Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Types and Homeopathic Treatment

Depression is a state of ‘low mood’ and aversion to an activity that affects a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being.

While everyone feels unhappy, moody, or low from time to time, this unhappiness usually goes away after some time. But in some individuals, these feelings of unhappiness and sadness become intense, sometimes without any apparent reason, and remain for long periods of time (sometimes for years), then it’s termed as Depression.

Depression is living in a body that fights to survive, with a mind that tries to die. – Unknown

Depression, as a matter of fact, is not just a sense of sadness or low mood; it can be a serious illness that can affect your physical and mental health. 

Symptoms of depression

Many a time, People start considering depression as their psychological makeup. Even their spouses or families accommodate themselves with the patient accordingly, which again makes the condition worse and untreatable.

However early detection of the symptoms of depression can treat the patient completely. Following are some symptoms on which basis we can detect depression:

• Feelings of helplessness and despair.
• Loss of interest in daily activities. 
• Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain
• Change in Sleep pattern – Either sleeplessness/Insomnia or oversleeping.
• Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or perhaps violent. 
• Loss of energy – Feeling exhausted, sluggish, and physically drained. 
• Self-loathing – strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. 
• Concentration problems — trouble in focusing, making decisions, or basic cognitive processes things.
• Unexplained aches and pains – One will feel headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and abdomen pain without any apparent cause.

Causes

Depression is a complex disease and has several possible causes such as:

1. Some changes in the biochemical levels in the brain are responsible for a few people.
2. People having too much or too little of these biochemical called “Neuro-transmitters” can lead to depression.
3. Genetics plays an important role in causing depression.
4. Difficult life events can start the onset of depression such as divorces, death or loss of a loved one, any financial problems, etc.
5. Women are two times more prone to be affected by depression as compared to men.
6. Some other physical illnesses, including diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease can trigger the onset of Depression.

Types of depression

There are different kinds of depression and a few conditions where depression may be one of the symptoms. These include:

Major depression

If a person has a constant sense of despair and hopelessness, it can be a sign of major depression. With major depression, the symptoms like the inability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life become more severe. Several episodes of major depression can happen in a lifetime.

Postnatal depression

Some women (About 20%) experience depression after they have a baby; this condition is termed postnatal depression and it is also treated in a similar way as other types of depression, with talking therapies and medication.

Bipolar disorder

In bipolar disorder, there are spells of both depression and excessively high mood (mania). It is also known as “manic depression”.

Persistent depressive disorder

A person may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for 2 years to be considered a persistent depressive disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

It is also called “winter depression” or “winter blues“, SAD is a variety of depression with a seasonal pattern usually associated with winter.

Psychotic depression

One out of every four depressive patients can have psychotic depression. If a person is having severe depression along with some form of psychosis it is termed psychotic depression.

The psychosis can be hallucination (Such as hearing unknown voices), delusion (with a feeling of guilt, worthlessness, or failure), or having disturbing false beliefs or a break with reality.

Risk Factors

Worldwide, Depression is considered one of the most common mental disorders. It mostly occurs in adults but can happen at any age. Nowadays it is occurring in children and adolescents also.

Sometimes, Depression can be associated with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease, especially in middle-aged adults.

These conditions become more severe if depression is also present. Moreover, medications taken for these diseases may develop depression as a side effect of those medicines.

Common risk factors responsible for depression include:

• Personal or family history of depression
• Major life changes, trauma, or stress
• Certain physical illnesses and medications

How can homeopathy help with depression?

Homeopathy is a system of not only treating depression but to treating its underlying cause. These medicines are natural, safe & effective and do not cause any sedation or addiction. 

With the right homeopathic remedy, one can look forward to enjoying a happy, worry-free, and stress-free life, once again.

There are many homeopathic medicines for depression that have the potential to cure Depression. Some well-known Homeopathic medicines include: –

Anacardium Orientale

It is an effective homeopathic medicine when there is nervous dyspepsia with an empty feeling in the stomach. There is profound depression, aversion to work, impaired memory, absent-mindedness, and lack of confidence. Anacardium is a very beneficial homeopathic remedy not only for depression but also to boost memory in children or students.

Aurum metallicum

A homeopathic remedy for treating major depression where suicidal thoughts are marked. They have profound feelings of hopelessness, loss of love for life, and suicidal thoughts. There is a Feeling of self-condemnation and utter worthlessness.

The patient always thinks and talks about committing suicide. life is a burden for him and the future seems dark with no hope left. They cannot bear slight contradictions and get angry very quickly. Aurum Metallicum can bring a ray of hope to the life of the sufferer. 

Ignatia amara

It is the most frequently used homeopathic medicine for depression. In the cases of the recent origin of depression, it works very well.

Ignatia Amara is useful when there is extreme sadness and weeping is present. The person desires loneliness and avoids meeting people. They have sudden mood swings and get absorbed in profound grief. Intense hopelessness is marked.

Kali phosphoricum

Kali Phosphoricum is the most common homeopathic medicine for treating depression where anxiety is marked. There is a feeling of extreme lassitude and depression with extreme weakness. There is sleeplessness with night terrors. Great despondency about business. 

The person feels so tired and weak that the slightest labor seems a heavy task. People get very nervous & irritable with great indisposition to meet people.

Natrum muriaticum

Natrum muriaticum has been useful in profound depression for a long time. It helps a person to come out of severe chronic depression.

The person suffers from ill effects of grief, fright, anger, disrupted relationships, after the loss of loved ones, etc. They always want to be alone to cry. They are very introverted and avoid mixing with people. They do not wish to share their grief with others due to their reserved nature. They are not comfortable with consolation. 

Pulsatilla nigricans

It is indicated for people who become sad & tearful when depressed. There is great changeability in the mood. Their symptoms get to improve in the fresh air, by crying, and by light exercise.

Pulsatilla is the best homeopathic remedy for depression when there is great timidness and weeping nature. The patient weeps easily on small trifles and has a great fear of the dark, ghosts, and living alone. They like sympathy and feel better about that. They are very emotional with fear of the opposite sex. A woman gets more depressed during puberty, menses, and menopause.

Sepia

Sepia is an effective homeopathic medicine for depression when there is marked indifference for family as well as for loved ones. There is a strong aversion to doing any work and a lack of interest in daily household activities. They desire solitude and loneliness. A person get anxious and depressed in the evening.

Sepia is the most indicated homeopathic medicine for depression in women when the depression starts after childbirth or around menopause time.

Staphysagria

Staphysagria is also a great homeopathic remedy for depression for a quiet, emotional, and sensitive person. They are more concerned about what other people say about them.

Sometimes they get very sad and Impetuous with violent outbursts of passion. They want to leave alone with a great feeling of guilt. Depression can be a result of suppressed emotions, guilt, and hurt feelings.