In the article, we define depression, discuss how it differs from being in a foul mood, and discuss how to spot depression in a friend or family member.
Define Depression
A mental disorder called depression is characterized by a consistent decline in mood, challenges with memory and concentration, bodily issues (such as changes in appetite, sleeplessness, and nausea), and a variety of other life-impairing symptoms.
A WHO study found that 6.5% of people in 27 European nations experience depression in some capacity.
According to research, depression has a hereditary and neurological foundation. Neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and serotonin) are typically disturbed in depressed patients.
Signs Of Depression
How can you recognize that you’re depressed? The following signs could point to a diagnosis:
- Overeating or, on the contrary, a noticeable decrease in appetite; difficulty concentrating; a persistent sense of guilt without justification; a decrease in or lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed; decreased libido; despair, pessimistic thoughts, and a refusal to make plans for the future; inadequate sleep; insomnia; interruptions in sleep; and an inability or unwillingness to get out of bed; as well as pain and discomfort in the body.
- If three to five of these symptoms last longer than two weeks, depression may be the cause. However, because comparable symptoms are frequently present in other mental diseases, a psychotherapist or psychiatrist must be consulted in order to obtain a conclusive diagnosis.
- Depression can take on many different forms. Some people experience a sharp decline in mood and become lethargic, while others are tormented by guilt and hopelessness. Someone only exhibits somatic symptoms of depression, such as sleep issues, food disorders, or abnormalities in overall bodily function. “Masked” depression is one such example. Let’s examine the many types of depression and how they differ in more detail.
- With the exception of postpartum depression, there is no difference between the signs and symptoms of depression in men and women. Below, we address it as well.
Depression Types
According to the ICD-11, there are various forms of depression.
Depression, both endogenous and exogenous
“Endogenous” depression is generally used to describe depression that is not brought on by stress, loss, or trauma. Endogenous means resulting from inside factors. In this instance, the body’s metabolic balance has been upset. The phrase “You are doing well, yet you are suffering!” is used most frequently to stigmatize this particular type of depression.
Exogenous (reactive) depression is distinguished by psychologists from endogenous depression. It emerges as a result of a traumatic event. A person may occasionally encounter situations that he finds difficult to accept, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a beloved work; bankruptcy; or leaving the family. Because the psyche is sometimes unable to handle what is happening, it may respond by developing a mental disorder.
Cyclothymia And Dysthymia
Sometimes a person’s despair appears to be a natural part of their worldview. He has formed negative predictions, complained of being unhappy, and struggled with poor self-esteem for at least two years. Dysthymic disorder or chronic depressive disorder is the term used to describe this ailment; it is not a problem with personality or temperament.
Because dysthymia, or persistent depression, lacks vivid events, a person frequently adjusts to it and fails to properly assess his situation. Dysthymic patients rarely seek assistance. It turns into a sort of “comfort zone” for them.
Important! Long-term depression worsens with time and can result in strained friendships, a lack of meaning in life, and, in some circumstances, suicidal thoughts and deeds.
Depression does not last continuously but rather manifests in episodes of cyclothymia (also known as recurrent depressive illness). The individual returns to normal in between episodes. It appears that everything has ended and won’t happen again at these times. Be sure to see a psychologist if you believe you have had at least one depressive episode because they are rarely ones for life.
Covert Depression
The primary signs and symptoms of depression are frequently confused with those of other illnesses. For instance, if a person experiences unexplained symptoms in various body areas, “pressure jumps,” weakness, allergies, and headaches frequently manifest.
This kind of sadness frequently develops when a person lacks emotional awareness or is reluctant to communicate negativity. He worries that his loved ones won’t support him and won’t understand. Also, his chances of receiving support are better if he experiences persistent pain. Yet you cannot categorize any suffering as concealed depression if there is no clear cause. What is truly going on with a person can only be determined by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Only when doctors are unable to identify the physiological origins of a patient’s condition do they start to consider depression.
Hypochondria is frequently accompanied by covert depression. A person feels as though he has a serious and difficult-to-diagnose illness. He visits the doctor frequently. As a result, he unwittingly makes an effort to get loved ones’ attention and get their support.
The disease of Bipolar Disorder
Occasionally, depression manifests as a symptom of a bipolar affective disorder rather than as a separate illness. WHO statistics show that 45 million people worldwide experience bad breath. In certain cases, a manic episode takes the place of a depressive episode.
Mania has the appearance of someone who lives on the brink.
