We all go through ups and downs in our mood. Sadness is a normal reaction to life's struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. We're down in the dumps for a short time, then gradually the painful feelings dissipate and we move on with our lives-often the wiser for the experience. But when the low mood persists, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun, it's no longer normal. It's depression.



For the patient with anxiety and depression

The depressed patient needs continual positive reinforcement to improve her self-esteem. Provide a structured routine, including activities to boost her self-confidence and promote inter. action With others (for instance, group therapy). Keep reassuring her that her depression Will lift.

Encourage the patient to talk or to write down her feelings if she's having trouble expressing them. Listen attentively and respectfully; allow her time to formulate her thoughts if she seems sluggish. Record your observations and conversations.

Medication Treatment for Depression - Antidepressant medications are often the first treatment option prescribed by health professionals. Antidepressants relieve the symptoms of depression, which makes it easier to face your problems and take appropriate action

Tricyclic drugs - tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline. TCAs are the most widely used class of antidepressant drugs. They prevent the reuptake of norepinephrine or serotonin (or both) into the presynaptic nerve endings, resulting in increased synaptic concentrations of these neurotransmitters. They also cause a gradual loss in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors.

Antidepressant - maprotiline, trazodone (Desyrel), and bupropion (Wellbutrin) aren't chemically related to the other antidepressants listed above; however,they're effective in treating depression by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, and epinephrine, respectively. However, the reason they aren't used as commonly as the other compounds is because of increased adverse effects.

Other medication strategies. Your doctor may also suggest other medications to treat your depression. These may include stimulants, mood-stabilizing medications, anti-anxiety medications or antipsychotic medications. In some cases, your doctor may recommend combining two or more antidepressants or other medications for better effect, which is sometimes called augmentation.

Psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments may be considered. Psychosocial therapies should address issues that particularly affect women, such as competing roles and conflicts.13 Commonly used treatments include psychotherapy to correct interpersonal conflicts and to help women develop interpersonal skills; cognitive-behavioral therapy to correct negative thinking and associated behavior; and couples therapy to reduce marital conflicts. In patients with mild to moderate depression, psychosocial therapies may be used alone for a limited period, or they may be used in conjunction with antidepressant medication.

Many people opt for herbal Supplements as they are not having any side effects or very few side effects if they have any at all. They are a combination of herbs and some other nutritive stuff that provide relief from depressive symptoms. The best supplements are those which have been tested rigorously as per pharmaceutical standards. The metabolism of components at the molecular should be considered. The study of the communications between the components must be examined. This make sure their purity, safety, effectiveness and potency