Clinically significant depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a mood ailment typically confused with everyday life stress. It is generally why many people fail to receive the treatment, and their mental health condition worsens.
To help you understand the disorder, here I have a mini-guide. It covers everything, symptoms, causes, and treatment options for clinical depression. I hope it proves to be an enlightening experience; let’s get this started:
Symptoms of Clinical Depression
Apart from low mood and high-stress levels, there are many other symptoms of clinical depression. The following are a few that can indicate the presence of a mood disorder:
- Loss of pleasure in everyday life activities
- Persistent hopelessness and pessimism
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Loss of appetite or binge eating
- Constant fatigue and body aches
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
Causes of Clinical Depression
First and foremost, know that no one knows about the exact cause of depression. Unlike physical conditions like typhoid and respiratory infections, depression has no start or end. However, certain things can contribute to the manifestation of its symptoms. They include:
- Loss or death of a loved one
- Financial distress or loss of a job
- Marital issues or inter-family problems
- Direct or indirect exposure to trauma
- Divorce or other major life events like having a baby
Treatment of Clinical Depression
Now that we’ve established how and why depression manifests, let’s move towards its treatment. Several things can help you; here are a few of them:
Herbs and Plants
I prefer keeping herbs and plants on top of my list as such organic treatment options have minimal side effects; hence, they’re safe. Speaking of clinical depression, many herbs and plants can help you treat its symptoms.
For example, turmeric is used to eliminate body aches, passionflower to relax for a bit, CBD oil to relieve anxiety, and chamomile to reduce fatigue. They’re all great in what they do. Just make sure not to try them all at once. Do it one by one and stick to the herb that suits you best.
Allopathic Medicines
Although herbs and plants work well to manage the symptoms of depression, allopathic medicines are sometimes mandatory depending on your mental health condition and the severity of the disorder. In case your physician prescribes you antidepressants, please do give them a thought.
While you may ditch benzodiazepines or tranquilizers, ditching antidepressants may not be possible for you in many cases. However, be sure not to overdose on it ever and stick to the recommended dose all the time. Also, drink lots and lots of water as antidepressants cause dehydration.
Lifestyle Rehabilitation
Ranking third is lifestyle rehabilitation. It’s another essential thing when treating depression. It includes regular exercise, meditation, yoga, and other relaxing hobbies like gardening or cooking. Increased physical activity can naturally eliminate stress and help with depression.
Not to mention, it can also regulate your sleep, fighting off insomnia or hypersomnia. The same goes for meditation and yoga. They can relax you both physically and mentally, leaving you feeling better instantly. Plus, activities like gardening and cooking can be extremely rewarding.
It will take only 12-16 weeks and you’ll be good to go. I hope it helps you out. Get well soon, pals!