There are so many diseases afflicting humanity, it’s virtually impossible to keep track of them all. No wonder health care is such a political football in the U.S. So when information is available to assess their conditions, this at least provides a level of familiarity to the average non-medical citizen.

Among those conditions that cause such discomfort is depression. Treating it can range from a cocktail of medications to something as simple as increasing the amount of exercise you’re getting.

To learn more about clinical depression and how it’s treated, keep reading.

Diagnosing Depression

Feeling down in the dumps or a little blue is very normal. However, if these feelings of sadness or desperation continue for a period longer than two weeks or start to interfere with your day-to-day life, then it may be time to seek professional help.

This can actually become a life-threatening condition and cause people to lose the will to live, which will either adversely affect their lifestyle and health or, in extreme cases, could lead to suicide.

Symptoms of clinical depression include restlessness and agitation, excessive smoking and drinking alcohol, poor appetite and weight loss (or increased appetite and weight gain), memory loss, sleeping problems, impatience, loss of libido, anger, low self-esteem, ongoing negative thoughts, feelings of despair, cutting yourself off from others and thinking about suicide.

Causes of Depression

Unfortunately, depression doesn’t have one simple cause that can just be rooted out and done away with. This disease will vary with each individual, but can often be triggered by a stressful event like the death of a family member, a family tragedy or a financial or career crisis. Depression is also linked to certain health issues, both physical and mental.

How Depression is Treated

To establish the cause and severity of the depression, a doctor will seek to identify and avoid triggers. Mild cases of depression can often benefit from basic lifestyle changes like switching to a balanced diet and increasing exercise. However, long-term or severe cases may require drugs or long-term treatment.

Conventional treatment of depression involves protecting the patient from self-harm, relieving the symptoms and preventing recurrence. A combination of therapy that includes psychotherapy, nutrition and lifestyle changes, plus medication as needed tends to work best.

How Lifestyle Changes Can Help With Depression

If you’re suffering from depression, something as simple as getting regular exercise, drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet can do wonders for your mental health. As your body and physical health improve, so may your mental health. In addition, exercise and many healthy foods are proven to boost serotonin levels, therefore improving the mood.

Medication

Typically, the drugs used in depression treating are called Selective Serotoninc Re-Uptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s), and there are hundreds of them on the market, both branded and generic. The common side effects of these anti-depressants include decreased sex drive, nervous system problems, gastrointestinal issues and weight gain.

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Wellness