Depression Symptoms

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Depression is more than just a bad mood, it’s a condition that can deeply affect your life. Learning about depression symptoms is the first step to feeling better. This guide will help you understand what to look for and explain how depression treatment can help you find your way back to yourself.

Understanding and Overcoming Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. How do you know if you have depression? Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. It can lead to various emotional and physical problems and decrease your ability to function.

This mood disorder affects how you feel, think, behave, and your ability to handle daily activities. It can affect relationships, diminish work performance, and make everyday tasks feel insurmountable. If an individual isn’t aware of how to beat depression, it can sometimes lead to thoughts that life isn’t worth living.

Symptom of Depression

If you’re wondering what the signs of depression are, they can vary from mild to severe, lasting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Recognizing depression symptoms is the first step toward seeking help:

• Persistent sadness, irritability, or feeling of emptiness.
• Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities.
• Significant changes in appetite and unintentional weight loss or gain.
• Decreased energy or persistent fatigue.
• Unexplained aches and pains.
• Difficulty with concentration, decision-making, or memory.
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping.
• Loss of sexual desire.
• Increase in purposeless physical activity and restlessness.
• Slowed movements or speech.
• Feelings of worthlessness or extreme guilt,
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

If these symptoms persist, it may be time to seek professional advice and visit a reputable treatment center for mental illnesses like depression.

What Causes Depression?

Depression is a complex mental health disorder influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Understanding these causes helps you and your doctor determine how to deal with the symptoms of depression. Here’s a breakdown of the primary factors that contribute to depression:

Biological Factors

• Genetics: Individuals with a family history of depression may be more likely to develop it themselves.
• Brain Chemistry and Neurotransmitters: Imbalances in brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine that regulate mood are often associated with depression.
• Hormonal Changes: Changes in hormonal balance due to conditions such as thyroid problems, menopause, or after childbirth (postpartum) can trigger depression.
• Physical Health Problems: Chronic illnesses or long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer can co-occur with depression.

Psychological Factors

• Trauma and Grief: Traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful situation can trigger depression.
• Early Childhood Trauma: Early life stresses such as parental neglect, mental abuse, or physical abuse can influence the brain in ways that increase the risk of depression later in life.

Social Factors

• Life Events: Major life changes, such as moving, losing a job, divorce, or retirement, can bring on feelings of loneliness and isolation that may trigger depression.
• Social Isolation: A lack of social support can increase the risk of developing depression, especially after significant life events.

Environmental Factors

• Seasonal Changes: In some individuals, the reduced sunlight in winter months leads to a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
• Chronic Stress: Ongoing, unresolved stress can wear down the brain’s ability to maintain other biological and psychological systems, increasing the risk of depression.
• Substance Use: Alcohol and drug abuse can both lead to and result from depression.

Understanding these diverse causes helps address the root issues contributing to each patient’s depression and contribute to more effective depression treatment.

Types of Depression

Depression can manifest in several forms, each varying in severity and symptoms. Understanding the different types of depression is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. Here are some common types of depression:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Also known simply as major depression, it involves severe depressive symptoms that interfere significantly with daily activities such as sleeping, eating, working, and enjoying life for at least two weeks.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Dysthymia is a chronic form of depression where symptoms last for at least two years, but they may not reach the intensity of MDD.

Bipolar Disorder

Formerly called manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes).

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

This type of depression is related to changes in seasons and begins and ends at about the same times every year. Most people with SAD have symptoms that start in the fall and continue into winter.

Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression

Peripartum depression occurs during pregnancy or after delivery. Women suffering from this may experience extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to perform daily activities and care for themselves or others.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

A severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), PMDD includes symptoms such as severe irritability, depression, or anxiety a week or two before the menstrual cycle starts.

When to See a Doctor for Depression

If you have symptoms of depression every day for more than two weeks, it’s best to consult a doctor. If your mood negatively impacts work, hobbies, or relationships, reach out to a doctor or mental health professional as soon as possible. Go to a reputable treatment center for depression to ensure quality care from specialists who know how to treat your specific type of depression. Delaying can exacerbate the symptoms and prolong recovery.

When to Get Emergency Help

Immediate intervention and attention are needed if a person expresses suicidal thoughts or a desire to self-harm. If you or someone you know is in this situation, seek help immediately from someone who knows how to provide the proper treatment and care for patients suffering from depression.

Diagnosing Depression

Understanding the root causes is important for effective treatment. Depression diagnosis may involve interviews, physical examinations, and sometimes specific tests to rule out other conditions since some medical conditions may be similar to symptoms of depression. In some cases, a blood test or other specific investigation might be needed.

Treatment for Depression

Depression is treatable. If you are diagnosed with depression, don’t feel ashamed, and don’t try to deal with depression symptoms on your own. With the right approach, individuals can manage their symptoms and experience significant improvements in their quality of life. We offer various options on how to treat depression at Bangkok Mental Health Hospital:

• Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, like cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, offers strategies to deal with negative thoughts and improve coping mechanisms.

• Hospitalization

Severe cases may call for hospitalization for advanced treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

At Bangkok Mental Health Hospital, we offer dTMS or Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to help with depression. The dTMS device releases electromagnetic waves to stimulate the brain at specific points that affect the condition, in order to stimulate neural activity and trigger the release of brain chemicals. This helps rebalance brain function to return to a normal state and reduce depressive symptoms.

Medication

Medications, particularly antidepressants, are often prescribed as part of a comprehensive depression treatment plan. They work by helping to balance brain chemicals that affect mood and stress.

• Antidepressants: These medications can help alleviate symptoms of depression by influencing neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. There are various types, and finding the most effective one may require some trial and error, as well as managing potential side effects.

Prevention

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent depression entirely, certain strategies can help reduce your risk and manage depression symptoms if they arise. These preventive measures often go hand-in-hand with effective depression treatment:

• Control Stress: Develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress, which can enhance your resilience and boost self-esteem.
• Build Strong Connections: Reach out to family and friends, especially during difficult times, to help you navigate challenging periods. Social support is a crucial buffer against depression.
• Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Regular exercise, quality sleep, and a balanced diet can positively impact your mood and overall mental well-being.
• Avoid Alcohol and Drug Misuse: Substance abuse can worsen depression symptoms and interfere with effective depression treatment.
• Seek Early Treatment: If you notice early symptoms of depression, don’t delay in seeking professional help. Early intervention can prevent the condition from worsening and improve depression treatment outcomes.
• Consider Maintenance Treatment: For individuals with a history of depression, long-term maintenance treatment (e.g., ongoing therapy or medication) can significantly reduce the likelihood of symptom relapse.

Depression Treatment at Bangkok Mental Health Hospital

Our team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists specialize in mental health care, providing expertise in various therapies and depression treatment in Thailand. We stay abreast of the latest advancements in depression treatment, offering our patients cutting-edge therapies alongside traditional methods.

Depression doesn’t have to define your life. Bangkok Mental Health Hospital is committed to helping you rediscover hope and recover from depression. Contact us for a consultation to learn how to beat depression. Find out more about our depression treatment programs and our depression center.

• Phone: 02-589-1889
• Line: @bmhh
• Mail: [email protected]
• Location: Tiwanon – Pathum Thani road, Tha Sai, Mueang Nonthaburi Nonthaburi 11000

Article by

Nongnaphat Wanussakul,M.D.
Adult Psychiatry
Bangkok Mental Health Hospital (BMHH)