1 in 6 Americans Suffers from Major Depressive Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment




1 in 6 Americans suffers from major depressive disorder, and that number keeps rising every year. You or someone you know may have already been diagnosed with this disorder, but what causes it? What are the symptoms? And most importantly, how can you treat it? This article will go over everything you need to know about major depressive disorder, from its causes to its symptoms to its treatment options, so that you can feel better as soon as possible.



What Is a Major Depressive Disorder?


 

Major depressive disorder is a type of depression characterized by loss of interest or pleasure in most or all activities, a significant weight change, insomnia or oversleeping, fatigue or low energy nearly every day, feelings of worthlessness or guilt and thoughts about suicide. If you are experiencing these symptoms for two weeks or more, contact your doctor. Your doctor will want to know what is going on with you so they can create the right treatment plan.



Causes of Depression



Mental illness is often treated with medication, therapy or a combination of the two. These methods of treatment can help people feel better by managing the symptoms of their illness. Depression may be treated through psychotherapy, antidepressant medications or both. The most common type of depression is major depressive disorder (MDD). This condition manifests as an extended period where people are unable to function on a day-to-day basis due to feelings of sadness and low self-esteem. In this state, MDD sufferers will experience at least five out of nine symptoms such as insomnia, lack of appetite and loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. The effects of MDD can be so severe that it causes emotional pain that interferes with daily life.




What Are The Symptoms Of Depression?



It's very common for people to feel sad, lonely or frustrated after a major life event or disappointment. These feelings are completely normal and expected as we all have days when things just seem too difficult to deal with. The difference between the feelings of sadness that is brought on by an unfortunate event (like the loss of a loved one) versus clinical depression is that when you have depression your symptoms don't go away after some time has passed.

 

Does everyone with depression need treatment?



Every person's experience with depression is different. There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not you need treatment, such as your willingness to get help and your ability to access a good therapist. If you're having trouble coping or it's taking an adverse toll on your life, treatment may be something to discuss with a doctor. 

-- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that at least one-third of people recover completely.


 Treatments for Depression



There are a variety of treatment options available for individuals with major depressive disorder, including medication therapy, psychotherapy, group therapy or a combination thereof. The most effective treatment for depression depends on the severity of symptoms as well as the individual's needs.


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