Anxiety & Depression Treatment

Depression is a mental disorder that brings all kinds of negative energies and waves. Everything seems to be unhelpful. The world seems to be coming to an end. When we read these situations, we might think it’s normal or not very serious. However, it can be very dangerous-possibly fatal- for the people going through this condition. If proper guidance in not given to a person suffering from depression, the -end for him could be suicide.  The World Health Organization has given a figure of 850,000 lives being lost per year due to this.

SYMPTOMS

First of all, it is important that we recognize whether a person is going through depression or not. There is a drastic change in behavior that a person going through this state that can easily be identified. There can be different forms of changing in behavior. Some of the important symptoms are:

• Feeling distant from the world
• Constant headache
• Little to no sleep
• Bad or scary dreams
• Self -hate, guilt
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of  interest in life in general

These are some of the key symptoms, although they are not the only ones.. Any drastic change in behavior can be because of depression and should not be ignored.

CAUSES

Now what are the causes that lead a person to this sort of situation? It can be because of:

• Financial issues
• Break-ups/ divorces
• Serious illness
• Not enough affection/love/ care
• Students failing in school
• Loss of job or loss in business
• Acts of violence, such as rape
• A psychological complex

Again, this isn’t the entire list of causes.

CURE

Depression is not a disease. It is just a situation that can pass if proper treatment is given. There are different treatments in this modern era that can be very helpful.

Medication: There are anti-depressants available that a doctor can prescribe. They can help the patient to get proper sleep and improve their appetite.

Psychotherapy: With anti-depressants, psychotherapy is also very important. Psychiatrists use different therapies and try to end all negative thoughts in them. It is more important than medication. You can not only rely on drugs for the treatment of depression.

Psychiatric hospitals: If a person is going through extreme state of depression and drugs or consultation is not helping, they should be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. They are kept under observation every time of the day to bring them back to their normal lives. The treatment may take months or even years, depending on the case.

The results of any treatment for depression are slow but, at the end of day, they really are helpful. A person suffering from depression must never be left alone. It is the duty of the family, friends and peers to never let him feel left out. Leaving him out is just like asking him to go and commit suicide.

It’s no doubt that depression can be defined in many ways. One basic definition is a state of unhappiness, uneasiness and a generally miserable state of mind.

Every person has a different frame of mind.  Each one has his own goals and view of the world. When these goals seem unachievable or the world is different from what was expected, it can become difficult for them to adapt. This can lead them to depression.

Researchers have proven that that it’s not only adults who suffer from depression. Nowadays, even children have been found to have this problem. People still consider it a myth and don’t take it seriously. In their opinion, children do not have to face the harsh side of world that adults have to face. However, things are quite different in reality.  Every individual has a maximum capacity of change they can handle. After that, things can start affecting them in a negative manner and thus send them into depression.

The most common causes of depression in adults are fatigue, restlessness, job failures, money problems, separation from a spouse, social isolation and major or fatal illnesses. In children, causes of depression might be divorce or separation between parents, abusive language used by parents, being neglected by elders or a death in the family. Also, sometimes children are so attached to pets that they cannot handle separation from them. If parents do not look after them properly, they can slip into depression.

There is no laboratory test for depression, nor can any numbers define the stage of depression. It is the change of behavior and that needs to be recognized. Psychiatrists must be consulted for diagnosis and treatment but, in the end, people around the patient need to be supportive to help him pass from this state of mind and enjoy life again.

People who suffer from depression are sometimes ignored. This is often because family or friends don’t see it as a serious disease. However, it is a fact that if depression is not handled in a correct manner, it can be even more dangerous than cancer! The ignorance by family and friends make things worse and lead people to take serious steps such as suicide.

There are many medicines available from websites, doctors, psychiatrists and other places. But, as mentioned before, the best role can be played by the people around someone suffering from depression.

What is needed are two things:

• Company
• Talk therapy

It is best never to leave a person who is suffering from depression alone. He must always have some good company around who can encourage and reframe all the negativity around him. This company must include good listeners. The thing that a suffering from depression needs most is a quality ear who can listen to what’s going on in their mind. It’s important to listen, advise them properly, buck them up and bring them back to life.

First of all, it is important to discuss that what depression really is and how it can be differentiated from other, similar feelings.

