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How to help someone with depression
Information on depression, signs, symptoms and how to help someone with depression.
Everyone becomes down or sad at times. Life events, or just a bad day can sometimes make us upset, and small things like bad traffic can make us irritable. This by itself probably isn't depression.
When someone experiences constant feelings of sadness and irritability, is tired all the time and has no energy, stops participating in activities they used to like, that person maybe depressed.
Depression symptoms include very low self esteem, changing or irregular sleeping patterns, it could be either a lot more sleep or a lot less, or spending lots of time thinking about things that have gone wrong.
There is no one known cause for depression, but some studies show that severe cases of depression stem from things such as money problems, relationships, or the loss of a loved one.
Sometimes a person's depression may come from a bad or abusive childhood or family conflict, particularly ones that have to deal with parenting issues or between parents. Those are a few of the things studies have shown to cause major depression. There are a lot more causes.
Women are twice as likely to have a major depression than men. Women also have to deal with more hormonal factors that give them a predisposition to becoming depressed. Factors such as menstrual cycle, miscarriages, premenstrual syndrome and menopause all contribute to a woman becoming depressed.
External stress and anxiety over caring for children, overworking, and being single parent is a definite factor in depression in women as opposed to men.
However men experience their fair share of stresses. Many guys get very depressed when they go through issues such as family court, job layoffs, or other unmet expectations. Almost anything that is emotional can cause someone to become depressed.
There are no conclusive tests to diagnose depression but there are tests that can help the Doctor make a diagnosis. Not always 100% accurate but it's a good test if the doctor is familiar with the person. A good assessment of their family history and physical or chemical abuses that may contribute to the problem.
Once the doctor knows what he's dealing with most doctors will attempt to treat the depression with medications, therapy or both. Getting the depression treated is highly important. A person who goes without treatment will continue to have problems in normal daily functioning, or possibly become violent and a dangger to them self or others.
Suicide or hurting someone else are possible if the illness has gone untreated for a long time. Treatments are usually a combination of drug therapy and professional counseling that require a lot of friends and family support.
Anti depressive drugs have proven to be very successful in the treatment of depression but they do have some side effects. The family's support of someone who is depressed is important to helping them recover. Expressions of love, appreciation and normal communication should be the role of the family in the treatment of the person experiencing a depression.
Other treatments are simple and only require adequate sleep, regular exercise, avoiding illegal drugs and alcohol, and eating a healthy diet. Marijuana use can also make a person vulnerable to going into a depression. Particularly with long term use.
Depression is serious but can be treated easily and effectively if caught early. Take the steps now to prevent serious or fatal consequences if you think that you or someone you know is depressed.
The best help you can be is just be there for the person. Listen to what they have to say even if you don't want to. Talking to them about their problems and symptoms can be a great help. If you are afraid they may try to harm themselves or someone else it's a good idea to notify both the doctor and the authorities.
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