify and address the root causes of depression. Psychotherapies are sometimes one-on-one sessions or group discussions.
Medications
The common drugs used to treat depression are antidepressants. The different groups of antidepressants include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Atypical antidepressants
Antidepressants are also prescribed to treat generalized anxiety depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The most common antidepressants are:
- Citalopram
- Escitalopram
- Fluoxetine
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline
Takeaway
Although depression is treatable, it can be a painful experience. If a support system is unavailable at home, consider talking with an expert to relieve and ease your emotions. Remember, depression is just a common health condition similar to any other ailment. Simply disregard the baseless stigma associated with this condition and speak about it.