Depression: How do you get diagnosed? Do you under go tests at the Drs?

PLEASE ANSWER THESE SUB QSTNS TO.

If so, what do these tests involve..

If I have noticed massive differences in my every day mood and so on over a few months can I go and get tested for depression?

ALSO: If It's diagnosed that one has depression, What options are there to tackle it? I will refuse to take medication...Is there any other way to help get rid of ot?

a psychologist can help you determine that. I don't remember ever taking any written test, except just some general cognitive functional ones in the hospital. a psychiatrist will almost always prescribe medication, he is a medical doctor. There are many things to do to relieve depression, regular vigorous exercise is suggested universally, and mental exercises as easy as positive thinking, etc. none of the exercises are really easy, they just sound simple to the point of absurdity.
And the suggestion of getting some blood work done is a very good idea.

Test to diagnose a depression? Hmm.. well it does involve a long glove and a bucket of lubricant!

No, just being silly, most doctors will use one of the half a dozen standard questionaires. answers the question without thinking too much and they will score them. Additionally you will have a talk about how you feel.

Massive differences in mood may indicate a manic depression, that can be treated very effectively with lithium, after you work out the right doseage it's rlatively easy.

A true classic mild to moderate depression can be treated by a psychologist without any medication in a lot of cases.

A full patient medical history, physical assessment, and thorough evaluation of symptoms helps determine the cause of the depression. Standardized questionnaires can be helpful such as the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression,[3] and the Beck Depression Inventory.[4]

A doctor generally performs a medical examination and selected investigations to rule out other causes of symptoms. These include blood tests measuring TSH and thyroxine to exclude hypothyroidism; basic electrolytes and serum calcium to rule out a metabolic disturbance; and a full blood count including ESR to rule out a systemic infection or chronic disease. [5] Adverse affective reactions to medications or alcohol misuse are often ruled out, as well. Testosterone levels may be evaluated to diagnose hypogonadism, a cause of depression in men.[6]

Subjective cognitive complaints appear in older depressed people, but they can also be indicative of the onset of a dementing disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease.[7][8] Cognitive testing and brain imaging can help distinguish depression from dementia.[9] a CT scan can exclude brain pathology in those with psychotic, rapid-onset or otherwise unusual symptoms.[10] Investigations are not generally repeated for a subsequent episode unless there is a medical indication.
[edit] See also

To rid yourself of depression properly you need to find out what caused it in the first place, and the causes of depression are as numerous as the people who suffer from it. causes can include diet, other illnesses, stress, poor sleeping habits, lack of exercise, hormone imbalance, trauma (past or current), addiction, oh the list goes on and on.
A lot of people will probably have a go at me for saying this, but if you're not interested in medication then I would recommend you visit a naturopath, a good one. Mine is wonderful. before she prescribed any kind of treatment she had me undergo blood tests, urine tests, saliva tests, she made me fill out a load of questionnaires, did a comprehensive medical and personal history, basically came at the depression from every possible angle to find out exactly what was going on in my body and what we could do about it.
Something you might like to know: a very large proportion of people suffering depression (I'm actually bipolar - manic depressive - so I get the worst of both worlds!) are also hypoglycemic, and I have found that just by eating more regularly, avoiding sugar and exercising every day I have balanced my blood sugar and evened out my moods substantially. I went from suicidal to as close to normal as I've managed in 8 years in just a couple of weeks. Nutrition is important for everyone, of course, but especially so for depressed people.
So, my recommendation is that you see a naturopath, but do some research and find one worth the money it'll cost you. good ones are brilliant, bad ones are dangerous, just like with doctors.

Depression: How do you get diagnosed? Do you under go tests at the Drs?

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