People who take their medications regularly and make some lifestyle changes can live long and healthy lives. These medications and lifestyle changes are treatments for diabetes. Depression is the same way. There's no cure for depression, but there are lots of effective treatments.
Each person's recovery is different. Some recover in a few weeks or months. But for others, depression is a long-term illness. In about 20% to 30% of people who have an episode of depression, the symptoms don't entirely go away.
In a study involving more than 2,500 people who had experienced a major depressive disorder at some time in their lives, researchers found that about two in five people (39%) were able to fully recover and experience full mental health.
It's one of the most common and most treatable mental health disorders. With early, continuous treatment, people can gain control of their symptoms, feel better, and get back to enjoying their lives. There are effective treatments for depression, including medications (such as antidepressants), along with talk therapy.
Answer From Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Clinical depression is the more-severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder.
Clinical depression is a chronic condition, but it usually occurs in episodes, which can last several weeks or months. You'll likely have more than one episode in your lifetime. This is different from persistent depressive disorder, which is mild or moderate depression that lasts for at least two years.
Untreated depression can cause physical changes to the brain, but with proper treatment, you can reverse these effects. Depression doesn't just affect your feelings and emotions. This condition can also have physical impacts, as well as the potential to change the structure and functions of the brain.
Clinical depression, or major depressive disorder, is often just called “depression.” It's the most severe type of depression. Without treatment, depression can get worse and last longer. In severe cases, it can lead to self-harm or death by suicide.
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is mild or moderate depression that doesn't go away. A person with PDD has a sad, dark, or low mood and two or more other symptoms of depression. The symptoms last most of the day, on most days, over a long period of time.
Depression creates a sensation of isolation as if you are lost in the wilderness with no direction. The final stage is acceptance, which means you have finally made peace with the reality of your mental illness.
Duration of the depressive episodes is highly variable and, although most people recover in one or two years, approximately 15% present a chronic course. This chronic course is related to other mental disorders such as personality disorders, anxiety disorders or substance use.
So how long do depressive episodes last? Usually, the depressive episode length ranges from six months to eight months, depending on the person. While some people may have depression that fades, others may struggle with depression on and off their whole life.
Depression often gets worse if it isn't treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life. Examples of complications associated with depression include: Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes. Pain or physical illness.
It's important to seek support as early as possible, as the sooner a person gets treatment, the sooner they can recover. Untreated depression can have many negative effects on a person's life, including serious relationship and family problems, difficulty finding and holding down a job, and drug and alcohol problems.
Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, traumatic events) are more likely to develop depression.
They'll ask about whether you've had thoughts of suicide or self-harm. A GP may use a questionnaire to assess your symptoms. Try to be as open and honest as you can be with your answers. Describing your symptoms and how they're affecting you will help the GP determine whether you have depression and how severe it is.
Shrinkage Of Several Brain Regions
One of the most common changes seen in a depressed patient's brain is shrinkage, especially in the hippocampus, thalamus, frontal cortex, and prefrontal cortex.
Dysthymic disorder
It has similar symptoms to major depression, but they're less severe.
There's no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers. For some people, an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Different causes can often combine to trigger depression.
According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with untreated long-term depression are more prone to sleep disruptions, heart disease, weight gain or loss, weakened immune systems, and physical pain.
The brain is a highly adaptable organ, and most individuals can expect their brain chemistry to return to its normal state over time after stopping antidepressants.
Some people who have severe depression may also experience hallucinations and delusional thinking, the symptoms of psychosis. Depression with psychosis is known as psychotic depression.
Chronic depression presents genuine logistical difficulties, as a depressive episode often strikes at the most inconvenient moment. It's not necessary for someone to let periodic depression stop them from living their life. Using a few practical techniques can help them navigate themselves safely through depression.