Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition that can affect anyone, regardless of your age, gender, or background.
Although it can be frightening to experience negative emotions and difficulties such as sadness, exhaustion and thoughts of hopelessness, it’s important to remember that you are not alone in your journey.
Orchestrate Health is here to provide the compassionate guidance you need to find long-term relief and available treatment options for major depressive disorder.
Let us be with you every step of the way as we explore more about major depressive disorder together.
What Exactly is Major Depressive Disorder?
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), otherwise called ‘clinical depression’ is a form of depression that can be diagnosed after symptoms are present for more than 2 weeks.
MDD is characterised by:
● A low, depressed mood
● Little interest in things you used to enjoy
● Changes in weight
● Changes in sleep
● Exhaustion
● Feelings of worthlessness
● Feelings of shame
● Feeling numb
● Feeling hopeless
MDD can be severe, and result in thoughts or actions related to suicide, self-harm, or death. It can make it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning, let alone practise personal hygiene or take care of responsibilities.
What are the Causes of Major Depressive Disorder?
Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. These factors can interact with each other to trigger the onset of depression.
Genetics
For example, someone who has a family history of depression may be more likely to experience depression themselves. This is because they may have a genetic predisposition for the disorder. However, this does not mean that they will necessarily develop depression.
Biological Causes
Certain medical conditions can also increase the risk for depression. For example, people who have thyroid problems or certain types of cancer are more likely to experience depression than people who don’t have these conditions.
Environmental Causes
Environmental factors can also play a role in triggering the onset of depression. For example, someone who experiences a major life event—such as the death of a loved one—may be more likely to develop depression than someone who doesn’t experience such an event.
Psychological
Finally, certain psychological factors may contribute to the development of depression. For example, people who tend to think negatively or have low self-esteem may be more likely to develop depression than people who don’t have these tendencies.
How Do I Know If I’m Experiencing Major Depressive Disorder?
Major depressive disorder can be a life-altering mental health condition in every area of your life.
It can cause major changes in how you think, feel and behave, impacting your daily activities such as sleeping or eating. Even relationships with others can be majorly affected due to a tendency to isolate oneself from social contact.
This also translates into reduced performance at work or school, often leading to difficulties in accomplishing goals and objectives set forth. All these changes due major depressive disorder contribute greatly to the hardship that those with this condition struggle with on a day-to-day basis and should not be taken lightly.
Is Major Depressive Disorder Considered a Serious Mental Illness?
Major depressive disorder is classified as a serious mental illness, with depression affecting an estimated 1 in 6 people in the UK alone.
Despite this figure, many people still remain reluctant to seek help due to a feeling of shame or embarrassment.
Unfortunately, major depressive disorder often fails to spontaneously disappear – the only way it can be effectively dealt with is through professional help. All too often people suffer in silence thinking it will pass in time, when the reality is that early intervention and treatment are key for successful outcomes.
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Contact us to find the care you need today.
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Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
MDD can feel debilitating, sometimes interfering with one’s ability to sleep or retain focus in daily activities.
Fortunately, there are treatments available for major depressive disorder that allow those affected to lead healthy and happy lives.
In the UK, some of the most common treatments for major depressive disorder include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), antidepressant medication, physical activity and lifestyle changes. Treatments may look different depending on the severity of your depression.
However, with the right combination of treatments, patients can find long-term relief from major depressive disorder and lead fulfilling lives.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy:
While there are a variety of treatments and medications used to combat depression within the UK, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is especially popular when managing mild to moderate cases.
This method revolves around changing negative thought patterns and behaviours by encouraging individuals to challenge unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more constructive outlooks.
For example, if a person suffering from depression succeeds in reframing a negative thought such as “nobody likes me” into something productive such as “I would like to find new friends”, this will go a long way towards separating oneself from negative cycles that can lead to further depression.
Counselling Services:
Counselling is often a recommended therapeutic approach for treating such cases, as it works to examine and address underlying issues that can be causing unhappiness or distress.
It usually involves having conversations between the patient and a trained therapeutic counsellor on topics like behaviour patterns, motivations, thought processes, and stressors.
This helps in understanding the root cause in order to develop actionable steps that can be taken to manage the problem.
Medication
One of the main treatments used to treat depression are antidepressants.
These drugs help to balance the levels of chemicals in a person’s brain that regulate their emotions and moods, which in some cases can lead to major improvements and relief from symptoms.
Antidepressants are usually prescribed after other forms of therapy have been tried or suggested and tend to be taken for up to six months or longer, depending on severity.
It’s important to note that these treatments carry side-effects, so it’s advised that you consult with your doctor before taking any type of antidepressant in order to evaluate whether this could be a safe option for treating depression.
Can Major Depressive Disorder Be Treated Without Medication?
MDD is a serious mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. But does it necessarily mean that one must always depend on medications to treat it?
Not always – there are several non-medical measures, such as psychotherapy, lifestyle changes or nutrition therapy, which can be used to address major depressive disorder.
With the right guidance, individuals with major depressive disorder can make use of such treatments to gain control over their symptoms without relying on medications. Furthermore, by learning new ways of managing stress, recognizing one’s limitations and taking steps towards self-improvement, people can find relief from MDD without resorting to medication.
Ultimately, it boils down to finding the right solution depending upon individual needs and circumstances.
How Can Orchestrate Health Help Me With My Major Depression?
Did you relate with any symptoms we’ve discussed? Are you already diagnosed with major depression and are looking for more support in your journey?
At-Home Mental Healthcare:
At Orchestrate Health, we understand the daily challenges of major depressive disorder and how hard it can be to manage these symptoms.
Our crisis mental health home treatment service is designed to provide rapid and individualised responses for those with acute needs.
With fully qualified nurses on hand, our live-in support offers a comfortable alternative to hospital stays – successfully managing symptoms as well as medication so you can get the care you need without leaving your own home.
Furthermore, by providing care in the comfort and privacy of your own home, our team is confident that you will have the best response to treatment.
Rapid Response
At the onset of mental or behavioural health issues, time is critical. Here with our online psychiatrist service, we provide speedy and accurate assessments in just 24 hours – so you can get on track to recovery as soon as possible!
We take into account your unique characteristics for a full-rounded assessment that yields tailored treatment plans suited just for you.
Psychiatry:
Our consultant psychiatrists are highly skilled in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of psychological health issues.
They maintain accreditation from regulatory organisations to ensure they offer you only the best mental healthcare practices based on current research results.
Each visit your Psychiatrist will assess how well treatments have been working for you as well as prescribe medications if needed – our team also includes specialists with expertise ranging from Adult ADHD to Bipolar Disorder and Depression/Anxiety Disorders, giving us a wealth of experience at hand when caring for you!
Resources:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/antidepressants-a-z/overview/
Reach Out for Help Now
Major depressive disorder is a mental health issue that can have major impacts on your life.
It leaves those who suffer from it unable to function in the same manner they once could, and often leaves them overwhelmed with a feeling of despair. Common symptoms encompass hopelessness, lack of interest and pleasure in activities once enjoyed, as well as difficulty with sleep or appetite disruption.
The severity of major depressive disorder can vary, but it’s an important issue to take seriously because even milder forms of depression can still cause major disruption. Everyone deserves a chance at achieving their best by managing and combating major depressive disorder if it affects them.
If you are struggling and require at-home major depressive disorder treatment remember that there is help available for you through Orchestrate Health today. Don’t face major depressive disorder alone – we have knowledgeable staff waiting to assist you.
Contact us today for a free depression assessment and start living the first days of your new life.
To get in touch call us on 0800 193 3277 or email us here.
