Overcoming Depression

Depression is a long-term illness that affects a person’s moods and feelings. The condition has a negative impact on one’s way of thinking and acting. Feelings of sadness and a decreased level of interest in previously enjoyed activities are common symptoms of the disease. The symptoms vary in nature and can fluctuate depending on the severity of the disorder. The psychological and physical challenges that an individual is facing cause the fluctuation from mild to severe (Melrose). Despite its prevalence, the severity of the condition varies from mild to severe, with symptoms such as irritability, sadness, and fatigue taking center stage. The period adopted by an individual to overcome sad situations vary depending on various factors such as mental strength and the level of guidance accorded to a person. Although depression is not a good condition for a person’s health, in the event a friend or a family member is depressed, several measures apply to aid in overcoming the situation. Although the condition has adverse effects on the victims, the disease is curable through therapies or treatments (Kerr).

The symptoms of depression must be identified. Hence a proper diagnosis is essential. There are diverse forms of depression that can develop under certain circumstances. They include; the persistent depressive disorder which is characterized by lasting of a mood for at least two years. Perinatal depression is a type of depression characterized by extreme cases of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion. The condition is common among pregnant women immediately after giving birth (Masten 2). Psychotic depression occurs in the event where an individual is both depressed and harbors elements of psychosis such as guilt. Seasonal affective disorder refers to the early stage of a depression condition that in most cases occur at the initial stages of the winter season. The depression is characterized by aspects such as withdrawal, excessive sleeping, and weight gain during the winter periods. The last form of depression is the bipolar disorder which is characterized by episodes of low moods as well as extremely irritable moods (Padesky 286).

Signs, symptoms and risk factors of depression

Different signs and symptoms describe depression. The signs and symptoms include; persistent sadness, guilt, pessimism, irritability, worthlessness, and lack of interest in pleasure-related activities. Similarly, depression is characterized by high levels of fatigue, conditions of restlessness, difficulty in concentrating and sleeping, suicidal thoughts, cramps, oversleeping and lack of appetite. Although in most cases not all the signs occur to an individual at the same time, they play a significant role in determining the most appropriate way of assisting a person in overcoming the situation (Melrose 11). Depression is responsible for several disorders experienced by adults. Although the condition is prevalent in adults, it is recognizable in children as well. Illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Parkinson’s disease are attributable to depression condition. Other risk factors associated with depression such as trauma and other physical illnesses. Biological aspects such as faultiness of the brain in controlling moods can also cause depression. Nonetheless, genetic vulnerability, medical problems, stressful events, and medications can bring misery to an individual. Even if individuals may have similar depression symptoms, the required treatments may vary due to different biological causes of the disorder.

Treatment and therapeutic sessions

The best way of overcoming depression is through treatment and therapies. Treatment involves the use of medications in treating depression. Ant-depressants enable help in reducing the effect of a stressful condition. Hence, they are pivotal in overcoming stressful situations. On the other hand, Therapeutic sessions refer to an instance where an individual visits a counselor and he or she is engaged in a talking meeting (Kerr 4). The course aims at helping a client to think more rationally and positively. Also, the meeting’s objective is to eliminate the unhealthy behavioral trends in an individual. In some cases, both the treatment and therapeutic sessions are combined to aid in providing the best remedy. In treatment, the use of antidepressant medications plays a significant role in improving the way the brain uses the chemicals responsible for controlling mood. In most cases, an antidepressant medication that enabled a family member to overcome the condition is often considered.

Therapies are an alternative or complement to drugs as a way of controlling depression. Therapies that aim to address a particular depression disorder are known as evidence-based methods. They include; interpersonal therapy, problem-solving therapy, and the cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy involves working with a mental counselor for a relatively shorter number of sessions (Goforth 502). The cognitive-behavioral therapy is essential in assisting an individual to overcome negative thoughts. The problem-solving approach aims at enabling a person to develop mechanisms for dealing with stressful conditions and situations. As a result, it reduces the chances that an individual will commit suicide by allowing the person to develop an optimistic view as far as life is concerned. Use of antidepressant drugs as well as the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy are considered to be the best ways of treating the depression disorder, especially in the young people. Cognitive behavioral and interpersonal therapy help in understanding an individual’s personality and perceptions adequately.

Although therapists and counselors play an integral role in assisting depressed people in overcoming the stressful conditions, provision of other measures away from a professional is essential. In the event where a friend, a person or a family member is depressed, talking to him or her about the factor causing the depression is important. The aim of the talk will be to uplift his or her self-esteem. Moreover, advising the friend or family member to visit a therapist would serve a great deal since the latter is a specialist and would deduce different measures of combating the situation. Similarly, Preparing the depressed person a healthy and sumptuous meal to elevate his or her mood is critical (Padesky 289). An individual should make a meal that the sad person loved. Moreover, engaging the sad person in a jogging and exercise session so as to help him or her in forgetting the tragic event with ease is important. The essence of a jogging exercise is to enable the depressed person to ignore the factors causing the stressful condition. Consequently, jogging and exercise allow the individual to become active.

In conclusion, mental disorders may lead to extreme cases such as suicide, isolation, temperamental conditions and other weird behaviors in human beings. The conditions can be treated either through medication, therapies or a combination of the two. The adverse effects can alter the personality of an individual. Thus, timely diagnosis of the situation is vital. Depression is as a result of either the social, psychological or biological factors. Therapeutic sessions are necessary since an individual can get assistance as well as share personal experiences. Depression is detrimental to the lives of people. The more a person is depressed, the more likely he or she is to have a deteriorating health. As a result, help should be accorded to the individual to assist him or her to overcome the depressing situation

Works Cited

Goforth, A., Pham, A. and Carlson, J. “Diathesis-stress Model.” Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development (2012): 502-503. Document.

Kerr, Michael. ”Major Depressive Disorder.” Health Line (2015): 1-6. Document.

Masten, Ann. ”Children Who Overcome Adversity to Succeed in Life.” University of Minnesota: Exstension (2017): 1-5. document.

Melrose, Sherri. ”Persistent Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches.” Open Journal of Depression (2017): 1-13. document.

Padesky, C. A., and Mooney, K. A. ”Strengths-based cognitive-behavioural therapy: A four-step model to build resistance.” Clinical Psycholgy and Psychotherapy. (2012): 283-290. Document.