Depression | |
| Depression can be a normal reaction to a particular stress situation in life. In such a case it may be only necessary to reassure the person that the particular mood variation is not abnormal and in due course the situation will resolve itself. We all tend to occasionally suffer such episodes and often it is in the early hours of the morning that depression is at its worst. Drugs such as some blood pressure treatments, the contraceptive pill, corticosteroids, alcohol, prescribed medications and sleeping drugs can produce a temporary form of depression. True depression or Endogenous Depression is the black despair and hopelessness that interferes with the ability of the person to survive within the normal limits of functional living. Depression occurs because of disordered chemical (neurotransmitters) in the brain prevent normal functioning. This type of depression is associated with a constant and ever increasing weariness, loss of appetite and inability to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Loss of libido occurs, sleep becomes disturbed, early awakening and pathological depressive thought processes appear in the early hours of the morning. Suicide is often contemplated and is sometimes attempted. In the young adolescent child, mood changes, restlessness, a marked deterioration in school work and withdrawal from normal social friendships with other children may all be the usual signs of growing up, but also can be a prelude to a deeper, more hidden depressive state. The child who is not progressing well at school should not be punished or criticised before a careful studied assessment has been made to eliminate the presence of a true depressive state. True depression in the young may be masked by brief periods of hyperactivity where the child makes a determined effort to break out of the depressive state by over-reactive and more aggressive and apparently happy-go-lucky behaviour, only to slip back into a depression for which there is no apparent solution. Treatment of true depression consists if expert psychiatric counselling plus sophisticated drug treatment. Electro-convulsive therapy is occasionally indicated under close psychiatric supervision. In the case of the adolescent, good counselling is also necessary. Most cases of true depression, if picked early enough will respond to treatment and eventually can be cured. Even very severe depression can be improved upon to such an extent that a normal lifestyle can be followed within the limits of a fluctuating minor depressive state. |
