What is Major Depression?
Major depression, also referred to as Unipolar or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is a mental health disorder often characterized by persistent feelings of hopelessness and despair. It is also inclined to losing interest over outside stimuli such as normal relationships and activities.
Individuals suffering from MDD ultimately find it difficult to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy normal activities that an average person does. This condition usually appears once in a person’s lifetime; However, some individuals have it in several periods of their life.
It sometimes occur in a family’s generation, one after another, but it doesn’t mean that it’s triggered genetically. After all, an individual can suffer from it even with no family background or history of the disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
People suffering from Major Depression are likely to show signs of feelings of extreme sadness. However, there is more to this disorder than meets the eye. Other signs and symptoms that may indicate that your loved one or friend suffers from MDD are:
- Major fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Extreme negative thinking with inability to see the positive side of things
- Difficulty to concentrate and focus
- Indecisiveness and inability to see positive solution
- Significant weight loss or gain
- Insomnia or hypersomnia – excessive sleeping
- Withdrawal from loved ones and other people
- Restlessness, agitation, and irritability
- Unreasonable lashing out
- Recurrent thoughts about suicide and death
Treatment
There are several treatments available for Major Depression depending on the severity of symptoms. Primarily, a psychiatrist will suggest treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.
Another treatment option called Electroconvulsive Therapy or ECT is available, but is generally discouraged to be done. Ultimately, it is only used as a last resort if medications and other forms of treatment prove to be ineffective in treating the condition.
