Depression is a common but serious mental illness that can affect the mental state of individuals. In addition, depression is a type of mood disorder and is also known as major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Individuals suffering from depression are unable to think, feel and behave normally. They remain in a state of persistent sadness and fear. They face difficulty in handling their essential daily life activities. Moreover, they do not maintain a balance between their personal and professional life.
Who gets Depression?
Depression can affect any individual irrespective of age, gender and any other socio-economic factor. The onset of depression can occur at any age, but it often begins in the adulthood stages. Moreover, females are more susceptible to suffer from depression as compared to males. Similarly, teenagers also exhibit sensitivity towards environmental stress factors and suffer from depression.
How common is Depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, and therefore, a large number of people are affected by this and experience diverse complications. Various studies have reported that approximately every third individual in the USA suffers from depression at any stage of their life. Approximately 4.4% of children are grappling with depression. In addition, 18% of individuals are those who are currently diagnosed with depression and experiencing multiple complexities in each aspect of their lives.
What are the common symptoms of Depression?
Each exhibits a different response towards depression. The symptoms of depression vary from mild to severe, depending on the individual condition. Moreover, if you had depression symptoms for more than two weeks, then it is a greater indication that you are having depression. Some common symptoms of depression are as follows:
- Prolonged sadness
- Hopelessness
- Strong feelings of emptiness
- Lack of interest in different activities
- Anger outburst
- Emotional intensity
- Frustration
- Irritable behavior
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty in focus or concentration
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Disturbance in the sleep-wake cycle
- Reduced energy levels
- Difficulty in learning
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Fatigue
- Sense of guilt or embarrassment
- Suicidal or self-harming thoughts
- Headache or body ache
Individuals don’t need to suffer from depression to experience all the above-mentioned symptoms. In some cases, only a few symptoms of depression become evident, while some experience a greater number of symptoms. Children and teenagers exhibit more hyperactivity and irritable behaviour than sadness.
In addition, some individuals live a normal life with depression symptoms, while for some individuals, their depressive symptoms interfere with their life activities and affect their quality of life.
Depression symptoms in Children and teenagers
Although the symptoms of depression are the same in children, teenagers and adults, still there are some major differences.
Children suffering from the depression exhibit the following symptoms:
- Sadness
- Irritable behavior
- Anger outburst
- Clingy behavior
- Excessive worry over small things
- Sudden weight fluctuations
- Preference of staying at home instead of going to school
However, in teenagers, the common symptoms of depression include:
- Hopelessness
- Feel of worthlessness
- Repeated occurrence of negative thoughts
- Extreme sensitivity
- Hyperactivity
- Self-harming thoughts
- Excessive obsessions
- Poor performance in school or college
- Reduced engagement in social activities
Depression symptoms in older adults
Just like children and teenagers, older adults also suffer from depression, but in most cases, their mental condition remains undiagnosed due to several factors. Some major symptoms of depression in older adults are as follows:
- Sense of fatigue or tiredness
- Memory issues
- Learning issues
- Negative changes in personality
- Sleep problems
- Reduced interest in sex
- Preference to stay alone
What are some other changes caused by Depression?
Depression can negatively affect mood and behaviour, and affected individuals start experiencing the following:
- Increased impulsivity
- Social isolation
- Hyperactivity
- Occurrence of negative thoughts
- Increased sexual arousal
- Intake of alcohol and drugs
What are the common types of Depression?
There are different kinds of depression, but the most common ones are as follows:
1. Clinical depression
Clinical depression involves the persistent symptoms of sadness and depressed mood. Moreover, they do not take an interest in those activities that were once enjoyable. Moreover, the symptoms can stay for a longer period.
2. Persistent depressive disorder
This is a mild but long-term form of depression, as symptoms can remain for two years or more if left untreated.
3. Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a type of depression that involves different but sudden episodes of mood swings. At one time, the person feels happy, while other times, they feel extremely stressed. The two different phases are named the manic and depressive episodes. However, if both episodes occur at the same time, then they are called neutral episodes.
4. Postpartum depression & Perinatal depression
Females also suffer from depression during their pregnancy stages and after childbirth. If the depressive symptoms appear during the pregnancy stages, then it is referred to as perinatal depression. However, if the female gets depressed after giving birth to a child, then it is referred to as postpartum depression.
5. Seasonal affective disorder
The seasonal affective disorder is limited to the specific seasons. Most individuals get stressed during the winter and only feel happy when the winter season ends and the spring or summer season starts.
6. Psychotic depression
Psychotic depression is a severe type of depression. Affected individuals experience psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking behaviour. Moreover, they face difficulty in distinguishing between their imagination and the world present around them.
