Depressed? Am I depressed?
While depression is a well-known illness, it often still is difficult to find correct information or to eventually diagnose 'depression' in yourself. In order to answer questions regarding the symptoms of depression, the diagnosis 'depression' and how to deal with this depression, you need to following information:
- What are the symptoms of depression?
- When do I have a depression? How does the diagnosis proceed?
- What are the possible treatment techniques for depression?
This article focuses on these questions and tries to help you in setting up a plan of treatment.
Depressed? What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses of this time. One out of 10 Belgians namely has to deal with a depression in their lifetime. As some family members or people close to you dare to say sometimes, it is not so that depression is an issue stuck between your ears. Just like the flu, depression is an illness which is caused by the disruption of the hormonal balance in the brain. Depression thus has a medical source, but is generally coming from the world of feelings. Depression is namely caused by a lack of the hormones serotonin and dopamine, which stimulate the 'happiness centers' in the brain. This shortage can cause the following symptoms:
- Somber mood
- Lack of interest/not having fun
- Gaining or losing a lot of weight
- Feeling sleepy
- Feeling agitated or weak
- Lack of energy
- Extreme feeling of worthlessness
- Feelings of guilt
- Lessened thinking and focusing abilities
- Digestive issues
Depressed? When do I have depression? How does the diagnosis go?
The diagnosis of depression by doctors or psychiatrists generally occurs at the hand of the DSM. the DSM is the mos commonly handled diagnosis tool regarding depression. In the DSM, the following criteria are mentioned for determining a depression:
- At least 5 of the following symptoms must be present.
- The symptoms must be present for a period of at least 2 weeks.
- The symptoms may not be caused by the passing of a loved one.
- The symptoms may not be the result of an addiction.
- The symptoms cause significant suffering regarding several parts of the life of the person.
Depressed? What are the possible treatment techniques?
A well-known technique for treating depression is through antidepressants. Antidepressants have shown themselves to be useful in studies in the treatment of major depressions and hereditary depressions. There are also other options. When it comes to therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of therapy which has proven itself to be very useful when it comes to treating depression. You can follow this type of therapy with a psychiatrist or psychologist. Furthermore, there are also online self-help programs, which help people online with treating depression at the hand of these techniques.
Depressed? Test your depression!
Would you like to know if you might be suffering from depression? Then take the free online depression test here!
