The Danger behind Depression
INTRODUCTION:
Depression is commonly experience by general population today. This condition is the most common widespread psychiatric disorder that makes the diagnosis and treatments quite a big challenge to the psychiatrists. Furthermore, not all people having depressions are properly diagnosed and treated, instead some of which are undiagnosed of having depression. Indeed, approximately 50% of population may go undiagnosed and untreated that is why, cases of having this condition is increasing. Moreover, it is not good to be depressed at all times because it can affect the productivity of the person as well as the overall aspect of the person, especially the health. Once the person cannot anymore handle the depression, then it has the possibility that it will become a psychiatric illness; it will give you danger to your health, and affect the whole family as well.
DEFINITION AND SYMPTOMS:
When we say depression, it is a mood state that characterized by a negative feeling of dejection, sadness, despair, discouragement and hopelessness. Depression can be felt by certain situations that are tragic enough to feel this kind of pain. Once the person is depressed, they tend to manifest different symptoms and these symptoms have been categorized from mild to severe depression. When we say mild depression, person having this kind of condition exhibit affected symptoms of sadness, which is an appropriate response to any stressors in life’s situations. The tendency is, person who are depressed are less responsive to the environment and complaint of body weakness. But this are temporarily be felt by those persons having mild depressions fro they will recover within a short period of time. On the other hand, persons experiencing severe depression typically exhibit delusions and hallucinations. Furthermore, there are common manifestations that depressed individuals will manifest. These are significant weight loss, insomnia or hyper insomnia every night, diminish interest of pleasurable activities almost everyday, the depression occur almost everyday, some will exhibit psychomotor agitation, they also have lack of thinking ability or lack of concentration, they will loss their energy everyday and the most dangerous of the symptoms among depressed individual is the recurrent suicidal ideation without specific plan. This is the hardest part when a person is depressed because they have suicidal tendency that is why, depressed patients are not allowed to be alone in order to prevent suicide.
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS:
Somehow you wonder what the possible cause of having depression is and what the factors that predispose it are. This article will discuss possible causes and risk factors of depression. First, studies shows that genetic factors predispose to the development of this condition. The risk of acquiring this condition within the family line is approximately 15%. Furthermore, dominant genes may predispose a person to react readily to experiences of loss or grief. Second, biochemical factors can be a cause of having depression. Why? Because, of biogenic amines like nor epinephrine and serotonin. These chemical compounds are responsible in regulating the mood and also controls the drives of the person like thirst, sex and hunger. Once these chemicals will increase this can alter the mood of the person and if this amounts will gradually decreased, this can also lead to depression. That explains why a person’s mood, changes sometimes and why they tend to feel depressed.
TEST AND DIAGNOSTICS:
Diagnosing a person, with depressive disorders, need a thorough assessment as well as observations of client behaviours. The psychiatrist will observe closely the patient for about 2 weeks, for the signs and symptoms that the client will manifest. Aside from the symptoms, the psychiatrist will also observed any changes in the mental functioning comparing to the normal ones. Because, most of the depressed patients may exhibit motor restlessness and severe anxiety, and this will affect the overall mental functioning of the person. These things will make an exact diagnosis of a depressed patient. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, treatments with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions will immediately implement.
TREATMENTS:
Since the most danger signs of depression are suicidal ideation, it is very important that it should be the priority in giving interventions followed by the rest of the symptoms. First, encourage the patient to verbalize his/her feelings of sadness, anxiety, etc., because ventilations of feelings can help patient relieve the negative feelings he/she felt. Second, take time to listen to the problems of a depressed patient. Bear in mind that, patients who are depressed may be suicidal, so it is very important to listen carefully to any warning signs of suicidal thoughts. And verbalization of feelings can be a big help to it. Third, encourage the patient to discuss any thoughts about suicide attempt. This will give you an opportunity to any suicidal actions that the patient is planning. Fourth, never ever leave the patient alone, as much as possible, contact any support person that the patient have, either it can be a family, a friend or a support group. This will help the patient feel relieve from too much problems, if they know they have a family or support groups that are willing to listen to their agonies. Fifth, psychiatric medications are typically given to depressed patients. These medications are Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors such as Phenelzine, Isocarboxacid, Pargyline and Selegiline; tricyclic agents such as Clomipramine, Amitriptyline, Doxepin and Nortriptyline; there are also bicyclic agents like Venlafamine and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Flouxetine, Paroxetine and Fluvoxamine. These medication actins are used to treat depression for it will increase the serotonin and nor epinephrine, the neurotransmitters that are responsible for the mood aspects. Furthermore, emphasized to the patient that antidepressant therapy requires 2-4 weeks before achieving the desired effects. Sixth, other treatments aside from this, is using the electroconvulsive therapy. This therapy is usually the last resort used if pharmacologic treatments are not anymore effective. This is used to treat severe depression and that patient who are unresponsive to antidepressant drugs. And lastly, psychotherapy is very helpful, both psychodynamic, family and cognitive therapy can be great help to have successful treatments. When we say cognitive therapy, this therapy will identify and challenge the accuracy of the patient’s negativity towards thoughts and encourage the depressed patient to behave opposite to the manifested depressed symptoms. While psychodynamic therapy, assist the patient to become aware of unconscious anger directed toward other means like certain objects and work these feelings of loss in order to alleviate the depressive symptoms. And most all, family therapy can add to the success of proper treatment implementation and to the positive outcome later on. This therapy assists both the patients and family members to manage the condition as well as proper interaction to the dressed patients. These interventions can be a big factor to achieve positive outcome and good prognosis.
