A person can feel sadness in any phase of his life. Several problems and bad events can cause sadness. But depression is not just sadness. When a person is depressed, he faces depression for a long time. Depression causes lots of damage to personal and professional life. This mental illness has become common and many people face depression in some phases of life. However, most people recover from depression in a few weeks or months. But some people may get depression for a long time and face issues in daily work. The condition gets worse when the person is also facing some other physical illness such as asthma, arthritis, heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc. Depression is a type of serious condition and must be treated immediately.
Symptoms of depression
When a person is depressed, he faces constant sadness. Major depression can have various different symptoms. Many of these symptoms are related to personality and mood. Some symptoms can also affect the body.
Common symptoms of depression are:
- Feeling extremely sad
- Emptiness
- Anxious
- Feeling annoyed and hopeless
- Loss of interest in hobbies or anything
- No energy in the body
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
Suicidal thoughts, etc. If you face these symptoms constantly for more than 2 weeks, you may be facing depression. You must get depression treatment Pennsylvania and recover it. Early treatment will help to prevent any further issues.
Depression symptoms in men:
- Mood: Angry, irritating, anxious, or restless
- Behavior: Loss in interest, suicidal thoughts, feeling tired, no hobby, intake of drugs, etc
- Emotional: Feeling empty, hopeless, and sad
- Sexual interest: reduced sexual interest and performance
- Cognitive ability: Difficulty in concentration, following directions, delayed response
- Physical: Fatigue, digestion issues, insomnia, headache, etc.
Depression symptoms in women:
- Mood: Feeling irritated
- Behavior: Loss of interest in activities or hobbies, not participating in social activities, suicidal thoughts, etc
- Emotional: Feeling sad, empty, and hopeless
- Cognitive ability: Unable to word properly, talk slowly, face issues in following directions.
- Physical: More fatigue, less energy, weight loss, pain, headache, irregular menstrual period cycle, increased cramps, etc.
What are the common reasons for depression?
A person can get into depression due to various emotional or biological changes. Some common causes for depression are:
Brain: A person can face depression due to the chemical imbalance in the brain that manages the emotions, thoughts, and behavior of the person.
Hormones: In females, depression can occur due to an imbalance of progesterone and estrogen hormone. This occurs during the postpartum period, menstrual cycle, menopause, perimenopause, etc.
Early childhood trauma: Any early childhood trauma like a severe accident, kidnapping, sexual abuse, death of close one, etc can cause depression,
Family: A person can develop depression when any of his family members are facing depression or some mental disorder.
Medical issues: Many medical conditions can increase the risk of getting depression such as insomnia, cancer, heart attack, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
A person with alcohol abuse or drug usage can also get depression. A person facing chronic pain for a long time may develop depression.
Visit a psychologist to treat your depression
Licensed psychologists are trained to treat people who are facing any mental illness. Your psychologist may use several approaches to treat depression. Not every person can be treated with the same therapy. The psychologist tries to find the cause behind the condition and then prescribes the therapy or medication. Psychotherapy can help in treating people using several methods:
- Making changes in life events can help in adapting to new situations.
- Setting realistic goals
- Identify the causes and try to overcome them
- Develop new skills which can help in overcoming the symptoms of depression.
Cognitive Behavioral therapy
CBT uses the idea that a person’s thoughts, emotions, and actions are connected to each other. A person who is depressed or facing a lot of pressure will face changes in his emotions and actions. CBT helps in managing thoughts and emotions. In this therapy, your therapist will try to treat your depression using several techniques:
- Finding problems that are worsening the issues
- Learning better understanding
- Finding new problem-solving methods
- Boosting confidence
- Finding ways to tackle fears and difficulties
- The main goal of this therapy is to remove negative thoughts from the brain.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
In this therapy, the therapist helps the patient to improve their relationships with other people. This therapy helps in facing emotional challenges. With IPT therapy, a person can find ways to resolve life event issues. He learns skills to manage social situations and perform better in relationships.
There is no perfect therapy for depression or any mental illness. Your psychologist may use several therapies and check their results. He tries to find out what is the best method to treat your condition. Your therapist may also prescribe you several medications with the therapy. These medications help in reducing the symptoms of depression. You can also try natural remedies and therapies for treating depression.