WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It could be
described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s
everyday activities. Being depressed often feels like carrying a very
heavy burden. Millions of people all around the world suffer from some form of
depression yearly, making it one of the most common mental disorders in the
world.
Gaining a deeper understanding of depression can help begin the
journey to recovery. Taking some time to learn more about the causes and
symptoms of depression can assist greatly when it comes to considering methods
of treatment.
Depression is more than just feeling sad. Everyone feels upset
or unmotivated from time to time, this is normal, but depression is more
serious. It is a mood disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness
and loss of interest in daily activities. When these symptoms persist longer
than two weeks, it is termed a depressive episode.
Conditions that can get worse
due to depression include:
·
arthritis
·
asthma
·
cardiovascular disease
·
cancer
·
diabetes
·
obesity
CAUSES:
There is no one cause for depression, as it depends on a unique
combination of an individual’s genetic makeup and environmental conditions.
There are many factors to take into account:
·
The brain’s physical structure or chemistry
·
History of depression in family
·
History of other disorders (anxiety, post
traumatic stress disorder)
·
Stressful, traumatic events (abuse, financial issues, death of a
loved one)
·
Hormone changes (menstrual cycles, pregnancy)
·
Certain medications (sleeping aids, blood pressure medication)
SYMPTOMS:
Depression can be more than a
constant state of sadness or feeling.
Major depression can cause a
variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood, and others affect your body.
Depression can affect men,
women, and children differently.
Symptoms of depression in men
may include:
·
Mood: anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness,
restlessness
·
Emotional: feeling empty, sad, hopeless
·
Behavioral: loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite
activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively,
using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
·
Sexual: reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
·
Cognitive: inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks,
delayed responses during conversations
·
Sleep: insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not
sleeping through the night
·
Physical: fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems
Symptoms of depression in women
may include:
·
Mood: irritability
·
Emotional: feeling sad or empty, anxious or hopeless
·
Behavioral: loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social
engagements, thoughts of suicide
·
Cognitive: thinking or talking more slowly
·
Sleep: difficulty sleeping through the night, waking early,
sleeping too much
·
Physical: decreased energy, greater
fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, pain, headaches, increased
cramps
TESTS:
There is no single test to diagnose depression. A
doctor can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a psychological
evaluation.
In most cases, doctors will ask series
of questions about your moods, appetite, sleep
pattern, activity level, and thoughts.
PREVENTION:
Depression is not generally
considered preventable. It is hard to recognize what causes it, which means
preventing it is more difficult.
But once you have experienced a
depressive episode, you may be better prepared to prevent a future episode by
learning which lifestyle changes and treatments are helpful.
Help
Techniques includes:
·
regular exercise
·
getting plenty of sleep
·
maintaining treatments
·
reducing stress
·
building strong relationships with others
