All You Need To Know About Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a medical condition that affects your mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can be mild and short-lived, or it can be more severe and last for weeks or months. Depression is not the same as being “depressed” or sad about something. People with depression may feel sad, but they also may feel hopeless and have no interest in doing things that they once enjoyed. They may lose interest in eating or sleeping. They may have trouble concentrating. They may be irritable or angry. Some people who are depressed think about suicide (thinking about hurting themselves) or death (wishing they were dead). Depression is a serious illness that requires professional treatment.

Depression can affect anyone, but it’s much more common in women than men. You’re also more likely to develop depression if you have another mental health condition like anxiety or substance abuse problems, if you’ve been through traumatic experiences such as abuse or violence, if you experienced sexual abuse as a child, if someone close to you has died, if you’re under chronic stress at work or home, if you’re going through life changes such as getting married/divorced/separated/pregnant/losing a loved one etc.

How common is depression?

Depression is a common mental health disorder. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

The good news is that depression is highly treatable with medication, therapy and lifestyle changes.

In the U.S., about 7% of the population will experience depression at some point in their lives. This means that nearly one in 10 people you know — including yourself — has experienced this illness at some point during their lives.

The exact cause of depression is not known but it’s likely that both biological and environmental factors play a role. Some people might be more susceptible to developing depression due to their family history or genetic makeup. Other causes include brain chemistry imbalances, life experiences such as stressful events or trauma, chronic health problems such as diabetes or heart disease, side effects from medications, substance abuse, lack of sleep or poor nutrition.

What are the symptoms of depression and how is it diagnosed?

The symptoms of depression include:

Feeling sad, empty, hopeless or irritable most of the day nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Children may feel frustrated and angry rather than sad.

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, such as hobbies, sports and social gatherings. Children may be irritable or display angry behavior instead of sadness.

Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss in adults, increased appetite (with resulting weight gain) in children.

Difficulty sleeping — insomnia is common among people with depression but not universal; many people with this disorder experience excessive sleepiness.

Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day. Feeling tired is different from being sleepy; depressed people often feel tired even after sleeping well, while those who are sleepy often have trouble staying awake during the day despite adequate sleep at night.

Types & causes of Depression

You might have heard a number of terms used to describe depression. In this section, we explain what some of these terms mean.

What is clinical depression?

Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that affects your mood and ability to function. It is diagnosed after you have experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for at least two weeks, and it must cause significant distress or impairment in your work, social life, or relationships. If you think you might have clinical depression, contact your physician for more information about diagnosis and treatment.

What is a depressive episode?

A depressive episode is a period of time in which you feel very sad, hopeless, and helpless. These feelings can be so strong that they interfere with your ability to carry out your daily activities. You may also have trouble sleeping and eating properly.

Depressive episodes are part of a larger group of disorders known as mood disorders. Mood disorders like depression are serious illnesses that affect how you feel and think about yourself, your life, and the world around you.

It’s important to understand that depressive episodes are different from just feeling sad or down in the dumps now and then. A depressive episode is not just a bad day — it lasts for at least two weeks, but most last much longer than that.

A depressive episode can cause many problems in your life including:

Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed; these include sex and other pleasurable activities such as eating or watching movies
Difficulty concentrating on anything for long periods of time
Loss of energy; fatigue (feeling physically exhausted) all the time or sudden fatigue after minimal activity
Feeling worthless or guilty about yourself or your actions; having no sense of purpose in life (feeling hopeless)

What is recurrent depressive disorder?

Recurrent depressive disorder is a mental health condition in which someone experiences two or more episodes of major depression. A person with this condition may also have periods of feeling better between episodes, but these periods don’t last long enough for the person to be considered in remission.

The exact cause of recurrent depressive disorder is unknown, but it likely involves a combination of genetic, environmental and psychosocial factors. It’s estimated that about 10 percent of people who experience a single episode of major depression will go on to develop recurring episodes.

