Can you fill in the blank?
____________ causes more disability worldwide than any other illness.
Conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and back problems might first come to mind, but the answer is actually depression.
In fact, according to The World Health Organization, depression causes more disability worldwide than any other illness. And, in addition to standing alone as a deeply disabling disorder, depression can worsen other illnesses like diabetes, heart disease liver disease, heart disease, and brain injuries.
Depression is an illness that does not discriminate against age, race, or sex. Unfortunately, many of those who battle depression feel misunderstood and often suffer in silence because of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
But Major Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a serious medical condition that should be treated as such. Like other illnesses, depression is NOT a one-size-fits-all disease. In fact, there are many different types of depression and it can look very different from person to person. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of depression and their respective symptoms.
Major Depressive Disorder (Major Depression)
Major depressive disorder symptoms can vary from patient to patient. It can be very disabling for some people, preventing the patient from functioning normally, while others may only experience a few episodes while maintaining daily function. Many people experience symptoms that undermine their ability to sleep, study, work, eat and enjoy activities they used to find pleasurable.
Dysthymic Disorder (Dysthymia)
Dysthymic disorder is also known as dysthymia or mild chronic depression. The patient can suffer symptoms for a long time, perhaps as long as a couple of years, and often longer.
The symptoms are not as severe as in major depression – they do not disable the patient. Some people experience only one episode during their lifetime while others may have recurrences.
Psychotic Depression
When severe depressive illness includes hallucinations, delusions, and/or withdrawing from reality, the patient may be diagnosed with psychotic depression. Psychotic depression is also referred to as delusional depression.
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
Postpartum Depression should not be confused with ‘baby blues’ which a mother may feel for a very short period after giving birth. If a mother develops a major depressive episode within a few weeks of giving birth it is most likely she has developed postpartum depression.
- Common signs of PPD include:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Irritability
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Crying
- Reduced concentration
- Appetite problems
- Trouble sleeping
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
When the seasons change, less sunlight and more dark hours can trigger depressive symptoms for someone suffering from SAD. A person who develops a depressive illness during the winter months might have SAD.
Bipolar Disorder (manic-depressive illness)
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. A patient with bipolar disorder experiences moments of extreme highs and extreme lows know as manias.
The bottom line is that depression is a complex illness. All of the highlighted possibilities surrounding a depression diagnosis only stress the necessity of unique treatment approaches for individuals battling depression.
If you or a loved one suffers from any type of depression, give our office a call or fill out our form to connect with someone in our office. Our team is here to help you understand your advanced treatment options like TMS Therapy and Ketamine so you can move forward in better health and happiness.
TMS
by Deb (age 64)
Category: generalThe hoops I jumped through in order to be evaluated were straightforward and efficient. I met with PA Kaitlin for about an hour to discuss my history and previous medications. Then Dr. Amato joined us to further discuss my history, the TMS treatment, and answer any questions. Myrna gathered all of the information and submitted it to my health insurance company to request coverage for TMS. Fortunately, insurance approved the treatment and I was able to begin the next week. I’m sure most people have anxiety about starting a treatment like TMS. No matter how many times it’s described to you, there are many unknowns. How will I feel during treatment? Is it painful? What if this doesn’t work? What if it works for a while but then stops? In all honesty, I was very uncomfortable during the first couple of weeks of treatment. The alternating two seconds of tapping sensation caused some pain during treatment, and at the end of the first week I thought about quitting. But I had sworn to myself that TMS was a last resort and I HAD TO complete the treatment and give it a chance to work. My technician, Heather, told me that some people don’t feel the tapping at all, they only hear it. Guess I wasn’t one of those people! But as the days went by, it became easier to tolerate the treatments. During this time I also saw Lauren weekly for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). This is highly recommended for people undergoing TMS treatment, and it was a positive complement to my total of 100 minutes each week “under the helmet”. The weekend between weeks three and four, I started to notice subtle improvements in my mood, increased belief in my self-worth, and enthusiasm for simple things like going for walks, meeting friends for lunch, and taking on volunteer work in the community. I hesitated at first to believe that TMS was helping me. I was afraid that I was convincing myself it was working because I so desperately wanted it to! But now that I am past the treatment I can say with cert
TMS
by Barbie (age 68)
Category: generalI feel so blessed to participate in the TMS protocol at MT Psychiatry. After struggling so many years with depression and not getting significant results from medication, particularly of late, I noticed positive results in the first two weeks of treatment. TMS can literally give you back the beauty & joy in living as well as the courage to make positive life changes and improvements in your daily living situation. I heartily encourage anyone to put yourself into the hands of the amazing TMS team who so gently and graciously make this journey with you out of the black hole that is depression. It is my honor and privilege to give the TMS treatment the highest recommendation.
TMS
by Shayne (age 66)
Category: generalI am grateful for the support and caring I have received from Dr. Amato (and Heidi, Heather and Myrna) in my quest for mental health and a fuller more productive life. While the TMS results have been subtle, I feel more positive about my future and I would recommend this team absolutely. Thank you!
TMS
by Carrie (age 65)
Category: generalNot realizing how fuzzy my head was, I thought I was only going through severe anxiety and depression. Through the insight of Pat, I was able to go through TMS treatments which brought down the anxiety and depression immensely and has cleared up the fuzzy, far off substantially. All the personnel treated me with kindness and I’m sure their attitudes helped in my recovery.
TMS
by Bridget (age 47)
Category: generalThe first outcome of TMS I noted happened early in my treatment, at about the beginning of week two. I felt as though my “brain fog” had been chipped away. I wish I could report that I feel my mental health issues are in “remission”, but I can’t do so yet. My hope is that I will see improvement in the weeks to come, now that my TMS cycle has ended. I can say that my brain feels – in some way – different; I can’t explain exactly how. I continue to struggle at this point in time but sill have hope for more improvement.
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