What Is Depression - People often identify depression with feelings of melancholy, sadness and discouragement. They often define it as a "phase" which exits without more. However, live and treat depression has nothing to do normally with what people see or hear, rather the routine of people with depression is based on going to the doctor and try to control the mood, and sometimes also suicidal thoughts.
What Is Depression
What Is Depression
In many countries, the use of antidepressants has doubled in 10 years, according to the OECD and family physicians perceive an increase of cases with the crisis. "Unfortunately, many people do not understand well
what is depression because it confuses them what they see on TV or in the movies, or what they have heard from other people", says Dr. Prakash Masand, psychiatrist and President of the Global Medical Education project based in New York.
Masand adds that this might be that people are not very sure of the symptoms of depression. The most common symptoms range from feelings of guilt, sadness and futility, to changes in weight or appetite, and disturbances of sleep or insomnia. Symptoms also include lack of interest in sex, continuous headaches or lack of motivation.
However, this does not mean that persons who feel any of these symptoms necessarily have depression. A self-diagnosis may be inappropriate, and Masand always advises patients to attend a professional for a more detailed checkup. Depression is associated with other syndromes such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), postpartum depression and psychosis, but clinical depression is the most common, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Misleading information and false guesses may end up making depression a stigma. 17 things that you probably didn't know about this mental illness you have to dispel these myths and present real data here.
Not only is based on a continuous feeling of sadness
Depression not only is based on a continuous feeling of sadness, explains Dr. Prakash Masand. The symptoms of depression may include changes in activity psychomotor (cognitive functions and physical movements), sleep problems, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, lack of energy, problems of concentration, changes in appetite, and even thoughts and attempts suicide.
Who gets it?
One in six people suffer depression throughout his life, says Masand. And adds: "around the world, there are 121 million people with severe depression. Two of every three individuals with depression do not receive appropriate treatment".
The question of suicide.
People with depression are five times more likely to commit suicide, says Masand. In Canada, a report of 2009 revealed that depression was the most common disease among people who commit suicide, because about 60% of them suffered from it. That same year there were 3.890 suicides in Canada.
It doesn't mean that you can not live your life.
Be diagnosed of depression does not have why to prevent you to live your day to day; It is best that you seek professional help. Sure most of the people do not know that many celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Billy Joel and JK Rowling, have struggled against depression.
It can be expensive.
In Canada, a report of 2012 found that workers with depression who ask leave to go to the doctor or psychologist during working hours can cost the company up to 13,000 euros.
New moms can suffer.
Masand explains that one of every 10 new mothers experience postpartum depression. "This is not at all a sign of weakness or a defect in character. The symptoms of postpartum depression may be present in many women ". Mothers who feel the symptoms should seek medical advice without hesitation.
Women are more likely to suffer from depression.
Masand recognizes that women are twice as likely to develop depression and, although you can get at any age, the average age for depression is 32-year-old.
You are more likely to suffer a heart attack.
Patients with depression are more likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes, ensures Masand. The researchers point out that some symptoms of depression can generally harm your physical and mental health that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and can worsen your symptoms.
It not only affects adults.
One in every ten teenagers will have undergone a depressive disorder before turning 18, says Masand. "Compared with adults, children with depression often enrabietar more, present somatic symptoms, social withdrawal, and mood swings."
Overcome the symptoms
According to Dr. Masand, although follow a treatment or take antidepressants, it is not so easy to overcome the symptoms within a few weeks. "Drugs need time to start to operate, usually between 10 and 12 weeks," she says. Also adds that therapy cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal psychotherapy are a good option against depression.
Depression and bipolar disorder are not the same.
Sometimes people do not receive a proper diagnosis or confuses both diseases to speak of them. According to Masand, health professionals should also examine a patient's history and check if it has experienced hypomania or manic episodes, both related to bipolar disorder.
Sometimes, seasonal affective disorder is something more than that.
Many patients with seasonal affective disorder, also called "winter depression", is diagnosed by mistake bipolar disorder, says Masand. Again, should examine better their medical history and check mood and signs of hypomania in these patients. Often, many professionals (and patients) are limited to wait to change the time to make this mood slump happens.
Exercise and yoga can help.
Masand says that there are studies that show that exercise and yoga can be helpful for patients with depression. "When you exercise, you release endorphins, a chemical that functions as a neurotransmitter and produces a sense of well-being in the body". The benefits of sport, including an improvement in the hours of sleep, self-esteem and confidence, and a reduction of stress, depression and anxiety.
How is it diagnosed?
There is no analysis or brain scan that is able to diagnose depression, ensures Masand. On the other hand, doctors ask patients about their family history, looking for symptoms and, at the same time, rule out other possible diseases in order to diagnose depression.
Hidden causes.
Masand says that many drugs, such as steroids or isotretinoin, could have a relationship with depression. If you've lately been taking a new medication and experience symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects.
The relationship between antidepressants and thoughts suicidal.
Antidepressants do not usually increase the thoughts suicidal, says Masand, but some studies have shown correlation with an increased risk in some patients. In particular, children, adolescents and young people under 24 years of age tend to show a risk top of developing thoughts suicidal. In this case, all 24 minors should receive additional care against any suicidal behavior.
Resilience can be good
Resilient people are less likely to develop depression. "The real reasons are still not well understood, but people with greater resiliency they tend to believe more in themselves, not let adversity to exceed them, and have more confidence in themselves," according to Dr. Masand, who adds that this behavior can also be taught in therapies.
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what is depression