- high energy tone: a sense of being able to move mountains; excitement; rapid speech rate; inconsistent thinking;
- willingness to take chances: finance dubious endeavors, partake in risky activities;
- reduced need for sleep: if you sleep for a short period of time, you can wake up in the middle of the night with a surplus of energy.
In the manic period, individuals relocate to new towns and nations, start new businesses, and form relationships; in the depression phase, everything becomes meaningless. And so on until the following cycle.
The illness frequently shows symptoms throughout adolescence or between the ages of 20 and 30.
Read this post to learn more about Bipolar Disorder – “Bipolar Disorder: Why Diagnosis Isn’t Easy”.
Pregnancy Depression
The female body experiences physiological and psychological changes as a result of postpartum or postnatal depression during pregnancy, childbirth, and following the birth of a child. Other psychological factors that contribute to postpartum depression include an unwelcome or challenging pregnancy, a strained relationship with the child’s father, a lack of support from family and friends, and a mismatch between the “perfect mother” ideal and the mother’s actual behavior.
Postpartum depression frequently manifests as feelings of disgust for your postpartum body, irritation and anger toward the baby, increased crying, angry or aggressive outbursts, increased anxiety, low self-esteem, a lack of interest in intimacy, headaches, and body aches, and a desire for solitude and separation from others.
Postpartum depression is frequently rejected, with the melancholy condition and conduct of a woman being explained by weariness, a short fuse, and impulsivity.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Or Seasonal Depression
Due to a lack of sunlight and increased melatonin production in the fall and winter, seasonal depression occasionally develops. Winter is the more prevalent and well-studied variety. It begins in the fall and continues into April or May. Summer is less typical.
Even though we all experience sadness in the late fall and early winter, not everyone has seasonal depression. Specialists diagnose patients based on certain diagnostic criteria, including the occurrence of multiple depressive symptoms at once during the autumn-winter season, an increase in sleep duration, binge eating and weight gain, a drop in mood, lethargy, and a decline in performance.
All of the typical symptoms of depression may coexist with these symptoms.
Adolescent Depression
Although depression is not classified separately in the ICD-2010, it affects children and adolescents as well. A depressed adolescent withdraws more, loses interest in hobbies and games, and complains of being tired and bored throughout early adolescence (before the age of 12).
School anxiety in middle adolescence (12–14 years) might hide melancholy, which can then show up as antisocial conduct. For instance, a kid who lies to their parents all the time and steals from them.
Depression may manifest as a thought disorder in older adolescents (ages 15 to 18). Teenagers lose the capacity to live a regular life, learn, and communicate as a result of excessive and pointless philosophical reflections, which are frequent at this age.
Depression Stages
Episode 1 describes the depressive phase. Depression is categorized in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Edition (ICD-11), based on its severity and mode of course. Mild, moderate, and severe severity (without or with psychotic symptoms).
The degree of severity is based on the quantity and intensity of depressive symptoms. We are talking about a minor episode if there are two or three symptoms (for example, depression and insomnia) and the capacity to continue living your normal life.
The client may be diagnosed with a moderate depressive episode if it becomes difficult for them to speak, go to work, and carry out their regular activities.
A severe episode may be accompanied by psychotic symptoms, including delusions and hallucinations, and almost entirely exclude one from normal life.
50% of persons who experience one depressive episode go on to experience a second, according to data. And 80% of people who have experienced two depressive episodes eventually experience a third. Yet, this does not imply that you will experience frequent relapses into depression. You can enter remission and live without depression with prompt therapy.
Hazardous Depression: What Is It?
A significant issue with undetected depression according to researchers, the likelihood of suicide is significant (8%). Also, 60 percent of all suicides involve someone who is depressed.
Find out more about identifying suicidal behavior here – “13 Reasons Why: How to Recognize Suicidal Behavior“
Make an appointment with a specialist if you or a loved one may be depressed. There is research to support the fact that moderate types of depression partially resolve on their own in 40% of cases. But we do not advise holding out for a “maybe”.
Regular psychotherapy and no medications are frequently beneficial treatments for depression. If the psychologist determines that the client needs to see a psychiatrist, he will let a specialist know and offer advice.
You shouldn’t be concerned that a psychiatrist or psychotherapist will make an appointment for you at the local clinic and let your employer or school know about it.
Depression Detection: “I’m Not Only Sad”
Anxiety, despair, and sadness are common responses to mental stress. The world, however, stops appearing to be a welcoming place when these sentiments become overwhelming. Favorite activities, hobbies, and intimate relationships are no longer enjoyable. The horizon is dreadful. Although depression can express itself in several ways, difficulty concentrating, falling asleep, or waking up are some of its most typical symptoms.
