What is Depression

Defining depression is difficult, but in order to treat depression, it is vital to understand the disease and how it differs from normal, healthy feelings of sadness. Depression is not a simple condition by any means; both the symptoms and the treatment differ greatly from person to person, and there is no simple way to explain how the condition works. In fact, there are varying theories as to what the cause of the condition actually is.

What can be said about depression is that it completely takes over a person's behavior and thoughts and instills feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, and possibly apathy. Depressed patients will often feel guilty for no real reason and have trouble getting enough sleep. They might have mood swings that place strain on their personal relationships. The feeling of hopelessness does not simply disappear and left untreated, can actually increase and seem even more overbearing. Patients lose interest in activities that they once enjoyed and may feel inexplicable pain in various parts of their body while depressed.

The most popular and well-supported theory of depression is that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes a lack of serotonin, the chemical which provides feelings of happiness or elation. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to measure this chemical's level in living patients, so depression can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Depression is sometimes grouped together with anxiety disorders or bipolar disorder, but these are separate conditions, each of which requires a different medical approach. It can be said that "depression" is a category that many other conditions may fall into, but when doctors refer to depression, they're referring to the feelings of hopelessness and despair that many patients report.

any patients experience what's called a "major depression episode," in which symptoms become extremely severe and can have a massive negative effect on social functions of any kind. Work becomes difficult to complete, and the patient might stop talking to family members and friends. Major depressive episodes are a clear symptom of depression and can prompt suicidal thoughts. It's therefore important to note that depression is a dangerous disease. Treatment is required as soon as possible. Many treatments are available, and a single patient might receive treatment involving lifestyle changes, an antidepressant, and sometimes more immediate treatment if suicidal tendencies are already present and feel overpowering.

There are many myths surrounding depression, and one of the most prevalent is that an antidepressant isn't helpful at all in treatment and that a patient should simply "get over" his or her depression. But as pointed out earlier, depression is in fact a diagnosable medical condition. The brain functions differently when depressed, and it can't simply "get over" a biological issue. An antidepressant might be exactly what a patient needs in order to successfully overcome his or her condition and function normally once again. That is not to say that an antidepressant is the only means of fighting the condition, but they are certainly a helpful and effective tool.

It is also important to note that depression is not necessarily caused by any particular event, and clinical depression affects people of all age and ethnic groups. Depression often requires lifelong treatment with an antidepressant as well as regular check ups. It is a chronic illness, and without medication, it tends to return and may become stronger with each major depressive phase. Although not always the case, depression tends to run in families, and this means that if a family member of a patient successfully used an antidepressant to control his or her condition, the patient can often find success with use of the same antidepressant.

Like many other chronic illnesses, depression is not treated with a single drug, and it cannot be instantly cured. A vast array of pharmaceuticals is available for depression patients. Every one of these antidepressant pharmaceuticals requires a doctor's prescription. Most of them work by raising the serotonin levels of the patient, but in many cases, the exact method of interaction is difficult to explain. This is because, as pointed out earlier, it is no simple matter to test a patient's serotonin level. This means that in order to treat depression with an antidepressant, a lot of experimenting is sometimes necessary. A doctor might move a patient from one drug to another until an antidepressant is found that doesn't cause many side effects and seems to work well for the patient. It becomes very important for a patient to keep track of his or her condition and report any abnormalities to a physician at once, including recurrences of depressive episodes. Changes in diet and sleep pattern should also be strictly monitored by patients.

any physicians will perform tests such as MRI scans on a patient to try to find proof of depressive episodes. These tests often work since MRI scans show the brains of depressed persons as looking differently-certain parts of the brain will appear to function in strange ways. Some doctors will also ask patients a number of questions in order to find out whether a depression episode was caused by a recent life event. This can help to decide whether an antidepressant is necessary, and it can also give doctors a clue as to which antidepressant to use.

The good news for sufferers of depression and their friends and family is that the condition is treatable, and with the right approach, depression can be managed, and it will not have nearly the impact on the patient's life after the introduction of an antidepressant along with some lifestyle changes. While the condition itself may not entirely vanish, the feelings of hopelessness and sadness can be diminished. Treating the disease can be a lengthy process and sometimes feels exhausting to both patients and their families. With the right antidepressant and some work from both the patient and the doctor, depression doesn't need to be a permanent part of any person's life.