Sadness and melancholy are two feelings present at some point in everyone’s life, like joy and pleasure. The first two are not pathological, but they may become so for certain people. When an individual suffers severe and prolonged feelings of sadness or related symptoms that affect his or her ability to relate to others, or to work or face the day, sadness becomes a disease, also known as depression. Take your life back by visiting a Walk In Clinic in Eatontown.
Causes
The causes behind depression are diverse, but its biochemistry could help explain many cases. Some individuals show high levels various chemicals in the brain that act as neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These particular levels can be elevated due to hereditary reasons. Explanations of this relate to family history and, thus, children grow up with a less-than-stellar outlook on life or grow up in a bad environment.
Depression is not caused only by genetics. In fact, a deep emotional loss can cause changes that stimulate depression as well. These fluctuations may cause a disease seen later on. Additional factors range from losing a job to lacking the ability to adapt to life’s changes. Although no doctor knows how depression comes about, they have identified several factors as neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain. Antidepressants can help doctors solve this problem.
Diagnosis
An inquiry into the patient’s history is a key weapon for the professional to diagnose a case of depression. It should include a thorough medical history, where it will take into account when the symptoms started, its duration and so on. The doctor will also ask questions about the use of drugs, alcohol or if the patient has thoughts of suicide or death. A diagnostic evaluation should include an examination of the patient’s mental status to determine if their patterns of speech, thought or memory have been affected. To diagnose a depressive disorder, a specialist should be given no less than two weeks before any symptoms are treated. One of them must be the change in mood, loss of interest or capacity for pleasure. Visit Central Jersey Urgent Care of Eatontown to learn how to treat your depression.