Depression is quite a common mood disorder that is associated with feelings of sadness, frustration, anger, and loss. It is also known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder, and since it negatively affects how people think and behave, it can significantly interfere with their ability to carry out their everyday activities. People can experience depression in many varying ways and its impacts may differ from one case to another. For instance, it can negatively influence relationships, lower productivity, or aggravate some chronic health issues. The good news is that with the assistance of a reliable Lexington, depression specialist, depression is an issue that can be managed and even treated. Below are some important facts that you should know about depression.

Symptoms of Depression

For most people, depression may occur just once in their lifetime. However, patients typically experience multiple episodes. During the episodes, patients experience symptoms for most of the day, almost every day. The symptoms include:

• Feelings of tearfulness, sadness, frustration, anger, and hopelessness
• Sleeping problems, such as insomnia and oversleeping
• Agitation, restlessness, and anxiety
• Physiological problems, such as unexplained headaches and back pain
• Eating disorders such as appetite loss or even overeating
• Tiredness and low energy levels             
• Loss of pleasure or interests in most normal activities
• Trouble concentrating, thinking, and making decisions

In most cases, the symptoms of depression are severe enough to cause problems that are noticeable in day-to-day activities, such as school, work, relationships, and social activities. Most patients feel generally unhappy and miserable without understanding why.

Causes of Depression

So far, experts are yet to pinpoint the exact cause of depression. However, like other mental disorders, it is associated with a variety of factors, including biological differences, brain chemistry, hormonal imbalances, and genetics, among others. Some risk factors for depression include undergoing traumatic events such as sexual abuse, having a history of other mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, alcohol, and recreational drug abuse, and having serious chronic illnesses such as cancer, among others.

Treatment

Once you have been diagnosed with depression, there are several ways in which your doctor can help you to manage the symptoms and even cure the condition. Physiotherapy is one of the most common solutions offered when it comes to dealing with depression. It involves talking with a mental health professional about your issue with the aim of helping you to adjust to the external conditions or the events that are causing you the problem.

In more severe cases of depression, your doctor may opt to provide medication in addition to physiotherapy. Some of the medications used in this regard include Tricyclic antidepressants, atypical antidepressants, and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, among others.

The Takeaway

Overall, it is apparent that depression is quite a common problem and it has the capacity to significantly affect a patient's ability to perform their day-to-day activities. The good news is that the issue is treatable. If you are looking for a reliable mental health professional to help you to treat and cope with depression, Boston MindCare, in Lexington, Massachusetts, is an excellent mental facility to consider. Feel free to contact them today for more information about the services that they offer.