Depression is Not a Synonym for Bad Mood

Depression or major depressive disorder is a medical illness that must be treated. Stressful situations generally cause major depressive disorder. People often believe that this disease is a bad mood but it is false – unnoticed depression may lead to bad issues. In order to avoid severe complications, it is necessary to know how and why depression appears. Depression affects any age and any social groups. Demands of modern society have a great impact on people. Everyone wants to be happy. If a person fails every time, he will feel that he is hopeless and helpless, thus depression happens. Psychological traumas such as the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a loved one, severe illness may lead to depression. Sometimes it is difficult to find causes of depression. It is considered that the lack of neurotransmitters such serotonin, norepinephrine may lead to the appearance of depression. Emotional symptoms of depression are various.

They include anxiety, despair, low self-esteem. Constant fatigue and sadness go along with this serious mental disorder. People are not interested in anything anymore. The person who suffers from depression conducts himself in a different way. This mental disorder may be recognized if there are problems with concentration. The depressed person tries to isolate himself from others. Alcohol and drug addiction is a result of prolonged and untreated depression. People who suffer from depression think in a different way. Thoughts become gloomy. People with depression experience hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness. There are somatic symptoms as well. The person with depression has sleep problems. Affected people refuse to eat or they eat too much. People feel pain in the heart, stomach, and have constipation. Very often the depressed person has problems with sex.

Depression may lead to alcoholism or drug addiction or vice versa. Alcohol and drugs provoke temporary good mood. Depression may be a part of social phobias (the fear of losing a loved one, the fear of being in public places), and, in severe cases, may lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts. First of all, it is possible and necessary to fight depression. The depressed people rarely consult a doctor on their own, so loved ones should help and convince to seek professional help. It is important to read about how to help someone with depression as some actions may make the disease worse. The affected person may blame himself and relatives should not allow him to do that. You are able to beat depression together. Untreated depression may last for months or even years. Psychotherapy and medication are the most effective methods beat depressive episodes, especially if they are used in combination. Each person should take an appropriate antidepressant, it may take time before finding it. The aim of psychotherapy is to help the person learn how to adjust his own emotions. This method of treatment involves the active participation of the patient, his willingness to discuss his problems. Techniques of self-help are a true way of avoiding depression. Every person should maintain healthy lifestyle, do physical exercises regularly, have a rest after work, then depression won’t be so frightening!

References:
1. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/low-mood-and-depression.aspx
2. http://undepress.net/depression-during-pregnancy-reasons-symptoms-treatment/