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Double depression is a disorder that occurs, when a person is already suffering from dysthymia. Often, Dysthmia is diagnosed first, as the dysthymic patient may consider the development of double depression symptoms, not like reactive depression as a part of his/her personality. A surprising fact about double depression is that it affects 3 to 6% of the population. If left untreated, it could become a life threatening condition.
What Causes Double Depression
If you want to know about double depression, you should first understand Dysthmia. It is a chronic, depressive disorder that lasts for at least two years. Some people may suffer from mood disorders for 10 to 20 years. Overtime, Dysthmia patients start developing major depression symptoms opposite of agitated depression symptoms, which is known as double depression. The main difference between double depression and other types of depression is the effect of underlying Dysthmia.
Another important about double depression is that it could make changes in the body, increasing the chance of developing ailments like diabetes and heart diseases. This makes diagnosis and treatment more important.
Symptoms of Double Depression
The symptoms of double depression include
• Feeling of hopelessness
• Felling like little or no control over life
• Lower self esteem
• Extreme Guilty feelings
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Fatigue, drained feeling
• Weight loss or gain
• Inability to experience pleasure
• Insomnia
• Loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities
• Agitation and lethargy
Treatment For Double Depression
Double Depression symptoms can be alleviated and eradicated by following a right treatment method. Treatment for double depression involves combating with depression and Dysthmia. Antidepressant drugs are often prescribed for patients to get relief from some symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also be recommended to remove the feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and suicide thoughts. Electroshock therapy, exercises and diet can also help the patient to get relief from Double Depression symptoms. Relaxation techniques, meditation and yoga can help fight depression. A healthy balanced diet should be taken to prevent depression symptoms from worsening. Diet enriched with fruits and vegetables can help enhance the mood.
Herbal supplements for double depression has been proved to be much safer and effective. They help provide relief from various depression symptoms without causing any side effects. They also help improve the overall well being of the patient.
St. John’s Wort is one of the most effective herbal supplements for double depression. The patients who do not want to take anti depressant drugs or experience unpleasant side effects due to anti depressants can take St. Johns’ Wort supplements. Gingko Biloba is yet another safer alternative for anti depressant medications. It helps alleviate sleep problems, anxiety and restlessness. It helps the brain to get oxygen rich blood and thereby improves its functioning.
Passion flower and Kava Kava are some other powerful herbal supplements for double depression. They help improve mood. In addition to herbal supplements, the patient can follow some natural methods like increasing his physical activity, avoiding refined sugars, caffeine and unhealthy fats and involving in some pleasurable activities like writing, reading and gardening to get fast relief.
