Depression is one of the most misunderstood, yet commonly known serious disorders of mental health. While feeling depressed in reaction to something that has caused an emotional upheaval, or a major life change, is a normal phenomenon (indeed, it would be abnormal not to be depressed after, say, the death of a loved one), when this emotional instability and persistent low mood exceeds the normal duration of reactive depression and becomes permanent, it is a cause for concern.
Depression has very typical features, which while characteristic, overlap with a lot of other diseases. Often, as the patients are themselves depressed, they do not even notice the changes until they become very apparent, or when their ability to carry out a normal day to day routine becomes significantly impaired, if they even notice it at all. The first features that patients, or their friends or family notice are continuous low moods, feeling as if life is pointless or that nothing has any meaning anymore, feeling negative all the time, having no focus or concentration power or will power, lack of appetite, constant fatigue and early exhaustion, insomnia or sleeping excessively, impaired memory, etc. If not the patients themselves, sometimes it’s their close friends, coworkers, or family who notice the change. Even with support, depression needs to be examined by psychiatrists who are experienced in handling these cases.
This is because depression is a symptom of another condition as often as it is a standalone condition. A good psychiatrist will make his diagnosis only after all organic illnesses and diseases that can cause depression have been ruled out, such as hypothyroidism, for example. It is often seen that inept doctors rush into a diagnosis, start the patient on the wrong medication or ineffective dosages, and the patient who is already suffering because of his persistent low moods and physical manifestations, ends up having to suffer even more. In practices such as ours, such mismanagement is unheard of. We have a stellar array of psychiatrists who have seen numerous cases of depression, both where the depression is unrelated to any other cause, as well as when depression was a symptom of underlying conditions like manic depressive disorder, schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder, and Parkinson’s disease. Depression is one of the most common clinical disorders, and many of our staff are well versed in all its manifestations enough to have been published on this topic in several noted publications, as well conducted lectures in colleges about the same.
Treatment of depression
Treatment of depression, when done correctly by an experienced professional, is a delicate yet intense process. Money minded doctors simply scribble a prescription down and move on to the next patient. In practices like ours, however, each patient is treated differently. We have the experience needed to treat patients with the exact approach that is best for them. We have a broad scope of dozens of medications from different classes of drugs that are used for treating depression, not simply antidepressants. It is not necessary that the same drug work with equal efficacy in two different patients- this is where our expertise is a benefit for the patient. We also use generic antidepressant sensitivity tests to determine response to different drugs, till the right drug can be fixed for the patient. And simply medication is not the solution. Depression needs understanding coupled with a professional approach to problem solving, including counseling, therapy, and instilling initiative in the patients themselves, all of which we provide individually to each patient. Some patients respond to just therapy, whether it is group therapy or one on one sessions with empathic psychiatrists. Some patients respond to just medication, the right medication in the right dose and their life is back on track. Some patients need both- it is the initiative of a good psychiatric practice to treat the patient according to his depression, as we do. And we are experts in the providing patients the stabilization they need, to resume their daily lives with vim and vigor, instead of trudging through the day. Depression is not an incurable disease, and it does not mean that you are doomed to be depressed for the rest of your life- the correct treatment approach will make all the difference.
Facts about Depression
Major Depressive Disorder
This is the most severe and most common type of depression. Studies show that MDD affects 17% of population at least once throughout life. Yet MDD is commonly misdiagnosed and under treated.
Dysthymic Depression Disorder
This is a chronic, low level depression that continues lifelong. Individuals may function but can’t enjoy their life.
This is mild-to-moderate depression that results from traumatic events, such as a divorce or job loss.
- Depression is highly treatable, yet only about one-fifth of the millions Americans suffering from a depressive disorder are getting proper treatment.
- Depression can mimic physical illnesses and cause fatigue, muscle tension, sweating, palpitation, nausea, cold hands, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, jumpiness, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation and other physical symptoms.
- Lack of interest in doing things you usually enjoy
- Feeling sad, depressed, or blue
- Sleep troubles
- Feeling tired
- Poor appetite, overeating, weight change
- Feeling bad about yourself, feeling guilty or worthless
- Trouble concentrating
- Being slow or hyperactive
- Thoughts that you would be better off dead; suicidal intentions