Live Life Team
Clinical depression is one of the leading psychological problems affecting almost everyone, either by a family member’s depression or through a personal experience. It causes emotional pain and psychological suffering to those who suffer from this disorder as well as to those who care for them.
Depression is a psychological condition that affects the way people think and feel. It also affects their sense of physical well being, and their social behaviour. Everyone feels sad at one time or another, but this is not depression. Feeling tired from too much work and being discouraged when dealing with serious problems are also not signs of depression. These feelings normally last a few days or weeks, and pass once a person adjusts to the stress. However, if these feelings linger and start disrupting work, family or social obligations, you may be suffering from depression.
Depression can affect everybody, and should therefore be treated. Treatment for depression includes psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy or psychological treatment helps the depressed individual in several ways. Supportive counselling helps to lessen the pain of depression. Cognitive therapy assists the depressed individual to identify which problems are minor and which are serious. Problem solving therapy focuses on the areas of the individual’s life that create significant stress and contribute to the depression. Behavioural therapy helps the depressed person to develop better skills in coping with the depression. Interpersonal therapy assists in solving problems in relationships.
In treating severe depressions, psychiatric medication is normally an option, instead of a necessity. Antidepressant medication does not cure depression. It only helps the depressed person to feel better by controlling certain symptoms, such as sleep and appetite problems as well as chronic fatigue.
