Major Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors & Treatment

A Quick Guide

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause consistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in a person. Though sadness is a normal human emotion. In fact, you may feel sad at times in your life when you have lost someone or something important to you. That would be a completely normal response. But if there is no current stressor and you are having symptoms of depression including sadness or loss of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities for a prolonged time. Yeah, that is a sign you may have a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). 

So MDD can affect all areas of your life depending on its severity. Even simply getting out of bed in the morning can become really difficult. You may not be able to focus on things or fall behind on important events.

According to the National Institute Of Mental Health, MDD is the most common mental disorder in the US. Approximately 8.4% of all US adults have experienced the symptoms of MDD. 

Though of course, there are treatment options available. You can take psychotherapy or your doctor can also prescribe you medication for more effective treatment. 

Symptoms

If you experience these symptoms for a prolonged period of time. You should see a mental health professional so you can get started with your treatment. Some of the symptoms of Major depression include the following: 

1. Having a depressed mood most of the day, that is observable by others
2. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you enjoyed before
3. Eating too much or too little leads to weight gain or weight loss
4. Sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or sleeping too little (insomnia)
5. Feeling restless or agitated
6. Fatigue or loss of energy
7. Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate excessive guilt
8. Difficulty in concentration and making decisions
9. Recurrent suicidal thoughts

It is important to remember that if you are having suicidal thoughts, you should contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for assistance from a trained counselor.

Learn more about 7 Signs Of Depression In Teens: How To Recognize & Treat Them

Causes & Risk Factors

It is unknown what causes MDD specifically. However, a number of things can make you more likely to get the illness. Stress and genetic factors can both alter brain chemistry and impair one’s capacity to control their mood. Moreover, if you have a family history of any mental illness or specifically a mood disorder. You can become much more prone to experiencing MDD. 

Some other factors include the following:

• MDD can also be influenced by changes in hormonal levels.
• The use of alcohol or other drugs may potentially cause MDD.
• Some medical disorders, such as hypothyroidism or cancer
• Misuse of specific drugs, especially steroids
• Childhood abuse 

Treatment

The treatment options include psychotherapy and medication depending on the severity of your depression.

Psychotherapy

While you are taking psychotherapy, your therapist can help you:

• Adapt to a crisis or other demanding situation
• Attempt to see things from a balanced perspective and learn how to think and behave rationally
• Boost your confidence
• Gain control and satisfaction over your life
• Seek better ways to handle difficulties and address issues
• Strengthen your communication abilities

Medication

Your doctor can prescribe different antidepressant medications. Though mostly they tend to give Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors SSRIs. 

A brain neurotransmitter called serotonin is thought to be in charge of mood. Those with MDD have low serotonin levels. By boosting the level of serotonin accessible in the brain, an SSRI helps alleviate MDD symptoms.

We hope you found this article useful in understanding Major depression, its symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatment.