Some Helpful Information About Depression

Depression affects many people at least once during their life. For some people it becomes a chronic problem, and for other's it comes and goes as life ebbs and flows. The important thing is to realize that depression can become serious if it is not treated. This is why it is important to recognize the symptoms of depression in yourself so that you can get the help that you need.

What Is Depression?

There are a couple different sublevels of depression, but overall there are similar connecting patterns in a depressed person. Generally what happens is that the person has a drop in their neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain. These are the hormones that help to stabilize moods and help you to feel pleasure when you do something you like to do. Thus, if you take a bike ride, you might have a surge of dopamine in your brain that makes you feel happy and good.

When you are depressed your brain has a hard time making and/or releasing these chemicals. Thus, whatever you do, you might feel a sense of hopelessness and a lack of pleasure for anything you do.

This can become a chronic problem, or it can be something that flares up during certain times in your life, like after delivering a baby, after the death of a loved one, or during a particular stressful time in your life.

What Are The Symptoms Of Depression?

Although every person will experience the illness differently, there are some common symptoms you should be looking for. Here are a few:

  • The constant feeling of impending doom or boredom
  • The loss of desire to do things that you once loved
  • No longer wanting to spend time or being around those you love
  • Suicidal thoughts and/or frequently fantasizing about death
  • Moodiness and irritability

These are just a couple things that could be a sign that you are depressed.

What Treatment Is There For Depression?

There are a couple different options when it comes to treating a person with depression. The first is counseling. Some people need to change the way that they think. Although their brain isn't releasing those chemicals properly, they might be able to help train their brain by thinking happier thoughts, exercising more, changing their diet, and changing their lifestyle.

Another good way is to try medication. Anti-depressants can help to encourage the proper release of these chemicals and can ensure that the brain is doing its job properly. Many people find the most help when they do both medication and counseling together.

These are just some of the things you need to know about depression. 

To learn more, contact a family medicine clinic like Orange Beach Walk-In Medical Care


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