Almost 10 percent of Americans are affected by depression. Though, depression often ranges in terms of severity. In any case, common symptoms of depression often include sadness, apathy, fatigue, poor sleep, weight anomalies, and thoughts of self-harm.

This disorder in adults comes in a variety of forms. Some people experience major depressive disorder (also known as “clinical depression”) which is a severe, prolonged form of depression.

Others may experience minor depressive disorder (also known as “everyday depression”) which is a more mild form of depression and may be characterized with shorter, temporary episodes of sadness.

If you suffer from major depressive disorder, you may not feel well enough to go to work or do anything else. In fact, you might feel so bad that you’d rather stay home and sleep. This is referred to as a “major depressive episode.”

One thing is certain: major depressive disorder has the ability to impact all facets of your life.

Fortunately, however, with severe clinical depression treatment, most people with this mental health condition can get better quickly.

MDD treatment can take various forms including medications, psychotherapy, exercise, and diet changes.

What Causes Major Depressive Disorder?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) occurs when depression symptoms affect the lives of people with depression adversely. 

The cause of this mental disorder is still unknown. However, several factors contribute to the development of depression and can impact people of all ages. 

Genetics, hormones, medications, environmental triggers, and lifestyle choices all play a part in whether someone develops depression.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

These are examples of some of the associated emotions:

• Feelings of sadness
• Hopelessness
• Worthlessness
• Guilt
• Anger
• Fatigue

If you feel you’re suffering from depression, a good first step is to talk to your doctor. They can help diagnose the problem and prescribe the most efficacious treatment.

Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

While many people are aware of the symptoms of depression, most don’t realize how common these mental health conditions are. A variety of clinical depression treatment options exist for those suffering from major depressive disorder.

Psychotherapy for depression

Psychotherapies are effective behavioral treatments for chronic depression. They include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), supportive psychotherapy, group therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Simply put, these methods involve speaking with a mental health professional.

Medications for major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder medications to treat depression are available via prescription from your doctor and are available at your local pharmacy. These antidepressant medications include:

• SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
• TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants)
• Lithium
• Psilocybin-assisted therapy (not yet FDA approved) 
• TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)

A new treatment called ketamine has shown promise. Researchers found that low doses of ketamine as an active drug can help to relieve symptoms of depression.

Cognitive therapy for depression

Cognitive therapy is highly regarded as psychological therapy. In cognitive therapy, patients learn to challenge their negative beliefs and supplant them with constructive thoughts.

In addition, they are taught to recognize their automatic thoughts and to question their validity.

There is a spectrum of CBTs, including individual and group treatment therapies.

Talk therapy for depression

Talk therapy is considered the first choice for mild cases of depression, although some patients find that antidepressants work faster than talk therapies.

However, talk therapy is still very helpful for many people experiencing major depressive disorder.

Brain stimulation therapies

Several types of brain stimulation therapies are being studied and developed to help people suffering from depression.

Brain stimulation therapies include deep brain stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. TMS therapy essentially stimulates nerve cells in the brain to help regulate mood control, therefore helping people that may be experiencing MDD.

Lifestyle Changes to Treat Major Depressive Disorder

You can alleviate the symptoms of a major depressive disorder by making lifestyle changes.

Exercising, for example, can help reduce depression symptoms. And something as simple as getting enough quality sleep is also important in coping with depression.

So here are some lifestyle changes you can make to improve your mood.

Nutrition counseling to treat major depressive disorder

Nutrition counselors help patients understand how food choices affect mood and energy levels. They teach patients to eat healthy foods that provide the best nutrition for better cognitive functioning.

This type of treatment is called nutritional therapy. For example, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help with depressive episodes.

Avoid alcohol and certain processed foods

Alcohol is a nervous system depressant and should be avoided if you are experiencing depression. If you drink too much, it can lead to heightened feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and even suicidal thoughts.

Processed foods have also been linked with an increased risk of depression. Researchers found that those who ate more processed food had a greater chance of developing depression.

They also discovered that those who consumed healthy foods had less likelihood of having depressive symptoms.

Sleep well

A lack of sleep can cause depression, according to a study in the Journal for Biological Psychiatry.

Researchers believe that insufficient sleep could affect mood because it causes changes in levels of hormones, such as cortisol and melatonin.

Finding the MDD Therapy You Need

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of Americans each year.

Fortunately, many effective treatments are available today, including combined treatment methodologies.

At Neuro Spa Therapy Centers, we offer a variety of treatments to suit the needs of each individual patient. If you believe you’ve been suffering from major depressive disorder, book a free consultation with us today.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.