6 Warning Signs You Need Immediate Depression Treatment!

By Vaileria Dennis

An overview of depression

The mental health problems in the United States are very common. Among various mental disorders, depression and anxiety are two of the very common mental disorders that are seen among the people in the United States.

Depression is unlike normal sadness that a person experiences due to struggles and setbacks in their life. It’s a debilitating mood disorder that can interfere with regular day-to-day activities. The people who are depressed can feel like living in a black hole with no joy in their lives.

The recent report reveals that there are over 16 million adults in the United States that are diagnosed with the major depressive disorder.

According to the report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are around 350 million people all over the world that are suffering from depression.

Depression is also one of the most common causes of disability.

What are the causes of depression?

The causes of depression are not yet fully understood, and there are no specific causes of depression. A person may suffer from depression due to a complex combination of various factors, and they are:

• Genetics
• Biological factor, and, i.e., changes in neurotransmitter levels
• Environmental factors
• Psychological and sociological factors

• Life events
  A human being can go through various negative life events that can adversely impact their lives. These include divorce, financial problems, work issues, conflicts, medical concerns, and so on.
• Personalities
  The people with less successful coping strategies or with previous life trauma are more vulnerable to depression.
• Genetic factor
  A person who has a first-degree relative suffering from depression has a higher risk of suffering from depression.
• Childhood trauma
  The people who were exposed to dreadful incidents in their childhood have a higher risk of being diagnosed with depression.
• Prescription drugs
  The prescription drugs, such as beta-blockers, corticosteroids, interferon, and other similar drugs could be associated with depression.
• Drug and substance abuse
  The people who are used to using recreational drugs, alcohol, and other drugs are more likely to suffer from depression.
• Chronic pain syndromes
  The chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and so on can increase the risk of depression.

So what are the 6 warning signs of depression?

Some people may experience mild symptoms of depression while some people may experience more severe symptoms of depression. In this section of this article, we will deal with serious signs of depression.

We will reveal 6 warning signs of depression. If you are experiencing these 6 warning signs of depression, you should immediately consult a doctor. Without further ado, let’s check out the top 6 warning signs of depression.

1. Significant changes in sleeping pattern
   You used to sleep without any difficulties in the past, but now you don’t. Or, you were a person who used to sleep 6 hours every single day, but now you are sleeping throughout the weekends. These changes in the sleeping pattern can be the indication of depression.

   Sleep is very important for a human being. An average person should seek for 6-8 hours of sleep every single day. A lack of sleep can lead to many health problems. Without enough sleep, a person is not refreshed or rejuvenated. A lack of sleep will not allow the person to perform their daily activities in a normal manner.

   Depression patients may also experience psychomotor agitation. This condition can cause restlessness and a lack of ability to feel comfortable, even in a normal condition.

2. Your mind is disarranged
   When we judge the person’s mental well being, we usually look at how the person is behaving. The cognitive process of a person is evaluated to judge the person’s well-being. There are times when a person cannot sit down for a few minutes due to various problems. But, this is not a normal thing for a normal person who is mentally fit.

   In case of a person suffering from depression, this might be a regular thing. Their cognitive function is abnormal, and they cannot behave in a normal manner. The signs of deranged mind can be the slowness of thinking, memory problems, and difficulty in making a decision. These problems can adversely impact the person’s daily life.

3. Worrying and thinking too much
   The clinical term given for over-thinking and excessive worry is rumination. If you're not able to control your thoughts about various life conditions, it’s a sign that you need immediate treatment.

   Rumination does not allow your mind to rest. This condition can make the condition even worse for depression patients. With rumination, the mind of a patient cannot stop thinking about past negative events. It replays in their mind over and over again. The patient seems to over-analyze the situation.

   It’s very normal for a person to think about the past failure now and then, but it’s not a normal thing to keep on dwelling on the past events. The negative emotions are attached to every negative thought.

4. Significant change in weight
   A person can lose some pounds by minimizing the calorie intake. But, the weight change among depression patients is abnormal. Some people may consume more foods than normal while some depression patients can lose their appetite.

   The changes in the eating pattern can be accompanied by fatigue and loss of pleasure while consuming foods. Most of the people who are in a normal state of mind love to consume tasty foods, but the people who are depressed are often sad, even while consuming tasty dishes.

   Depression affects the chemicals and parts of the brain, which often leads to overeating and loss of interest in foods.

5. You hurt a lot
   Many unexplained physical problems, such as digestive issues, headaches, back pain, and others may be associated with depression. The pain is very real, and the depression patients may only visit a doctor to deal with their physical problems, instead of dealing with the root of those physical problems, and, i.e., depression.

