Neuropsychiatric Disorders Treatment For Signs of Clinical Depression

Be it a bad day at work or a tiff with a loved one — we all experience sadness and low moods, every now and then. That’s just how we are wired to process life’s struggles. However, at times, these negative feelings can be more than just bouts of blues. They could be signs of Depression, especially if these emotions persist for a long time, hampering an individual’s everyday life.   

In India alone, there are over 5 million people who suffer from Depression, and most don’t seek medical help due to lack of awareness or the stigma attached to it. That’s why, we have put together a list of signs that’ll help you understand Depression better and identify it at an early stage. 

Read on to know more. 

What is Clinical Depression?

Depression is a mental health disorder, manifested by a deep sense of sadness and loss of interest, affecting an individual’s mood for a significant period of time. It can disrupt a  person’s life by causing a decline in productivity and avoidance of social interactions. 

Often, major life events such as the death of a loved one or loss of a job can trigger people to spiral down. However, it’s hard to pin down the reasons for Depression.  It’s usually a mix of social, biological, and psychological factors that lead to distress. 

Typically, factors of Depression include: 

1.    Genetics 

2.    Imbalance of chemicals in the brain 

3.    Stress-related issues

4.    Poor physical health 

5.    Bad eating habits 

Depression also has the potential to trigger various other illnesses such as Anxiety, Diabetes, heart diseases, Thyroid, Cancer, and Sexual Dysfunction.

When to seek medical help?

If a person experiences the below symptoms of Depression for two weeks or more, then it’s best to seek medical help at the earliest.  

1.    Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and guilt 

 Individuals with depression lose purpose in life and experience sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt. They constantly blame themselves for that’s gone wrong in their lives and tend to feel an acute sense of emptiness due to loss of interest in activities they previously liked. 

2.    Trouble in sleeping 

People with Depression often oversleep to escape reality or suffer from Insomnia. The quality of sleep rapidly deteriorates, causing their bodies to feel fatigued all the time. While an average human being sleeps for 8 hours, a person with Depression gets less than or more than 8.

3.    Mood swings, irritability, and restlessness 

People with Depression go through a whirlwind of moods and emotions. One moment, they burst out in anger and others, they cry uncontrollably. Sometimes, they may also experience, heart palpitations, anxiety, and uneasiness in various parts of their body such as the chest and stomach. 

4.    Change in appetite 

Often, people tend to either lose their appetite or overeat when depressed. This affects body weight, with the person gaining or losing 5% of it in a month. When these improper eating patterns persist for a long time, they contribute to fatigue and irritability, greatly affecting their mood.

5.    Body pains, headaches, and cramps 

Depression causes improper functioning of nerve cell networks of both — the ones that process emotional information and physical pain. That’s why, patients suffer from chronic headaches, muscle pain, back and joint pain, dizziness, nausea, and digestive issues. 

6.    Suicidal thoughts 

For patients with Clinical Depression, life does not seem worth living for — hence, they have recurrent thoughts of ending their lives. They frequently think, attempt, or plan suicide.  It’s important to identify such individuals and intervene before they harm themselves. 

The severity and frequency of these symptoms may differ from person to person — but below are a few common indicators that help in early detection.

How to get help and manage the condition effectively? 

Today, there are several effective neuropsychiatric disorder treatments available able to help patients manage Clinical Depression better. With the combination of anti-depressants and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, many patients have successfully shown significant improvement. For some, results may show after a few sessions of therapy, while for others, it may take while longer — depending on the severity of the condition. Other treatments include Talk Therapy, Psychotherapy, Behavior Therapy, and more. Patients are also advised to make certain lifestyle changes like eating healthy, participating in physical activities, journaling, etc to boost their mood and cope with the situation at hand. 

The road to recovery can be difficult and at times even long — but most patients demonstrate positive results within just a few months of treatment. When detected early on, neuropsychiatric disorder treatment for Depression demonstrates faster and more promising results.