Clinical depression also called major depressive disorder is a serious mood disorder that is characterized by persistent sadness and hopelessness. However, it’s not all depression brings to the table.
It has several other side effects and if left untreated, it can eventually make you take your own life. Yes, most of the suicide cases in the world happen due to depression. Thus, it won’t be wrong to say that the disorder is severe and requires your undivided attention.
To help you further, the following are all the tiny bitsy details you need to know about clinical depression. Let’s have a look:
Symptoms of Clinical Depression
As mentioned earlier, depression is a lot more than sadness and hopelessness. Here’s what it looks like:
- Loss of interest in everyday life activities
- Pessimism and poor decision-making skills
- Frequent body aches and fatigue
- Binge eating or loss of appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Suicidal thoughts or possible attempts
Treatment Options for Clinical Depression
Thankfully, depression isn’t something that has no cure. It can be fully treated with prompt diagnosis and treatment. There are several ways you can treat depression. A few of them are as follows:
- Antidepressants to alter the disturbed neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) in the brain
- Benzodiazepines to relieve anxiety and relax your nervous system
- Herbs and plants, such as purple space cookies and ashwagandha, as an alternative to antidepressants as they possess natural healing properties
- An active lifestyle with increased physical activity to naturally elevate the number of happy hormones (endorphins) in the body
- Relaxing techniques like a head massage and mudding to instantly calm you down
- Sleep-inducing drugs or tranquilizers to regulate your sleep and keep insomnia at bay
- Regular meditation, at least twice a day, to keep your stress levels low
- Antipsychotics in case of psychotic depression that comes with symptoms like hallucinations and delusions
Risk Factors Associated with Clinical Depression
Researchers still haven’t discovered the exact cause of depression but one thing has become very clear. Certain factors can increase your odds of getting this disorder. They include:
- Female sex (due to the gender bias in the society)
- Age (geriatric depression is quite common)
- Direct or indirect exposure to trauma (physical assault or mental torture)
- Loss of a loved one or financial crisis (loss of a job)
- Major life events like going through a divorce, having a baby, financial responsibilities, etc.
The Final Word…
Lastly, I want you to know that it’s okay to be depressed. I reckon that there are a lot of stigmas attached to mental health issues but remember that you’re not defined by those stigmas. Staying positive is the key and it’s one thing that can help you recover from depression effortlessly and quickly.
Rest assured, prompt diagnosis and treatment can save you from a lot of trouble. Thus, you must consult the best online ketamine clinic right away as soon as you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above. I wish you good luck, my friends. Have a great day ahead, everyone!