Last Updated on April 28, 2023

Feeling sad is a normal human emotion, just should you just have a terrible case of the blues or something more serious like depression how can you tell?

In case you feel unhappy or deficiency interest in most pleasurable actions the majority of the time for at least two weeks, and it’s accompanied by some of the changes that are following, you are likely experiencing depression.

• Increased or decreased sleep
• Increased or decreased desire
• Reduced concentration
• Decreased energy
• Feelings of guilt and hopelessness,
• Visible slowing of motor or psychological reactions
• Believing that everything you do is lacking a purpose
• Thoughts of suicide

The first thing is you are not alone. In line with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. people over 18, suffer from major depressive disorder. In addition, 3.3 million individuals suffer from dysthymic disorder, now called persistent depressive disorder.

If your symptoms are mild and have continued just a day or two or a week, as well as an identifiable stressor precipitated them, you might find help by attempting the following:

• Getting support from your own close relatives and buddies
• Exercising at least thirty minutes a day
• Ensuring you sleep for at least eight hours each night
• Eating meals consistently
• Keeping yourself active
• Wanting to decrease the strain in your life
• Motivating yourself to engage in fun activities
• Visualizing positive thoughts and pictures

Frequently these measures might help propel you from the depression.

The best way to Deal With Severe Symptoms

In case your symptoms are far more intense, you can see a family physician, nurse practitioner or psychiatrist. It’s extremely crucial that you visit a clinician for the initial evaluation, as you will be physically examined by them and rule out another medical causes of your symptoms, substance abuse or medications. You need to seek help immediately, rather from a psychiatrist for those who have suicidal ideas at any given time.

Interestingly enough, 50%-90% of psychiatric illness in this country is treated by primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The extreme sarcasm in this is that family professionals simply receive 8 to 12 weeks of psychiatry training throughout medical school as well as their residency. Therefore, a shrink will likely manage to do a better evaluation and ascertain if there’s another condition present for example Bipolar Disorder, which can occasionally present as depression. Also, non-psychiatric clinicians aren’t abreast of all the intricacies of treatment and diagnosis.

Where Does Psychotherapy Fit In?

Don’t be scared to ask about being treated with psychotherapy alone if that’s your taste, and find a therapist who has been officially trained in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).

Unfortunately, proven psychotherapies for mild to moderate depression like interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) are under-used because there aren’t enough therapists trained in these therapies, insurance companies are loath to pay for them, patients often need a quick fix and are unwilling to pay out of pocket, and they are not heavily advertised in the way in which that drugs are.

Also, it is crucial that you be cautious because many therapists usually do not often practice evidence based psychotherapies. Other psychotherapies might help but they do not have the exact same evidence base within their support. Studies show that CBT and IPT are as efficacious as antidepressants in regards to light to moderate depression, and numerous patients who use them don’t need care treatments like they do with drugs.

Things You Must Find Out About Medication

The proper drug can be exceedingly powerful for the treatment of depression, but antidepressants are one of the most prescribed drugs in America in 10 Americans taking one with one, as well as in women in their 40s and 50s the statistic is one in four. In case you have severe depression, are suicidal or have distorted truth including hallucinations or delusions, you need medicine.

If you’re not at least 50% better after 10-12 weeks of treatment you should be referred for medications. A great guideline for development with antidepressants and psychotherapies is the fact that you should be 50% better in eight weeks, 25% better in four weeks and 75% better in 12 weeks. If not, something has to improve.

Manage Your Treatment

If you’re a well informed consumer about your wellbeing as you’re about your chosen foods, clothes, and vacations, and spend some time reading up about your illness and treatment picks from reputable sources, it is possible to be a vital ally to your clinician in receiving the proper treatment and being in control. Don’t be swayed by ads you see on the net about treatments for depression or on TV. There may be safer and more effective treatments for you compared to all those that are advertised, as well as your clinician can talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

By all means ask plenty of questions, notably about the evidence base (favorable placebo controlled studies), safer options, and security of drugs you are prescribed so that you can be an active participant in your care. Consider having a close family member interviewed during your first visit, rather about your illness, to help the clinician make an accurate investigation.

In the event you are not getting better in an acceptable period of time (2-3 months), get another opinion from a psychiatrist if you are seeing a family physician. If you’re seeing a psychiatrist, he/she should alter treatment class and try something else. Don’t be satisfied just with becoming better. The aim would be to get to your normal self.

Prakash Masand, M.D. is shrink and founder and CEO of Global Medical Education, an on-line medical education resource that provides timely, unbiased, evidence-based medical education and guidance.