7. Perimenopausal depression
This type of depression occurs at the time of menopause. When females shift to the menopausal stage, they start feeling sadness, anxiety, and irritability. They also face difficulty in handling their relationships with their loved ones.
How Depression is diagnosed?
Taking stress is normal and part of life. However, if you feel that your period of sadness is getting prolonged or you are dealing with symptoms of depression for more than two weeks or more, then you should immediately consult a professional to diagnose the depression. Before this, you can also self-evaluate your mental condition if you know the common symptoms of depression. But always remember that only professionals can better diagnose the symptoms of depression.
Mental health professionals first perform a thorough diagnostic evaluation in which different questions are asked of patients regarding their symptoms, previous medical history and family history. Moreover, if the person is suspected to have any other illness, then a physical evaluation is performed. Different lab or screening tests are also used for the identification of other co-occurring mental illnesses. Then, based on the evaluation results, experts develop a personalized treatment plan for depression.
What are the Risk Factors for Depression?
Multiple factors can contribute to the development of depression. Different researchers have reported the following risk factors of depression.
1. Biochemical changes
There are certain chemical messengers in the brain which are referred to as neurotransmitters. The changes in the level of different neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, can cause the development of depression. If any of these neurotransmitters is deficient, then the person develops into a state of sadness and hopelessness.
2. Genetic factors
According to different genetic studies, depression is a genetic disorder that tends to run in families. Genes that are responsible for the onset of depression are transferred from parent to child. Moreover, if one sibling is having depression symptoms, then there is a greater possibility that another one will also suffer from depression.
3. Hormonal changes
The regulated level of hormones is also responsible for controlling mood and behaviour. The sudden alterations in hormone levels can develop depression. For example, certain hormonal changes during pregnancy stages and hormonal dysregulation after childbirth can also trigger depression.
4. Environmental stress
Other than internal stress factors, multiple environmental stress factors act as risk factors for depression such as:
- Exposure to toxic agents during pregnancy
- Domestic violence
- Sexual abuse
- Personal loss
- Professional loss
- Neglect from society
- Previous family history of depression
- Trauma
- Persistent stress or anxiety
- Head injury
- Poverty
5. Medical conditions
Chronic pain and certain severe conditions can also result in depression, such as diabetes, liver infections, multiple sclerosis, etc.
6. Misuse of medications
The excessive use of medications can also develop depression as a side effect. Likewise, excessive alcohol intake and substance abuse are also one of the major risk factors of depression.
Is Depression different from sadness or Grief?
Any sudden personal and professional loss can make the individual sad. It is quite normal to feel sad about difficult life experiences. If the sadness stays for a longer period, then it transforms into depression. Both sadness and depression are not the same. However, both depression and grief involve intense sadness and hopelessness. Both conditions can occur together. In grief, self-esteem is not decreased, while in depression, both confidence and self-esteem are reduced. Moreover, the duration of both grief and depression also varies.
How Is Depression Treated?
Fortunately, depression is treatable with the finest treatment plan, including psychiatric medication and psychotherapy. Moreover, approximately 80% to 90% of individuals also expect a positive response towards the treatment of depression and get received easily. Some experts prefer the use of psychotherapy to get rid of depression symptoms. While on the other hand, some experts recommend the combined use of medications and psychotherapy depending on the severity of the mental condition.
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Psychotherapy for Depression Treatment
1. Medication
Medications are considered the first line of depression treatment. As depression is majorly caused by negative alterations in brain chemistry, therefore medications can treat them effectively. Experts recommend antidepressants to treat the symptoms of depression.
2. Antidepressants
Antidepressants are specialized medications that are used for the treatment of depressive disorder. They interfere with the brain chemistry and produce different positive neurotransmitters that stop the cycle of stress and undergo positive mood changes. Moreover, these medications are not sedatives and tranquillizers, and their intake does not result in addiction. However, individuals with depression should only take antidepressants after the expert’s recommendation.
Some common antidepressants which are recommended by the experts are as follows:
- Sertraline
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Fluoxetine
- MAO inhibitors
- Paroxetine
- SSRIs
Antidepressants usually start exhibiting positive and desired effects within the first week. However, if you think that you are not getting the best results or your body starts experiencing some side effects, then you should immediately consult mental health professionals. They will first make a thorough evaluation and then make some alterations to the schedule of medication intake. Moreover, they also recommend the period of intake after considering the mental state of the individual.
3. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a common talk therapy that is mostly recommended for the prevention as well as the treatment of depression. There are different types of talk therapy or psychotherapy, but among them, the most common ones include:
4. Cognitive behavioural therapy
As the name indicates, the cognitive behavioral therapy targets the cognitive thoughts and the resulting behavior. Individuals suffering from depression think that they can not overcome their life challenges. They remain lost in their negative and unproductive thoughts. Therefore, the main goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to assist individuals in first analysing them and then transforming them into positive thoughts. The positive effect is then also shown in their behavior. They start considering themselves more capable of facing every life challenge and living a happy, normal and stress-free life.
