Covering The Basics Of Depression

“A lot of people don’t realize that depression is an illness. I don’t wish it on anyone, but if they knew how it feels, I swear they would think twice before they shrug it off.”
– Jonathan Davis

Trying to lift the dark cloud of depression can sometimes feel like an impossible task. Depression is a tragic but actual fact of life that must be addressed and never ignored or swept under the carpet.

Depression does not make you emotionally or mentally weaker than anybody else. Just like the common cold or flu, depression is an illness – one that has affected and continues to plague millions of people all over the world.

It’s possible that the mildest form of depression would gradually vanish for good even without treatment. But more often than not, without any proper treatment, depression is only likely to worsen and – in a worst-case scenario – may result in suicide and other similarly undesirable outcomes.

THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

Now that you understand how depression is considered an illness, the next thing you should know is what signs you must look for to determine if you or another person is depressed or not.
• Do you or another person exhibit a prolonged state of pessimism?
• Do you or another person frequently feel worthless, empty, and anxious?
• Have you or another person lost interest in the usual activities they usually enjoyed?
• Are you or another person having trouble sleeping?
• Are you or another person undergoing any stress?
• Have you or another other person lost or gained a significant amount of weight?
• Are you or another person showing frequent heightened irritability and restlessness?
If more than one factor applies in your case or a loved one, then depression is likely to be the cause of all of these symptoms.

THE CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

There is no one strict and official cause for depression simply because there are just too many factors to consider. More often than not, though, this particular illness has to do with alcohol and drug problems, pregnancy and other significant hormonal changes, anxiety and stress, and insomnia or other sleep-related issues. Strictly speaking, though, most experts believe that depression can result from a myriad of psychological, environmental, biochemical, and genetic factors.

So, mental depression can wear many faces. At one end of the scale, it can show up as the standard, short-term term, or blue feeling we all experience after hearing bad news, the loss of something we held dear to us, or a blow to the ego.

These ‘blue’ feelings are generally not long-lasting and usually disappear within a few days. At the other end of the scale are chronic or long-term crippling emotions of hopelessness, emptiness, loss of self-esteem, guilt, or shame.

Mental depression can be mild, moderate, or severe, so there is much ground between these two extremes. Also, depression can be masked – a person may not even realize they are suffering from it, though they manifest the symptoms to others around them.

THE DIAGNOSIS FOR DEPRESSION

Being diagnosed with depression must be conducted by a qualified and licensed professional. During your initial medical interview, you should be as honest as possible. Let them know if you had a previous history with drugs or alcohol. From there, a combination of therapy, medication, or an alternative treatment may be used to combat your feelings of isolation and sadness.

THE TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION

There are various ways to have depression treated, but it’s usually best and recommended by medical practitioners for depressed individuals to undergo a combination of treatments.

Medication

A majority of anti-depressants require a prescription, but some may be available over the counter as well.

Therapy

One of the most common types of therapies used for treating depression is psychotherapy.

Lifestyle changes

Many medical experts also believe that maintaining a healthy lifestyle by exercising more frequently and eating nutritious foods can go a long way in eliminating depression in your life.

COPING STRATEGIES

Below are a number of key strategies that you can use to help yourself, a friend, or a family member. These strategies only barely touch on the subject, so I would encourage people to research the topic further through the Internet, books, and self-help groups. Remember, knowledge is power!

• The number one rule when it comes to depression is to TALK. It takes immense courage to open up about issues that are concerning you. The very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. But always remember, difficult doesn’t mean impossible. You have the power to break the silence and start the conversation.

• To recover from depression means you must TAKE ACTION. But taking action when you’re depressed is not easy. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like going for a short walk or spending time with family and friends, can be exhausting.

It’s like a Catch-22 situation: The things that can help you the most are the things that are the most difficult to do. But, like I just said above, difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Remember, every small step you take is a victory in your battle against depression.

• Whether we like it or not, we are social creatures. However, isolation and loneliness only compound depression. That’s not to take away from the fact that every person needs ‘alone time’ for contemplation and reflection.

That’s only natural and perfectly understandable. It’s only when isolation and loneliness become the usual way of our existence that it causes depression to take hold and control our lives.

This is where SUPPORT becomes vital. We all need a helping hand at some point in our lives. There’s no shame in it. Why should there be? After all, we all have the exact needs and problems as everybody else. Getting support from family, friends, and self-help groups is a vital key to overcoming depression. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone in this journey.

• The way to conquer depression is to set small GOALS and build it up. One small step at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day! It takes time to make changes in your life. It takes 3-4 weeks for a person to break a bad habit, and you must give yourself at least the same amount of time to develop a good one! You have to give yourself a chance.

• You must TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. When a person is depressed, personal hygiene usually takes a back seat. Just having a shower and rubbing yourself down hard with a towel will circulate the blood around your body and give you a healthy color. It will make you feel good about yourself.

Also, if you eat crap, you’ll probably feel like crap. Try to go for as much natural food as you can. Fruit and vegetables are pretty good. Just trying them regularly will make you wonder why you don’t indulge more often! And finally, the dreaded exercise lecture! Let me put it this way: Do it! One small step at a time will become one giant leap for your body fat index!

If you’ve tried some of these strategies and they seem to need fixing, you may need professional help. Incredible advancements are made in medicine every day that can make a huge difference in a person’s life. Could you talk to your family doctor and get the support you need?

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Covering the Basics of Depression