Major Depressive Disorder Within the Unhoused Population: Symptoms, Treatment, and Resources
by Rachel Perez
Major depressive disorder, also called clinical depression, impacts our mood in ways that show consistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest or pleasure in everyday life. MDD is the second most diagnosed mental disorder, impacting about 8% of the population every year. As many face struggling circumstances of MDD, it is important to recognize the warning signs that vary from person to person. Being able to identify these will lead to the improvement of one's mood and behaviors by receiving the most effective treatment and resources personalized to them.
Symptoms
In order to be diagnosed with MDD, 5 of the 9 symptoms below must be experienced for a 2-week period:
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopeless, or appearing tearful
Loss of Interest of Pleasure
Appetite or Weight Disturbance
Sleep Disturbance
Motor Changes
Lack of Energy
Worthlessness or Guilt
Cognitive Impairment
Recurrent Thoughts of Death
These symptoms may vary between ages, generations, year, area, and social support available. For example, in children and teens symptoms of sadness, irritability, worthlessness, and poor performance in school are typical. However, within older adults, memory difficulties, loss of appetite, and more thoughts about death or suicide are present. Those who have a reliable social support system may have less symptoms of depression or an increased chance of overcoming the depression faster, compared to someone that does not have a support system.
Treatment
One of the most effective ways to not allow MDD to impact our daily life is through cognitive behavioral therapy, more specifically psychotherapy. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, the general concepts focus on work within cognitive, behavioral, and psychological aspects of ourselves.
Cognitive work relies on identifying the distress and understanding it in ways that break down the experiences and life circumstances we are going through.
Behavioral dimensions take on the coping mechanism of approaching the situation in order to actively cope.
Psychologically, this task involves regulating stress through breathing exercises.
Psychotherapy consists of working with a licensed mental health professional, which assists in identifying and addressing our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. This can be seen falling in any of the cognitive behavioral therapy dimensions, with an emphasis in cognitive.
Other forms of treatment are medications. In most cases the first medications given to those diagnosed with MDD are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications work to help brain chemistry improve the mood. Mood is adjusted in ways of altering neurotransmitters, SSRIs increase serotonin, while SNRIs increase serotonin and norepinephrine. While these are primary medications used to treat MDD, there are important considerations to keep in mind. SSRI and SNRI treatment take time to go into effect, usually several weeks. A disadvantage to this treatment is the withdrawal effect if the medication were to stop being taken. Some side effects include sleep changes, increased heart rate, sweating, and elevated blood pressure.
Local Resources
Together for Wellness:
This program is a valuable online resource that provides knowledge, tips, education, and discussion in various aspects of mental health. Together For Wellness opens up discussions and topics for those that are new to the conversation. There are areas covering the understanding of what mental health is, addressing trauma, and ways to cope. While there are broad areas in mental health being shared, this resource also provides a tool in order to look for specific discussions we have lived experience in. This tool consists of communities we would like to connect with, such as age groups, race or ethnicity, foster communities, and more.
National Alliance on Mental Health, Greater Los Angeles County:
NAMI being one of the largest mental health organizations in the country has resources available through online services or local in person events. The organization's lists of resources consist of education, workshops, advocacy, news, and crisis assistance. One of the most valuable tools from this organization is their calendar of endless events. In many areas of Los Angeles County are support groups, fundraiser events, peer to peer support. All of these forms of assistance can be specific to various different groups personalized to first languages, LGBTQ+ communities, and religions.
Comments