How To Deal With Depression

When it comes to how to deal with depression, it can be very controversial amongst professionals. There are many types of treatments and certainly a whole arsenal of medications used to treat depression. When using the term treat depression it should be interpreted loosely and not literally, because medications will only treat some symptoms of depression. There are other symptoms such as physical symptoms that may require additional medications in combination.

Professionals have yet come to understand why depression occurs. There are chemicals in the brain such as serotonin which have been linked to depression. However, again professionals can only speculate how much these chemicals play a part in individuals suffering from depression. There is no way to measure the levels of chemicals in the brain to know if they are low or abnormal. So when medication is administered there is no way of knowing to what level the brains chemicals have been raised. There does remain one fact though when learning how to deal with depression, that is, the medications do work for many individuals from all walks of life.

When it comes to learning how to deal with depression seeking advice from a physician may differ from going to a mental heath professional such as a psychiatrist. Both will treat the depression through medication, but because there is so many different medications they may prescribe different types of medication. Along with medication there should be some psychotherapy involved, the medications are only going to treat the symptoms of depression rather than cure the individual who is suffering from depression.

There exists four different types of medication that can used in an answer of how to deal with depression. There are four different types of anti depressants that are used each having a different kind of make up and targeting different types of depression. SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), atypical antidepressants, TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants), and MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).

SSRI's are the a newer type of medication that is very popular. This type of medication affects a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin plays a role in mood, digestion, sleep, pain, body functions, and mental clarity. In turn SSRI can have some side effects such as, sexual problems, drowsiness, insomnia, and nausea. Most side effects will go away after a couple of weeks.

Another type is atypical anti depressants which also is a newer type of medication. These target neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain such as norepinephrine and dopamine. It will affect them alone or sometimes in conjunction with serotonin as well. Side effects can be nausea, fatigue, weight gain, sleepiness, nervousness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.

TCA's named after the drugs' molecular structure, which contains three rings of atoms. TCA's are one of the oldest classes of antidepressants. Side effects are more severe than the newer medications and only used as a last resort when other medications don't work.

MAOI's are also an older drug and also have more severe side effects than the newer medications again making these types of medications used only as a last resort.

All antidepressant medications can cause withdrawals if stopped suddenly. In order to get off of these drugs they must be tapered down for a few weeks to a level that will not cause severe withdrawals. Some withdrawal symptoms include: anxiety, agitation, depression, mood swings, Flu-like symptoms, irritability, aggression, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of coordination, stomach cramping, electric shock sensations, tremors, muscle spasms.

Antidepressants have been show to cause suicidal thoughts, suicidal acts, and committing suicide. This is especially true with children and adolescents. Close monitoring in adolescents for signs of trouble is highly important and antidepressants should not be prescribed for young children. A different method of how to deal with depression must be implemented such as psychotherapy.

Source:Enzinearticles