Major Depression Symptoms and Treatment

Its common causes

What is major depression? Occurs in people both with family history of this mental disorder and without it.  Common causes of major depression are listed below:

1. Serious changes in life such as retirement change of job, move, etc.
2. Death of the significant other, divorce, breakup.
3. Social isolation.
4. Any type of abuse (sexual, physical, alcohol abuse, etc.).

Major depression symptoms

Life is not a picnic. We all feel sad sometimes.  But let us not confuse sadness with clinical depression.  When suffering from symptoms of major depression, people feel sadness practically all the day long and especially in the morning.  You may think if you feel sad or lost interest in everything, you suffer from major depression.  But you suspicions may be verified only if your symptoms last nor less than two weeks.  Here you will find the most common major depression symptoms. They are:

1. Irresolution of mind and problems with concentration.
2. Lack of energy practically all the day, fatigability.
3. Sleep disorder (insomnia or sleep drunkenness).
4. Permanent feeling of guilt or people may think nobody needs them.
5. Psychomotor restlessness.
6. Loss of interest to any activity.

Major depression or not?

A proper diagnosis of major depression can be made only by a health professional.  If you think you have some signs of major depression, see a doctor. He may offer you to complete a special test and run a blood test. Tell him, if you have family or personal history of this mental disorder.  Blood tests are necessary to detect any health problems with symptoms similar to major depression symptoms. Drugs and alcohol abuse can also result in it.

Who is at the highest risk for clinical depression?

Major depression can affect everybody regardless of age or sex.  Sometimes major depression in elderly people and children is not treated. As for men, common major depression with psychotic features are anger, irritancy, alcohol or drug abuse. Men rarely ask for help of health professional and repress feelings. It can result in suicide or murder.  Women also suffer from clinical depression and there is a hypothesis they are at the highest risk for clinical depression. First of all, hormonal changes during periods, pregnancy, sexual development and pausimenia can increase the risk.  Training children alone, lots of responsibilities both at home and at work, care for old parents can also result in major depression.

Major depression treatment

Of course, this is a serious health problem, but it is treated.  Today there are lots of methods created for major depression treatment. The most common ways are psychotherapy and antidepressants. In case when antidepressants are not effective, electroconvulsive therapy is used.