Depression does not present itself in stages; however, it does have mood altering symptoms that make daily functioning difficult. Self-medication is a common tool for people feeling symptoms of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety and melancholy. Common self-medicating substances include alcohol, illegal drugs and non-prescribed medications for temporary symptom relief. The National Alliance on Mental Illness exists to provide networking support, education, and training and peer support programming for persons with mental illness.
Types
Depression, a stage less, serious disorder carries several categorical listings and types of depression. The Merck Manual lists the different types of depression: major depressive disorder or major depression, dysthymia, substance abuse-depressive disorder and depressive disorder due to a general physical condition. The term depression is a general term for all of the aforementioned disorders notes Merck.
Features
Major depressive disorder or major depression features include a psychiatric determination of five mental or physical symptoms such as despair, or loss of interest in typical activities,feelings of worthlessness or guilt, recurring thoughts of suicide, and difficulty concentrating. Physical symptoms include a change in weight or appetite, lack of energy, fatigue, agitation, anxiety, insomnia or excessive sleeping. These symptoms must exist for two weeks or more in order to be categorized as major depression and may have single or recurring episodes as determined by the DSM IV as noted in Mental Health Today website.
The Merck Manual describes dysthymia as depression with less intense symptoms that last for at least two years. Dysthymia symptoms are similar to other depressive disorders but may appear less serious and more chronic. Features include pessimism, introversion, being hypercritical of self or others, anxious, substance abuse and developmental disorders.
Substance abuse-depressive disorder is described as a depressive disorder resulting from drug or alcohol abuse depressing or stimulating the central nervous system causing similar depression features.
A depressive disorder occurring from a general physical condition is a depressive disorder feature in which a physical illness such as multiple sclerosis or physical impairment causes features of grief, sadness and anxiety as the client deals with the stressors of physical disorders.
Chemical Activity
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that affects mood, anxiety, thinking, comprehension and immediate gratification, according to the Andrews Research Group. Synapses in the brain maintain sufficient levels of serotonin to decrease these depressive symptoms. Serotonin receptors malfunction causing insufficient saturation of this neurotransmitter. Anti-depressant medications allow the brain to decrease serotonin that triggers the gates to compensate for the damaged receptor. Once reset, serotonin builds at the receptor sites and eventually regulates the body's need for this chemical, notes Pennsylvania State Neuroscience Institute.
Treatment Tools
The Merck Manual suggests treatment options including psychiatrist support, psychotherapy and drug therapy. Psychotherapy can improve patients coping skills, and provide support and guidance while antidepressant medication regulates in the body. Psychotherapy assists the client in evaluating thoughts and behaviors that may inhibit progress and encourages patients to resume social and work related activities. Couple therapy can reduce sexual tensions and enhance a patient's ability to communicate with their significant other. A physician may refer a patient to a psychiatrist for psychotherapy and drug treatment as the psychiatrist can prescribe medications that she can then monitor.
Expert Insight
A review of 225 studies in the recent issue of Psychological Bulletin, published by the American Psychological Association found that happy people are more successful across many life domains than less happy people. They also found that their happiness was a consequence of their positive emotions. These reviews noted that happy people frequently experienced positive moods that prompted them to work toward new goals and build new resources. When clients were happy, they tended to be confident, optimistic, energetic likable and sociable, an attainable goal with psychiatric support, drug and psychotherapy.
