Depression: The Silent Killer (Final Part)

Hello everyone, thank you all for the positive feedback and for those who mentioned that I should discuss a bit more about some specific areas of depression, I sure would do that as time goes on and very soon as well, so keep checking this space and keep sharing as well. The awareness of our mental health/status is very important, but we all have a part to play in spreading the word as you may be saving someone. So today, I would be concluding the topic we started last week with a brief about the causes of depression and the possible treatments.

The causes of depression aren’t farfetched. Although they are a results from a combination of genetic, biologic, environmental, and psychological factors. The genetic makeup of an individual may play a complex role in setting the level of sensitivity to certain kinds of events, including the level of nervous system reacting to stress and other challenges. It doesn’t mean that depression cannot occur in people without family histories. There is significant evidence that harsh early environments especially experiences of severe adversity such as abuse or neglect in childhood can create vulnerability to later depression by altering the sensitivity of the nervous system to distressing or threatening events. This shows a combination effect of the environment and the biological factors the individual experience.

Like is mentioned before, women experience depression about twice as much as men. Biological, life cycle, hormonal, and other factors unique to women may be linked to their higher depression rate. And as a result of the postpartum depression, women are also vulnerable to depression after giving birth, when hormonal and physical changes, along with the new but overwhelming responsibility of caring for a helpless infant. Also, most women also face such proven chronic stresses from juggling work and home responsibilities, single parenthood, domestic abuse, and caring for children and aging parents.

Typically, experiences of failure, rejection, social isolation, loss of a loved one, or frustration or disappointment in achieving relationship or any other life goal often precede an episode of depression. Trauma which has been known to overwhelm an individual’s emotional processing mechanisms is another common trigger for depressive episodes.

The good news is that depression, even in the most severe cases, is a highly treatable. The sooner treatment begins, the more effective it is and the greater the likelihood that recurrence can be prevented. It can be treated with psychotherapy or medication, or a combination of both. Psychotherapy is however generally considered the best treatment option for treatment as both cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy (IPT) have been widely tested and shown to be very effective in treating depression. Group therapy is also another treatment as one gets to interact with other and learn how others successfully overcame depression. Antidepressants are also good as medications for treating depression as it targets various neurochemicals (notably serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) known to be involved in the passing of signals through various brain circuits.

If you find yourself in this big shoe of depression, do seek for help, but in the meantime you must try as much as possible to be with other people and to confide in someone. Yeah, it is usually difficult as depressed people are known to withdraw from other, but it is usually better in the long run.  Also try to participate in activities that may make you feel better. Exercise no matter how mild, going to a movie or a football game, or participating in religious, social, or other activities can help too.

Be Positive! Expect your mood to improve gradually because it takes time. 

That would be all for today….

Talk to an Expert!

Talk to a Psychologist!