Complications From Depression
- Depression DrawbacksFrom chronic illnesses such as heart disease to pain perception, sex, and sleep -- discover how untreated depression can complicate your life.
- Untreated DepressionLearn the dangers of untreated depression and how this may lead to serious and life threatening problems, even suicide.
- Sexual ProblemsWhat does depression have to do with sex? Learn how depression and depression medicines can affect sexual desire and sexual performance.
- Sleep ProblemsFind out how depression disturbs sleep and get some effective tips to help your sleep problems.
- Serotonin SyndromeGet information about serotonin syndrome including causes, symptoms, and treatments.
- Antidepressant WithdrawalWhy does someone have withdrawal symptoms after taking antidepressants and how can it be overcome? WebMD explains.
- Depression and Suicide
- Depression, or major depressive disorder, is a mental health condition marked by an overwhelming feeling of sadness, isolation and despair that affects how a person thinks, feels and functions. The condition may significantly interfere with a person's daily life and may prompt thoughts of suicide. Depression isn't the same as sadness, loneliness or grief caused by a challenging life experience, such as the death of a loved one.
- Medication: Prescription drugs, called antidepressants, help alter mood by affecting naturally occurring brain chemicals. There are several categories of antidepressants, but doctors often start with a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and may try other medications if the patient's condition didn't improve.
- Psychotherapy: Also known as talk therapy or counseling, this treatment has been shown to help some patients with depression. Several studies have suggested that combining psychotherapy and medication together works best for treating people with severe depression. Different types of psychotherapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps a person change negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier ones, as well as interpersonal therapy, which is designed to help someone understand and work through difficult relationships, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Another form of psychotherapy is problem-solving therapy, which involves coming up with realistic solutions to cope with stressful situations.
- Also can help family therapy
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