Depression

Depression is arguably one of the most difficult disorders to cope with on a daily basis.Depression is a common mental disorder that causes people to experience depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.

• Depression seems to be more common among women than men.
• Symptoms include lack of joy and reduced interest in things that used to bring a person happiness.
• Life events, such as bereavement{Bereavement is the state of loss when someone close to you has died.}, produce mood changes that can usually be distinguished from the features of depression.
• The causes of depression are not fully understood but are likely to be a complex combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors.

Depression can happen to anyone. Many successful and famous people who seem to have everything going for them battle with this problem. Depression also affects people of every age.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the most common illness worldwide and the leading cause of disability. They estimate that 350 million people are affected by depression, globally.

According to the World Health Organization, India is one of the most depressed countries in the world. While around 9% of people in the country say they have experienced extended periods of depression at least once within their lifetime, nearly 36% have suffered from Major Depressive Episodes (MDE).

Going to see a doctor for depression should ideally be as normal as visiting a physician for diabetes. But our society does not consider it “normal” because there is a stigma attached to mental health issues.

Signs and symptoms

• Tiredness and loss of energy.
• Sadness that doesn’t go away. 
• Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem. 
• Difficulty concentrating. 
• Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting. 
• Feeling anxious all the time. 
• Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends. 
• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. 
• Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual.
• Very strong feelings of guilt or worthlessness. 
• Finding it hard to function at work/college/school. 
• Loss of appetite. 
• Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems. 
• Physical aches and pains. 
• Thinking about suicide and death. 
• Self-harm

If you experience four or more of these symptoms for most of the day - every day - for more than two weeks, you should seek help from your GP.

Causes

The causes of depression are not fully understood and may not be down to a single source. Depression is likely to be due to a complex combination of factors that include:

Depression has a wide range of causes and potential treatments.

• genetics
• biological - changes in neurotransmitter levels
• environmental
• psychological and social (psychosocial)

Some people are at higher risk of depression than others; risk factors include:

• Life events: These include bereavement, divorce, work issues, relationships with friends and family, financial problems, medical concerns, or acute stress.
• Personality: Those with less successful coping strategies, or previous life trauma are more susceptible[capable or admitting ].
• Genetic factors: Having a first-degree relatives with depression increases the risk.
• Childhood trauma.
• Some prescription drugs: These include corticosteroids, some beta-blockers, interferon, and other prescription drugs.
• Abuse of recreational drugs: Abuse of alcohol, amphetamines, and other drugs are strongly linked to depression.
• A past head injury.
• Having had one episode of major depression: This increases the risk of a subsequent one.
• Chronic pain syndromes: These and other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease make depression more

 Types of depression

There are several types of depression, some of which are listed below.

Mild depression

Depression is described as mild when it has a limited negative effect on your daily life. For example, you may have difficulty concentrating at work or motivating yourself to do the things you normally enjoy.

Major depression

Major depression interferes with an individual’s daily life - with eating, sleeping and other everyday activities. It can lead to hospital admission, if the person is so unwell they are at risk of harm to themselves.

Bi-polar disorder

The mood swings in bi-polar disorder can be extreme - from highs, where the individual feels extremely overjoyed , where they may experience complete despair, tiredness and suicidal feelings. Sometimes people have very severe symptoms where they cannot make sense of their world and do things that seem odd or illogical. 

Postnatal depression

Many new mothers experience what are sometimes called 'baby blues' a few days after the birth. These feelings of anxiety and lack of confidence are very distressing but in most cases last only a couple of weeks. Post-natal depression is more intense and lasts longer. It can leave new mothers feeling completely overwhelmed, inadequate and unable to cope. They may have problems sleeping, panic attacks or an intense fear of dying. They may also experience negative feelings towards their child. It affects one in ten mothers and usually begins two to three weeks after the birth.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

SAD is associated with the start of winter and can last until spring when longer days bring more daylight. When it is mild, it is sometimes called ‘winter blues’. SAD can make the sufferer feel anxious, stressed and depressed. It may interfere with their moods and with their sleeping and eating patterns.

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood and a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is a persistent problem, not a passing one, lasting on average 6 to 8 months.

Diagnosis starts with a consultation from a mental health expert.

Diagnosis of depression starts with a consultation with a doctor or mental health specialist. It is important to seek the help of a health professional to rule out different causes of depression, ensure an accurate differential diagnosis, and secure safe and effective treatment.

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https://edition.cnn.com/videos/travel/2018/05/30/explore-parts-unknown-hong-kong-ron-1.cnntravel
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https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/DepressionSelfHelp.pdf
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