Is There a Cure for MDD (Major Depressive Disorder)?
Is there a cure for MDD (Major Depressive Disorder)? There is no cure for MDD, but there is treatment available to manage the symptoms. This typically involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication. With the right care, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and sadness will dissipate and be replaced by joy and happiness.
Is there a cure for MDD (Major Depressive Disorder)? When people who are suffering from mental health conditions seek a cure for MDD, they want to feel free from the heavy symptoms that they have been forced to carry — feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness.
Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are dealing with some type of depression every single day. It interferes with their everyday lives and it sucks away their joy. While there is no cure for MDD, there are treatments available that can successfully manage it.
Is There a Cure for MDD?
A cure for MDD would mean that once treatment is sought, the mental health condition would never return. The client would be ‘cured’ of it. Unfortunately, that is just not the case.
The good news, however, is that MDD can be treated successfully under the care of mental health professionals.
Do you suffer from MDD? Let’s take a closer look at what it is and how it can be treated.
What is MDD?
Major depressive disorder is sometimes referred to as clinical depression and it is one of the most common mental health disorders found in the United States. Known as a mood disorder, the individual will have a consistently low mood and feelings of sadness and despair. These feelings can often be severe — and they can impact how someone feels, thinks, and acts.
Major depression can be highly disruptive to daily life.
To be diagnosed with MDD, the individual will have to have experienced symptoms for at least two consecutive weeks. It is not unusual for them to have experienced it at various times throughout life since these episodes can go away and reappear again in the future. After all, there is no cure for MDD — only treatment.
Symptoms of MDD
The way MDD affects a person can vary from one to the next. Below you will find a list of the most common symptoms experienced by those with the condition.
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, tearfulness
- Feelings of despair as if nothing will get better, pessimism
- Angry outbursts
- Feelings of worthlessness as if you have no purpose
- Restlessness
- Feelings of guilt
- Tired, lacking energy.
- Noticeably slow speech and movement
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Loss of interest in people, hobbies, and activities once enjoyed
- Difficulty with focus, concentration, and memory
- Inability to make a decision
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or sleeping too much
- Physical pain, such as headaches, back pain, digestive issues
- Thoughts of death or suicide – or suicide attempts
Remember, if you or someone you love has experienced some or all of the above symptoms every day for at least two weeks, mental health treatment should be sought.
What Causes MDD?
Nearly anyone is susceptible to major depression and there is no known specific cause. Many mental health professionals and researchers agree that it does often involve a chemical imbalance in the brain — but that is not the only component. Rather, it is believed that several factors come together and trigger the condition, including the right combination of environmental, biological, emotional, and genetic factors, such as:
- Varying levels of mood-regulating chemicals in the brain
- Nerve dysfunction
- Certain genes present may increase the risk, family history
- Having a poor, negative attitude
- Experiencing trauma or abuse, as a child or adult
- Major life events, such as loss of a loved one, loss of a job, a move
- Substance abuse
- Certain medications — especially those used to treat anxiety, sleep issues, allergies, and acid reflux
- Medical issues, including the diagnosis of a serious condition, chronic pain, or disability
Keep in mind that these are only potential factors that may contribute to depression.
Treatment Options for MDD
There is no cure for MDD, but treatment is available — and it has proven to be very successful. Both psychotherapy and medication may be effective on their own, though most find that the right combination of the two yields the greatest results.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a fancy word for talk therapy. This involves working with a mental health professional to learn ways to cope with stress, adjust to life changes, create healthy relationships and boundaries, etc. There are a few different types of psychotherapy that may be used, including:
Cognitive Therapy
Focuses on finding, recognizing, and changing negative behaviors and thought patterns.
Behavioral Therapy
Works on changing behaviors and engaging in positive activities and experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
An effective therapy option that works to both identify and change negative behaviors or thought patterns.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that also encourages communication.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Exploring the past to understand current feelings or moods.
Interpersonal Therapy
A type of psychotherapy that focuses on interpersonal relationships and how they relate to depression.
Medication for MDD
Medication for MDD works to adjust the levels of chemicals in the brain to reduce the symptoms. Because there are so many different types of antidepressants, you must work closely with your mental health professional to find which one is the best fit for you.
Because they don’t take away symptoms entirely or address any of the underlying causes, it is often recommended that you also take advantage of psychotherapy.
Do Not Leave MDD Untreated
You never want to leave MDD untreated as it can slowly begin to impact all areas of your life. And there is no need to put yourself through all the suffering caused by the condition when treatment options are available.
Seek out Depression Treatment Centers, such as Amend Treatment, to recover from MDD Today.
At Amend Treatment we use a combination of psychotherapy and medication to help our clients break free from the grip of depression. And, while spending time at one of our luxurious residential treatment facilities, you have the opportunity to focus solely on feeling better without the pressure of daily life.
To learn more about our program or the admissions process, contact us today!