Psychology
Depression is experienced by many people throughout the world. It is a disorder that is sometimes unknown by the person’s family or friends. The sufferer will stay in silence and try to be happy when they are around others to hide their true feelings. The correct term for the disorder is clinical depression.While almost everyone experience depression at some point or another, not all will have the symptoms of the disorder, as theirs is not as serious as this mental disorder. This depressive disorder is classified by intense gloominess and has symptoms like changes in mood, appetite, sleep pattern, concentration and experience fatigue (Adamson).
They may be agitated or lose interest in having relationships with others, no matter how social. They maintain a distance from their friends and their family and sometimes show signs of panic and anxiety. The disorder affects approximately 16 percent of the American population and is not restricted to any particular race or socioeconomic class. Many of the initial cases of depression are diagnosed in patients in the 20s age group, but will affect adults who are older and teens as well. Women are diagnosed more often than their male counterpart.
Researchers are convinced that this occurrence is because women are more health conscious and will seek treatment. What is the exact cause of clinical depression is yet unknown, but the disorder is seemingly genetically predisposed. A traumatic event can make the symptoms of depression more pronounced in the sufferer, but no research has shown it to be the cause.
A pre-existing condition, or poor eating habits are also considered as catalysts in many individuals who suffer from depression. This claim has no conclusive evidence.
The treatment of depression varies with the individual. Doctors will treat the symptoms with an anti-depressant and recommend therapy for the patient. Recently, evidence has surfaced that alludes to the fact that taking vitamins and doing exercises can minimize the effects of depression. If the symptoms are not treated, there may be incidences of drug abuse or alcoholism, as the sufferer will have a dependency on something. If the depression is present in a person who suffers from other illnesses such as diabetes or heart problems, the treatment options may be different or more serious. If chronic depression is left untreated, it can result in the sufferer committing suicide.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD as it is also known, is a condition that is brought on by stressful experiences. The sufferer experience feelings of fear, helplessness and horror. These feelings usually result in the person getting anxious and not knowing what to do. The sufferer becomes so overwhelmed, that they become desperate. They experience flashbacks to the event that brought on the condition. The disorder can last for varying periods of time. In most of the cases of PTSD, the sufferer experienced, or witnessed a traumatic event. Some of the traumatic events are: loss of a loved one, rape, molestation, robbery, or any other traumatic experience, diagnosis of a problem with health, or seeing something traumatic occurring that involves someone else, or their self. Experiencing psychological trauma or being predisposed to mental illness can cause this disorder too.
The symptoms of this disorder are by no means exhaustive, the sufferer may become withdrawn, depressed, anxious, it can affect their relationships, sleep patterns, let them experience nightmares, or have poor concentration. They can become angry at times when they think about what they should have done when they were faced with the situation. They may become afraid of visiting places that they would before and avoid family and friends for fear that they may have an episode. The sufferer may become self-destructive or easily scared.
PTSD is treated with different types of medicines, anti-depressants are a popular way to treat the symptoms and the sufferer generally require therapy. Research has shown that PTSD is commonly experienced by war veterans, because of the trauma that surrounds their service in the army, especially for those who are on the front line. Rape and accidents are also mitigating factors in people who suffer from the disorder. Outbursts are regular occurrences for people who suffer from PTSD, as they can perceive a situation to be the one that they had experienced before, which led to the disorder.
There are many similarities between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression. PTSD can also lead to depression in some people. They both involve the sufferer experiencing feelings of anxiety and being depressed. In both illnesses, the sufferers are unable to control what they are feeling without therapy or proper treatment options. They both result in the person who is suffering from the disorder being a loner and being afraid to interact with other people. Anxiety attacks will bring on PTSD, and it also causes depression. They both affect the person’s sleep pattern, concentration, moods, and causes them to experience fear.
The people who suffer from both PTSD and depression can benefit from cognitive behavior therapy or group-psychotherapy, to treat their symptoms. Hypnosis has also been used for this purpose. Medications are also used along with therapy for both disorders. Antidepressants are beneficial in both PTSD and depression, but these medications are used for some of the symptoms along with therapy for the others.
Medications are not able to stop the sufferer of PTSD from getting their flashbacks, but it can alleviate the symptoms of depression. Antidepressants are frequently prescribed and so is the SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. These are medications such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paroxetine or Paxil to decrease the anxiety that is felt by a sufferer of both disorder. These anti-depression reduce the incidence of aggression, impulsive behavior, or thoughts of suicide that are synonymous with sufferers of PTSD and depression.
Other types of medications that are effective for the treatment of both disorders are anti-psychotics, as this is good for paranoia, agitation and experience psychotic behavior. The less-effective, yet helpful medications for PTSD and depression are mood stabilizers. A very important part of the treatment for depression and PTSD is the part that the family plays in securing the sufferers’ jobs. An important modality of treatment is occupational therapy, that is focused on the sufferer’s recovery by way of participation in various activities.
The sufferer can participate by helping others who have similar symptoms to be independent and be able to take care of themselves. Service dogs are also used for if the sufferer finds it difficult to re-integrate into society. The dogs are supposed to give the sufferer a feeling of safety, especially for PTSD sufferers. Families may get help from group counseling sessions, for family, couples or parents. They are also able to give information that the sufferer is unable to give out. By directly addressing the depression and anxiety attacks, the sufferer can begin to feel the difference. Both disorders can become debilitating for the sufferer and can be treated, if not cured. They can find themselves unable to cope with life situations and keep to themselves as a result. They can feel so hopeless, that they feel that ending their lives is the only alternative. With the proper therapy and medications, this thought pattern can be changed and the sufferer live a healthy life.
Works Cited
Adamson, C. 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Overview'. Occupational Medicine 57.6 (2007): 397-398. Web.
Campbell, Duncan G. et al. 'Prevalence Of Depression–PTSD Comorbidity: Implications For Clinical Practice Guidelines And Primary Care-Based Interventions'. J GEN INTERN MED 22.6 (2007): 711-718. Web.
'Comorbidity Of PTSD And Depression'. European Neuropsychopharmacology 8 (1998): S8. Web.
Talbott, J.A. 'Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Depression Following Trauma: Understanding Comorbidity'. Yearbook of Psychiatry and Applied Mental Health 2006 (2006): 146-147. Web.
