For clients seeking treatment for Depression in Indore, we have compiled the below information to explore Depression and the different ways it can be diagnosed and treated. For clients seeking counselling for Depression in Indore, we have an experienced team of Clinical Psychologists and Psychologists in the Indore who are able to provide treatment for Depression in a safe supportive environment.
What is Depression?
Have you ever felt flat, unmotivated, or grumpy? Have you ever felt like giving up more easily? Do you find yourself withdrawing from people and wanting to spend most of your time alone? Of course, we all feel like this from time to time. Many of us lead incredibly busy lives so it’s important to take time to rest and recharge. However, if you find yourself feeling like this most or all of the time and if it has been going on for more than two weeks, it could be a sign of depression.
Diagnosing Depression
If you feel like you might be suffering from symptoms of depression, the first step we recommend is to go and see your GP or book in to see a mental health professional. In this session, your doctor can do a mental health assessment, develop a management plan and provide you with a referral to a psychologist. This referral will enable you to claim rebates with a registered psychologist or clinical psychologist. They may also discuss the possibility of medication, but keep in mind that this is not always necessary.
Types of depression
Depression is a mood disorder, and there are many ways that people experiencing symptoms of depression can be diagnosed. Symptoms can range from relatively minor (but still disabling) through to very severe. Below we’ve listed the different types of depression and mood disorders we see in our Indore clinic:
Major depression
Major depression can also be known as clinical depression, major depressive disorder or simply ‘depression’. It involves low mood and may accompany the loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities, as well as other symptoms. People suffering from major depression tend to experience symptoms most days. To be diagnosed with major depression the person would be experiencing symptoms for at least two weeks. Symptoms of depression are generally disabling and interfere with all aspects of a person’s life. A person suffering from major depression may find themselves struggling at work in social relationships and in their day to day functioning.
Melancholia
Melancholia is a term sometimes used to describe a severe form of depression. People with Melancholia ‘slow down’. Their movements and speech can be described as slow, but in some cases, they can also speed up. People with melancholia may show very little emotional expression or response, experience weight loss due to a loss of appetite, sleep poorly, have concentration and memory problems, have intense feelings of hopelessness or guilt and may have thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Psychotic depression
Psychotic depression is a subtype of major depression where a person may lose touch with reality and experience psychosis. This can involve hallucinations (hearing voices, or seeing things that aren’t there) or delusions (thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true). They can also experience paranoia and they may feel as though everyone is against them.
Perinatal depression
The term ‘perinatal’ describes the period covered by pregnancy (the antenatal period) and the first year after the baby’s birth (the postnatal period). The causes of depression at this time are complex and are often the result of a combination of factors that affect women before and after giving birth to a child. Perinatal depression should not be confused with the ‘baby blues’ which is a common condition related to hormonal shifts and the adjustment to major life changes during pregnancy and new parenthood.
Symptoms of perinatal depression are longer lasting, have a disabling effect on the mother and can interfere in her relationship with her new baby. Women experiencing this condition need a lot of support, and as the child’s healthy development is also at risk, it is extremely important not to delay treatment for this type of depression. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome will be for the mother, child and the family as a whole.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder was previously known as ‘manic depression’. People with Bipolar experience extreme highs and lows clinically described as periods of depression and periods of mania. A person with Bipolar would also experience periods of normal mood in between these episodes.
A manic episode would include symptoms such as feeling on top of the world, having lots of energy, racing thoughts, little need for sleep, talking quickly and trouble focusing on tasks. The person may also be irritable and have feelings of frustration. This is not just a fleeting experience and can coincide with a loss of reality and episodes of psychosis. A depressive episode would include many of the same symptoms as major depression.
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is often described as a milder form of bipolar disorder where the duration of the symptoms are shorter, less severe and not as regular. A person with Cyclothymic disorder would experience chronic fluctuating moods over at least two years. Like Bipolar, these moods swings would involve periods of hypomania (a milder to moderate level of mania) and periods of depressive symptoms, with very short periods of normality between.
Dysthymic disorder
Dysthymic disorder describes symptoms of depression that are chronic, but generally less severe than those of major depression. To be diagnosed with Dysthymic disorder a person would experience these milder symptoms of depression for more than 2 years.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Also, know as the ‘winter blues’ SAD is a mood disorder that has a seasonal pattern. SAD is thought to be related to reduced exposure to sunlight. It’s characterised by symptoms of depression or mania that begin and end in a particular season, usually during the winter months. To be diagnosed with SAD the person would need to have experienced the same symptoms during winter months for a couple of years. People with SAD depression can commonly experience a loss of energy, sleep a lot, have an increase in appetite and experience weight-gain due to reduced exercise and increased calorie intake.
Causes
People often assume depression is caused by a difficult experience or some sort of chemical imbalance in the brain. Unfortunately, there’s no such simple answer as to what causes depression, because there are usually several factors playing a part. Everyone has a certain number of risk or vulnerability factors. The more risk factors a person has and the greater the levels of stress on the person, the greater the chance of experiencing depression. This is known as the “diathesis-stress model”. Some of the risk factors associated with depression are:
- Family conflict (e.g., conflict or disharmony with spouse)
- Being exposed to abuse during childhood (including emotional, physical, psychological or sexual abuse
- Caring for someone with a chronic disorder or illness
- The recent death of a family member or friend
- A family history of depression
- Physiological changes (changes to the body after childbirth, during menopause)
- Suffering from anxiety
- Having certain personality traits such as having low self-esteem, dependent, self-critical, pessimistic
- Having a medical or physical illness such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc
- Excessive use of alcohol or drugs, or prescription medications
You’re not alone
People in Indore and around the world experience depression in many different ways. Some people notice changes in their behaviours, while others notice effects on their mood and emotions, like feeling hopeless and spending more time thinking negative thoughts. Depression is a common but serious illness. Most people who experience depression need treatment at a clinic (psychological counselling and/or medical) to get better.
Psychological treatments for Depression
There are several different options for the psychological treatment of depression such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Schema Therapy. The choice of treatment or counselling at a clinic usually depends on your unique personality type, life situation, and your set of risk factors. For this reason, sometimes an integrative approach to treatment is preferred, combining appropriate parts of different modalities.
It is important to remember that the treatment modality used is not the most important factor in therapy. The more important factor is the relationship between you and your counselling professional at the clinic. That is, you need to feel you can trust him/her, and that your therapist understands you and cares for you in a personal but professional way.
Getting treatment for Depression in Indore
Many people suffer from depression, and there are many factors that contribute to it. It’s not your fault and there’s no need to feel ashamed by asking for help. Working with a counselling professional at a clinic and going at your own pace, you’ll learn coping mechanisms which will set a more solid foundation for you as a person. You’ll feel empowered, stronger, and confident in the knowledge that you can handle depression in the future. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak and should not be something to feel scared about. Taking action is a sign of strength and courage.
If you’re looking for a Psychologist in Indore, we have a team of experienced psychologists who can provide you with the treatment and counselling. Please contact us to find out more.