Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, how you think, and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.
What is the difference between normal sadness or grieving and depression?
Everyone experiences a range of emotions over the course of days and weeks, typically varying based on events and circumstances. When disappointed, we usually feel sad. When we suffer a loss, we grieve. Normally these feelings ebb and flow. They respond to input and changes. By contrast, depression tends to feel heavy and constant. People who are depressed are less likely to be cheered, comforted, or consoled. People who recover from depression often welcome the ability to feel normal sadness again, have a “bad day” instead of a leaden weight on their minds and souls every day.
Once a person has been diagnosed and treated for depression, is it likely to return?
Of people diagnosed with major depressive disorder treated and recover, at least half are likely to experience a recurrent episode sometime in their future. It may come soon after or not for many years. It may or may not be triggered by a life event. After several episodes of major depression, a psychiatrist may suggest long-term treatment. If you live in Rajasthan, you must visit the Best Psychiatrist in Jaipur, Dr. Shri Niwas Jangir.
What kinds of treatments work for depression?
A wide variety of treatments have been proven effective in treating depression. Some involve talking and behavioral change. Others involve taking medications. Some techniques focus on neuromodulation, which incorporates electrical, magnetic, or other energy forms to stimulate brain pathways. Examples of neuromodulation include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and experimental deep-brain stimulation (DBS).
The choice of therapy should be guided by the nature and severity of depression, past responses to treatment, and the patient’s and family’s beliefs and preferences. Whatever approach is selected, the patient should be a willing and active participant engaging in psychotherapy or regularly taking the medication, for example.
What do I need to tell my doctor when discussing my feelings of depression?
Total openness is important. You should talk to your doctor about all of your symptoms, important milestones in your life, and any history of abuse or trauma. Also, tell your doctor about the past history of depression or other emotional symptoms in yourself or family members, medical history, medications you are taking — prescribed or over-the-counter, how depression has affected your daily life and whether you ever think about suicide.
How long should I wait before I go and see a medical professional?
If your symptoms are mild, do not impair your work or home life, or adversely affect your health, and you do not think about suicide or self-harm, you could wait a week or two before visiting a professional to see if the symptoms may improve on their own. But more serious symptoms need immediate attention.
Do antidepressants have side effects?
Virtually all medicines can cause side effects. Typically, unwanted effects increase when the dose rises. Side effects usually vary from one drug to another and are especially variable between different medication classes. If you have previously taken medicine and done well or poorly or had bothersome side effects, be sure to tell the doctor what happened. This should affect the choice of your next prescription. If you have never taken an antidepressant, discuss with your doctor which groups have which side effects. Let your doctor know which side effects you particularly wish to avoid, such as sedation or sexual disruption.
What does treatment cost?
In the evolving U.S. health care system, the cost of treatment is a consideration for most people. At the same time, untreated depression can be costly itself, often compromising a person’s ability to function at home or at work. Speak to your health insurance company to learn about your benefits and co-pays. Insurers sometimes refer only to specific psychotherapists and limit the number of sessions. Co-pays vary. When cost is an issue, ask for generic medications rather than brand-name drugs. Most classes of antidepressants are available in generic formulations. Neuromodulation treatment can be expensive, and insurance coverage varies widely.
Services:
However, His special interests include psycho-education, talking therapy, lifestyle changes (among others), and starting a new medication.
Dr. Sanjay Jain also provides different services in sexology and psychiatry, such as Sexual Problems, Anger Control, Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Dementia, Behavior problems in children, and Old age.
He also provides psychiatric treatments for Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Affective and Emotional Difficulties, Panic Phobia, Child and Adolescent Problems, Male Sexual Problems, Female Sexual Problems.
Types of anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterised by chronic anxiety that becomes persistent after a time. Even when there is little or nothing to provoke, excessive worry and tension also come under generalized anxiety disorder.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorderRepetitive behaviour such as hand washing, cleaning, counting, checking, performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them vanished which provide only temporary relief and not performing them increase anxiety.
- Social PhobiaOverwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations form social phobia. Loneliness, social exclusion can be some of the effects of this phobia.
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