Depression treatment first requires determining the patient’s level of depression. For this reason, a detailed examination is initially carried out and their feelings are evaluated. Some patients with depression are treated with medication. Sometimes psychotherapy is used. There are also situations where both treatment methods are applied together. In this way, the healing process is initiated. Treatment may be completed over a very long or a relatively short period of time. The course of treatment varies entirely depending on the patient’s condition.
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During this period, patients themselves also need to make an effort for their own well-being. In this way, a faster recovery process can be achieved. There are also different types of depression. It may appear as a short-term, episodic condition or persist over a long period. To understand this, the course of the patient’s condition is followed and the underlying cause of the problem is identified.
What Is Depression?
Depression is a condition in which individuals do not feel well, become psychologically worn out, and may struggle for a very long time. Feelings such as lack of motivation, worthlessness, and inadequacy may arise. Sometimes, people may even think that they will never be able to get out of this state. However, with the right treatment approach, recovery is possible.
The person no longer enjoys activities they once liked, withdraws from their environment, and begins to feel guilty, unhappy, and lonely. Because it can lead to serious consequences, it is extremely important that depression is treated properly and that treatment is started early.
What Causes Depression?
The causes of depression can be listed as follows:
- Genetic predisposition
- Certain medical illnesses
- Hormones or certain medications
- Childbirth
- Menopause
- Hormonal changes
- Having had depression in the past
- Experiencing negative life events
- Stress factors
- Loss of a loved one
- Losing a parent at an early age
- Insufficient social support
- Having another psychiatric disorder
- Relationship problems
- Family and work-related problems
- Financial difficulties
- Alcohol or substance addiction
- Abuse or neglect in childhood or adolescence
- Trauma
- Adjustment difficulties in early life
- Using inappropriate coping methods
- Old age
- Retirement
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Symptoms of depression include the following:
- Feeling sad all the time
- Depressive mood
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Loss of energy
- Sleeping too much or not sleeping at all
- Pessimism or hopelessness
- Unhappiness
- Inability to sit still
- Moving or speaking slowly
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Feelings of guilt
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Difficulty thinking and concentrating
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- Loss of sexual desire
- Decreased self-esteem
- Lack of expectations from the future
How Is Depression Diagnosed?
During the first consultation, it is necessary to understand the patient’s thoughts, feelings, and what they have been experiencing. A diagnosis can be made based on what the patient describes and reports. It is also very important to find out what has caused this condition. By identifying the source of the depression, better progress can be achieved because treatment can then be tailored to the underlying problem.
Determining how severe the patient’s condition is also carries great importance. This level can be assessed based on what the patient reports and clinical observation. In this way, an appropriate treatment plan can be created.
How Is Depression Treated?
Treatment methods include medication and psychotherapy. In some cases, only one of these may be used, while in others both are applied together. During the treatment process, the patient’s progress is regularly monitored. For some patients, treatment may involve a long and intensive process, with progress occurring slowly. For others, improvement may occur over a shorter period.
Starting treatment early leads to a faster recovery. Therefore, once the condition is recognized, initiating treatment as soon as possible allows positive results to be achieved more quickly.
