Depression sufferers will tell you, getting through a depressive episode can be quite the challenge. Depression is a common cause of feeling low or sad and many Americans struggle with it. Most people will experience a depressive episode during their lifetime and it is nothing to feel shame about. The stigma around mental illness prevents people from seeking help, but it shouldn't be that way. Depression can take many forms and at different stages of your life.
For example, many women experience postpartum depression after giving birth. Persistent depressive disorder affects a person through their daily activity without subsiding, and seasonal affective disorder causes people to become depressed during the winter or autumn months when there is less sun. Depression treatment lacks far behind where it should be.
Signs of Depression
Symptoms and signs of depression will change depending on the person and different life factors that they may have going on. Symptoms may solely be mental or emotional, or may cause intense physical symptoms. Some of the signs of depression include:
- Upset stomach
- Feeling guilty for no reason
- Feeling sad constantly
- Overwhelming feelings of anxiety
- Irritability
- Regular pessimistic or hopeless feelings
- Feelings of emptiness
- Lower energy
- Fatigue
- Poor sleep routine
- Feeling worthless or helpless
- Finding hobbies or social activities less pleasurable
- Decreased sexual desire
- Insomnia
- Oversleeping
- Cramps throughout the body
- Headaches
- Sudden weight gain or loss
- Slower movement
- Body aches
- Poor decision making
- Memory loss
- Thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide
- Concentration issues
This list is by no means exhaustive, but if these symptoms come on suddenly please consult your doctor.
Treatment Options and Methods
Thankfully, depression is very treatable and your quality of life can be drastically improved when seeking help. Even if you feel like your depression is severe, it is still treatable. Depending on the type and severity of the depression you have, you may consider psychotherapy or counseling. Counseling may help you deal with specific stressors that may be affecting your mood, while psychotherapy focuses on creating positive behaviors to cope with depression symptoms.
For a more medical approach, your doctor may prescribe you antidepressants to combat your depression. There is no one size fits all antidepressant and certain drugs may not help certain people. Many people start out by taking SSRIs which are a class of antidepressants that raise the level of serotonin production in your body. These drugs typically cause fewer side effects than other medications. After that are a wide variety of medications that may be attempted including antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
Exercise, lessening your alcohol consumption, and eating better may also help improve some of your depression symptoms. Be sure to consult with a physician with any mental health concerns that you have. Anyone struggling with difficult depression or suicideal thoughts should try to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. That phone number is 1-800-273-TALK.