For many people, living with depression is a struggle. This disorder causes a deep sadness and a loss of interest in life activities that can affect how a person feels, thinks, and acts every day.
Depression is not a sign of weakness, and a person cannot simply “snap out of it”. Effective treatments are present, but finding the right one can be hard. The idea that depression is hard to treat is a result of many factors that are not easy to see at first glance.
The Causes Are a Complex Mix
Depression is not caused by just one thing. There are multiple factors that contribute to depression. It is a health condition with many different triggers.
It can come from a mix of biological factors, a person’s life experiences, and their surroundings. Some people may have a higher chance of getting depression because of the neurotransmitter imbalance; brain chemicals, especially serotonin, are also thought to be important. Stressful events, like losing a job or a loved one, can also trigger depression. Because so many things cause depression, there is not one simple fix that works for all.
Why Symptoms Look Different
A depression diagnosis can be tricky. There is no simple blood test to find it. Symptoms can also appear in many different ways from person to person. One person might feel very sad and have no energy, while another might feel restless and agitated.
Many people with depression may first see a doctor for physical problems, like headaches, back pain, or fatigue, without knowing that these are linked to their mood and depression.
Sometimes other health problems, like thyroid disorder, can cause symptoms that look like depression. A doctor should look at the whole picture to make the right diagnosis and suggest depressive disorder medication.
It’s Not A One Size Fits Solution
Standard treatments like medicines and talk therapy are very helpful for most people. However, they do not work for everyone. For some, standard treatments are not effective; this is called treatment-resistant depression. Research has shown that antidepressants may not work for about 30% of people with major depressive disorder. The reason for this can be physical factors and body mass. Researchers found differences in the verve cells of people who did not respond to antidepressants, which could explain why the medicines failed to work. Moreover, sometimes a person might have another mental condition, like an anxiety disorder, that is making treatment more difficult. The other condition might need a different kind of treatment.
What is Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Treatment-resistant depression is a term that is used when a person’s depression symptoms have not improved, even after they have tried standard treatments like antidepressant medications or psychotherapy. It is important to note that TRD does not mean a person is without hope; rather, it means a different approach is needed. For some people, it is a process of trial and error to find the right treatment.
What Makes It Hard?
The “Chicken or the Egg” Problem of Co-Occurring Conditions
Depression rarely occurs alone. It comes with anxiety and other disorders. Data shows that a large number of people with depression also have anxiety and vice versa. The co-occurrence of mental disorders overlaps, which makes it hard for a psychiatrist to get the right diagnosis. If one symptom is treated, the other disorder will be neglected.
A psychiatrist might think it’s just one problem when it’s actually both.
Another reason for difficulty in treating depression is that research focuses on patients with one mental disorder, just like depression. This lack of specific research is a major challenge for mental health professionals to help people who have both.
Why Do People Get Depression?
The Complex Web of Depression, i.e, Genetics, Brain Chemistry, and Hormones
1. It Can Run in the Family
Sometimes depression runs in families, other than the situation condition. This means you might have it if your father, mother, or other close relative experiences it. It is very much like the same eye color, hair color as your genetics.
2. Brain Chemistry
Inside your brain, you have special chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemicals help you feel happy and calm. When you have depression, these chemicals might not work properly. One important chemical is called serotonin. When it’s not working as it should, you can feel very sad.
3. Hormones and Your Body
Your body has things called hormones that are like messengers. They change throughout your life. Sometimes, these changes can lead to depression. For example:
- After a baby is born, a new mom’s hormones change a lot, and she might get something called postnatal depression. There are therapists for postpartum depression available.
- Problems with your thyroid, a small gland in your neck, can also change your hormones and make you feel depressed.
- Being sick with other things, like heart disease, can also make you feel sad and depressed.
It’s important for psychiatrists to look at your whole body, not just your feelings, to help you get better.
There Is Hope
The good news is that new treatments are always being found.7 The most important thing is to keep working with a doctor or mental health professional to find what works for you. If one medicine or type of talk therapy isn’t helping, there are other options to try. This could mean trying a new medicine, a different dose, or a new type of therapy. The path to feeling better can take time, but a person is not alone in this.
Treatment Options For Depression
In the USA, depression is usually treated through a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Medicine for anti depression is suggested to change brain chemistry and relieve symptoms.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or talk therapy helps people identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT is a common type of talk therapy that helps people identify and change negative thinking patterns and behaviors.
The duration of therapy can vary, from short interventions to longer-term treatment, which depends on the person’s needs.
The role of lifestyle and self-care
A person’s daily habits can also play a major role in managing depression. Regular physical activity, like a 30-minute walk, can boost a person’s mood. Regular bedtime and wake-up time are also important for improving sleep, which can affect mood and energy levels.
Regular eating habits, healthy meals help the body to get the nutrition it needs and may help improve symptoms.
Care At Solid Psychiatry
Depression can affect any person is any age. This is not a thing to hide or feel embarrassed to talk to a psychiatrist about depression. We are Solid Psychiatry to help manage your mental health. If you have any kind of mental disorder like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or any other, our expert can help you recover. We provide the most suitable personalized depression treatment services in the USA.