What is Depression? Is there a cure? Know the Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Depression is a mental illness that is characterized by more marked or prolonged sadness, loss of interest in activities usually felt as pleasant and loss of energy or easy tiredness. Depression differs from normal mood swings by the severity and permanence of symptoms. It is often associated with anxiety and/or panic.

The most common symptoms are a change in appetite (lack of or excess appetite); sleep disturbances (drowsiness or insomnia); fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness, lack of confidence and self-esteem, feelings of guilt and feelings of inadequacy; lack or changes in concentration; preoccupation with the meaning of life and with death; disinterest, apathy and sadness; changes in sexual desire; irritability; manifestation of physical symptoms, such as muscle pain, abdominal pain, nausea. Depression can appear at different ages, from teenagers to the elderly, and for different reasons .

Causes: Depression is a disease, different from what many think, that affects several chemical areas of the brain . Neurotransmitters are a big affected part of those people who develop this disease.

Symptoms: Unlike what many people think, the lack of sociability and social interest are not causes of depression but a consequence of the disease that already existed.

Some Symptoms That Can Be Detected Are:

• Anxiety, anguish, lack of social interest;
• discouragement;
• Derogatory humor;
• Feelings of fear, indecision.

Depression may also have Physical Symptoms, such as:  Stomach Pains, poor digestion, heartburn , flatulence, diarrhea, headaches, and other pains without any scientific explanation.
depression in the elderly

As already explained, depression can develop at any age, students of this subject say that depression can affect up to 15% of the elderly, with 2% being extremely severe depression . The onset of depression is unknown, it may be due to a set of factors, such as

• Social;
• Chemical;
• Biological.

Depression in Teens:

• Adolescence can be one of the most difficult stages of life for some people, especially when depression develops.
• Depression among teenagers is extremely difficult to diagnose, as there is a wide variety of moods at this stage, which can confuse many people.
• The indication is that adolescents who present a higher degree of mood variation go through specialists, as well as identification.

Postpartum depression : Pregnancy can be an extremely difficult time for some women, postpartum depression happens shortly after the baby is born. It can be caused by the hormonal change at the end of pregnancy.

• Today there are treatments that can be done soon after the identification of postpartum depression , so the faster the disease is identified, the more effective the treatment will be.
• Treatment: Today, with the advancement of medicine and technology allowing treatments for this disease to become increasingly effective, today there are approximately more than 30 remedies to treat depression.
• With the internet and the increase of information, the myths of the side effects of the medicines made for these treatments have been increasingly demystified.
• Is there a cure? Depression, unfortunately, is a disease that has no cure, it only has treatment, which should be done for life, so that there are no more episodes of depression, or lessen.

Side Effects of Medications:

Medicines for depression are basically the same in their composition, but each person can have a different reaction, usually their side effects are:

• Somnolence;
• Constipation;
• Urinary problems;
• Dizziness;
• Dry mouth.