In terms of depression, treating it can vary from a lengthy and complex series of psychotherapy sessions to something as easy and obvious as improving your diet and daily lifestyle. To obtain a better understanding of clinical depression and what treatment methods are used, keep reading.

Diagnosing Depression

Feeling down in the dumps or a little blue is very normal. However, if these feelings of sadness or desperation continue for a period longer than two weeks or start to interfere with your day-to-day life, then it may be time to seek professional help.

This can actually become a life-threatening condition and cause people to lose the will to live, which will either adversely affect their lifestyle and health or, in extreme cases, could lead to suicide.

To identify clinical depression, doctors look for signs of sadness, melancholy, impatience, trouble concentrating, a withdrawal from life and regular activities, weight loss or weight gain, excessive drinking or drug abuse, decreased sex drive, poor self-esteem, self-deprecating thoughts or behavior, thoughts of suicide, hopelessness, a feeling of overbearing built and problems sleeping.

Causes of Depression

Unfortunately, depression doesn't have one simple cause that can just be rooted out and done away with. This disease will vary with each individual, but can often be triggered by a stressful event like the death of a family member, a family tragedy or a financial or career crisis. Depression is also linked to certain health issues, both physical and mental.

How Depression is Treated

First, the doctor needs to diagnose clinical depression. Once a diagnosis is reached, he or she must then establish the extent of the depression and its root causes. With some cases of depression, your doctor may simply recommend a better diet and increased exercise. With other more severe forms of depression, a patient is often referred to a therapist and prescribed certain antidepressants and other drugs.

Typically, traditional treatment starts by making sure the patient isn't planning to harm himself or herself. Then, it focuses on the symptoms of depression and finally on preventing the depression from recurring. Usually, the most effective treatment programs are those that involve therapy and lifestyle modifications.

How Lifestyle Changes Can Help With Depression

Doing just 30 minutes of exercise every day can be wondrous as a form of treating depression. Also, eating a diet high in protein and low in processed food can be beneficial. Exercise has been shown to boost mood levels while processed foods can often lower them. By leading a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep depression at bay.

Medication

Common medications used in depression treating are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). There are a wide variety of SSRIs used to treat depression. Common side effects typically affect the gastrointestinal system, the libido and the nervous system. Drugs like Venlafaxine may also cause anxiety, insomnia and the inability to achieve orgasm.

Frequently depression is not taken seriously until the person suffering with it is either in a very bad state of mind or has done something drastic. If a few of the symptoms described above characterize your life or that of a loved one, you should seek medical attention.