Health
Medicating for mental health Given the uncertainty, stress and grief we’ve all experienced in various measures over the last couple of years, it will come as no surprise to hear that mental health issues are on the rise. Two of the most common conditions in the UK are depression and anxiety. While people suffering from depression may experience feelings of extreme sadness, helplessness, fatigue, insomnia or low selfesteem, anxiety manifests itself through symptoms of panic, nausea, shortness of breath and excessing sweating. It’s possible to be diagnosed with both an anxiety disorder and clinical depression. While self-care practices such as exercise, a good diet and counselling can be effective in treating depression and anxiety, it’s recommended that you speak to a medical professional if your symptoms don’t improve or worsen. Whether or not you’re offered medication for your mental health will depend on your diagnosis, your symptoms and how severely they’re affecting your
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daily life. Side effects are common during the first few months of taking any mental health medication, but many will wear off over time. The key is finding a balance between treating your symptoms while managing any potential side effects. To help you understand the different options, we’ve broken down the key treatments prescribed by doctors in the UK. Antidepressants Antidepressants are by far the most well-known and popular medicine group for treating mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Between January to March 2021 alone, 20.2 million antidepressant drugs were prescribed in the UK, a 3% increase from the same quarter in the previous year. Although not fully understood, it’s believed that they work by increasing levels of certain chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin, that help improve your mood and emotions. However, exactly how much you should take, and for how long, will vary from
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