Depression: The Elephant in the Room

Depression is defined as feelings of severe despondency and rejection. A major depressive disorder causes a person to feel very sad and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed participating in.

If you enjoyed roulette and enjoyed playing it on online casinos using bonuses like the PlayCroco Casino bonus, you might suddenly lose all interest. This mental illness makes it difficult to function normally at school, the workplace, and home. In recent years, cases of depression have been on the rise, and one of the most affected demographics is students.

It was especially highlighted when the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world, and everything became uncertain. Here are some signs to look out for if you believe you or someone you love is struggling with this depression.

What are the symptoms of depression?

The signs and symptoms of depression are varied and include:

1. A feeling of great sadness or may exhibit moods associated with those of a person who is very unhappy and frustrated.
2. The person may be extremely sad about a situation that is not as serious as they perceive it to be because of believing whatever they want to experience or achieve is now out of their reach.
3. People lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Things that once enjoyable and very satisfying become laborious, so the person sees no need to continue participating.
4. Another sign of depression is a registered increase in physical activities that serve no purpose, for instance, pacing and fidgeting.
5. Sometimes, a person dealing with depression will lower their rate of doing things, for instance, talking slowly and sauntering.
6. A person suffering from depression might experience a change in their appetite and lose or gain weight due to gaining or losing their appetite.
7. A decrease in energy levels or an increase in fatigue can also indicate depression. It could lead to a person’s inability to participate in activities, insomnia, or excess sleep.
8. One of the most severe symptoms, a major tell-tale sign, is the feeling of guilt or worthlessness. A severely depressed individual sometimes feels extremely guilty because of things previously done. They might also feel like they are of no use to anyone or of no importance in this life. It often culminates in suicidal ideation or fantasies of death.

How can you help them?

Talk to the person and convince them to seek mental health assistance if you notice these symptoms. If they are unwilling and their situation seems to be dire, you can talk to their guardian or parent and tell them what is happening.

If they are expressing an intention to harm themselves or those around them, get in touch with the school counselor or therapist before it is too late. Depression can be a debilitating medical condition, and you shouldn’t just assume that a person is just acting a certain way because they have a bad attitude.

Treatment for depression

Although depression can be severe, it is one of the most easily treatable mental disorders. According to medical practitioners; eighty to ninety percent of patients with depression respond well to intervention and are eventually successfully treated. There is a good understanding of the condition in the medical profession.

Before any patient diagnosed with depression or treated for the same; a doctor completes a comprehensive evaluation of the patient. If and when the tests turn out positive, different interventions are used to help treat the patient.

1. Medication

Because the makeup of chemicals in a person’s brain may be behind someone’s depression; the doctor prescribes medicine called antidepressants to balance these chemicals. Unlike some drugs, antidepressants do not alter people’s behavior and have little to no effect on those not experiencing depression.

Antidepressants take full effect after about two to three months. Sometimes when a specific antidepressant doesn’t seem to work for a patient, the psychiatrist changes the prescription. Antidepressants can also be prescribed even after someone is completely healed from the depression to prevent a recurrence in the future.

2. Psychotherapy

Another intervention is psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy. Its often applied on its own as a treatment for mild depression. Patients with moderate and severe depression treated with a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. It involves focusing on what is happening presently and solving problems.

This method helps patients recognize a problem in their thought process; and how they approach issues before guiding them to change, do and think positively. The length of treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition. However, experts have noted significant progress after about ten sessions.

3. Electroconvulsive therapy

The third treatment is the use of a therapy known as electroconvulsive therapy; a medical treatment popularly used for patients with severe depression. Its also used for bipolar patients; mostly when patients of both conditions fail to respond to the other treatment approaches. ECT involves stimulating a patient’s brain while the person has been sedated.

This method has used for many years and has yielded significant results because a lot of investment has been put into research. The treatment often managed by a team of trained professional doctors who are experts in this area.

Take away

Depression is a medical condition that requires attention and empathy. Being a student can be tough, and struggling students need as much support as they can. Fortunately, there is a lot of awareness around it, so people are now more informed about the illness; equipping them with the knowledge to help those struggling with it.