   Some similar brain chemicals are shared by both pain and depression. These chemicals transfer via specific nerve paths. Due to this transfer of chemicals, depression can alter the sensitivity of the brain to physical pains.

   Depression and heart diseases are also linked. The study has shown that the depressed patients with heart diseases are at a greater risk of death. Depression is fatal to heart health.

6. Dwelling on death
   Depression is closely connected with suicide. According to the report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 42,000 people died from suicide in the USA.

   The people who are fed up with their life often talk about ending their life.

   If you or someone else close to you talk about ending their life, it’s a sign that you or your loved one needs immediate attention. There are ups and downs in a life of a human being, but this is what makes life beautiful. However, the people who are depressed fail to see the bright side of their life.

How is depression diagnosed?

Depression is a mood disorder, and it’s characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood. The symptoms of depression usually last for 6-8 months. Diagnosis of depression begins with a chat with a doctor or a mental health specialist.

At first, a doctor tries to find out the causes of depression. The doctor tries to rule out the causes of depression that are not associated with the patient’s condition. This process is necessary for accurate differential diagnosis and effective depression treatment.

A doctor may also try to find out the physical causes of depression, along with coexisting causes by asking the patient to go through a series of physical examinations. The question regarding the life and medical history of a patient will be asked by a doctor to better understand the situation of a patient.

There are some specific set of questions that are designed to find out the severity of depression. For instance, the Hamilton depression rating scale consists of 21 questions and the results of the questionnaire help in finding out the severity of depression.

What are the types of depression?

Depression is categorized into various types depending on the features of depression. Here are the common types of depression.

1. Unipolar and bipolar depression
   Unipolar depression is predominated by a depressed mood. In case of bipolar disorder, it is characterized by both manic and depressive episodes along with the periods of normal moods. It is also known as manic depression.

   Unipolar depression may be accompanied by anxiety, but there are no manic episodes like bipolar disorder. However, the study shows that the 40% of the bipolar disorder patients are often depressed, which makes it difficult for a doctor to distinguish.

2. Major depressive disorder accompanied by psychotic features
   Depression can be accompanied by psychotic features. Some examples of psychotic features are false beliefs, hallucinations, detachment from reality, and feelings things that are not real.
3. Postpartum depression
   Women may experience “baby blues” with a newborn. Postpartum depression is usually a severe form of depression.
4. Major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns
   This type of depression is also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This condition is associated with the reduced daylight of winter.

What are some of the common treatment methods that are suggested by a doctor?

After finding out the type and the causes of depression, the doctor suggests treatment methods. Here are some of the common treatment methods of depression...

• Support
  The support ranges from discussing practical solutions to the specific problems of educating family members.
• Psychotherapy
  The psychotherapy consists of psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
• Drug treatment
  This treatment method especially consists of anti-depressants.

These are some of the effective treatment methods of depression. However, there are some natural remedies and natural treatment methods that can help in overcoming the symptoms of depression as well.

What are some of the natural remedies for depression?

First of all, you must keep in mind that these natural remedies are not a replacement for the medical treatment of depression. However, the natural remedies have worked out for some people to overcome their depressive conditions. Here are some of the popular natural supplements that may help in dealing with depression.

1. Xiao Yao San
   Blue Poppy's Xiao Yao San (XYS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that can be used to help people suffering with depression.
2. St. John’s Wort
   Although this herbal supplement is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is well known in Europe for treating depression. This supplement may help in overcoming mild to moderate depression, but it must be used with caution.

   This supplement can interfere with various medications, such as birth control pills, HIV/AIDS medications, and other various medications. One must avoid using this supplement if they are already using antidepressants.

3. SAMe
   It’s another dietary supplement that is not approved by FDA but used for treating depression in Europe. This supplement is a synthetic form of a chemical that is naturally produced in the body. This supplement may be helpful, but additional research is needed to prove its effectiveness.

   However, the overdose of this supplement can cause nausea and constipation.

4. Omega-3 fatty acids
   Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in fish, flaxseed, walnuts, and some other foods. This supplement can help people suffering from bipolar disorder. It’s a safe supplement, which can prevent depression and also improve the condition of depressed patients.
5. Saffron
   The saffron extract could help in overcoming the symptoms of depression. However, there is a need for an additional study to prove its effectiveness. The high dose of this extract can cause significant side effects.
6. 5-HTP
   5-hydroxytryptophan is another name for this supplement. This supplement can be consumed via prescription. The consumption of this supplement can improve the serotonin level, which enhances the mood. However, there is a safety concern regarding this supplement.
7. DHEA
   Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that is naturally produced by the human body. The changes in the level of DHEA are somewhat linked to depression. It’s a natural supplement that could help in dealing with various symptoms of depression. But, the additional research is needed to ensure its power to treat depression.

