What is Depression:
Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
Depression symptoms interfere with the things you do daily such as eating, sleeping, socializing, or attending work and school. Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced today. Every year more and more people experience depressive symptoms that can range from mild to severe. Warning signs of Depression are persistent sadness, feeling hopeless, being critical of oneself, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, loss of energy, insomnia, loss of appetite or binge eating, anxiety, isolating oneself from others, and suicidal ideations. 2/3 of people who commit suicide are depressed at the time of their suicide. It’s important for anyone contemplating suicide to Talk with someone. Please Call 1- 800-273-TALK (8255) or talk with any health professional.
Treatment:
Depression is usually treated with medications such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications work by increasing the amount of serotonin and or norepinephrine available to work in the brain. Talk Therapy also known as Psychotherapy helps people identify issues that cause emotional stress.
Advancement in treatment for Depression includes brain stimulation. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a new therapy that is non-invasive that stimulates brain nerve cells; it eases depression symptoms and improves mood. ECT has been around since the 1930’s and is being used more today for severe depression and has been found to be highly effective and safe.
