Health topics about depression

Life is becoming increasingly fast-paced and more and more people are suffering from Depression syndrome. Depression, simply stated, is a common mental disorder born of repeated failures in one’s attempts, loss of interest in daily activities, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, inadequate sleep, low energy levels and feelings of discontent. If this problem persists for prolonged periods, it may affect an individual’s ability to cope with normal life. When symptoms become severe, the victim may develop suicidal tendencies. However, most cases of depression can be treated with drugs, counseling or psychotherapy.

Some of the common symptoms of Depression are a disinterested and melancholic look, feelings of despair, a sense of guilt and poor self-esteem and lack of interest in things which the patient once enjoyed doing. A variety of treatments including medications and short-term psychotherapies have proven effective in dealing with depression. As stated earlier, Depression has no single cause and quite often, it results from a combination of several factors.

Depression may not only a mental ailment but also related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves called neurotransmitters. There are also other causes for Depression such as family history as genetics play an important part in depression.

Factors like financial problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can cause Depression. People who have low self-esteem and a negative attitude to life in general are at higher risk of becoming depressed. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer and other terminal diseases, and positive HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and the fear of imminent death.

Depression in such patients can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system. In some extreme cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat long-term diseases. Several psychological factors like continued anxiety, loss of appetite, schizophrenia, and physical abuse can cause depression.

Young people, particularly adolescents go through many different feelings and moods as they keep growing up and parents are often unsure about whether their behavior is normal or whether they need counseling. Young people can feel depressed for all trivial reasons and their feelings of depression can vary. Although it is often difficult to communicate with young people who feel very low and refuse to get into a conversation. But it is important that you respect your child's feelings and offer to listen and lend support. Knowing that friends and family really care and are willing to give support can be the first vital step to help them overcome Depression.

Dysthymia is a sort of mild depression that can last for many months in young people. A person with dysthymia may have less energy and find it difficult to concentrate, have trouble with eating and sleeping, feel diffident and timid and lose all interest in daily life. Dysthymia is more serious than just a depressed mood alone, and professional assessment and help may be very useful.

Major depression is, however a serious malady in which a person has a severely depressed mood and totally loses interest in life and quite often entertaining suicidal thoughts. It may be triggered by a major stressful event such as a death or a broken relationship or failure in examinations or continued unemployment.