How to alleviate mild depression?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on December 02, 2024
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Mild depression can be managed clinically through self-adjustment and psychotherapy. Self-adjustment includes exercise, shifting focus, or verbal expression. Exercise is a very effective and quick way to alleviate depression by stimulating the brain to release endorphins, which have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects. Additionally, diverting attention to activities of particular interest can enhance pleasure and motivate improvements. Furthermore, expressing one's depressive feelings through speech can also alleviate symptoms of mild depression. Moreover, psychotherapy mainly involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aims to continuously improve or correct irrational cognitive patterns and rebuild the cognitive system to effectively treat depression. This is a common approach in treating depression; medication adjustments, such as the use of new antidepressants, are also viable options. (Please follow professional medical advice before using any medication and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Will mild depression get better?

Mild depression can achieve good therapeutic effects. Patients with mild depression may experience low mood, slow thinking, and decreased volition, but its severity is relatively mild. These patients primarily show lack of concentration, or slightly lower self-evaluation, and abnormalities in diet and sleep. Generally, the overall mental state of the patients is still relatively good. Therefore, in clinical practice, the main treatment for patients with mild depression is psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, to improve the patients' distorted and unreasonable cognition, ultimately leading to cognitive reconstruction and achieving good therapeutic effects. Antidepressant drugs can also be used for systematic treatment, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which have an effective cure rate of over 85%.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Is mild depression normal?

Patients with mild depression, although also experiencing symptoms such as low mood, decreased interest, reduced motivation, slow thinking, and reduced volition, may have difficulty falling asleep and frequently wake up during sleep, among other related symptoms. However, patients often retain most of their social functions, causing some disturbance to daily life and work. Through self-adjustment, standardized psychotherapy, and medication, patients often achieve good treatment outcomes. Sometimes, the symptoms of some patients are relatively mild, and they may appear normal outwardly, but their inner experience is indeed pathological. Therefore, it is still necessary to undertake standardized, systematic, and scientific treatment to achieve clinical recovery.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Is depression considered a mental illness?

Depression is clinically classified as a mental illness, specifically a type of mood disorder. Its main clinical manifestations include low mood, slow thought processes, reduced volitional activity, fatigue, lack of interest, lack of pleasure, often accompanied by sleep disturbances, changes in weight, changes in sexual desire, and low self-esteem. Patients often feel fatigued and dissatisfied throughout the day, and their attention may decline. They may experience feelings of guilt, worthlessness, futility, and despair. It is not uncommon for patients to have thoughts or behaviors of self-harm or suicide. Thus, depression is a mental disorder that requires systematic antidepressant treatment once diagnosed. Effective treatment outcomes can often be achieved through a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and physiotherapy.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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What causes depression?

The causes of depression are not yet clear, and it may be closely related to multiple factors such as biological, psychological, and social factors. Firstly, from a biological perspective, depression may involve genetics, biochemical factors, and endocrine factors, especially closely related to the secretion of serotonin and norepinephrine. Secondly, psychological factors. The psychological characteristics and personality traits of patients, especially before the onset of depression, are closely related. Particularly, individuals with a depressive disposition are often more likely to develop depression. Thirdly, social environmental factors. Particularly, encountering major negative life events is often an important contributing factor to clinical depressive episodes. Therefore, the onset of depression is not caused by a single factor, but likely the result of multifactorial interactions, ultimately leading to the disease onset.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can postpartum depression be cured?

Postpartum depression is generally curable. Women may face physical and psychological stress after childbirth, and those who previously had mood issues may be more susceptible to postpartum depression. Once depression occurs, it is crucial to take care of the mother both physically and mentally. Besides ensuring that the mother gets enough sleep and avoids exhaustion, and maintaining a cheerful mood, psychological support from family members is extremely important. It is essential not to let the mother become overly impatient, to communicate with her frequently, and to encourage her to smile often, as these measures can significantly help alleviate depression.