Friday, May 29, 2020

Preventing depression


Depression isn’t generally considered to be preventable. It’s hard to recognize what causes it, which means preventing it is more difficult.it can be ended with suicide
But once you’ve experienced a depressive episode, you may be better prepared to prevent a future episode by learning which lifestyle changes and treatments are helpful.
Techniques that may help include:
  • regular exercise
  • getting plenty of sleep
  • maintaining treatments
  • building strong relationships with others
Other techniques and ideas may also help you prevent depression.
Bipolar depression occurs in certain types of bipolar disorder, when the person experiences a depressive episode.
People with bipolar disorder may experience significant mood swings. Episodes in bipolar 2, for instance, typically range from manic episodes of high energy to depressive episodes of low energy.
This depends on the type of bipolar disorder you have. A diagnosis of bipolar 1 only has to have the presence of manic episodes, not depression.
Symptoms of depression in people with bipolar disorder may include:
  • loss of interest or enjoyment from normal activities
  • feeling sad, worried, anxious, or empty
  • not having energy or struggling to complete tasks
  • difficulty with recall or memory
  • sleeping too much or insomnia
  • weight gain or weight loss as a result of increased or decreased appetite
  • contemplating death or suicide
If bipolar disorder is treated, many will experience fewer and less severe symptoms of depression, if they experience depressive episodes.
Depression and anxiety can occur in a person at the same time. In fact, research has shown that over 70 percentTrusted Source of people with depressive disorders also have symptoms of anxiety.
Though they’re thought to be caused by different things, depression and anxiety can produce several similar symptoms, which can include:
  • irritability
  • difficulty with memory or concentration
  • sleep problems
The two conditions also share some common treatments.
Both anxiety and depression can be treated with:
  • therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy
  • medication
  • alternative therapies, including hypnotherapy
  • Suicide Prevention
If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of either of these conditions, or both of them, make an appointment to talk with your healthcare provider. You can work with them to identify coexisting symptoms of anxiety and depression and how they can be treated

These fears cause you to act out repeated behaviors or rituals (compulsions) that you hope will ease the stress caused by the obsessions.
People diagnosed with OCD frequently find themselves in a loop of obsessions and compulsions. If you have these behaviors, you may feel isolated because of them. This can lead to withdrawal from friends and social situations, which can increase your risk for depression.
It’s not uncommon for someone with OCD to also have depression. Having one anxiety disorder can increase your odds for having another. Up to 80 percentTrusted Source of people with OCD also have major depression.
This dual diagnosis is a concern with children, too. Their compulsive behaviors, which may be first developing at a young age, can make them feel unusual. That can lead to withdrawing from friends and can increase the chance of child developing depression.
Some individuals who have been diagnosed with major depression may also have symptoms of another mental disorder called psychosis. When the two conditions occur together, it’s known as depressive psychosis.
Depressive psychosis causes people to see, hear, believe, or smell things that aren’t real. People with the condition may also experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and irritability.
The combination of the two conditions is particularly dangerous. That’s because someone with depressive psychosis may experience delusions that cause them to have thoughts of suicide or to take unusual risks.
It’s unclear what causes these two conditions or why they can occur together, but treatment can successfully ease symptoms. Treatments include medications and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Understanding the risk factors and possible causes can help you be aware of early symptoms.
Pregnancy is often an exciting time for people. However, it can still be common for a pregnant woman to experience depression.
Symptoms of depression during pregnancy include:
  • changes in appetite or eating habits
  • feeling hopeless
  • anxiety
  • losing interest in activities and things you previously enjoyed
  • persistent sadness
  • troubles concentrating or remembering
  • sleep problems, including insomnia or sleeping too much
  • thoughts of death or suicide
Treatment for depression during pregnancy may focus entirely on talk therapy and other natural treatments.
While some women do take antidepressants during their pregnancy, it’s not clear which ones are the safest. Your healthcare provider may encourage you to try an alternative option until after the birth of your baby.
The risks for depression can continue after the baby arrives. Postpartum depression, which is also called major depressive disorder with peripartum onset, is a serious concern for new mothers.
Recognizing the symptoms may help you spot a problem and seek help before it becomes overwhelming.
Research has established a link between alcohol use and depression. People who have depression are more likely to misuse alcohol.
Out of the 20.2 million U.S. adults who experienced a substance use disorder, about 40 percent had a cooccurring mental illness.
According to a 2012 study, 63.8 percentTrusted Source of people who are alcohol dependent have depression.
Drinking alcohol frequently can make symptoms of depression worse, and people who have depression are more likely to misuse alcohol or become dependent on it.
Depression can be temporary, or it can be a long-term challenge. Treatment doesn’t always make your depression go away completely.
However, treatment often makes symptoms more manageable. Managing symptoms of depression involves finding the right combination of medications and therapies.
If one treatment doesn’t work, talk with your healthcare provider. They can help you create a different treatment plan that may work better in helping you manage your condition


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