There Is No Cure For Depression? (True)
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In this article, we will discuss if there is a cure for depression, what is depression and what do the symptoms look like, the treatments and recurrence of depression.
There Is No Cure For Depression
No, there is no known cure for depression but it can be treated. Clinical depression or otherwise known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can be treated by alleviating the symptoms to reach a stage of remission but depression cannot be the cure. Remission can vary from person to person and one may still have persisting symptoms or impaired functioning along with remission.
Depression is a very common and widely experienced mental health condition. The highest percentages of depressive episodes are experienced by people from 18- 25 years of age. Individuals who have had an episode of depression may experience one or more depressive episodes and individuals who’ve had two episodes may experience at least one more depressive episode. There is always a high risk of recurrence with depression.
Depression And It’s Symptoms.
Depression, as termed by DSM V, is known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), otherwise also referred to as clinical depression. It is a state of persistent and intense feelings of sadness for a long period of time. It also leads to a loss of interest in activities that were once a source of pleasure and excitement and can negatively affect one’s ability to function at work or home. Sometimes it can be difficult to even carry out the most basic tasks related to hygiene such as bathing.
According to APA 1 in 15 people experience depression at any given point in a year and 1 in 6 people will experience depression at some point in their life. It is most common to experience a depressive episode during late teens or early 20s but anyone can be affected at any point in their life. Depression is also hereditary with first degree relatives suffering or having suffered from depression. Women are more likely than men to suffer from depression and one-third of women will experience one or more major depressive episode in their lifetime.
Some symptoms of depression include-
· Feeling sad or empty
· Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness
· Loss of interest in activities that one used to enjoy indulging in
· Changed in appetite.
· Feeling low on energy and trouble concentrating.
· Always feeling nervous or agitated, thoughts of death.
· Suicidal thoughts or behaviours
· Difficulty in concentrating
· Feelings of irritability and increased fatigue
· Experiencing trouble sleeping or too much sleeping
It is important to note that these mentioned symptoms must persist all day long, nearly every day and for at least 2 weeks. There should be a significant notable change in the level of functioning from before.
Why Does Depression Happen Again?
There isn’t a particular thing that causes depression but many factors that accumulate and give rise to the feelings of depression. These factors could be biological, genetic, environmental, emotional factors and differ for each individual. Depression is such a common mental health problem, one might feel there are general causes that lead to it, but in addition to these known general symptoms that have been mentioned, it is also a very greatly personal and individualistic problem that ranges differently for each individual.
It’s not necessary that everyone who encounters depression will experience another more of such episodes but it’s very much possible and many people do experience a depressive state again.
It’s quite normal to have a recurrence because depression can be triggered by various stressors such as losing a job, loss of a loved one, a serious illness, previous traumatic events, etc. It might also mean that the current treatment plan needs changing or tweaking.
If one has experienced a depressive episode before, it’s easy for them to recognise the symptoms and realise that they are having a recurrence of depression. It’s not important to experience all the symptoms but as simple as not being able to sleep or concentrate. It’s also important to not self-evaluate but if you feel that you might be at the risk of having another depressive episode, contact your doctor.
One must adhere to the treatment plan to reduce the chances of recurrence of a depressive episode. Recurrence is common but that doesn’t mean it’s permanent, with assistance and treatment one can overcome even recurrent depression.
Treatments
Depression has the highest treatment rate with 80% people responding well to the treatments by overcoming and finding relief from some or most of their symptoms.
Medication
Anti-depressants are often prescribed to balance the absorption and secretion of certain brain chemicals or hormones necessary in the normal functioning of the brain. Improvement can be seen within 2 weeks of taking the medicine but it takes up to 2-3 months for the full benefits to show.
It’s important to not start or stop the medicine on one’s own even if you feel you’re all better. This can lead to a relapse and might just make things worse. It is recommended to continue the medication for at least 6 months after the condition of the symptoms has improved. This reduces the risk of recurrence of depressive episodes.
another name for psychotherapy is talk therapy. It’s often used along with anti-depressant medication. Psychotherapy can be administered only to the individual or along with someone like a family member or partner. Group therapy is another way in which people with the same illness or experiences come together in a supportive environment to cope with their own respective problems share them with others.
Treatment can take a few weeks, months or even years depending on the level of severity of depression. If the treatment is followed religiously, improvement can be felt in 10-15 sessions and 2-3 weeks in the case of medication.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of therapy which focuses on helping the person recognise the negative thinking with the goal of changing these thoughts or behaviour towards a more positive approach.
If one feels that there have been no improvements even after 2-3 weeks, they must let their doctor know.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Patients who are unable to respond to any other treatment and experience severe depression are subjected to ECT. The patient is under anaesthesia when brief electrical stimulations are administered to the brain. A patient receives ECT 2-3 times a week for a total of 6-12 treatments. These treatments are administered under the supervision of train medical professionals.
Self-help
There are many things one can practise to help reduce the symptoms of depression. Regular exercise can help release endorphins which can give your mood a boost and create positive feelings. Getting regular and required amount of sleep is essential for the mind as well as the body to rest itself and prepare for the next day. Not getting enough sleep can make a person cranky or easily irritable. A healthy diet with essential vitamins and minerals is also important for general health, and avoiding alcohol and drugs is important.
It is most important to know when these things are not helping and that there might be a need to visit a doctor to address your mental health needs.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed if there is a cure for depression, what is depression and what do the symptoms look like, the treatments and recurrence of depression
FAQ: cure for depression
How long does it take to treat depression?
Treatment can take a few weeks, months or even years depending on the level of severity of depression. If the treatment is followed religiously, improvement can be felt in 10-15 sessions. Improvement can be seen within 2 weeks of taking the medicine but it takes up to 2-3 months for the full benefits to show.
It’s important to not start or stop the medicine on one’s own even if you feel you’re all better. This can lead to a relapse and might just make things worse. It is recommended to continue the medication for at least 6 months after the condition of the symptoms has improved. This reduces the risk of recurrence of depressive episodes.
Is depression a treatable brain disease?
Yes, depression is treatable. Clinical depression or otherwise known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can be treated by alleviating the symptoms to reach at a stage of remission. Depression has the highest treatment rate with 80% people responding well to the treatments by overcoming and finding relief from some or most of their symptoms. It can be treated through medication, therapy and electroconvulsive therapy in some severe cases.
What is the real cause of depression?
There is no one general cause for depression but many factors that accumulate and give rise to the feelings of depression. These factors could be biological, genetic, environmental, emotional factors and differ for each individual. Depression is such a common mental health problem, one might feel there are general causes that lead to it, but in addition to these known general symptoms that have been mentioned, it is also a very greatly personal and individualistic problem that ranges differently for each individual. It could be a faulty mood regulation by the brain, stressful life events, health conditions, previous traumatic events, etc.
What gender has the highest rate of depression?
Women are more likely than men to suffer from depression and one-third of women will experience one or more major depressive episode in their lifetime. It is more than twice as more prevalent in young women of 14-25 years than in men. The onset of puberty is when women are at the greatest risk of developing major depression or other mental health disorders.
Does depression cause memory loss?
A few symptoms of depression do include difficulty in concentrating, confusion and many more issues that can lead to forgetfulness. The symptoms of depression start to interfere with one’s ability to function on a daily basis that causes problems in remembering.
Citations
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/is-depression-remission-possible
https://screening.mhanational.org/content/depression-curable
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