Why should you take the early signs of depression seriously?

Depression is a common mental condition nowadays. Sometimes, people do not even realize that they have depression until and unless it does not affect their daily life activities. It can be triggered by any traumatic event or childhood trauma. Bullying and body-shaming are also one of the causes of depression. People dealing with depression are afraid to step out of their homes and dissociate themselves from the outer world. It can affect their personal relationships severely. One of the severe types of depression is a major depressive disorder in which the person affected starts hallucinating and imagining things that are not real. 

Symptoms

People affected by major depressive disorder (MDD) are unable to function properly in their daily lives. It severely affects the way you think, feel or act. Common symptoms of depression are:

  • Hopelessness
  • Existential crisis
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Fatigue and lack of energy
  • Reduced appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Lack of concentration
  • Slowed thinking
  • Unable to process thoughts
  • Suicidal thoughts

Causes

There can be various causes behind MDD. Childhood trauma or mental or physical abuse may be one of the main causes. Other factors may include:

  • Cyberbullying
  • Body shaming
  • Traumatic event
  • Financial crisis
  • Low self-esteem
  • Estranged relationships

When to see a doctor

When you are unable to fulfill your responsibilities or unable to perform daily tasks then it means you need to see a psychiatrist. You can pay a visit to your GP for a proper diagnosis. Try to be honest about your feelings to the GP. Your GP will ask certain questions about your personal and professional life. After a series of questioning, you will be referred to a psychiatrist. You can talk to him about your thought process. A psychiatrist will be able to help you out in conditioning your thoughts in a positive way. 

Treatment

There are a number of things that you can do to manage your depression. It does not go away overnight. It takes weeks and even months to get rid of depression entirely. A 360-degree lifestyle change needs to be adopted slowly and steadily to bring positive changes in your life. 

  • Meditation

Depression begins with the mind so if your mind is not clear of negative thoughts then you won’t be able to function properly. To have a sound mind, you must meditate in a peaceful place. It can be a silent corner of your house like a rooftop or your garden. It greatly helps in getting rid of negative thoughts.

  • Medication

Along with a proper diet, you should take medications to change your brain chemistry. In the proper consultation with your psychiatrist, you must take your medications on time. Most psychiatrists recommend Wellbutrin to MDD patients. You can check out the Wellbutrin XL price on the website of Pricepro Pharmacy which is a Canadian online pharmacy. 

  • Balanced diet

Eating healthy can give you a sense of relaxation in your mind. If you cook and eat healthy meals daily then your mind does not go towards negative thoughts. Indulging yourself in such healthy activities may help get rid of depressive thoughts.