Depression is a critical illness, just like any other disease, that can stay with a person for a very long time, affecting their lifestyle, relationships, and work, causing them health issues and even death if it reaches its peak point. Unlike our usual mood swings, the mood swings caused by depression make a person feel sad, irritated, empty, hopeless for the future, and worthless in life. Depression directly affects the cognitive functioning of the brain, hindering every task of our everyday routine. It reduces our concentration power and interest in any activity that we used to love before.
The treatment of depression usually involves either consulting a psychiatrist, who provides various medications and drugs to deal with, or a psychologist, who uses psychotherapy or talking therapy to heal a person with depression. Both of these professions deal with the functioning of the brain, but so does a neurologist in Ludhiana, therefore, is it possible for a Neurologist to treat depression? In this article, we will discuss if a neurologist in Punjab can help a person fight through depression.
How does a neurologist relate to depression?
The disorders of the nervous system are diagnosed and treated by a medical doctor known as a neurologist who deals with conditions such as Multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Although a neurologist is unable to directly treat depression, they can play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of this illness.
Depression impacts both mind and body and has a very complex nature, due to which it can only be treated by a team of healthcare professionals. A neurologist can be an important member of this team to help analyse any changes that might be occurring in the structure and functioning of the brain. They might be able to identify the symptoms of a neurological condition that could be impacting the state of depression, and after the diagnosis, they can work with other healthcare professionals to plan a treatment for the patient.
Treatment for depression
The treatment for depression involves medication and talk therapy, based on the severity of the illness. In case the stage of depression has reached a point where talk therapy would not be able to make immediate effects as needed, therefore medications would be preferred as the first step of treatment. The medications prescribed to treat depression help to create balance among certain chemicals that are responsible for triggering our emotions.
There are many antidepressants available for the treatment of depression, but choosing the right one is essential as it can cause side effects. It is alright to try various medications to see which one works the best for you, but look out for the side effects before considering it on a long-term basis. Do not hang onto an antidepressant if the side effects are not going away. Remember that taking the wrong medication for a long time can actually harm the condition even more and worsen the situation.
Medications are fine, but it is better if you opt for talk therapy, which is also known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), in case you are not able to handle the side effects of the medication. Also, talk therapy can solve many complex problems that are running in your mind that medication cannot. The role of the medication is to calm down the situation and create balance, but it does not solve the problem from its root cause.
Can a neurologist treat depression?
Treating depression isn’t directly in the hands of a neurologist; however, they can be helpful in finding any neurological condition that might be contributing to depression, such as thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency. Some medications that are used for treating neurological conditions can help improve the symptoms of depression.