How to manage mild depression

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on February 21, 2025
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Mild depression is primarily treated clinically through self-adjustment, psychotherapy, or physical therapy. Self-adjustment often involves exercise, which can stimulate the brain to release endorphins, playing an anti-depressive role. Additionally, exercise is an effective relaxation training that can divert attention and stimulate feelings of control and pleasure. Furthermore, psychotherapy is also used in clinical settings, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, which is crucial in helping patients identify thoughts, correct irrational cognitive patterns, and rebuild their cognitive systems. Effective training in social and other activities is also necessary to enhance social or occupational functioning. In terms of physical therapy, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is the main treatment method.

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Where to seek treatment for postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a type of mental illness in puerperal women, so it is best for such women to see a psychiatrist, as psychological treatment for depression is very important. The key is to enhance the patient's self-confidence and raise their self-esteem. Additionally, it can provide individualized psychological counseling based on the patient’s personality traits, psychological state, and the causes of the condition, and it can eliminate the psychological factors causing the illness. Common clinical treatments include medication and psychological counseling.

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Does postpartum depression require medication?

When suffering from postpartum depression, it can be treated with medication. This treatment method can help control negative emotions in new mothers. It can also alleviate some physical discomfort, reducing the damage caused by depression during treatment. However, breastfeeding should be suspended if medication is being taken. In addition to medication, psychological treatment is also necessary. Adjusting one's mental state is very important, as most cases of postpartum depression are caused by an unhealthy psychological foundation. (The use of medication should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
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Causes of Depression

The causes of depression are often unclear and may be closely related to multiple factors such as biological, social, and psychological aspects. From a biological perspective, genetics is a primary factor, especially as indicated by family studies, which have found genetics to play a significant role. Genetic factors typically involve multiple gene loci. Furthermore, neurochemical factors like serotonin and norepinephrine are notably related. Beyond biological factors, psychological elements, particularly in individuals with certain depressive traits or personality characteristics, significantly increase the incidence of developing the condition. Social environmental factors are primarily associated with adverse major life events. After experiencing acute life events, individuals may become susceptible to depressive episodes. Hence, it is observed that depression in patients results from multifactorial influences rather than a single factor, culminating from a complex interplay of these elements.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Treatment of Depression

The treatment of depression in clinical settings primarily utilizes pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and physical therapy. Pharmacotherapy, as the first-line treatment for depression, mainly relies on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, venlafaxine, and duloxetine. Adequate dosages and treatment duration with a systematic approach are essential when using pharmacotherapy. Secondly, psychotherapy. The main psychotherapeutic approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, and interpersonal therapy, which aim to improve the patient's irrational cognitions and rebuild their cognitive framework. Thirdly, physical therapy. In clinical practice, physical therapy mainly encompasses electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation, both of which can yield significant therapeutic outcomes. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Can mild depression cause dizziness?

Patients with mild depression may also experience symptoms of dizziness. These patients often come to see a doctor primarily for physical symptoms, manifesting discomforts such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, palpitations, chest tightness, heart palpitations, vomiting, sweating, and difficulty breathing, among other related symptoms. These are also symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, which are relatively common. Thus, the emotional and cognitive symptoms in these patients are often mild, while the physical symptoms are comparatively severe. Particularly, disturbances in sleep, fatigue, and diminished appetite are amongst the more prominently severe symptoms. When patients seek medical help, they often present with the aforementioned symptoms as their main complaints, and if not carefully questioned, misdiagnosis can easily occur. Therefore, for physical symptoms of depression, it is important to observe carefully as the physical manifestations are closely related to emotional changes. Attention should be given to observe and administer antidepressant therapy, which can achieve good therapeutic effects.