Depression is a health concern that should be taken seriously. Although everyone experiences moments of sadness, clinical depression can be much more debilitating and make it difficult to function in everyday life. Depression is a mental disorder; however, it can also affect your physical health and well-being.
The difference between feeling down VS. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Major Depressive Disorder affects multiple areas of life, which can include:
Relationships: Experience irritability, explosive behavior, loss of interest, withdrawn behavior
Job Performance: Poor motivation, fatigued, overwhelmed, work-day loss, decreased performance
Physical Symptoms: Poor sleep, change in appetite with weight gain or loss, fatigue, headaches, multiple body pains, frequently feeling ill
Mental Symptoms: Poor concentration, loss of interest in activities, low self-esteem, dreading the day ahead, suicidal thoughts
Once these symptoms are recognized, how are they treated?
A treatment plan for people with MDD varies from person to person. Usually, the symptoms of MDD are best treated with proper medical intervention and counseling/behavior modification.
Antidepressants can be a good option because they are not addicting nor do they change a person’s personality. The sooner a patient begins treating their depression, the more likely they can get off the medication within 6–12 months.
At times, treatment-resistant depression exists. In some of these cases, a patient will be tested for a mood disorder, such as bipolar depression.
