Depression Definition, Reason, Symptom, Treatment, Prevention

What are Depression and Its Definition

Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest. Depression usually affects a person’s thinking and behavior and can trigger a variety of physical and emotional problems.

A person who is depressed can have problems performing daily activities. In fact, they often feel that life is useless. However, someone who is depressed does not mean a weak person. Because depression is a disease that can be cured.

If left untreated, depression can lead to dangerous complications. For example, anxiety disorders, panic disorders or social phobia. People who suffer from depression tend to be socially isolated, resulting in suicidal ideation. In addition, they are also prone to hurting their own bodies. For example, cutting off certain body parts.

Depression can get worse if left untreated. Untreated depression can lead to emotional, behavioral, and health problems that can affect every aspect of your life, even leading to death.

Depression Reason

Until now, it is not known exactly what causes depression. However, this disease can be influenced by various factors, such as:

• Biological changes. People with depression experience physical changes in their brains. The changes in question cannot be explained with certainty.
• Instability of chemical reactions in the brain. One study found that chemicals in the brain may play a role in depression. Changes in brain chemicals will result in changes in mood stability in a person.
• Hormonal changes. Changes in the balance of hormones in the body can trigger depression. Hormonal changes can occur during pregnancy, during the weeks or months after delivery, due to thyroid problems, menopause, or other conditions.
• Family Descendants. Depression is more common in people whose blood relatives also have this condition. Researchers are still trying to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.

In addition to the above factors, some of these factors also have the potential to increase a person’s risk of developing depression.

• Having low self-esteem and relying too much on others, often blaming oneself, and being pessimistic.
• Experiencing a traumatic or stressful event. For example, sexual abuse or physical abuse, the death or loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship with someone, or financial problems.
• Experiencing childhood trauma or depression that started as a teenager or child.
• Having a different sexual identity such as lesbi, gay, bisexual, or transgender in situations that are not supportive.
• Have other mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or post-traumatic stress.
• Dependence on alcohol or illegal drugs.
• Chronic or serious illness, including cancer, stroke, chronic pain, or heart disease.
• Are on certain medications, such as taking some hypertension medications or sleeping pills. Some experts have found a relationship between depression and the consumption of certain chemical drugs. It’s best to talk to your doctor before stopping any medication.

Depression Symptoms

Symptoms of depression last for at least two weeks. Some sufferers can suffer from depression that is severe enough to interfere with daily activities. For example, at work, at school, in social activities, or in interacting with other people. Some sufferers can also feel unhappy without knowing the reason.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) is a widely used guide in diagnosing mental disorders. According to the guidelines, a person can suffer from depression if he or she experiences at least 5 of the following symptoms:

• Feeling depressed/depressed most of the day, especially in the morning
• Feeling tired or losing energy almost every day
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
• Impaired concentration, lack of confidence
• Having trouble sleeping or even sleeping too much
• Diminished interest and interest in all activities
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
• Feeling restless or being sluggish
• Significant weight loss or gain

Depression Diagnosis

In addition to consulting a doctor, to diagnose depression, a psychological evaluation by a psychiatrist is also needed. You will be asked to answer and fill out some of the questions included in the guide to determining depression.

The doctor will also perform a physical examination if necessary. Depression can also be caused by the side effects of certain diseases.

Therefore, the doctor may also perform laboratory tests such as a complete blood count or thyroid test to determine your thyroid function
. Keywords for depression are low mood and loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed. To establish a diagnosis of depression, the psychiatrist needs to watch for signs for at least two weeks.

Depression Treatment

Until now there is no drug that really cures and eliminates depression. People with depression are advised to regularly take depression medication and do psychological counseling. This method has proven to be effective for the majority of people with depression.

If you have major depression, you may need to be hospitalized or on an outpatient therapy program until your symptoms improve. The following types of drugs are used as depression or anti-depressant drugs:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline.
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): duloxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine.
• Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs): bupropion
• Atypical antidepressants: trazodone, mirtazapine.
• Tricyclic antidepressants: imipramine, nortriptyline, amitriptyline, doxepin, trimipramine, desipramine.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): tranylcypromine, phenelzine, isocarboxazid.

In addition to taking medication, people with depression can also follow psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a general term for dealing with depression by talking about your condition and related problems with your doctor or counselor. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy or psychological therapy.

Depression Prevention

There is no surefire way to prevent depression. However, you can do the following things that might be useful:

• Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and self-confidence.
• Reach out to family and friends, especially during tough times, to help you get through it.
• Seek treatment immediately when the earliest signs of depression appear, to help prevent depression from getting worse.

Consider getting long-term maintenance therapy to prevent depressive symptoms from reappearing.
Tips to Relieve Depression

Depression is indeed a disease for which a cure has not yet been found, but those of you who are already suffering from depression can take various actions to ease the symptoms of depression, as follows:

• Do not stop taking depression medication before telling your doctor. Stopping the medication suddenly or forgetting to take several doses of medication can cause withdrawal symptoms and can worsen symptoms of depression.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, some antidepressants may pose a risk to the fetus or nursing child. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Live life simply. Maybe you should allow yourself to do less work or activities if you feel tired or weak.
• Write in a diary to improve your mood.
• Read books or internet sites that can help you get better.
• Don’t isolate yourself or isolate yourself from social activities.
• Find some ways to relax and deal with stress.
• Don’t make important decisions when you’re feeling down or down because you may not be thinking clearly.

According to TED-Ed What is depression? – Helen M. Farrell