Unipolar depression is a mood disorder that is very common worldwide. Individuals that are affected by this form of depression experience constant feelings of sadness, or lack of interest in interacting with anyone, including friends, family members, and anyone else. It is a very crippling mental disorder that affects every aspect of your daily life.
Uptime or remission rates in the treatment of Unipolar depression (UD) have reached great heights over the years. As always, a majority of cases are not made known to the public due to lack of awareness regarding the symptoms and the potential adverse effects.
According to estimates, depression is most common in ages 18 to 25 (10.9%) and in individuals belonging to two or more races (10.5 percent).
While only a fraction is diagnosed and treated, as they are still relatively unknown, a significant number of people live with depression every day. This article discusses some of the most common symptoms, which show Unipolar Depression.
Symptoms of Unipolar Depression
The first symptom that is often associated with the manic phase of depression is a marked decrease in functioning capacity, which is usually coupled with severe muscle tension.
In a situation where the patient experiences euphoric highs and is euphoric and elated, this euphoria will cause sleepiness and the patient will not be able to function properly.
If the patient becomes excessively conscious about even minor details, he/she may start feeling detached and irritated and this could translate to more severe Unipolar Depression symptoms such as a tendency to overcompensate for problems and a constant state of irritation and frustration.
The duration of this stage differs from person to person and it can last for weeks, months or even years. The duration and intensity of the manic phase also differ from one patient to another.
If the condition is more severe, the person will have severe restlessness and insomnia. There will also be a noticeable increase in appetite, which could result to an increase in weight.
If the depression does not abate or the symptoms persist, there are chances of increased muscle tension, increased heart rate and the patient may experience chest pain, rapid breathing, sweating and hot flashes. These signs should prompt a medical professional to make a diagnosis of Unipolar Depression.
A proper diagnosis will enable the medical professional to suggest the best course of action for the patient. A combination of medication, therapy and relaxation techniques are usually used to treat this condition.
What is Unipolar Depression? – Unipolar vs Bipolar
What is bipolar depression, you might ask. This is a type of depression that affects many americans and is characterized by mood swings from extremely low to abnormally high, with cycles that last for short periods of time. Unipolar disorder is usually diagnosed in late adolescence or early adulthood, although it can appear at any age.
The causes of bipolar disorder are not known, and no one has yet come up with a concrete cure for it. The mood swings in bipolar patients are usually cyclical, which means that they repeat certain phases of abnormality over again.
Bipolar disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental disorders, especially in America, because the symptoms are similar to those of other mental illnesses such as clinical depression and anxiety. People who suffer from bipolar disorder usually have poor social relationships, lose interest in activities they used to enjoy and have distorted thoughts about themselves.
Some people do not associate unipolar depression with cyclical mood swings and other signs of emotional instability. Others however, realize that the patient’s moods alternate between normal moods alternately extreme highs and lows.
These high and low emotions can affect a person’s quality of life by making it difficult to function and create an identity. It is important to know what is unipolar depression so that you can be able to recognize the symptoms when they occur. Unfortunately, a lot of people fail to recognize the signs of this disorder even when the condition is very severe.
Doctors usually treat unipolar depression with a combination of medication, therapy and exercise. Drugs such as lithium can help to lower down the symptoms of this manic depression. St. John’s Wort is also another drug that is used to treat bipolar depression. However, it is best not to use antidepressants unless prescribed by a doctor because they can cause harmful side effects. Instead of resorting to these conventional forms of treatment, many people turn to alternative forms of treatment such as natural remedies, alternative therapies and meditation.
Some forms of alternative therapy include acupuncture, hypnosis and other forms of mind control and relaxation techniques. It is believed that this type of treatment can actually produce a unipolar depression without any side effects because it has the ability to change a mood by changing a brain chemical imbalance.
Meditation is another form of treatment, which is also known to have some positive results in treating bipolar disorder. This type of meditative practice allows the individual to clear their mind and learn to control themselves. Another form of meditation that can be used is yoga.
The good thing about treating bipolar depression is that it does not have a cure but it can definitely improve the patient’s quality of life. If left untreated bipolar disorder can cause a major decline in a person’s quality of life. It is therefore important to identify the symptoms of bipolar disorder as early as possible before the condition gets worse.
Unipolar Depression Cause
The most common cause of unipolar depression causes is what is known as cyclothymia, or when the depression runs in cycles.
The depressive episodes come and go, usually lasting about a year, before being replaced by a milder form of depression which is less severe, but just as destructive.
In this case, the cycles usually come and go, with milder episodes followed by more severe ones. This type of depression is seen in one third of all bipolar affective disorders.
Cyclothymic depression can lead to other forms of depression, if it is not addressed. This is especially true if the cycle is not attended to after a period of two or more years.
Other unipolar depression causes can be due to the other variation of this disorder. This can occur when the person has an extremely mild form of the disease and it is only brought under conscious notice when they are in hospital.
A mild form of the disorder can sometimes be dealt with therapy and medication prescribed by the doctor, but when the condition is left untreated for a long period, the symptoms will almost always become worse and this is where the trouble begins.
Unipolar Depression Treatment – How to Recover
A great option for treating unipolar depression would be to look towards natural methods of recovery. The good news is that there are many options out there for treatment. These include various types of therapies, including various forms of meditation.
It is also important to remember that it does not matter how you choose to treat your depression; when you find that you are suffering from this condition, there is no reason to feel ashamed.
When it comes to treating unipolar depression treatment, the first thing that you need to do is to see a doctor who will be able to help you.
It is imperative that you find a treatment program that will fit in with your lifestyle. Your doctor should be able to determine which type of therapy is best for you and your type of depression.
You can be as active as you want, but if you have some trouble relaxing, then you will only end up hurting yourself. In addition to therapy, you will also need to practice some healthy lifestyle habits.
If you smoke or drink excessively, then these habits are going to stay with you for the rest of your life, even if you are taking medication for the condition.
As unipolar depression treatment is concerned, one important thing is to stick to your treatment plan. When you start a new therapy or habit, always go about it in a gradual and sensible manner.
For instance, if you have just started going to a yoga class, try going for a couple of sessions a week until you feel that you are getting results. Also, try to stick to your diet if you are on medication because eating too much of sugar and saturated fats can cause mood swings and unbalanced behavior.
Exercise is also important, but if you have some problems with stairs, then skipping your exercise routine could be dangerous. Remember to stick to your treatment and you will be on the road to recovery very soon.