Depression and Anxiety
Depression commonly manifests physically,
through stomach pains, headaches, disrupted
or excessive sleep, and motor control difficulty.
While the causes of depression are unknown,
a predisposition for it runs in families and
it can be triggered by trauma and adverse
life circumstances. Depression is diagnosed more
frequently in women and tends to display
differently in women than in men.
People tend to suffer higher rates of depression
after giving birth and in late fall. Depression and
anxiety often exacerbate each other and people
with depression commonly have difficulty
concentrating on tasks and conversations.
Some people abuse alcohol and drugs or overeat
as a way of coping, causing them to develop other medical problems. Depressed people are also at increased risk for self-harm.
Depression is a mental illness which is characterized by prolonged emotional symptoms including:
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Apathy
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Sadness
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Guilt
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Exhaustion
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Irritability
Diagnosing depression involves a psychiatric evaluation and physical tests to determine whether a person’s symptoms are actually being caused by a different disorder. A person must have been experiencing symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression. Every case is unique and requires individual attention, but there are a number of effective complementary ways of treating depression, including:
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Talk therapy
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Medication
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Adopting a healthier lifestyle
