Depression- Doesn’t have to Keep You Down

Depression is a condition that will affect most everybody at some point in their lives in one form or another. Most will recover from it on their own with no long lasting effects. However others will battle depression with their very existence hanging in the balance. Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men.

Certain symptoms seem to go hand in hand with depression. A person suffering from depression will usually become disinterested in things they once enjoyed or normal everyday activities. Feelings of hopelessness, crying and low self esteem usually appear. A depressed person might have physical changes such as weight gain or loss. Depressed people usually complain of a constant feeling of being tired. Poor sleep habits might also be exibited.

No one knows for certain what causes depression. Some believe heredity plays a role. Others think that traumatic events in a persons life can cause depression. While an exact cause may never be know there have been major improvements made in the treatment and diagnosis of depression. Much of this treatment has centered around new and improved drugs for treating depression. Prozac, Zoloft and Luvox are a few of the better know antidepressant medicines but there are a host of others. The patient will usually have to work with their doctor to find the right medication and dosage amount to be taken.

Once the right medication and dosage has been found it is very important for the patient to take the medication as prescribed and not quit taking it unless his physician is notified. Medication is usually the first option in treating someone who has been clinically diagnosed as having depression. Medication however is not the only option. Psychotherapy might also be be an option. Psychotherapy is a form a treatment in which the patient will talk with a psychotherapist or other mental health care worker. Psychotherapy can last just a few weeks or it can entail many years for more severe cases.

In psychotherapy the patient talks about their feelings. This can be done one on one or in a group or family setting. The patient will be encouraged to talk about their feelings and how they relate to their attitudes and mood. Changes in the way a person thinks regarding personal relationships and situations will be encouraged as a way to cope differently. This can help one to feel better and more in charge of their life. A person who has been given these new life skills is much more likely to be happy and depression free.

There are things a person suffering from depression can do on their own to relieve their symptoms. Studies have show that moderate amounts of excercise such as a thirty minute areobic workout three times a week can do wonders for a person suffering from depression. Eating the right foods and getting an adequate amount of sleep also will help. While it might be difficult it is important for a depressed person to try to get involved in activities and not isolate themselves from their friends and families.

So much knowledge has been gained in the last decade regarding depression. New medication options as well as other treatments have become available. These will offer some form of relief for most everyone suffering from depression. In todays world there is hope for everyone who suffers from depression if they will only reach out and take it.