What You Should Know About Depression? 

Dr.Parinita Kaur, 4 mins read

Depression is a mood disorder and can be recognised with feelings of sadness, rage, loss, or frustration that constantly hinder a person’s ability to carry on with their daily tasks. Depression is so ubiquitous, yet so undiagnosed, that millions of people suffer from it without even realizing it; this is largely due to social stigma. It's constant but it can go through phases and be misinterpreted with grief. 

Though they have some common characteristics, depression is not the same as grief experienced following the death of a loved one or sadness experienced after hearing about or experiencing a painful life event. Depression is related to a great deal of self-loathing and low self-esteem, but grieving is usually associated with a significant loss.

When people mourn the passing of a loved one with grief, they may recall happier times they had while also undergoing the pangs of loss. For those who have a major depressive disorder, sadness is constant.

Depression is experienced in different ways by people; it may cause lack of interest generally, interfere with work or daily activities, low energy, and a general lack of awareness. It can come in between relationships and also aggravate other health conditions like diabetes, arthritis, asthma, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. 

Remember that feeling down from time to time is normal and does not mean you are depressed. Untoward events that make us sad or upset us are part of life but if you find yourself feeling hopeless or sad regularly, you may have depression, and you need to deal with it because it is a serious medical condition that worsens without proper intervention and treatment.

Symptoms

Depression symptoms can manifest in more ways than being in a constant state of sadness. 

Major depressive disorder can lead to a whole host of symptoms that may be ongoing or may come and go in phases. 

People who have depression will experience different symptoms which may vary in their severity, regularity, and duration. 

You should take note if you experience symptoms daily for a minimum of 2 weeks. 

Feelings of anxiety, emptiness, and sadness, worthlessness, a lot of crying, being constantly irritated, angry or annoyed, loss of interest in otherwise enjoyable activities, lack of energy and fatigue, difficulty in concentrating and remembering, inability to make clear decisions are clear symptoms. Others include moving slower or talking slowly, loss of appetite, weight changes, sleep issues, morning drowsiness, and oversleeping, chronic physical pain for no apparent cause that does not improve with treatment, headaches, digestive issues, and cramps. Even thoughts of death, or suicide and causing self-harm are possible. 

Depression symptoms are also different for men, women, and children. 

Men may experience anger, aggression, irritation, anxiety, or restlessness, or

feelings of sadness or hopelessness. They may have behavioural changes like losing interest or pleasure in otherwise enjoyable activities, feeling tired, entertaining thoughts of suicide, starting to drink, using drugs, or partaking in high-risk activities; reduced sexual desire or lack of interest in it altogether, inability to focus, difficulty completing tasks, or giving delayed responses in conversations.

Females may experience irritability, feeling sad or empty, anxious, or hopeless, lose interest withdrawing from society, thoughts of suicide, thinking or talking more slowly, difficulty sleeping, waking early, or sleeping too much, decreased energy, fatigue, appetite changes, weight changes, body aches, headaches, or cramps. 

Children may experience anger, excess crying children, feeling useless and incompetent, lack of self-belief and esteem, or intense sadness. The relation between adolescent and teenage depression and Internet addiction is well documented. Getting into trouble at school or refusing to go to school, staying away from friends, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. 

Causes of depression 

There are many potential causes of depression. Common causes include a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain that govern mood, sleep, and behavior, changes in female hormones, a family history of depression or other mood disorders, childhood trauma. Medical conditions like stroke, heart attacks, cancer, insomnia, and Parkinson’s also cause depression. Substance or alcohol misuse can also affect risk. 

Coping with depression 

Nobody can tell you how to overcome depression; you’ll have to discover it yourself. Before medications, treatment, and countless other options, there’s always you and your near ones. 

Overcoming depression on your own can be difficult and you’ll need the support of others to keep you strong and your resolve firm. The very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help as we tend to withdraw and seclude ourselves, but close family members and friends are always there for us.

Stay connected with people and go out for socialising, it will make a huge difference in your mood and outlook. Reaching out to talk is not a weakness and you won’t be a burden on others. 

Do things that give you energy like a healthy lifestyle, learning how to manage stress, getting in some fun activities into your day. There are so many things you can do, to learn more, get in touch with us.