Am I Depressed?
Ever wonder if you or a loved one is depressed? Major depressive disorder is a debilitating and serious mental illness that many individuals have endured. The world health organization has projected that by the year 2020, depression will be second only to heart disease as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Below are some signs and symptoms of major depressive disorder and the various ways it can be treated.
One must experience 5 or more of the following symptoms and they must be present for a period of 2 weeks or more:
Symptoms
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness and emptiness nearly every day
- Loss of interest in all or almost all of what used to be your favorite activities
- Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down
- Frequent fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive feelings of guilt
- Hard time thinking and concentrating
- Recurring thoughts of death including suicidal ideation
Treatments
- Antidepressant Medication
- Therapy
- Hospitalization or residential treatments
- Electroconvulsive Therapy
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
While there are many different treatments for depression, the most commonly used and safer forms of treatment are antidepressants or psychotherapy where sometimes both treatments are used together. Exercise is also highly recommended to help with recovering from depression.
If you or a loved one are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, it is a good time to seek help from a professional. If you are having suicidal thoughts call 1-800-273-8255 or your local crisis line. If you are in immediate danger call 911.
Disclaimer: While the author is a mental health professional, this post is not to be used to give readers a medical diagnosis. If you or a loved one are struggling with the above symptoms, seek help from a professional as soon as possible.
References:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition