|
|
Depression
Depression has been with mankind since the beginning of history. It is a condition that involves the mind and body. It affects how you feel, think and behave. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Depression is not just a weakness or a bout of the blues. It is also not something that you can simply "snap out" of. Depression is a chronic illness that most often requires long-term treatment. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counselling or other treatment.
Symptoms of Depression Often Include:- Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
- Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
- Reduced sex drive
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Changes in appetite — depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
- Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
- Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy — even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
- Crying spells for no apparent reason
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
For some people, depression symptoms are so severe that it's obvious something isn't right. Others feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why.
Depression affects each person in different ways, so depression symptoms vary from person to person. Inherited traits, age, gender and cultural background all play a role in how depression may affect one.
The sadness of depression is characterised by a greater intensity and duration and by more severe symptoms and functional disabilities than is normal.
One in ten people will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime.
CausesIt's not known exactly what causes depression. It would seem that a variety of factors may be involved.
These include: - Biological differences. People with depression appear to have physical changes in their brains
- Neurotransmitters. These naturally occurring brain chemicals linked to mood are thought to play a direct role in depression
- Hormones. Changes in the body's balance of hormones may be involved in causing or triggering depression. Hormone changes can result from thyroid problems, menopause and a number of other conditions
- Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people whose biological family members also have the condition
- Life events. Events such as the death or loss of a loved one, financial problems and high stress can trigger depression in some people
- Early childhood trauma. Traumatic events during childhood, such as abuse or loss of a parent, may cause permanent changes in the brain that make you more susceptible to depression
Very often a combination of genetic, psychological and environmental factors are involved in the onset of a depressive disorder.
Treatments and MedicationNumerous depression treatments are available. Medications and psychotherapy (counselling) are very effective for most people.
In some cases, a general practitioner can prescribe medications to relieve depression symptoms however many people need to see a psychiatrist. Usually the most effective treatment for depression is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
|