How to overcome depression

DEPRESSION IS a serious disorder that affects your whole body, including your mood and thoughts. It touches every part of your life. It is important to know that depression is not a personal weakness or character flaw and treatment is often needed.

Once you have had an episode of depression, you are at risk of having more throughout life. If you do not get treatment, depression can happen more often and be more serious.

Researchers are studying the causes of depression. Several factors seem to play a role; it may be caused by chemical changes in the brain and it also tends to run in families. Depression can be triggered by life events or certain illnesses and it can also develop without a clear trigger.

Depression can happen along with other medical conditions and these include heart disease or cancer, as well as other mental health conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to recovery. A diagnosis is made after a careful mental health examination and medical history. This is usually done by a mental health professional.

Treatment for depression may include one or a combination of the following:

MEDICINE

Antidepressants work by affecting the brain chemicals. Know that it takes four to eight weeks for these medicines to have a full effect. Keep taking the medicine, even if it does not seem to be working at first. Never stop taking your medicine or change your dose without first talking to your healthcare provider. Some people have to switch medicines or add medicines to get results. Work closely with your healthcare provider to find treatment that works for you.

THERAPY

This is most often cognitive behavioural or interpersonal therapy. It focuses on changing the distorted views you have of yourself and your situation. It also works to improve relationships and identify and manage stressors in your life.

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY

This treatment may be used to treat severe, life-threatening depression that has not responded to medicines. A mild electrical current is passed through the brain. This triggers a brief seizure. For unknown reasons, the seizures help restore the normal balance of chemicals in the brain and ease symptoms.

With treatment, you should start to feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer. Stay connected with your healthcare provider and let them know if you are not starting to feel better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even years. Continued treatment may help to prevent depression from appearing again.

Depression can make you feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. It is important to realise that these negative views are part of the depression and do not reflect reality. Negative thinking fades as treatment starts to take effect.

Meanwhile, consider the following:

• Get help. Being depressed is miserable and impacts all aspects of life, including your relationships and long-term health. If you think you may be depressed, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

• Set realistic goals in light of the depression and do not take on too much.

• Break large tasks into small ones. Set priorities, and do what you can as you can.

• Try to be with other people and confide in someone. It is usually better than being alone and secretive.

• Do things that make you feel better. Going to a movie, gardening, or taking part in religious, social, or other activities may help. Doing something nice for someone else can also help you feel better.

• Get regular exercise. Studies show exercise can improve mood.

• Expect your mood to get better slowly, not right away. Feeling better takes time.

• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

• Stay away from alcohol and drugs. These can often make depression worse.

It is best to delay important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a big change, such as changing jobs or getting married or divorced, discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.

Remember: People do not ‘snap out of’ a depression, but they can feel a little better day by day.

Try to be patient and focus on the positives. This may help replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression. The negative thoughts will fade as your depression responds to treatment.

Let your family and friends help you.

SOURCE: John Hopkins Medicine

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com