SUPPLEMENTS AND ALTERNATIVES:
On the other hand, there are also non-pharmacologic measures that can help in the treatments of depressions. It may be a form of natural or herbal remedies that will treat and acts as supplements to the condition of depression. First, regular exercise is the most effective form of alleviating the depression, for it releases any negative feeling from the body into the environment. Also, it is an inexpensive treatment to improve the mood. Furthermore, regular exercise will release mood alleviating chemicals in the brain, thus, decreasing stress hormones. These will be effective if patients wil have accompany persons in this activities. Second, well and balance diet is effective one. Depressed person should avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages for this food can affect the mood. Also, reduction of sweetened food intake can be helpful, for it worsen the mood in the long run. Additionally, eat foods that are rich in vitamin B6, because this kind of vitamins will produce mood enhancing chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. Third, light therapy is also effective. Frequent exposure to sunlight helps the body’s circadian rhythm work properly. Also, sun exposure will enhance the release of serotonin chemicals in the brain that is the key factor in influencing the patient’s mood. Fourth, eating foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, because this type of foods is needed in the normal brain functioning. Since our body cannot able make omega 3 fatty acid, so it is very important to include this in the diet. And lastly, a diet that has rich in folic acid can also be effective in alleviating the depressive symptoms of a patient. Once the foliate level in the body is low, research shows that patients taking antidepressants are not effective, they didn’t respond to the treatment because of this. That is why, they are encourage to include this kind of elements in the diet for the effectiveness of the medication.
COMPLICATIONS AND PREVENTIONS:
The major complications of a depressed patient will undergo is suicidal attempt, for it can lead to death. Mental functioning also is affected, for they cannot anymore think normally just like the normal person does. That is why, preventions are essential. Normally, we cannot avoid the person to feel depressed; however, before the depressions become severe, you should advice that person to undergo counseling or expressed their emotional problems to their family or any person that they can trust. For this can help them be relieved from any negative emotions that adds burdens to them. Remember that regrets happen in the end, so before any possibilities arrived, prompt prevention is very essential.
CONCLUSIONS:
Depression is not dangerous unless you know how to control and react to the situation. People normally feel sad when they are rejected or experience loss. But it is very important to control these feelings and be back to reality again, because when they are trap to these feelings, they cannot anymore escape from it. That is why a trusted person is always important, for you will have someone who will listen to your agonies and problems, as well as they can give you advices on what to do. Remember, all things will be okay if you know how to handle the situations.
At the moment, many people still cannot understand or determine what depression is and how to handle emotions when a person is depressed and stress out. Usually, people who are depressed are having insomnia, fatigue, energy loss and the most dangerous thing that they can do is to have suicide attempts. It is very difficult to cope with reality and with the situation if a person has an increased anxiety.
Keep in mind that depressed people need support most especially from their family members.
A lot of people do not know what causes depression and how to deal with it because it just suddenly happens, most especially if they have an increased anxiety and stress.
Most of the time, people who are experiencing sadness can no longer cope with the situation that they have and they cannot control their emotions.
People who are having severe sadness usually have suicide attempts.
It is for this reason that it is important for them to have someone to support them.
Even if it is quite difficult to cope, you should still be able to control your emotions.
While these suggestions might sound over-simplified, they really do work.
Make a conscious effort to battle your depression with a positive attitude and as much help and love as you can find.
