ARE YOU DEPRESSED?

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