Depression - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Depression is the most common of all emotional disorders



Depression is very common and affects as many as one in eight people in their teen years. Depression affects people of every color, race, economic status, or age however it does seem to affect more females than males during adolescence and adulthood.

Depression may vary from a feeling of slight sadness, utter misery and dejection. It arises from a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, which together lead to a syndrome. Depression affects a person's thoughts, outlook, and behavior as well as their mood. In addition to a depressed mood, a person with depression may also experience other symptoms like tiredness, irritability, and appetite changes

Depression is one of the most unpleasant experiences a person can go through. It is far more difficult to cope with physical ailments



The growing complexities of modern life and resultant crises, as well as mental stress and strain in day-to-day life usually lead to this disorder. Suicide is the major risk in depression.
But how does depression happen, one may wonder? The answer to that is a chemical change that affects the functions of the brain, which leads to the phenomenon called depression.

A normally functioning brain is a giant messaging system that controls everything from the heartbeat, walking and emotions as well. The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons. These neurons send and receive messages from the rest of your body, using brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Certain neurotransmitters regulate mood



When they are not available in sufficient quantities, the result can be depression. These brain chemicals in varying amounts are responsible for our emotional state. Depression happens when these chemical messages aren’t delivered correctly between brain cells, disrupting communication.

Treatment for Depression:

The bright side is that it is one of the most treatable conditions. There are many forms of treatment that can prove beneficial to cope with depression, including medications that strengthen weak signals by raising the levels of certain neurotransmitters, or by improving the neurons’ ability to process signals. This ensures that the brain’s vital messages are delivered. Talk therapy is another treatment that is employed to cope with depression

Symptoms of Depression

It is not always easy to diagnose depression clinically. The most striking symptoms of depression are feelings of acute sense of loss and inexplicable sadness, loss of energy and loss of interest.
One usually feels tired and lacks interest in the world around him. Sleep disturbance is frequent. Other disturbed sleep patterns are: difficulty in falling asleep, nightmares and repeated waking from midnight onwards.
It is observed that a depressed person may often suffer from guilt, oppressive feelings and self-absorption.

Other symptoms of depression are:

loss of appetite, giddiness, itching, nausea, agitation, irritability, impotence or frigidity, constipation, aches and pains allover the body, lack of concentration and lack of power of decision Some persons may lose interest in eating and suffer from rapid loss of weight while others may resort to frequent eating and as a result gain weight.
Certain cases of severe depression may be characterized by low body temperature, low blood pressure, hot flushes and shivering. The severely depressed patients feel worthless and are finally convinced that he himself is responsible for his undoing and his present state of hopeless despair.

Here is a list of symptoms that people often have when they're depressed:

• Depressed mood or sadness most of the time without a particular reason.
• Lack of energy and feeling tired all the time.
• Inability to enjoy things that used to bring pleasure.
• Withdrawal from friends and family Irritability, anger, or anxiety Inability to concentrate.
• Significant weight loss or gain.
• Significant change in sleep pattern -inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get up in the morning.
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
• Aches and pains -even though nothing is physically wrong
• Pessimism and indifference.
• Thoughts of death or suicide
  

Causes of Depression:

There is no single cause for depression. Many factors play a role including genetics, environment, medical conditions, life events, and certain thinking patterns that affect a person's reaction to events. Here is a list of causes that could lead to depression:

• Depleted functioning of the adrenal glands - one of the main causes of mental depression.
• Irregular diet habits cause digestive problems and lead to the assimilation of fats.
• An excess of carbohydrates like cereals, white sugar, coffee, tea, chocolates and comparatively less quantities of vegetables and fruits in the diet may result in indigestion. Due to indigestion gases are produced in the digestive tract, causing compression over the diaphragm in the region of the heart and lungs.
• This in turn, reduces the supply of oxygen to the tissues, which raises the carbon dioxide level, causing general depression
  
  
  
  The excessive and indiscriminate use of drugs also leads to faulty assimilation of vitamin and minerals of the body and ultimately causes depression.
• The use of aspirin leads to deficiencies of vitamin C and antacids can cause deficiencies of calcium and vitamin B.
• Diabetes, low blood sugar, hypoglycemia and weakness of the liver, resulting from the use of refined or processed foods, fried foods and an excessive intake of fats may also lead to depression.
• Depression could be hereditary. Research has revealed that depression runs in families and suggests that some people inherit genes that make it more likely for them to get depressed. But though genes are one factor, they aren't the single cause of depression.
• Life events - for example, the death of a close family member or friend - can go beyond normal grief and can sometimes lead to depression.Family and social environment also play a role.
• For some teens, a negative, stressful, or unhappy family atmosphere can affect their self-esteem and lead to depression.
• Social conditions like poverty, homelessness, and community violence can make it more likely for people to become depressed.
• Substance abuse can cause chemical changes in the brain that affect mood - alcohol and some drugs are known to have depressant effects. The negative social and personal consequences of substance abuse can also lead to severe unhappiness and depression.
• Certain medical conditions can affect hormone balance and therefore have an effect on mood. Some conditions, such as hypothyroidism, are known to cause a depressed mood in some people. When these medical conditions are diagnosed and treated by a doctor, the depression usually disappears.