What Is Depression?

Depression is not the same thing as being sad or upset. It’s a medical condition that causes you to feel sad, anxious, irritable and worthless for weeks or even months at a time. Depression can interfere with your ability to function normally in daily activities and may cause you to withdraw from friends and family.

Depression is also a serious illness that affects the way you eat and sleep, think and feel about yourself, manage stress, relate to other people, handle challenges and get along with others. If these feelings last two weeks or longer and interfere with your ability to function at work or home, you may have depression.

If you have very low self-esteem, it can be difficult to see yourself as someone who deserves treatment for depression. But if you’re seriously depressed, treatment can help reduce symptoms so that they don’t interfere completely with your ability to enjoy life.

There are several types of depression:

Major depressive disorder (MDD). This type of depression usually lasts at least two weeks. People who experience MDD often have symptoms such as a depressed mood; loss of interest in usual activities; changes in appetite, weight or sleep habits; fatigue; feeling restless or irritable; difficulty concentrating; and thoughts about death or suicide.

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia). This type of depression interferes with day-to-day living for an extended period but not as severely as MDD does. People who have dysthymia may have symptoms such as low self-esteem, poor concentration and chronic fatigue. They may also feel hopeless about their situation and believe that nothing will make them feel better.

Bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic-depressive illness). This condition causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out tasks — from periods of extreme happiness to deep depression.

Depression Is Different From Sadness or Grief/Bereavement

Sadness and grief are feelings that we all experience in our lives. They are normal reactions to negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, divorce or financial problems. Sadness and grief may be accompanied by physical symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite and changes in behavior. You may feel like you are in a fog or dreamlike state. These feelings usually pass after a few weeks as you adjust to your new situation or event.

Depression is an illness that interferes with your ability to function normally in daily life. It involves feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness for at least two weeks, which can have a serious impact on your ability to work and enjoy life. Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue and chronic aches and pains that do not respond to ordinary treatments.

Risk Factors for Depression

Age. Depression affects people of all ages but is most common in adults between the ages of 45 and 65. It is also more common in women than in men. If you have a close family member with depression, you may have an increased risk of developing it yourself.

Marital status. People who are single or divorced have an increased risk of becoming depressed compared with those who are married or living with a partner. The risk also increases if your closest relationships are stressful, unhappy or unsupportive (for example, if you feel alone in dealing with financial problems).

Personality traits. People with certain personality traits may be more likely to develop depression than others:

People who are “highly sensitive” (sensitive to outside stimulation) may be more likely than others to become depressed after a stressful event

People who worry excessively about how they look or how they will be perceived by others are at greater risk of developing depression than people who do not worry excessively about such things.

How Is Depression Treated?

Depression is a serious illness that affects many people. The good news is that depression can be treated with therapy and/or medication.

The most common type of depression treatment is called psychotherapy, or “talk therapy.” It involves talking with a counselor or therapist about your feelings and thoughts. You may also learn new ways to think about your problems and how to cope with them. Psychotherapy can help you get through stress and make positive changes in your life.

Antidepressant medication may also be recommended. Antidepressants are drugs that change the way your brain works so that it’s easier to feel happy again. They are usually taken daily for at least a few weeks before they start working well (although some work more quickly than others). Your doctor may prescribe one antidepressant or a combination of two or more antidepressants depending on which ones work best for you.

Some people who are depressed do not respond to counseling or medication alone, so their doctors may recommend combining both types of treatment into one plan for recovery from depression.

Self-help and Coping

The most important thing you can do when you are feeling depressed is to get help. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Depression can be treated and you can get better.

You may need to take medicine for several weeks or even months before you feel better. But if you don’t, the depression might never go away.

If you have depression, it’s important to know that it is treatable and that with treatment, most people do get better. You can also learn how to cope with the symptoms of depression so that they are not as overwhelming and disabling as they might be now.

Coping with depression may involve making lifestyle changes, learning new skills, changing your thinking patterns and using effective strategies for managing stress and anxiety.