Are you worried that you or a loved one is suffering from depression? If so, you’re in the right place. Today, our experts at Cady Wellness Institute in Newburgh, IN are taking a closer look at this disease, including the most common depression symptoms. We will also take a closer look at the most common types and causes of depression, as well as what you can do to treat the condition when traditional methods have failed you.

What Are the Main Depression Symptoms? 

Depression symptoms vary from person to person, even when two people suffer from the same type of depression. However, among the most common symptoms of depression are:

• Feeling apathetic
• Feeling worthless
• Feeling exhausted
• Chronic fatigue
• Insomnia
• Excessive sleep
• Restlessness that gets worse at night
• Idiopathic pain
• Suicidal ideations
• Difficulty completing tasks
• Speaking slower
• Impaired cognitive function
• Extreme, unexplained weight change

What Are the Most Common Types of Depression? 

According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the most common types of depression are: 

• Atypical depression
• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Postpartum depression
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Bipolar disorder

What Are Common Causes of Depression?

Death

Losing a loved one, be it a pet or parent, is one of the most common causes of depression. Other significant losses, like the loss of your home in a natural disaster, can also cause depression.

Gender

Research is still ongoing regarding why women are two times more likely to suffer from depression than men. However, gender definitely plays a significant role in whether someone will develop depression.

Genetics

Unfortunately, your genes can also lead you to develop depression. Research is also still ongoing regarding the effects of genes on this condition, but it is postulated that several genes play different roles in the development of depression.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition can also lead to the development of depression. Specifically, people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder often find that getting more vitamin D in their diet alleviates their symptoms. If you find that your depression worsens in the winter, you may suffer from seasonal affective disorder and benefit from getting more sunlight (while wearing adequate sunscreen to block UV rays) or making a point to eat more seafood.

What Are the Most Significant Risk Factors of Depression? 

Unfortunately, the most significant risk factor for the development of major depressive disorder is something you can’t make an effort to change, your age. Usually, people are diagnosed with major depressive disorder when they are between 14 and 39 years of age. Most commonly, teens are diagnosed with this condition because puberty causes hormone levels to become so imbalanced that the body can no longer process enough serotonin.

Seniors also have a high risk of developing depression. This is because they are more likely to have experienced significant loss, like the death of their soulmate. Also, the elderly are more likely to live alone and have less of a social support system than younger people. Here are some other significant risk factors:

Abuse

People who have been abused are much more likely than others to experience depression. However, it is important to understand that this does not just apply to physical or sexual abuse. It also applies to financial and emotional abuse.

For instance, you are more likely to develop depression if your romantic partner insists that you don’t work and only gives you a weekly allowance. You are also more likely to develop depression if your partner spends money recklessly, so you have to pick up an additional job to pay your bills.  

What Should You Do if Someone Is Suicidal? 

If someone tells you that they are considering suicide, you should call 911. While you’re waiting for first responders to arrive, reassure them that you hear what they are saying and encourage them to keep talking. Try to make them feel respected, understood, supported, and heard.

If you suspect a loved one is suicidal, be direct without being judgmental. Remain calm and make sure that you don’t guilt-trip them. For instance, you should never ask someone who is having suicidal ideations to think about how their dog, significant other, or parents will feel if they commit suicide.

How Is Depression Treated?

Most of the time, psychiatrists try to treat depression by prescribing oral antidepressants. Depending on the type of depression you suffer from and your unique body chemistry, you may find this treatment effective. However, there is a significant risk of physical and emotional side effects when you take oral antidepressants. Fortunately, there are alternative treatments, including:

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation
• Electroconvulsive therapy
• Vagus nerve stimulation

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, sometimes referred to as TMS, is a non-invasive depression treatment. It works thanks to your nerve cells being stimulated by magnetic fields. If you’ve tried oral antidepressants and psychotherapy or some other type of therapy to no avail, there is a good chance this treatment will be effective for you.

Am I a Good Candidate for TMS?

Due to the non-invasive nature of TMS, most people who suffer from major depressive disorder are considered good candidates. However, it is not appropriate for everyone, including women who are pregnant, think they may be pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. Also, this treatment will not be considered appropriate for you if you have a personal history of petit or grand mal seizures or a family history of epilepsy.

Note, to verify that this treatment is appropriate for you, we need to know about all of the drugs and supplements you are currently taking and their dosages. Depending on when you are trying to schedule your treatment before, we also may need to know what pharmaceuticals you have taken recently. Other factors that may exclude you from qualifying for this treatment include:

• Substance misuse
• Frequent headaches
• Severe headaches
• A history of strokes
• Cochlear implants
• Magnetic implants
• Metal, including screws and plates

How Should I Prepare for My Treatment?

Since TMS is non-invasive, it doesn’t require the administration of general anesthesia. Therefore, you don’t need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment. However, some people like to have someone drive them the first time they receive treatment because they’re not sure how they will feel afterwards. In addition to determining the logistics of attending your appointment, you may need to stop taking certain medications temporarily.

What Can I Expect During My Appointment? 

You should expect your first treatment session to take approximately one hour to complete. Prior to the commencement of your session, we will determine the ideal dose of magnetic energy and placement of the magnets. We will also give you earplugs to put in before your treatment begins. Your treatment will take place in a comfortable, private room with a chair for you to recline comfortably in.

Once you’re settled into the reclining chair, we will place the magnetic coil in a strategic location and calibrate it so it delivers an effective dose of magnetic energy. We will turn the device on and off repeatedly, so you receive safe pulses of magnetic energy. During this phase of the treatment, known as mapping, we will gradually increase the dose of energy you receive until your extremities twitch. This gives us your motor threshold.

Will My Hands Be Twitching Throughout the Treatment?

No, your hands will not be twitching throughout your treatment session. We just need to know your motor threshold, so we don’t give you a dose of magnetic energy that is too high. If you’re worried about how you will feel during your session, you should know that you will only feel a gentle tapping. You will also hear a clicking sound, but this is perfectly normal and safe.

Since there is no need for general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, you will be awake throughout the entire process. If you feel like the tapping is a bit too much, let us know. We are more than happy to decrease the energy output of the device to ensure your continuous comfort.

The Bottom Line

Among the most common depression symptoms are chronic fatigue, unexplainable, rapid changes in weight, difficulty completing tasks, and suicidal ideations. If you believe you suffer from depression, you are not alone, and there is hope. For more information on this condition, reach out to us today at Cady Wellness Institute in Newburgh, IN to schedule an appointment. We’re here for you.