Feeling sad and grieving for something are normal human emotions. These are things that someone is supposed to feel based on an event that happened. People have these feelings from time to time and they normally go away on their own. Depression is not normal.
Depression is a diagnosable condition that is classified as being a mood disorder. It can bring with it long-lasting symptoms including but not limited to the feeling of overwhelming sadness, loss of appetite, low energy, and showing little to no interest in things that the person usually enjoyed.
If left untreated, depression can develop serious health complications. It can ultimately put the life of the person at risk.
What makes depression even more dangerous is that the signs can be a bit difficult to see due to several reasons. The affected person may not even know he or she has depression. For people who know they do, or at least feel they do, some are afraid to open up because of getting judged by their family and/or friends. So they tend to keep quiet and put on a strong face, leaving the disorder untreated.
Today, depression is the primary cause of disability for ages 15-44 and is the leading reason for suicides in the United States. More than 18 million people in the country are currently affected by one form of depression or another in any given year.
Fortunately there are great treatments for depression available including the homeopathic approach. But before getting into the treatment, the first thing to understand is the type of depression the patient is experiencing.
Types of Depression
There are several types of depression that can affect a patient. These are listed below.
Major Depressive Disorder
Sometimes simply known as Major Depression, it is the type wherein the person feels depressed for most days of the week. Common symptoms include:
➣Weight loss or gain
➣ Either trouble sleeping or usually sleepy during the day
➣ Restlessness and agitation
➣ Sluggish feeling or slowed down both physically and mentally
➣ Losing interest in pleasurable activities
➣ Overwhelming guilt
➣ Feeling worthless
➣ Always tired
➣ Having trouble concentrating
➣ Thoughts of suicide
Having 5 or more of these symptoms for majority of the days in the week, means the person has Major Depression. This is a serious condition and if you are feeling the symptoms, call us or a mental health specialist now.
Bipolar Disorder
Also known as Manic Depression, a person who has Bipolar Disorder experiences episodes of extreme high energy and extremely low and depressive moods. During the low moods, the person has symptoms similar to Major Depression.
The danger of Bipolar Disorder is that the afflicted person or people around him/her may not immediately see something is wrong due to the inconsistencies.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
This is a type of Major Depression that is present most of the time during the winter months when days tend to be shorter and the person experiences less sunlight. During the summer and spring, the disorder and symptoms typically go away.
Atypical Depression
This is very different from typical depression hence the name. It can describe a pattern of depressive symptoms. People who are afflicted with Atypical Depression can experience improved moods after a positive event.
Common symptoms of Atypical Depression include the following:
- A significant increase in appetite
- Sleeping longer hours than usual
- Have a feeling of heaviness in both arms and legs
- Over sensitivity to criticism
Post-Partum Depression
This is experienced exclusively by women in the weeks or even months following childbirth. They fall into Major Depression and have the same symptoms. Because of the situation, it may directly and physically affect the child as well.
Psychotic Depression
This is probably the most dangerous type of depression because it can also physically harm the people around the afflicted person as well. Aside from experiencing the symptoms of Major Depression, the afflicted person would also experience:
- Delusions or false beliefs
- Hallucinations wherein the person sees or hears things that are not there
- Paranoia or the feeling that someone is trying to harm the person
Homeopathic Treatment of Depression
Depression is a serious condition, but it can be managed and cured. Homeopathic treatment introduces a safe and efficient way of dealing with different types of depression.
**Please note** These descriptions cannot be used to treat, but just to give a person an idea of the different homeopathic remedies available. Each remedy must be matched to the individual’s unique problem. This is why it’s best to consult a homeopathic specialist on your individual situation.
Arsenicum Album
Based on white arsenic, this is one of the most popular homeopathic treatments for depression. People who respond well with this treatment tend to be very neat and tidy but are quite restless. They can often provide a lot of details to their symptoms and they tell it in a very methodical, but time consuming, way.
Natrum Muriacticum
This is one of the most frequently used homeopathic treatments for stress. It is effective for people who experience depression after grieving the loss of someone close to them. More often than not, these people seem to have built up a wall between them and the world since the incident. They try to be strong but are overwhelmed by the responsibility hence they fall into depression.
Ignatia
Similar to the previous one, Ignatia can be an effective homeopathic treatment for depression that stems out of bereavement or shock. People who go through this event would normally have a lot of ups and downs which leads to family and friends having difficulty in dealing with them.
Get Treated
If you feel you are falling into depression or already are suffering from one type of depression or another, do not hesitate to contact me for a consultation.
