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It is a state where you are mentally low and have no enthusiasm or vigor left to do things. It basically refers to a low mood and aversion to any kind of activity. Depression symptoms include bouts of feeling low, frustration and low self-esteem. Depression is in a way painful, making you more and more disconnected with yourself and those around you, and allowing you to become apathetic and brood darkly over matters you could really feel positive about. This acute sadness can make you feel lost and anxious. It can result from the psychological changes you go through or hormonal changes taking place in your body.
Depression is not uniform. Signs and symptoms may be experienced by some sufferers and not by others. How severe the symptoms are, and how long they last depends on the individual person and his illness. Below is a list of the most common symptoms:
A constant feeling of sadness, anxiety, and emptiness
A general feeling of pessimism sets in
The person feels hopeless
Individuals can feel restless
The sufferer may experience irritability
Patients may lose interest in activities or hobbies they once enjoyed
Levels of energy feel lower, fatigue sets in
Many people with a depressive illness find it hard to concentrate, remember details, and make decisions
Sleep patterns are disturbed - the person may sleep too little or too much
Eating habits may change - he/she may either eat too much or have no appetite
Suicidal thoughts may occur - some may act on those thoughts
The sufferer may complain more of aches and pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems. These problems do not get better with treatment.
Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of medicines, talking therapies and self help. The kind of treatment that your doctor recommends, will be based on the type of depression you have.
If you're diagnosed with mild depression, your depression may improve by itself. In this case, you'll simply be seen again by your GP after two weeks to monitor your progress. This is known as watchful waiting.
Exercise has been proven to help depression, and is one of the main treatments if you have mild depression. Your GP may refer you to a qualified fitness trainer for an exercise scheme.
Talking through your feelings can be helpful. It can be either to a friend or relative, or you can ask your GP to suggest a local self-help group. Your GP may also recommend self-help books and online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The Bible is a very good antidepressant book.
If you have mild depression that isn't improving, or you have moderate depression, your GP may recommend a talking treatment. There are different types of talking therapy for depression including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Your GP can refer you for talking treatment or, in some parts of the country, you might be able to refer yourself.
Antidepressants are tablets that treat the symptoms of depression. There are almost 30 different kinds of antidepressant. They have to be prescribed by a doctor, usually for depression that is moderate or severe.
Your GP may recommend that you take a course of antidepressants plus talking therapy, particularly if your depression is quite severe. A combination of an antidepressant and CBT usually works better than having just one of these treatments.
If you have severe depression, you may be referred to a mental health team made up of psychologists, psychiatrists, specialist nurses and occupational therapists. These teams often provide intensive specialist talking treatments as well as prescribed medication.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps you understand your thoughts and behaviour and how they affect you. CBT recognises that events in your past may have shaped you, but it concentrates mostly on how you can change the way you think, feel and behave in the present. It teaches you how to overcome negative thoughts, for example being active to challenge feelings hopeless.
Computerised CBT is a form of CBT that works through a computer screen, rather than face to face with a therapist. It's delivered in a series of weekly sessions and should be supported by a healthcare professional. For instance, it's usually prescribed by your GP and you may have to use the surgery computer to access the programme. Ask your GP for more information or read more about online CBT.
IPT focuses on your relationships with other people and on problems you may be having in your relationships, such as difficulties with communication or coping with bereavement. There's some evidence that IPT can be as effective as antidepressants or CBT, but more research is needed.
Counselling is a form of therapy that helps you think about the problems you are experiencing in your life to find new ways of dealing with them. Counsellors support you in finding solutions to problems, but do not tell you what to do. Counselling is ideal for people who are basically healthy but need help coping with a current crisis, such as anger, relationship issues, bereavement, redundancy, infertility or the onset of a serious illness.
Your first port of call should be your GP, who can refer you to talking treatments for depression available locally. In some parts of the country, you also have the option of self-referral. This means that if you prefer not to talk to your GP you can go directly to a professional therapist.
St John's wort is a herbal treatment that some people take for depression. It's available from health food shops and pharmacies. There's some evidence that it may help mild to moderate depression, but be careful. This is because the amount of active ingredients varies among individual brands and batches, so you can never be sure what sort of effect it will have on you. Taking St John's wort with other medications, such as anticonvulsants, anticoagulants and antidepressants can also cause serious problems. Read some more on this herb to see if you can find a reliable source.
Sometimes electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be recommended if you have severe depression and other treatments including antidepressants haven't worked. During ECT, you'll first be given an anaesthetic and medication to relax your muscles. Then you'll receive an electrical 'shock' to your brain through electrodes placed on your head. You may be given a series of ECT sessions. It is usually given twice a week for 3-6 weeks. For most people, ECT is good for relieving severe depression, but the beneficial effect tends to wear off after several months. Some people get unpleasant side effects, including short-term headaches, memory problems, nausea and muscle aches.
If you've tried several different antidepressants and had no improvement, your doctor may offer you a type of medication called lithium, in addition to your current treatment. There are two types of lithium: lithium carbonate and lithium citrate. Both are usually effective, but if you are taking one that works for you, it's best not to change. If this level of lithium in your blood becomes too high, it can become toxic. So, you'll need blood tests every three months to check your lithium levels while you're on it. You'll also need to avoid eating a low-salt diet because this can also cause the lithium to become toxic. Ask your GP for advice about your diet.