Wrecker Inside:
Depression
Grief and sadness is part of human’s emotion, it is a natural reaction at times of loss and life struggles, these feeling is supposedly occur only within a short period of time. But an overwhelming and intense sadness where a particular person lost interest over things that used to bring pleasure is not normal anymore. Feeling down from time to time? That is normal, but if that feeling keeps on disturbing and taking someone into hopelessness and despair, that is a different story. One of the most common suspect of today’s life-nipping crimes and cases is the mental condition which affects an individual’s way of thinking and his/ her feeling, depression Depression was previously known as melancholia. It is derived from Ancient Greek melas “black” and khole “bile”, melancholia was described as a distinct disease with particular mental and physical symptoms by Hippocrates. Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects, how a person feels, the way of his/her thinking and how they act. (American Psychiatric Association, 2017) But, what causes it? This complex disease, no one exactly knows what causes it, but it can occur for a variety of reasons. Some people experience depression during a serious medical illness. Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or death of a loved one. There are some factors that may increase the chance of depression; Biochemistry, genetics, personality, and environmental factors are also risk factors, where; Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of depression. Genetics: Depression can run in family bloodline. Personality: People with low self- esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic. And environment factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression. (American Psychiatric Association, 2017). There are common signs and symptoms of depression although it varies in every individual. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and can improve the situation. Loss of interest in daily activities. Do not care anymore about former hobbies, pastimes, social activities. Lost the ability to feel joy and pleasure. Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month. Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping. Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. The tolerance level is lower; the level of temper is short. Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. The whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete. Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Harshly criticize oneself for perceived faults and mistakes. Reckless behavior. Engaging in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports. Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things. Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain. (Ph.D. Segal, J.et.al, 2018). According to Hippocrates “fears and despondencies, if they last a long time”. There are types of depression. Major depression: also known simply as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of low mood that is present across most situations. It is often accompanied by low self-esteem, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, low energy, and pain without a clear cause; can have recurring episodes. When depression lasts two years or more, it is called persistent depressive disorder a chronic (ongoing) type of depression in which a person's moods are regularly low. But, symptoms are not as severe as with major depression. A less common type of depression is called bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness: Bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression alternating with extreme highs, or manias; also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Understanding the type of depression, a person is experiencing helps doctors determine treatment. And for people who are diagnosed with depression, having information about their specific disorder can be helpful. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. About 20 percent of people with major depressive disorder develop psychotic symptoms, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Psychotic symptoms are accompanied by hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia, that may lead to suicide. Fortunately, depression can be treated. The most common methods are antidepressant medication and psychological counseling. Most of the time, a combination of both is recommended. It’s important to note that antidepressant medications may take several months to work. In many cases, a long-term approach is best. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) can be treated with light therapy. It can be used alone or in combination with psychotherapy or antidepressant medication. SAD usually improves on its own during the spring and summer months when daylight hours are longer. If those treatments don’t work, another option is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This method uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the parts of your brain that regulate mood. Treatments are usually administered five days a week for six weeks. For severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used. ECT is a procedure in which electrical currents are passed through the brain. According to NAMI, ECT is the most effective treatment for psychotic depression. It is especially helpful when combined with antipsychotics, antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Depression can be described in many ways. Its main description is that it is a serious mental disorder in which a person suffers long periods of sadness, loneliness, and other negative feelings. some illnesses have a specific medical cause, making treatment straightforward, depression is more complicated. Depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be simply cured with medication. It’s caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Depression is not a matter to take lightly. It is not something to dismiss regularly, but to take to heart and find help. Hundreds of people commit suicide each day because of depression. Understanding the underlying cause of your depression may help you overcome the problem.
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