Depression can rap you out of your senses. Like hypertension or diabetes, depression is a medical condition marked by unhappiness or a feeling of hopelessness. Millions of people are affected by depression all over the world. Women have been found to be much more susceptible to depression. If mild in nature, it goes away quickly without the use of any depression medicine. However, if the attack is severe, it requires proper treatment via counseling or depression medication. 

Symptoms of Depression

Depression have a variety of symptoms that include a prolonged feeling of sadness almost daily over a period of two weeks or more; a distinct lack of interest in things or activities one enjoyed earlier; trouble in sleeping; loss of appetite; morbid or suicidal thoughts; loss of self-esteem; sense of fatigue; change in weight; and failure to take the right decisions.

Causes of Depression

Depression may be caused by a number of factors such as stress, hormonal imbalances, and biochemical abnormalities. Although medical science has not yet succeeded in identifying the exact causes of depression, there is a widespread belief that some chemical imbalance might be responsible for the onset of depression in a person.

The cause of the imbalance could be either genes or the events in the person’s life. Sometimes the number of neurotransmitters or chemical messengers in the brain is less than adequate leading to complications. Scientists have been able to identify two primary messengers, known as serotonin and norepinephrine, which determine a person’s mood, i.e., how a person is going to feel?

Depression Treatments

It is possible to treat depression with counseling, depression medicine, or sometimes both. If the use of depression medication alone proves inadequate, counseling can be used to complement the medication. Such a mix has been found to be quite effective in many cases.

Counseling helps a person get over the negative perception that he/she may be having with regard to various people, places, or situations. Self-care steps such as regular physical exercise and abstinence from alcohol can also help in tackling depression.

Depression is mostly treated using an antidepressant, a depression medicine that is likely to increase the number of chemical messengers, i.e., serotonin and norepinephrine in a person’s brain. A doctor considers a number of factors before choosing a particular type of depression medication for the treatment of a patient.

For example, if a particular depression medicine had proved effective for you or your close relatives on an earlier occasion, the same could be chosen again. The doctor will choose only the type of depression medication that won’t harm your health. An extremely important point is to consider the side effects antidepressants usually cause.

The doctor tries to ensure that the depression medicine chosen causes the least side effects. A less costly and more familiar type of depression medication will be the likely choice of a doctor. If a patient is taking other medicines, the doctor will make his/her choice taking into account how an antidepressant will work with those drugs.

As part of self-help measures, you can do regular exercise that could give a boost to the endorphins or natural mood enhancers by raising your heart rate. Iron deficiency could worsen depression, so check with your doctor whether or not you suffer from iron deficiency.

St. John’s wort might be effective in treating mild to moderate depression, but it is wise to consult a doctor before using it. St. John’s wort could be involved in some sort of reaction with certain depression medications. Supplements containing folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6 may also be useful in treating depression.

Among other alternative methods of treatment, acupuncture may prove effective in tackling depression as well. According to the results of some controlled trials conducted, electro-acupuncture or acupuncture accompanied by electrical currents has been found to be equally effective as antidepressants without any side effects.

Cognitive behavior therapy, a form of counseling, is also likely to be equally effective as the use of depression medication. Counseling, in particular, is believed to be suitable for those cases in which depression cannot be attributed to identifiable biochemical factors. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga, a rhythmic breathing technique, may also prove to be a useful alternative to antidepressant medicines.

Possible side effects of antidepressants

All antidepressants have been found to cause side effects. However, these mostly occur during the early stages of treatment, and gradually go away. Possible side effects caused by antidepressants may include anxiety, bladder disorder, stomach problems, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, rise in heart rate, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, vomiting, and increase in weight. If the side effects do not disappear after a while, it is better to consult the doctor for fresh advice and act accordingly.

Signs of recovery

You will know that the depression medicine is working successfully when you start sleeping better, and take care of yourself with a positive attitude. If your depression medication is effective, you will be more energetic, regain appetite, and be free of weight problems. You will realize the value of life, and want to live again.