By: Emma Sharpee
Major Depressive Disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest can lead to a wide range of behavioral and physical symptoms. What are the symptoms? Symptoms are categorized into mood, behavior, sleep, physical, and cognitive Mood: Anxiety, lack of interest, guilt, hopelessness, mood swings, or sadness Behavior: excessive crying, irritability, isolation, or restlessness Sleep: Early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep Physical: excessive hunger, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight gain, or weight loss Cognitive: difficulty concentrating, slowness in activity, or suicidal thoughts What are the possible treatments for it? Treatments are categorized into therapies, medication, or medical procedures. Most treatments are a combination of therapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)- focuses on modifying negative thoughts, behaviors, and emotional responses associated with depression. In CBT, people with depression are able to break down their problems and make them manageable by talking with a therapist. As a result, people are able to change their thought patterns, and in turn, change their behavior and responses to those problems. Interpersonal therapy- focuses on resolving relationships with others. Interpersonal therapy helps to improve the quality of a client’s interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their distress. By developing social skills to rebuild relationships, many depressive symptoms resolve. Psychodynamic therapy- focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behavior. Discussing an event that may have led to a certain behavior allows the person to become more self aware of the problem, and understand the influence of a past event on their current behavior. SSRIs- eases symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety Antidepressants- relieves symptoms of depression *medication must often be prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist How can I help someone who is showing symptoms of major depressive disorder? To help a family member or a friend struggling with major depressive disorder, learn about depression and how to talk about it. Understand that a person with depression can’t just “snap out of it” or “suck it up” as it is a very serious mental disorder. Another way to help someone with depression is to not take things personally. Depression makes it difficult for a person to connect with others, even loved ones. It’s also common for people with depression to say hurtful things or lash out in anger to those who try to help them. If this happens, don’t get upset by it and have patience with them. Although you cannot fix their depression, you can always offer them unconditional love and support as they take small steps toward recovery.
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