Depression is arguably the commonest mental illness worldwide. Like many other mental health disorders, there is significant social and economic dysfunction. While most cases are usually mild, a number of them tend to progress to very severe forms that may lead to death (mainly through suicide). It is important that treatment is instituted promptly so as to prevent this progression. We will review some of the modalities of depression therapy Bethesda residents have access to.
If you suspect that you are suffering from the disorder, there are a number of things that you should do so as to optimize on the treatment. The first is to make an effort to learn as much as possible about the condition. This will not only help in identifying the cause of the problem but will also help in determining its severity. If the cause is an underlying medical condition, treating the condition will help eliminate the symptoms.
The initial management of mild depression should be based on lifestyle modification. The most important of these is engaging in physical exercise regularly. Physical exercise has numerous benefits relevant to the treatment of this condition. For instance, it increases the secretion of serotonin and endorphins both of which are vital to the growth of new brain cells and connections. This is the same principle on which antidepressants are based.
Other lifestyle changes should focus on proper nutrition, getting adequate sleep and stress reduction. Eating well takes care of both physical and mental health. Ensure that the meals are well balanced with plenty of complex carbohydrates. Inadequate sleep worsens the symptoms and one should aim for about seven hours of sleep every night. Ridding yourself of unhealthy relationships and activities will help reduce unnecessary stress.
Failure of the symptoms to resolve with lifestyle changes is a possible indicator of an underlying medical condition. It is important that you see a doctor so that any such conditions are ruled out. Hypothyroidism is one of the conditions that presents with symptoms that are similar to those of depression. Patients with hypothyroidism typically have fatigue, sadness and loss of pleasure. Taking several drugs that interact adversely may cause similar symptoms.
Once a diagnosis of depression has been confirmed, the main treatments that can be administered are therapy and antidepressant medication. These treatments may be administered singly or in combination with other modalities. Various forms of therapy exist. They all are based on helping the patient establish the root cause of their problem and to gain some insight on the magnitude of their problem and how to handle it.
There are various types of drugs that have been shown to have a positive effect. They include tricyclic antidepressants such as amoxapine, doxepine and amitriptyline (for moderate to severe symptoms). Side effects include visual blurring, dry mouth, urinary retention and constipation among others. Other groups of drugs used for severe symptoms include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as moclobemide. Lithium salts, and selective serotonin receptor inhibitors are also effective.
While depression is not necessarily a lifelong ailment, it is often a long term condition that requires a lot of patience and cooperation between the patient and their doctor. In most cases, it takes a long period of time to find the most appropriate form of treatment for a specific case. For many of those affected, there is a need to combine several therapies at the same time so as to get an optimal response.
If you suspect that you are suffering from the disorder, there are a number of things that you should do so as to optimize on the treatment. The first is to make an effort to learn as much as possible about the condition. This will not only help in identifying the cause of the problem but will also help in determining its severity. If the cause is an underlying medical condition, treating the condition will help eliminate the symptoms.
The initial management of mild depression should be based on lifestyle modification. The most important of these is engaging in physical exercise regularly. Physical exercise has numerous benefits relevant to the treatment of this condition. For instance, it increases the secretion of serotonin and endorphins both of which are vital to the growth of new brain cells and connections. This is the same principle on which antidepressants are based.
Other lifestyle changes should focus on proper nutrition, getting adequate sleep and stress reduction. Eating well takes care of both physical and mental health. Ensure that the meals are well balanced with plenty of complex carbohydrates. Inadequate sleep worsens the symptoms and one should aim for about seven hours of sleep every night. Ridding yourself of unhealthy relationships and activities will help reduce unnecessary stress.
Failure of the symptoms to resolve with lifestyle changes is a possible indicator of an underlying medical condition. It is important that you see a doctor so that any such conditions are ruled out. Hypothyroidism is one of the conditions that presents with symptoms that are similar to those of depression. Patients with hypothyroidism typically have fatigue, sadness and loss of pleasure. Taking several drugs that interact adversely may cause similar symptoms.
Once a diagnosis of depression has been confirmed, the main treatments that can be administered are therapy and antidepressant medication. These treatments may be administered singly or in combination with other modalities. Various forms of therapy exist. They all are based on helping the patient establish the root cause of their problem and to gain some insight on the magnitude of their problem and how to handle it.
There are various types of drugs that have been shown to have a positive effect. They include tricyclic antidepressants such as amoxapine, doxepine and amitriptyline (for moderate to severe symptoms). Side effects include visual blurring, dry mouth, urinary retention and constipation among others. Other groups of drugs used for severe symptoms include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as moclobemide. Lithium salts, and selective serotonin receptor inhibitors are also effective.
While depression is not necessarily a lifelong ailment, it is often a long term condition that requires a lot of patience and cooperation between the patient and their doctor. In most cases, it takes a long period of time to find the most appropriate form of treatment for a specific case. For many of those affected, there is a need to combine several therapies at the same time so as to get an optimal response.
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