Depression Treatment – (Major Depressive Disorder)

Feeling down, sad, or becoming uninterested and/or not finding pleasure in the usual daily activities are normal feelings that we tend to experience from time to time. However, when these low moods become extreme they can harm the emotional, mental, and physical health of a person. This can result in interference in the normal day-to-day functions leading to depression. If you are experiencing these types of feelings, you are not alone, and at Euromed Clinic we have depression disorder treatment that can help you lead a fulfilling life.

What is depression?

Depression or major depressive disorder is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people around the world. It is a common mood disorder that involves experiencing persistent feelings of loss of interest and sadness. People with depression tend to have difficulty undertaking their normal daily activities and they may feel as if life is not worth living.

Depression is not a passing condition but rather an ongoing one. It is a problem that can last for several weeks, months, or even years. Fortunately, it is treatable and the treatment may be long-term because it is not something that you can just snap out of. Most individuals suffering from depression tend to feel better with psychotherapy, medication, or both. 

Signs And Symptoms

For some people, depression can occur once in a lifetime, but for others, it occurs in multiple episodes. Depression consists of episodes that last more than two weeks with symptoms such as:

• Feeling hopeless, empty, sad, and tearful
• Loss of pleasure or interest in normal day-to-day activities
• Irritability, frustration, or angry outbursts even on small matters
• Problems with sleeping, such as sleeping too much or insomnia
• Lack of energy or tiredness and it takes extra effort to accomplish small tasks
• Agitation, restlessness, or anxiety
• Feeling guilty or worthless
• Increased craving for food or loss of appetite
• Slowed body movements, thinking, or speaking
• The trouble with making decisions, concentrating or remembering things
• Frequent thoughts about suicide, death, or attempting suicide
• Unexplained physical ailments such as headaches, or back pain

Who is mainly affected by depression?

The World Health Organization estimates that depression affects 3.8% of the world population. This includes 5% among adults and 5.7% among seniors (adults above the age of 60 years). Older adults are at a greater risk of depression because our bodies tend to slow down as we age leading to various health issues. 

What are the main causes of depression?

The exact cause of depression is not yet fully understood but there are possible factors that when combined can trigger the symptoms. These factors include:

• Genetic vulnerability
• Faulty mood regulation by the brain
• Stressful life events
• Psychological factors
• Environmental factors
• Hormones
• Conditions such as bipolar disorder

Types Of Depression

The most common types of depression are major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder. There are other types of depressive disorders. These include:

• Major depressive disorder. This is when the affected person has at least one major depressive episode which involves having five or more symptoms over two weeks. This type can be recurrent with the person experiencing the symptoms once a month, year, or several times in the course of their lifetime. People who experience depression or low mood during recurrent episodes of major depression are sometimes diagnosed with unipolar disorder, also known as clinical depression.
• Persistent depressive disorder. Also known as dysthymia, it is characterized by a chronic state of the continuous long-term mood of low-level depression. Although this type of depression is not as severe as major depressive disorder, it can be disabling.
• Postpartum depression. This is characterized by feelings of exhaustion, sadness, anxiety, and indifference that a woman may experience after giving birth. One in every nine women who give birth may be affected by it. 
• Seasonal affective disorder. Just as the name suggests, this type of depression is seasonal and it tends to begin between late fall and early winter and goes down during spring and summer. Although it can also occur in summer, it is much less common than in winter.
• Bipolar depression. Bipolar depression disorder involves mood swings both low and high. Individuals who experience lows of bipolar have similar symptoms to those of unipolar depression.
• Psychotic depression. This occurs when the major depressive disorder is accompanied by psychotic episodes such as delusions or hallucinations.

Depression Treatment Techniques

• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This treatment helps depressed people correct false self-beliefs that can lead to certain behavior and mood swings. Cognitive behavior therapy focuses on changing a thought because it precedes the mood, behavior, and physical reaction.   
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This is a form of cognitive behavior therapy. It involves a comprehensive approach that includes an acceptance-based, cognitive, and behavior therapy, and teaches new coping skills to depressed patients. 
• Medication. Antidepressants help in balancing the levels of neurotransmitters. These are chemicals that are responsible for communication between brain neurons. They include dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. When the levels of these chemicals are high, the level of depression is usually low.  
• Group therapy. This is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more health practitioners helping a patient how to cope with negative behavior and experiences or manage mental health conditions.
• Family therapy. Depression not only affects the depressed person but the entire family. Integrating the family into the patient’s treatment ensures the best possible treatment outcome.

What is the prevention of depression?

A person who has had depression is likely to experience it again. It is important to get help if the symptoms start appearing. However, you can help prevent its onset by eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and practicing regular self-care activities such as yoga, meditation, and exercise.

Depression Disorder FAQs

Make An Appointment

If you are feeling depressed, it is important to talk to an expert about what you are feeling. It is important to seek out depression treatment in Dubai if you are having depressive thoughts. At Euromed Clinic Center we have experts who will walk with you throughout your treatment journey. You can start by booking a consultation with one of our experts by reaching out to us through a call or filling out the online form.

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