Depression is one of the most misunderstood disorders. People often wonder why those suffering with depression can’t just cheer up or get over it. The sadness just seems to never go away and life seems unbearable but often no one understands. Often, the person suffering from depression also doesn’t understand why they cannot escape the grips of sadness and worthlessness. Major Depressive Disorder can occur in people from young childhood to late in life and affects both sexes.
Causes
It is thought that this disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that does not allow for the neurotransmitter that regulates emotion to work correctly. It is generally out of the control of the sufferer although the symptoms can be lessened with certain lifestyle changes. When dealing with a child with Major Depressive Disorder it may be difficult to tell if they are dealing with normal hormonal changes or true depression. It is important to look for a consistent change in behavior that lasts for at least 2 months.
Signs
Signs that you or your child is experiencing Major Depressive Disorder consist of a general feeling of sadness or no desire to participate in enjoyable experiences. In children the sadness may be masked by irritability or seclusion. Other symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder are the possibility of a noticeable weight loss or weight gain, appetite changes, feeling tired most of the day with no motivation to get out of bed, or the inability to sleep on a daily basis. Others may see a change in your movements, such as trembling or clumsy movements that show agitation, or very slow and forced movements. A person with Major Depressive Disorder may have feelings of worthlessness and low self esteem and may consider suicide as an option to end these feelings. The thought processes of those with this disorder are also depressed in regards to comprehension, speech, or memory, with all or some cognitions being impaired. It may feel like your mind is cloudy and you cannot think clearly or that conversations are confusing because of a lack of understanding or inability to focus. These symptoms must not ever be accompanied by a manic episode in which the person feels elevated, agitated, easily distracted and with no need for sleep.
Treatment
Some people dealing with Major Depressive Disorder may not have the motivation to seek help on their own. In the case of a child, they may be reluctant to see a therapist or be placed on medication. If the depression is mild and without psychosis, it may be possible to use daily exercise, cessation of drugs and alcohol, a healthy diet, and a daily schedule to help the person reduce feelings of depression. For more severe symptoms it is necessary to seek counseling. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be very helpful for someone with Major Depressive Disorder, including group therapy. With group therapy, the client does not feel alone in their disorder. They can see that others have the same emotional set-backs and can support each other. There are also medications that have been found to work very well for depression. Some people prefer medications because of the great results and elevation of mood but some others may reject medication due to side-effects. Ultimately, it is up to the person with depression to use the skills learned in therapy to feel better. This may take an extended period of time or therapy can be brief and solution focused. If the person is feeling suicidal or attempts suicide it will be necessary to have them hospitalized in an inpatient facility for evaluation and intensive counseling and stabilization for their safety.
