Depression is more than a bad mood. It’s a legitimate illness that affects an individual’s mental state and way of life. Although depression is a difficult illness to live with, there are treatment options that greatly help many patients struggling with it. Are you on the edge about talking to your doctor about depression and medication treatment?
What is Depression?
Everyone is sad at one time or another. Life is not all rainbows and butterflies, and every individual experiences tough times throughout life that may seem unbearable. But, experiencing grief and sadness is not the same as the mental illness known as clinical depression. In fact, sadness is only one symptom of depression. Those diagnosed with depression cannot simply get over it, they struggle with it on a daily basis. Fortunately, treatment is effective in managing the symptoms of depression including:
- Feelings of sadness, anxiety, and emptiness
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Apathy about previous interests
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Sleeplessness or oversleeping
- Irritability and severe mood swings
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Feelings of shame, guilt, hopelessness, despair, loneliness, helplessness, and worthlessness
Types of Depression
There are a few types of depressive disorders that may be diagnosed to individuals experiencing depressive symptoms. The types of depressive disorders that may be diagnosed include:
Major Depressive Disorder: Experiencing symptoms listed above for a period of more than two weeks. Symptoms affect the individual’s ability to perform necessary daily tasks and responsibilities.
Persistent Depressive Disorder: Experiencing symptoms listed above for a period of two years or longer. The individual may not experience severe symptoms each day of the two years, but the symptoms do last off an on for a minimum of two years.
Postpartum Depression: Depressive symptoms that prevent the activities of daily life as a result of carrying, adapting to hormonal changes, and delivering a newborn child.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Experiencing depressive symptoms as a result of seasonal changes and sunlight. Generally, those diagnosed with SAD will have less severe or no symptoms during the spring and summer months.
Psychotic Depression: When an individual experiences the symptoms of depression along with a concurring mental illness that induces irrational thoughts or fears.
Causes of Depression
There is no simple answer as to what causes depression. It’s an illness that affects each individual specifically and differently. Although there is no one cause for depression, there are a few characteristics that may lead to the development of depression and place certain individuals at a higher risk for developing the illness including:
- Genetics: Those that have a history of clinical depression in their family line may be at a higher risk for developing depression. Although depression is not simply a genetic disease, passing along many genes with depressive traits puts individuals at a higher risk.
- Addiction: Almost 4 out of 10 individuals who seek help with addiction through treatment have concurring mental health issues, the most prevalent being clinical depression.
- Anxiety: The loss of a loved one, starting a new career, starting a family, retiring, or any other major life event can lead to severe anxiety and the onslaught of depression symptoms.
- Medications: Certain treatments for medical ailments have been reported to increase the risk of developing depressive symptoms like antivirals and corticosteroids.
- Abuse: Experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse increases an individual’s risk for developing depression symptoms.
Treatment: Depression and Medication
Are you or a loved one living with the symptoms of clinical depression? Treatment can help any form of depression, no matter how severe. Talk to your doctor about your depression and medication options so that you can be on the path to recovery. Your doctor may point you to a mental health specialist like a therapist or, if medication is thought to help, a psychiatrist. Make sure you tell any doctor that you see about your depression symptoms about any medications that you are currently taking and your complete medical history so that you are properly diagnosed and treated with the best possible form of medication for your condition.
Help with Depression and Medication Costs
Already talked to your doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist about your depression and medication treatment options? Have a prescription? Millions of Americans are diagnosed with depression and left with the high ticket costs of their prescription treatments. Are you struggling to pay for your depression medications? The RX Helper may be able to help! We discount or cover the cost of prescription medications completely for patients who qualify for our program. See if we cover the cost of your depression medications by checking out our list of discounted medications on our website. Wish to enroll into our prescription discount program? You can do so without any fee or obligation today on our website as well!
Need help applying for our program? Give us a call today at 877-767-3297 so that we may help!