What are practical methods of depression treatment?

After being aware of the natural remedies for the treatment of depression, let’s check out some other treatment methods that can help in overcoming the symptoms of depression.

1. Develop a routine
   There is a need for a routine for a person who is depressed. Depression can mess up the daily life activities. Creating a systematic daily schedule can help in getting your life on track.
2. Set realistic goals
   Depression can make a person hopeless, making them feel that they cannot accomplish anything. Setting some realistic goals and accomplishing them can help uplift your spirit. Make a simple goal of preparing food for an instance.
3. Eat healthily
   The foods that you consume play an important role in determining the quality of your health. While there is no magic diet that can help you overcome your depression symptoms, but eating healthily can help you feel better.

   Adding foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid can help in easing the symptoms of depression.

4. Exercise
   If you’re still not involved in regular exercises, it’s a time that you get involved in regular workouts. The study has proven that regular workouts can provide long-term benefits to depressed patients.

   The chemical named endorphins are released while exercising, which is a feel-good hormone. Regular workouts can rewire the brain in positive ways. Just spending a few hours in workouts can do the trick for you.

5. Get enough sleep
   Not getting enough sleep can make depression even worse than before. There are some best sleep aid supplement that can help you get better sleep. And, you should also keep distracting stuff away from your bedroom to improve the chances of getting a nice sleep.

   The things like TV and computer can distract you. Keep them away, and you may experience sleepy nights ahead of you.

6. Try to be responsible
   Every single human being has plenty of responsibilities on their shoulder. Depression can make a person stay away from their responsibilities. It may seem like staying away from all the responsibilities can help overcoming depression symptoms, but it won’t. Instead, it will make you feel more worthless.

   Being a responsible person and not running away from personal and professional responsibilities can help you fight the symptoms of depression. It will make you feel that you’re no different than other people you see around you. And, it will also help you in having a sense of accomplishment.

   If you are having a difficulty working full time, you can opt for part-time jobs, as there are many part-time jobs that you can get involved in.

7. Challenge negative thoughts
   Depression is a mental disorder, and the battlefield is also inside your mind. You will be attacked by many negative thoughts when you’re going through depression. You can leap into the worst possible conclusions when you’re depressed.

   If your thoughts are trying to pull you down, use your logic to fight the negative thoughts. It can prove to be an effective natural treatment method to fight depression. There could be a thought like you’re liked by no one. Well, just ask yourself if there is an evidence of that conclusion.

   Try to practice tackling negative thoughts on a daily basis to challenge the negative thoughts that are haunting you. It takes a bit of practice at first, but you will be able to deal with your negative thoughts more logically as the time passes by.

8. Do not suppress your negative feelings
   Staying alone in your room and worrying will not help you at all. It will instead make things worse for you. You may feel isolated, but it’s not true. There are many people that are going through similar conditions like yours or even worse.

   And, there are also many people that have been able to overcome their conditions. There are many people who want to help you get out of your condition. Instead of keeping things to you, it’s recommended to open things up. You can share your problems with your loved ones. And, there are therapists and life coaches that can direct you in a right path.

   Finding someone and sharing the thoughts can help in easing the symptoms of depression.

9. Try something new
   Your life will seem boring to you when you’re depressed. Trying something new will help in bringing back excitement to your life. Go to a cool museum; take a language class; learn to prepare a new dish, and so on that are interesting.

   When we try something new in our life, we alter the chemical in our brain named dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, learning, and enjoyment.

10. Have fun
    There are plenty of things you can do to have fun. However, it does not mean that going out to a bar and getting drunk. Getting drunk will only make your condition worse. A little thing in life can help you enjoy your life. For instance, going out for cycling or hanging out with some good friends in a coffee shop can be a fun thing to do.

    Just seek out for the ways to have fun without intoxication.

Conclusion

Most of the people take depression as normal sadness, which leads them to serious problems. Knowing about the signs, symptoms, and treatment methods will help in dealing with depression. Help yourself and also help others to treat their condition.

If you’re experiencing the serious six signs of depression that are mentioned in the previous section of this article, you should immediately seek out for help. The natural treatment methods can help you deal with your condition, but the depression treatment suggested by the doctor is a must for patients with severe depression.