Signs and symptoms of recurrent depressive disorder include:

Depressed mood most days nearly every day for at least two years
Poor appetite or overeating
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Fatigue or insomnia nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt nearly every day (not related to specific life events)
Inability to concentrate on work, school or other tasks; indecisiveness; restlessness; irritability

What is reactive depression?

Reactive depression is a mood disorder that can follow the loss of a loved one or major life event.

Reactive depression is a mood disorder that can follow the loss of a loved one or major life event. It occurs when the person has not dealt with their grief and it becomes a chronic condition.

Reactive depression is also known as “complicated bereavement” and “prolonged grief disorder.”

What causes reactive depression?

The most common cause of reactive depression is the death of someone close to you. The symptoms of reactive depression include:

Feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, and restlessness
Difficulty sleeping and concentrating
Loss of appetite or overeating
Crying more than usual
Withdrawing from family, friends, and social activities

What is a severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms?

Psychotic symptoms are unusual thoughts and feelings that are not shared by other people. For example, you might believe that someone has been planted in your head to watch you, or that the government is controlling your thoughts. You might hear voices or feel like something terrible is going to happen. These symptoms can be very frightening, but they’re not usually dangerous unless they make it hard for you to take care of yourself. In most cases, psychotic symptoms go away after a few weeks or months without treatment.

Severe depressive episodes often start with a warning sign called anhedonia (uh-HEE-doh-nee-uh), which means you lose interest in activities that used to give you pleasure. It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible if you have anhedonia because it might mean you will develop psychotic symptoms and other problems if left untreated.

What is dysthymia?

Dysthymia is a low-grade depression that lasts for years. It’s not as severe as major depression, but it can have an impact on your life.

If you have dysthymia, you’ll have low moods and lack of enjoyment in your day-to-day activities for most of the time. This can happen for weeks or months at a time.

Dysthymia is different from chronic depression because it’s not severe enough to cause extreme symptoms such as suicidal thoughts or actions.

It’s also different from major depressive disorder (MDD), but some people with dysthymia may go on to develop MDD later in life.

What is cyclothymia?

Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. It involves mood swings that can last between days and months. The highs and lows of cyclothymia are not as severe as those seen in bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder, but they are more intense than those seen in major depressive disorder. People with cyclothymia have periods of depression, hypomania (mild mania) or normal moods lasting at least two years.

People with cyclothymia may have periods of:

Depression — feeling sad and hopeless, losing interest in things you usually enjoy, feeling tired or restless, sleeping too much or too little

Hypomania — feeling very happy and excited, having more energy than usual, racing thoughts, taking risks that could lead to problems if you don’t watch out for them.

What is postnatal depression?

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that can affect women after they have given birth.

It’s estimated that around 1 in every 7 women will experience postnatal depression.

For some, the condition may be short-lived and end within a few weeks or months. But for others, it can last for years.

Postnatal depression is thought to be caused by a combination of physical, emotional and environmental factors.

Some of these include:

your hormones changing after giving birth
stress at work or home
financial worries

What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. It’s also called recurrent major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern. SAD can start in any month, but most often begins in the fall or winter and lasts through spring.

What causes SAD?

The exact cause of SAD isn’t known. The disorder may be related to changes in the length of day and night, which could affect levels of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle. Your circadian rhythm — the biological process that determines when you feel sleepy and awake — may also play a role in SAD.

What is manic depression?

Manic-depressive disorder (also known as bipolar affective disorder or cyclothymia) is a serious mental illness that affects how you feel and think. It causes manic episodes where you feel very high, irritable and excited. It can also cause depressive episodes where you feel low, sad and unmotivated.

During a manic episode, you might:

feel very energetic and chatty
have racing thoughts, ideas and actions
become more irritable than usual and have mood swings
have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
feel more self-confident than normal.

What causes depression?

The causes of depression are very different for men and women. Women tend to have more hormonal changes (such as premenstrual syndrome or postpartum) that can make them feel sad or depressed, while men tend to have more physical problems such as stress from work or relationship problems.

