What You Need to Know About Depression
Depression: something that most people have been affected by at some point in their lives. Not only is it difficult for anyone to go through, but it’s also unfortunately misunderstood.
With depression being so common, everyone needs to learn the facts. It’s better to be well-informed before you or someone you love goes through it. So, to help you on that learning journey, here are some of the most important things to know about depression.
It’s Common and Can Affect Anyone
Depression is very common. In fact, depression affects around 280 million people around the world. While it is more common in men than women, anyone can get it. It doesn’t come on only when a person is going through a hard time, either – sometimes, depression has no known root cause, which can make it even more challenging to understand.
There Are Many Ways to Treat It
When you think about treating depression, you may think of two types of treatments: antidepressants and therapy. It’s true that these are two of the most common and often effective ways to treat depression, but that doesn’t mean they are the only methods. Sometimes, people don’t respond well to the usual treatments for depression and, in this case, may need to try another route.
Some alternative treatments have been proven effective and can help those who have been suffering from depression for years. In a safe and controlled environment, certain drugs like psychedelics have even been shown to have a positive impact on the brain. In fact, there are treatments that involve retreat services that allow people to take these alternative treatments surrounded by an understanding community. Daydream MD, for example, creates an environment of self-healing that helps those with depression (and other mental health problems) to take ketamine or psychedelics as a way to heal.
There Are Different Types of Depression
Everyone has an idea of what depression is. The truth is there isn’t one singular kind – there are many different types of depression, each coming with its own set of signs and symptoms. Here are some of the more common types of depression:
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Postpartum Depression
- Atypical Depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Situation Depression
- Perinatal Depression
- Manic Depression
A lot of these types of depression look different – for example, a person with Seasonal Affective Disorder may feel fine during the summer months but go through depression in the winter. As such, there are also different ways to treat the various types of depression, with light therapies proving effective for SAD.
It Can Manifest Physically
While depression is a mental illness, some of its symptoms are physical, including:
- Fatigue
- Stomach Problems
- Body Aches
- Headaches
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Weight Change
- Self Harm
Of course, many of the symptoms don’t manifest quite so clearly. Sometimes, it’s challenging to know when someone (or even yourself) is going through a mental illness, which is why awareness is so important.
There’s always help out there. It’s important not to ignore the symptoms of depression, as treatments may work exceptionally well and help you live better. If you feel you’re on a spiral and perhaps have depression, it’s always worth seeing your doctor to begin the journey to healing.