Depression: Overview, Symptoms and Treatment - 0 views
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What is Depression? Every individual experiences feelings of worthlessness, sadness, and negativity. It is when these feelings spiral out of control and consume the individual to an extent that his/her normal life is disrupted, that depression arises. Depression is a serious medical condition and can significantly weaken the individual both physically and mentally. What are the causes and risk factors of depression? In medical terms, depression is due to a decreased amount of certain chemicals in the brain. Depression has a genetic basis, i.e. depression may run in family. It can also be triggered by an event such as the loss of a loved one, losing a job, etc. There are some hormonal problems like decreased thyroid levels that can also lead to depression. Depression can also follow after the diagnosis of a serious illness and leads to impaired treatment of the disease. It is accompanied by the feeling of not getting well and hence ignoring the medication and the other activities that have been advised by the doctor. Risk factors Traumatic past, abuse, neglect Loss of a loved one Serious medical conditions like Parkinson's disease, etc. Also Read: How to Prevent Depression in Elderly What are the symptoms of depression? Persisting feeling of sadness, anxiety Low self-esteem Feeling worthless Pessimistic mindset Decreased appetite Difficulty in sleeping Oversleeping Inability to concentrate Talking, walking slowly Constantly feeling tired Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable Decreased sexual desire Weight loss Headache Abdominal cramps Having ideas about death, contemplating suicide What are the investigations for depression? As such there are no investigations for depression. If the symptoms listed above continue for more than two weeks, the person is diagnosed with depression. Investigations advised by the doctor can be - Thyroid function tests Cortisol levels in the blood What is the treatment of depression? The treatment is both