Some people get depression because of their genes (and it runs in families). This type of depression is called “major depressive disorder.” It usually starts early in life and lasts for a long time. People with this type of depression often think about suicide or death and may even try to kill themselves.

Can depression be inherited?

Yes. Depression can run in families, like other mental health problems.

If you have a parent or sibling with depression, you’re more likely to develop it too. But that doesn’t mean you’re destined to develop depression. You can take steps to reduce your risk of developing the condition yourself.

Depression can be caused by a combination of factors – some that are genetic and some environmental.

Your genes play an important role in your chances of developing depression, but they aren’t the only factor involved. Your environment and life experiences also make a difference.

It’s possible for someone without any family history of mental illness to develop depression as well as someone who has several family members with the condition, but this isn’t common.

Can my background or current situation cause depression?

Some people are more likely to become depressed if they’re dealing with stress and other problems in their lives — such as a bad relationship or financial difficulties — than others who are dealing with similar issues but don’t develop the condition.

Can my hormones or the chemicals in my body cause depression?

Hormones and chemicals in the body can cause depression. This can happen when the amount of a certain hormone or chemical is too high or too low.

The most common cause of hormonal changes is pregnancy. Other causes include:

Menopause . During menopause, the body makes less estrogen, which is a female sex hormone. Low estrogen levels can cause depression symptoms in some women.

Puberty . The body goes through puberty when you start to develop sexually mature features and reproductive organs. Puberty also causes changes in hormone levels that can lead to depression symptoms in some people.

How can lifestyle factors affect depression?

Lifestyle factors can affect your mood and mental health. If you have a tendency to be depressed, it’s important to pay attention to the following lifestyle factors:

Caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine can be a stimulant, while alcohol can be a depressant. Both substances can affect your mood and energy levels.

Exercise. Regular exercise releases endorphins that improve mood. Physical activity also helps relieve stress.

Diet and nutrition. Eating well-balanced meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help prevent depression by improving sleep quality and increasing energy levels.

Sleep habits. Getting enough sleep is important for good health in general, but it’s especially important for people who are prone to depression. Inadequate sleep can contribute to irritability, fatigue, impaired concentration and memory problems — all common symptoms of depression.

Can drugs and alcohol affect my mental health?

Yes, they can. But it depends on how much you take, how often you take them and how long you’ve been taking them for.

If you have any mental health problems, taking drugs or alcohol can make them worse. They can also cause problems that haven’t existed before – such as anxiety, paranoia or depression – to develop over time.

Over time these problems can become more serious if they’re not treated properly by qualified professionals, which can be difficult if you don’t seek help from your doctor first.

Can other illnesses impact my mental health?

Yes. Any illness can impact your mental health and vice versa.

You may have heard of the term “psychosomatic” — this means that something in your mind can cause physical symptoms. For example, anxiety or depression may cause headaches or stomach aches. But it’s not just the other way around: physical illnesses can also lead to mental health issues.

Some illnesses that can impact mental health include:

• Heart disease: People with heart disease are more likely to develop depression. The stress of living with a chronic condition like heart failure can also cause depression.

• Cancer: Cancer patients often experience depression, which can make managing treatment more difficult. Other conditions such as pain, fatigue and sleep problems are common among cancer patients and can lead to depression as well.

• HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS patients are at risk for developing depression because of the stress of dealing with their illness and its effects on their lives. Depression makes it harder for people living with HIV/AIDS to stay healthy and take care of themselves — which makes them less likely to live longer lives with the virus under control.

Depression Treatment

Treatment for depression usually involves antidepressant medications and psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”). It may also include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in some cases.

The most effective form of treatment is a combination of medications, psychotherapy, and family support. Talk therapy teaches you how to manage your condition by changing your thinking patterns, behavior and lifestyle. Medications help relieve symptoms so you can function better. Although antidepressants can take several weeks to start working, they are very effective in relieving the symptoms of depression in most people who use them.