Depression Is A Very Misunderstood Illness
Around 1 in 6 people in the uk will experience depression in some form in their lives The precise figures are harder to find as many people do not seek out medical help and deal with the signs or symptoms themselves. Depression is a serious illness although it is frequently hard for family members and friends to understand what someone is going through.
There are a variety of things that can contribute to depression and some people may go through just one or a combination of them. Some of the most common reasons behind depression are death or loss, severe illness as well as drug abuse. Some sorts of prescription medication that are used to treat hypertension can cause depression and there is also a hereditary component as depression has been shown to run in families.
There is a range of signs and symptoms that people who are experiencing depression can encounter. Some examples are sensations of overwhelming sadness along with guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness. People being affected by depression will often lose all interest in the things which they would normally take pleasure in and have trouble concentrating for any length of time. Being unable to sleep and having very low energy levels is an additional frequent symptom of depression as are rapid shifts in weight either up or down.
The treatment of depression is achieved in a number of ways dependant upon the individual case and a combination of treatment options is frequently the right answer. The most common approach to treat depression is with anti-depressants that are proscribed under professional medical supervision. These work by increasing the production of neurotransmitters in the brain or by changing how sensitive the receptors inside the brain are to chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. There is a variety of alternative treatment options available which have been found to help and talking treatment options like psycho-therapy have a proven record.
Although depression is among the most common of mental illnesses it is also one of the most stigmatised. It is often very difficult for acquaintances and family members to understand that depression can’t be just snapped out of. If you suffer from depression or have an acquaintance who may be there is plenty of help available to you and there is no need to suffer alone.
July 30 2010 11:29 am | Health