Clinical
depression isn’t just a bad mood that you can shake off with some exercise and
a few good laughs with friends; it’s a medical condition that needs to be
treated by medical professionals in order to get better. This kind of
depression also isn’t just clinical either, but will require proper diagnosis, depression
treatment, and follow-up care to get your life back on
track and feel like yourself again. The following guide will help you
understand more about what causes clinical depression, what the symptoms are,
and why you should seek treatment immediately.
What Is Clinical
Depression?
A
person is considered clinically depressed when they experience deep and
prolonged feelings of unhappiness or irritability. People with clinical
depression may have symptoms such as anxiety, low self-esteem, difficulty
concentrating, exhaustion and thoughts of suicide. Untreated clinical
depression can lead to a number of emotional and physical health problems such
as insomnia, overeating, substance abuse and chronic pain.
Who Can Get It?
Studies
have shown that clinical depression can affect people of all ages, genders,
ethnicities, and religions. With proper treatment, however, clinical depression
is manageable and many individuals live full lives without the debilitating
symptoms that so often accompany the disorder.
What Are The Causes Of
Clinical Depression?
Causes
of clinical depression include genetic factors, mental disorders, physical
illness, substance abuse, and social/environmental factors.
Psychological factors include traumatic
experiences, thought patterns and behaviours, as well as negative perceptions
of self. Causes of clinical depression also involve a combination of all these
things. While these causes are often not identified individually in studies
about depression, it’s clear that those who suffer from it need to seek out a
qualified mental health professional for treatment.
What Are The Symptoms Of
Clinical Depression?
·
Loss of interest in things
that used to bring pleasure, including sex, food and socialising.
·
Fatigue or loss of energy.
·
Feelings of worthlessness,
guilt or helplessness.
·
Poor concentration,
indecisiveness and forgetfulness.
·
Difficulty sleeping
(insomnia) or sleeping too much (hypersomnia).
·
Aches and pains, headaches,
cramps or digestive problems without a clear physical cause.
·
Thoughts of suicide and
death; difficulty concentrating; irritability; panic attacks.
These
symptoms are typically more intense in the morning hours but they may not go
away until late at night.
What Are The Risk Factors
For Developing Clinical Depression?
Some
factors that can put someone at risk for developing clinical depression are a
lack of social support, abuse in the past, experiencing significant life
changes (such as marriage or having a child), and genetics.
Someone who has experienced any of these is
more likely to develop clinical depression, but you don’t have to have all of
them. For example, someone who has a strong support system in place may develop
clinical depression if they were abused as a child.
Risk
factors can differ based on gender, race or ethnic group, or age. In general,
women are 50% more likely than men to experience clinical depression.
Clinical
depression treatments
If
you or someone you know has clinical depression, seeking treatment can greatly
improve quality of life. Effective treatments for depression are available and
help reduce the debilitating symptoms, including feelings of hopelessness and
worthlessness.
The most common treatments for depression include medication and psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy). Some people also find that participating in exercise or eating a healthy diet improves their mood. Treatments vary from person to person and may be different than what others have tried. Only one approach will work for each individual, so it is important to try different ones until you find what works best for you. Finding an effective treatment like magnetic therapy for depression early on can prevent chronic depressive episodes from developing over time. Contact your health care provider to determine the best treatment option.
