Depression is not something that can just be wished or willed away and neither is it an indicator of personal weakness. More than 50% of US adults suffering from depression do not receive adequate treatment. If not treated properly, depression can last years and take over the lives of sufferers and their families.
MDD Symptoms:
- Feeling tired all the time as if you have no energy
- Weight gain or weight loss with significant increase or decrease in appetite
- Sleeping too much or difficulty falling asleep
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Loss of sex drive
- A slowdown in physical and/or mental activity
- Thoughts of suicide or death
Treatment Options for MDD
Various approaches to treating major depression include antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), etc. Antidepressants in combination with psychotherapy is the common method of treatment. However, antidepressants may come with side effects such as insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. Electroconvulsive therapy is usually avoided and made the last resort for extreme cases.