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Understanding Depression.

Please do not remove author credits from this article. This article was written to raise awareness of depression and how to help and support yourself and others who are struggling with this illness. Amber

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Depression is a very common mental health problem, it affects 1 in 10 people in the USA, 1 in 4 people in the UK, and approximately 121 million people around the world.

(Depression Statistics , Mental Health Statistics).

However, it is rarely understood in every day life, and only the most serious cases are addressed by the media, by schools, universities and society. Over 80% of people suffering with clinical depression are not receiving any specific treatment in the US.

(Depression Statistics).

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM IV) contains a list of diagnostic criteria for depression as listed here:

Depressed mood or a loss of interest in daily activities for more than 2 weeks

The mood shown is different to the usual mood or personality

impaired social, occupational and/or educational function

For a diagnosis, a person usually has to show a minimum of 5 of the following 9 criteria present almost every day:

Depressed mood, or irritability most of the day

Decreased interest or pleasure in most activities

Significant weight change (5% gain or loss) or changes in appetite

Changes in sleep, either insomnia (unable to sleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)

Change in activity, either psychomotor agitation (inability to stop moving) or retardation (inability to move, feeling lethargic and slow)

Fatigue or loss of enegry

Guilt or worthlessness

Inability to concentrate or indecisiveness

Suicidality, thoughts of death or suicide.

There are many mental disorders that are co-morbid, or combined, with depression. These can include anxiety, mania, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and many others.

However, the environmental issues surrounding the individual suffering these symptoms must be taken into account. For example, if the individual is grieving, suffering from addiction, or substance abuse, or has a medical issue that may affect their mood, the diagnosis of depression may not be accurate. (DSM IV Criteria)

There are many treatments easily available for Depression, also known as  Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression.

These can include the following:

Talking therapy, which includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or counseling therapy. These talking therapies come under the umbrella term of “psychotherapy” which means that they are therapies specifically aimed to treat mental disorders. This type of treatment is usually used to treat mild or moderate depression.

Antidepressants are also used to treat depression. There are many, many different types of anti depressants, some work better for some people than others do. These are usually prescribed for moderate to severe depression. The types of tablets can range from Fluoxetine (marketed as Prozac and other names), to Sertraline (marketed as Zoloft and other names)

Combination Therapy is the most effective therapy for moderate to severe depression and involves combining medication and talking therapy.

Mental Health Teams are used when a person is suffering from severe depression, and are made up of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and therapists. They often provide intensive talking therapy combined with medication.

There are some self-help treatments that are supposed to be effective, but it’s best to talk to a doctor before trying these.

St John’s Wort is a herbal treatment used for depression, available from pharmacies and health food shops. However, it’s not recommended by doctors as you cannot be sure of the effect it will have on you. It also can interact and cause complications with other medications such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants and contraceptive medication.

Exercise is meant to release endorphins that can help to combat mild depression, but be sure that you exercise safely and carefully.

(NHS)

If you know someone that is suffering from depression, and wish to support them, there are some tips that may be useful.

Talk to them, get them to share how they feel and listen to them. You don’t need to offer advice, or to fix them, you just need to listen.Show them that you care, and that they can trust you, but don’t pressure them into talking.

Encourage social activities. Try to distract the person with activities that they enjoy, especially ones that involve interacting with others. It has been shown that being around people can help to reduce the feelings of depression.

Encourage support groups. Showing them that they are not alone in feeling this way can go a long way into helping a person suffering from depression. They can share their experiences and their own tips on coping, and receive support and advice from others too.

Try not to judge or criticize them. Statements like “You just need to get up and do something you’d see things better.” Depression can make small things seem like insurmountable objects and make everything seem so much harder. Tough-love is more likely to cause more harm than good.

Try to learn as much as you can about depression. The more you understand, the easier it will be to support the person through the more difficult times.

Be patient. Depression doesn’t just vanish over night. It can take time before a person begins to feel as though they are recovering. In some cases, depression never entirely  leaves, but it can be managed and controlled, so that it’s effect is barely noticeable on every day life.

(Helpguide  , Psychcentral)

If you, or someone you know is struggling with depression, please speak to a doctor or professional to help you. We all deserve help, and we all deserve to be cared about.

Amber @ Lightthe-dark.tumblr.com - A support blog for teenagers and young adults.

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