Depression is a serious mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.
Symptoms of Depression
Here are some of the common symptoms of depression:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood.
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism.
- Irritability.
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.
- Decreased energy or fatigue.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
- Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or oversleeping.
- Appetite and/or weight changes.
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause or that do not ease even with treatment.
Depression Quiz
A medical or mental health professional can evaluate depression through a series of questions regarding your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. One commonly used tool is the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders. The PHQ-9 scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria for depression as “0” (not at all) to “3” (nearly every day), providing a measure of the severity of depression. However, it’s important to note that a trained healthcare provider should always make the diagnosis, as these tests are only tools and not definitive measures.
Treatment Options
Depression treatment often involves a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy), medications, and lifestyle changes:
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and problem-solving therapy are among the most researched types of psychotherapy for depression. These types of treatment help you understand and manage behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that contribute to your depression.
- Medications: Antidepressants work by affecting the chemicals in your brain that may be involved in causing depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are some of the classes of antidepressants.
- Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, and engaging in activities you enjoy can all help mitigate some symptoms of depression.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): In severe cases, when depression is resistant to therapy and medication, ECT may be considered. This treatment involves sending an electric current through the brain to trigger a seizure, which changes the brain’s biochemistry.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): This is a newer approach for patients who have not responded to other treatments. It uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.
Get Help
It’s essential to seek professional help if you’re experiencing symptoms of depression. Many people with depression wait a long time before seeking treatment, or they may not seek treatment at all, and this can worsen depression and make it harder to treat. With appropriate treatment, most people with depression see improvements in their symptoms.
Remember, if you or someone you know is in crisis, seek immediate help. In the United States, for example, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
The counselors at McNulty Counseling and Wellness in Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg are here to help! Call us today to take the first step to beat depression.
