Depression is a non-discriminatory mental illness that affects a wide range of people every year. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, young or old, generally cheerful or not. You could have a very happy life in general and still be grasped by the claw of depression. Luckily, however, for you or a loved one facing any depressive disorders there is help for you in Chicago IL. You certainly don’t have to live with the feelings of sadness forever and with a medically guided treatment plan you can soon move past these feelings of unhappiness and into a much brighter view of life.
What Causes Depression
There are many factors that can play a role in a person developing a depressive disorder including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. For youth, some of the more common reasons could be trouble at home, parents divorcing or constantly fighting, siblings not getting along or treating one child more poorly than the others. Issues in school can also come into play such as bullying from classmates, feeling unable to keep up with lessons in class or simply not fitting in for whatever reason. Often times a child may feel these issues are worse than they are which can lead them into a downward spiral of depression.
How it’s Diagnosed
Once you notice a friend or loved one is showing certain signs of depression such as irritability, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, difficulty concentrating, insomnia or excessive sleeping or talking about suicide you should contact a doctor or mental health specialist as soon as possible. From there, they can order a psychological evaluation which will see if there are any secondary causes of depression such as drug use or other mental issues. Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan can be set up for that person and they can start their journey to a happier life.
Treatment Options
Medications called antidepressants are the primary treatment for depressive disorders. These medications contain chemicals that regulate the mood receptors within the brain helping to ease the sad thoughts the depressed person is having. Some of the more common medications prescribed include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Cymbalta. Setting up an in-hospital treatment plan, and following it up with an at-home transition plan is a proven way to help people of all ages overcome depression and go on to lead much happier and healthier lives.