Depression is not just feeling down or feeling sad sometimes. It is something that is categorized as clinical illness. Feeling down is normal; everyone may be feeling down every now and then due to normal stressors in their lives. Someone who is feeling down due to exigent circumstances in their lives cannot be said to be “depressed.”

If a person remains down for a long period of time and the feeling gets more and more intense, it means that the person may be clinically ill. The feeling of being wretched and dejected remains, and it is a very prolonged situation. If it is left untreated, it can be very dangerous and it can lengthen for months, and even for years.

MAJOR SYMPTOMS

The major symptoms of depression are: feelings of emptiness, feeling of worthlessness, and feelings of being left out.

People who suffer from depression become unable to enjoy anything. They remain unhappy with everyone, everything, and themselves.

EFFECTS

If we talk about general effects of depression on the person who is suffering, there are two extremes.  They are as follows:

• Either the person becomes totally quiet and cut off from everything and everyone in his life; or
• He will become over-reactive to everything that happens around him.

Both the situations are extreme nature in their own way. They can also have adverse effects not only on the person who is suffering from depression, but also on the people around him or depending upon him.

If he becomes totally quiet and he will not share any of his feelings with others, he will start feeling isolated. It is like a slow poison. It is in man’s nature that he cannot survive long in isolation. People are social creatures, and we need human interaction and support.  It does not mean that the sufferer needs financial support; they merely need emotional support.

Secondly, if they become over-reactive to everything, it means that they are getting manic.  They think that nothing is happening right around them and they start getting taking things personally. They even raise their blood pressure due to this mania.

Both forms of depression are bad and they can affect an individual’s health adversely. Therefore, all forms of depression must be taken seriously. The first thing that must be done after diagnosing the disease is a psychiatric consult. The myth must be dispelled that only mentally unstable or retarded persons consult psychiatrists. Depressed people need help which psychiatrists can provide in a best way. They can either recommend daily or weekly counseling sessions, or, depending on the patient’s condition, whatever they feel is required. They can also recommend drugs and medicines, therapies or other treatments, again depending on patient’s condition. So whatever is recommended must be followed. Only in this way it can be effective.

Depression is a serious disease that, if treated casually, can lead to suicide attempts and death. Not only does it have mental repercussions, it also negatively affects physical health. Many people take anti-depressants to treat this disease, whereas some people try other remedies. Anti depressants help people to treat this illness, but they all have some side effects in the long term. As time passes and more is being learned, people are shifting to home or herbal remedies rather than taking drugs.

The first and foremost thing that must be done with depression is the balancing of vitamins and nutrients in the body. One of the major symptoms of depression is an irregularity in eating habits. Appetite may be lost altogether, but sometimes people feel more hunger or a craving for sweets.  All of these things lead to imbalance of body nutrients. Taking a combination of vitamins B and C, Magnesium and Calcium can also help to overcome changes in mood. It can be taken either in natural form or in the form of supplements. They also don’t have any sort of side effects.  There are also many balms available that can be very helpful. They have soothing effect and lessen the anxiety. There are also tonics available that can help with relaxation. They are widely recognized and accepted by medical doctors.

Therapy is also the one of the best treatments for depression. Talk therapy or Cognitive Behavior Therapy are very useful techniques that can be taken under the care of a licensed therapist. If the patient is in the initial stages, sessions can often be managed at home. Therapy for serious patients must be taken at a therapist’s office so the patient can get proper counseling in a controlled environment. These therapies can help take away depression and panic attacks.

Whatever treatment is used, there are some basic things that must be done. These include getting enough sleep and regular exercise. They relax body and mind, thus refreshing it and making it ready to face the challenges of the world. These simple treatments can help a person to overcome apathy.  Music, yoga and massage therapy is also very helpful in depression. These are some of the relaxation techniques that are advised by doctors as side treatments.

If these alternative treatments do not work, a registered doctor must be consulted immediately. Delay in the treatment of depression is simply asking that person to go and attempt suicide. Doctors can run tests to see what the causes of depression are so that it can be specifically treated. Focused treatment is very necessary with this or any disease.

The bottom line is that every disease is curable. The need must be identified properly and at the right time. Delay in identifying the disease or its treatment can cause damage that cannot be reversed in the future.