Introduction
Depression is a serious health condition that can lead to death if left untreated. In some people, untreated depression can lead to suicide. Depression can make you feel that it is not worth investing in yourself for treatment. But because depression can have serious psychological and physical consequences, the sooner you start treatment, the better you can manage your symptoms.
How can depression cause death?
Also, in severe cases, a person living with depression may have suicidal thoughts. It can also be a choice not to use drugs to self-medicate, which can lead to death.
Suicide
Among those living with depression and several other mental health conditions, the risk of suicide is about 5% to 8%.
Related health problems
When a person is having depression, they can be having a various physical and mental symptoms. This can change into severe medical problems in future.
Related illnesses
Depression may be associated with a multiple serious diseases. These include:
- heart disease
- hyperlipidemia
- diabetes
- infections
- Alzheimer’s disease
Sleeping problems
Insomnia, disturbed sleep or sleeping too much, these are common symptoms of depression. If you have chronically bad sleep, you’re also more of developing serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Decreased appetite
If you’re living with depression, you may not want to eat as usual and experience unwanted weight loss.. This may cause you to overeat, leading to weight gain
Substance use disorder
This can put you at risk for substance use disorders. In the case of drug abuse, death can occur as a result of an accidental overdose.
Other causes of death related to drug use may include violence or death from reliable sources.
How to treat depression?
Treatment can reduce the mental and physical problems associated with depression, as well as the risk of death.
Your doctor may recommend seeing a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, for treatment. Below are some ways to treat depression.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is a long-term approach to treating depression. This includes talking to a professional about depression and your health.
Your mental health professional can help you decide which treatment methods and formats are right for you.
Psychotherapy Goals:
- creating tools to adapt to emergencies or challenges in a healthy way
- identify how you think or act negatively and replace them with healthier, more positive ways of thinking and behaving
- More positive outlook on your relationship and life experience
- find healthier ways to deal with and overcome problems in your life
- identify the things in your life that contribute to your depression and change those things to reduce depression
- it helps you feel more satisfied and in control of your life
- learn how to set more realistic life goals
- learn to face the failure in a positive way
- reduce the mental and physical symptoms of depression
Landon
In some cases, treatment is not enough to help a person overcome depression. In these cases, a mental health professional may recommend medication.
The general purpose of using medication is to relieve the symptoms of depression so that the person is more likely to benefit from the medication.
Some Common Depression Treatments:
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
- serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
- tricyclic antidepressants
- monoamine oxidase inhibitor
Other medications such as mood stabilizers or antipsychotics
Natural remedies
Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy and exercising, can help you feel better and limit the symptoms of depression.
According to a 2021 study, moderate exercise can be a reliable source of reducing some symptoms of depression. Another 2022 study found that eating a Mediterranean diet can reduce the likelihood of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms by 40% to 45%. A reliable source
When you or someone you know is living with depression, it can be difficult to find the motivation to maintain your health or treat them. But if you can put some effort into it, you can feel better. While this may not be enough to cure severe depression, it can be a good start.
How can I cope with depression?
Depression is a chronic condition that requires treatment to manage. Your depression may never go away, but sticking to your treatment plan can give you the tools you need to live a fulfilling and happy life.
Additionally, sticking to some daily habits can also help you feel better. These include:
Get yourself support: Stay in regular contact with supportive friends, loved ones, and peers. You can also join a support group such as the American Anxiety and Depression Association (AADA) or the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).
Do activities you enjoy: Do something every day that brings you joy. It can be something like watching a movie or reading a book, playing sports or doing an art like painting.
Write down your feelings: Keeping a journal where you can honestly write down how you feel will help you release negative emotions.
Can you die of a broken heart?
Although depression can be considered a severe form of sadness, there are cases where the sadness caused by depression results death. A person can experience heart failure in a state of extreme grief or shock after the death of a loved one or other reasons.
How does untreated clinical depression affect physical health?
There is evidence that clinical depression takes a toll on physical health. Recent studies examining health and major depression have looked at patients with stroke or coronary artery disease. The results show that people with major depression who are recovering from a stroke or heart attack have a harder time choosing health care. It is also more difficult to follow the doctor’s orders and cope with the complications of the disease. Another study found that severely depressed patients had a higher risk of death in the months following a heart attack.
How does untreated depression affect sleep?
One of the most obvious symptoms of clinical depression is a change in sleep patterns. Although the most common problem is insomnia (difficulty getting enough sleep), people sometimes feel the need for sleep and experience an excessive loss of energy. Lack of sleep can lead to some symptoms similar to depression – extreme fatigue, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
Are the symptoms of untreated depression different in men than in women?
Men don’t realize that physical symptoms like headaches, indigestion, and chronic pain can be symptoms of depression.
How does untreated depression affect our families?
It is often helpful to have family members involved in the evaluation and treatment of depressed relatives. Family or family therapy is sometimes indicated.
Can untreated depression lead to suicide?
Depression increases the risk of suicide. This is one of the worst but real consequences of untreated or untreated depression.
Major sadness and depressive disorder
This includes the choices you make in your lifestyle. For example, it is more difficult to make good decisions when you are depressed. Should I exercise or eat right? But people with severe depression may have a harder time making good health decisions. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to eat right or be active; to do means that it is physically harder. A depressed person may not have the energy to get up and go to the gym or prepare a healthy meal.
Even drugs and drinking affect our emotions. People suffering from depression may use drugs or alcohol to relieve feelings of sadness or despair. Sometimes it can be easier to hide your sadness behind a drug or a glass of alcohol. Although this is a temporary fix, it seems to be worth it in time.
According to government research, the long-term effects of major depression show a suicide rate of 2 percent. This rate was doubled in those who received inpatient treatment for previous depressive problems. For people with suicidal tendencies, that number rises to about 6 percent.
Complementary therapy
For depression and other illnesses, lifestyle-focused treatments are effective. This type of combination therapy can be used to manage an underlying condition, not just depression or a specific illness. Another worrying number is for mood swings. The suicide rate for dysthymia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder is 60 percent.
This treatment may include counseling, medication, or a combination of the two. There are studies showing how effective antidepressants are when combined with psychotherapy in treating depression. But not only that, it also helps people with medical conditions like diabetes.
A collaborative treatment approach is important because depression can sometimes have underlying causes. For example, sometimes treating a thyroid condition can help those suffering from depression. In this case, treating one problem helps the other.
Getting help
Help is available for people with depression. It is difficult to be alone, and not everyone can withstand the storm that comes with depression. It is more difficult for those with other health problems. However, we help you live easier.
The bottom line
Moreover, depression can only be diagnosed by a qualified professional, it is important to seek help from a health care provider who can refer your child to a mental health professional or psychiatrist. If a mental health professional thinks your child will benefit from treatment, this method may include some form of talk therapy – where they learn to manage their thoughts and feelings – or therapy and medication. If your child has thoughts of harming himself or has harmed himself, seek help from emergency services or health professionals.
