Depression is a common health disorder that is rapidly getting more prevalent with each coming day. It is classified as an affective disorder or in other words is a disorder that affects the mood of the patient.
Almost each one of us has experienced some amount of depression at different times in life. Thankfully this kind of low mood episodes happens infrequently and does not last long and it’s comparatively easy to overcome.
When is Depression a Serious Issue?
Depression has to be taken seriously if the mood is persistently affected throughout the day for longer periods of time. In addition to a depressed mood, the patients often have other symptoms like loss of interest in any kind of activity.
Clinical Depression
Clinical depression is the severest kind of depression and also referred to as major depression, major depressive disorder etc in order to describe the severity.
How to Know If You Are Suffering from Clinical Depression?
There are 8 different criteria that a psychiatrist will look for in a depressed patient and at least 5 of them have to be present before confirming the diagnosis of Clinical depression.
These criteria have been proposed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Here is the detailed list:
- Depressed mood throughout the entire day.
- Severe lack of interest in any kind of activity.
- Difference in body weight (increase/ decrease) in a month. The minimum amount of difference considered is 5 % of the previous body weight.
- Too little or too much of sleeping.
- Low energy levels with fatigue.
- Constant feeling of worthlessness and sometimes an excessive sense of guilt.
- Poor concentration with diminished ability to think and take decisions.
- Repeated thoughts of death or plans to commit suicide and maybe a suicide attempt as well.
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be caused by various factors like genetic predisposition, social environment, concurrence of other physical illnesses etc. Certain personality characteristics like the cognitive triad of negative thinking towards oneself, others and towards the future events, may also predispose towards development of full blown depression.
Important Environmental Factors Contributing towards Depression
The environment in which we are reared and brought up, contributes considerably towards our mental and emotional development. Each one of us gets exposed to different set of environmental factors, as we progress through various stages of life. All of these can not only impact our mind and emotions, but also shapes our personalities as well.
Out of all the different environmental factors, there are 3 factors that have been observed to be common amongst individuals suffering from depression. Here is the list:
- Loss of a parent in childhood
- Lack of social support
- Recent adverse events in life
In addition to these 3, there are 4 more factors, which make women more vulnerable to depression. Below is the list:
- Loss of mother before the age of 11.
- 3 or more children who live at home and are under the age of 14.
- Lack of a close relationship and no one to confide problems and issues with.
- Lack of a part-time or full-time employment.
Symptoms of Depression
In addition to the depressed mood, unhappiness and the APA criteria described above, patients with depression often present with a variety of physical complaints as well. These physical symptoms are actually more important because they are the reason that prompts patients to seek medical help.
The commonest physical complaints accompanying depression are as follows:
- Disturbances in usual sleep pattern.
- Tiredness and lack of energy.
- Weight gain or weight loss.
- Poor appetite.
- Poor concentration.
- Constipation.
- Reduced libido.
- Pains in different parts of the body like chest, abdomen, head etc.
Treatment of Depression
Conventional treatment involves use of antidepressant drugs, cognitive therapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in severely depressed patients, especially those who are actively contemplating suicide.
The problem with using conventional treatment for depression is that there is no permanent cure and the patient is often relegated to a lifelong dependence on medications. Moreover, the antidepressants burden the body with several of their unwanted harmful side effects and symptoms in the patient who is already suffering with a hoard of mental and physical complaints.
Homeopathic Treatment of Depression
There are several advantages in using homeopathy for depression. The best reason to use homeopathic remedies for depression is that they are 100 % safe and have no unwanted or harmful side effects on the body.
The doses used are minimal and they do not create an addiction or dependency in patients who use them for prolonged periods.
When used in management of depression, homeopathy is the best choice because the basic treatment protocol is such that every patient is considered as unique.
Every single factor that has contributed towards the development of depression in each patient is specifically considered and the final selection of both the homeopathic remedies for depression and dosage is finalized.
Permanent Cure for Depression in Homeopathy
The complete course of homeopathic treatment for depression may take some time, depending upon the extent of progression of disease in each case. But the good news is that it is easy to undergo the prolonged phase, because it does not involve any side effects of medications and the final result is complete cure of depression.
The improvement in symptoms begins within a week to 1 month of starting the treatment, but it is recommended to complete the prescribed course to eliminate the disease from its roots and get a permanent cure for depression.
Patients who choose homeopathy to treat depression enjoy a healthy and fruitful life and are able to contribute to society using their full potential.
Do not waste time in suppressive therapies.
Get in touch with us today to get rid of depression forever.
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