Treatment for Depression

Depression is described as an illness that affects the entire human body and psyche. That is, it affects your mood, your thought processes, and your physical health. Most people will experience periods of sadness, stress, grief and unhappiness during the course of their lives. This is usually the result of some form of personal tragedy or extremely stressful situation, such as the death of a family member or a divorce. This can cause depression, however, over a period of time, most people are able to return to their normal activities. Clinical depression, however, occurs if these feelings of sadness and unhappiness last for an unusually long time, making it very difficult to function normally on a daily basis.

Clinical depression is much more than a feeling of sadness and is the medical term used to separate the blues or feelings of unhappiness from the real illness of depression. As an illness, it is one of the most debilitating and can challenge a person's ability to engage in even the most routine and simple everyday tasks. At best, depression will stop you from functioning normally on a daily basis, and at its worst, it will lead you to thoughts of suicide. Most cases of clinical depression are triggered by a combination of psychological, biological, social and environmental factors. Therefore, people whose family members suffer from depression and are in situations where they have developed low self-esteem, have a greater chance of becoming depressed.

Depression has many symptoms and can vary widely from individual to individual. Symptoms of depression are changes in physical well-being, changes in thinking, changes in feelings, and a radical change in behavior. Most people experience chronic fatigue as a huge change in their physical health, and while typically sleeping much longer than usual, they still feel tired. Some people also have a diminished appetite and body aches. Another symptom of depression affecting the thinking processes is difficulty with short-term memory, decision making and concentration, and is one of the most worrisome symptoms for most people. Many people affected by depression also have negative changes in their feelings. They often feel extremely sad for no apparent reason and have lost the pleasure in most aspects of their daily life. People who are depressed often witness a significant change in their behavior. They often become socially withdrawn and unproductive both at work and at home.

All of these symptoms are extremely destructive and can last for months and sometimes even years. However, there are treatment options available once you are diagnosed with depression. Depending on the type of depression you have, you will be prescribed an antidepressant or an antidepressant in conjunction with some other form of treatment such as psychotherapy or exercise. Still, other people may have to get electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) because they did not respond to regular depression treatment. A prescribed antidepressant is usually the first line of defense against depression used by doctors. In a person who is depressed, three neurotransmitters-serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine- react at a much lower level than usual, which results in a chemical imbalance in the brain. This imbalance is one of the factors that cause the symptoms of depression to occur. An antidepressant works by bringing the levels of neurotransmitter reactions in the brain back to normal, thus reducing the intensity of depression symptoms or removing them all together. By modifying these brain chemicals to increase their reactivity, it is believed that the result will be a vast improvement in mood and emotions.

Antidepressants are most often used when there is a serious case of depression or in conjunction with another form of treatment in mild cases of depression. Therefore, it can be safe to say that an antidepressant is prescribed most of the time to treat cases of depression. Based on the severity of the symptoms, the doctor will prescribe a particular antidepressant. A change in the level, severity and intensity of the symptoms will begin to decrease after one to three weeks of having taking the medication. Some symptoms, however, decrease earlier in treatment than other symptoms. Typically, sleeping and eating habits along with energy levels usually improve before significant headway is made into mood and emotional improvement. If after two months a significant improvement is not made, a different type of antidepressant is usually prescribed. This is because some people naturally respond better to one type of medication over another. Since there is no clinical way to effectively determine what type of medication will work, a variety of different antidepressants will be tried until one is found that is effective for a particular patient.

There are several different types of antidepressants that are used to treat or suppress the symptoms of depression. They are momoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs); Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). MAOI's are used when people do not respond to regular antidepressant treatment. This drug requires dietary restrictions and so is not usually a preferred first course of action. TCA's are also usually not prescribed first because they have more side effects than other medications. TCA's work to increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. SSRI's work by primarily increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain is the most prescribed type of antidepressant. SNRI's also treat depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, but they target the norepinephrine brain chemical as well. While they are generally prescribed to treat chemical imbalances of the brain, they are also effective in relieving some physical symptoms of depression caused by anxiety. Dizziness, chest pains, rapid heartbeat, nausea and panic are common symptoms that are also relived by taking an antidepressant.

An antidepressant is usually taken from a minimum of several months to a year, depending on the severity of the problem. Depression is a very serious illness and should be taken seriously. If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from depression, you should seek medical help immediately.