Psychotherapy can be provided in different settings: individual and group therapy sessions.
5. Individual therapy
Those individuals who do not feel comfortable in the presence of others can join the individual psychotherapy sessions. Experts develop a secure and friendly environment so individuals can share their thoughts and emotions comfortably and get the finest mental health solutions.
6. Group therapy
Group therapy sessions are ideal for those individuals who do not have confidence and courage. The group therapy sessions involve multiple individuals who are facing the same mental health issue. By sharing their mental health issues and previous life experiences, they learn from each other and also develop confidence.
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7. Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy is also effective for the treatment of depression. This therapy can resolve interpersonal conflicts and improve relationships. Experts guide individuals on how they can improve their relationships and live a stress-free and conflict-free life.
What are the other treatments for Depression?
Some other therapies that can work best for the treatment of depression include:
1. Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy is used for the treatment of depression that becomes resistant to other depression treatments. During this treatment, anaesthesia is first provided to the patient, and mild electric stimulation is then applied to the brain to induce brief and mild seizures. With this, certain regions of the brain get stimulated. The number of sessions of electroconvulsive therapy is usually 6 to 12 but can vary depending on the mental state of individuals.
2. Vagus nerve stimulation
Vagus nerve stimulation involves the application of electric impulses to stimulate the vagus nerve. This therapy is used for the treatment of depression and other conditions, including treatment-resistant depression epilepsy, etc.
3. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
This involves the use of magnetic fields to stimulate different regions of the brain to prevent depression. During repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, a magnetic coil is attached to the scalp to generate magnetic impulses that stimulate certain nerve cells of the brain.
4. Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation is also used for the treatment of depression. This is a surgical procedure that generates electric impulses to treat depression and other common neurological conditions.
What are the Self-help or Coping strategies for Depression treatment?
If you want to stay mentally active and prevent the symptoms of depression, then you should consider self-help or different coping strategies, including:
1. Productive activities
Always try to participate in productive activities, so you not only learn to participate in them but also have fun and joy.
2. Make social bonds
Whenever you get time, try to spend some time with your family and friends. Develop some social bonds to raise your reduced confidence and self-esteem. When you feel sad, sit in front of them and share all your disturbing thoughts and emotions.
3. Healthy diet
Your diet is also linked to your mood. If you eat healthy and nutritious food items, you will feel pleasure. Therefore, make sure to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods that make you both physically and mentally strong.
4. Regular sleep patterns
If you are not getting absolute sleep, then you can not feel fresh and active throughout the day. Try to make a schedule of your sleep-wake pattern and follow that to relax your mind.
5. Regular exercise
Exercise is highly effective for strengthening the mind. Try to do some exercise daily. Moreover, if you are unable to do complete exercise, then you can also go for a walk. By doing exercise or any strenuous activity, happy hormones are released in the body which exert a strong and positive impact on the brain.
How can I help a loved one who is suffering from Depression?
If your loved one is battling with depression, then you can support him in the following way:
- Listen to them and show your supportive and encouraging behavior
- Help them in making the reminders
- Invite them on outings or other activities that make them feel good
What is the prognosis of Depression?
The prognosis of depression depends on the following factors:
- Type and severity of mental condition
- The condition is treated or untreated
- The condition is temporary or long-lasting
- Presence of any co-curring mental condition
What are the other co-curring mental conditions with Depression?
Depression can also occur in the presence of the following illnesses and exhibit more severity.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Thyroid
- Cardiac disorder
- Parkinson disease
Where can I find the professional help for Depression?
If you or someone else is suffering from depression, then you should immediately reach out for professional help. Brainpower Wellness Institute is one of the top platforms that provides a diverse array of mental health services to treat depression and other common mental health conditions, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, etc.
We have a professional team of experts who specialize in treating mental health issues. They develop personalized treatment plans based on individuals’ mental conditions. Moreover, they also provide effective counseling strategies so individuals can learn how they can overcome their negative intrusive thoughts and live happier life. So there is no need to find any other platform, as you are in the right hands. Reach out to our platform and communicate with our experts to find the best mental health solutions. So, initiate your journey of mental wellness and empowerment now.
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Impact Of depression On Daily Life
Faqs
Are depression and anxiety the same?
No. Both anxiety and depression are different. Anxiety involves the excessive state of worry and fear, while depression comprises the prolonged phase of sadness and fear.
How long does depression last?
The duration of depression symptoms varies based on the person. If left untreated, the condition can persist for months or years.