According to WHO data, more than 300 million individuals worldwide, or 3–7% of the population, have been diagnosed with depression. Yet, only severe cases of clinical depression are noted; masked and mixed diseases are occasionally overlooked.
The following signs and symptoms could point to a depression diagnosis:
- Inadequate sleep, including insomnia, interrupted sleep, and an inability or unwillingness to get out of bed; overeating or, on the contrary, a noticeable decrease in appetite; pain and discomfort in the body; difficulty concentrating; decreased or lack of interest in things you used to enjoy; decreased libido; despair, pessimistic thoughts; decreased libido; and decreased libido.
- As you can see from the list of symptoms, depression can take many different forms. For example, some people experience a sharp decline in mood and a tendency to become inactive, while others experience guilt and hopelessness. In some people, the disorder also manifests somatically, impairing their ability to sleep, eat, or function normally. Let’s examine the various types of depression in more detail to see how they vary.
Depression Therapy In Psychology
Depression frequently does not disappear on its own. A specialist must handle the treatment of this illness. Many postpone it out of concern that they will be immediately prescribed antidepressants. The most alarming of the many myths and anxieties surrounding these medications is the notion that you “become hooked” and remain so for the rest of your life. Antidepressants don’t, according to studies, lead to addiction. The most important thing is to only take them on a course that a doctor has prescribed.
Yet, talk therapy may be equally as successful in treating depression as pharmaceuticals, according to a meta-analysis of recent studies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most successful approaches in psychotherapy for treating depression. This course of action was initially created especially for the treatment of depression. It affects how people act and think. She assists with:
- identifying automatic negative thoughts that frequently happen unconsciously and affect mood;
- finding negative attitudes about yourself and the world and replacing them with more sensible ones;
- developing more effective stress management techniques;
- changing the design of behavior by behaving in a new way under the same circumstances.
But don’t we all respond poorly to challenges? This reaction is readily mistaken for sadness since we feel horrible, think about what happened a lot, and our mood and standard of living drop. This illness is not regarded as clinical depression; rather, it is referred to as “adjustment disorder with depressed mood” in psychology. The difference is that all signs of depression go away as soon as the psyche adjusts to traumatic events. Yet, this does not imply that you should let your mental health develop naturally. It is preferable to process your feelings with a psychotherapist or counseling psychologist in order to avoid receiving a diagnosis.
From Darkness to Light: Understanding Depression and Its Treatment
How to Interact with Someone Who Is Depressed
Demonstrate your presence and willingness to assist. Even if it appears that a person is just unmotivated to complete rote activities because they are lazy, people with depression may feel guilty and ashamed about their moods and emotions. People are reluctant to ask for assistance because they fear being mocked. Suicidal ideas can arise from feelings of loneliness and alienation.
Don’t undervalue a sad person’s emotions. Neither “get yourself together” nor “tune in to the positive” should be offered. These suggestions undervalue the human condition. He knows he’s not just having a bad day, after all.
Do not take a seriously depressed person’s words or conduct personally. A person in this state behaves differently; they communicate less, don’t return calls, and won’t meet up. There is no strength for anything while depressed.
Encourage getting professional assistance, particularly if you observe overt indications of depression and nervous weariness. Invite the person to join you in finding a psychologist if necessary.
How to Manage Depression by Yourself
You can treat your issue on your own in addition to counseling. Psychotherapists assert that the following factors have a favorable impact on psychological health.
A steady daily schedule is important because someone who is depressed literally “loses his footing” and does not want to take care of themselves. Maintaining the best tone possible is facilitated by daily repetitive tasks. Also, they impart a sense of control, which is crucial, particularly if a person believes that depression is external to them.
Having conversations with loved ones and Support from influential people is healing. We feel ill and undesirable when we are depressed. In actuality, your loved ones are concerned about what is happening to you and are ready to lend a hand or just listen.
Sports: Research has shown that regular exercise can benefit people who struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem.
Reducing your consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee lessens the impact of therapy.
Try not to isolate yourself from society, keep an eye on your behavior, and reward yourself for accomplishments, even if the biggest one today was just getting out of bed. You are entitled to a long and healthy life.
An Exit Is Present
The well-being and quality of life of a person are affected by several varieties of depression, each in its own unique way. If you find yourself unable to control your emotions or learn that a loved one has expressed a desire to end their life, it is time to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.
