Everything You Should Know About Depression

Although only a qualified medical or mental health professional can diagnose depression, some warning signs can help you figure out if you or someone you know is depressed.

Depression symptoms vary from person to person. So, while one person may have difficulty getting out of bed, another may be able to go to work every day without coworkers noticing anything unusual.

Is it really depression?

There are times when what you think of as depression symptoms are not actually depression. Substance abuse, medical problems, medication side effects, and other mental health conditions can cause symptoms similar to depression.

Symptoms and Signs of Depression

Depressed mood

A depressed mood is characteristic of both major depression and persistent depressive disorder. A person with significant depression feels depressed for the majority of the day. In contrast, children and adolescents may appear irritable rather than sad.

A person in a depressed mood may describe feeling sad or “empty,” or they may cry frequently. Low mood is one of the two prominent symptoms used to diagnose depression.

Decreased interest

Anhedonia, or the loss of interest in or enjoyment from previously enjoyed activities, is the second core symptom of major depressive disorder, which means “decreased interest and pleasure in most activities most of the day.”

On the other hand, Anhedonia is a lack of emotion, particularly pleasure, whereas apathy is a lack of interest and motivation. It is not unusual for someone to be anhedonistic as well as indifferent.

Appetite shifts

Another common symptom of depression is a change in appetite. For some people, this results in a loss of appetite. You may have to force yourself to eat because it no longer appeals to you. You may need more energy to prepare meals.

Feelings of sadness or worthlessness can also contribute to overeating. In these cases, food is used as a coping mechanism. You may find that food improves your mood, but once the temporary pleasure of eating has passed, you reach for more food to suppress your emotions.

Sleep disturbances

Up to 90% of depressed individuals experience sleep disturbances. It can present as either insomnia (difficulty falling asleep) or hypersomnia (difficulty staying asleep).

Insomnia is the most common, affecting approximately 80% of people with depression. Insomnia causes difficulty falling and staying asleep. People with depression sleep excessively in about 15% to 25% of cases, which is more common in young people.

Both the cause and the symptom of depression can be disturbed sleep. Therefore, improving your sleep quality is critical for feeling better now and lowering your chances of relapsing into depression in the future.

Psychomotor disturbances

Psychomotor skills combine movement and thinking. This includes balance and coordination, such as picking up a coin from the floor or threading a needle.

Fatigue

Chronic fatigue can be a symptom of both persistent and major depressive disorders. This loss of energy, which can leave you feeling tired most of the time, if not always, may make it difficult for you to carry out your normal activities.

You might be unable to care for your kids or do the housework. Perhaps the fatigue is so severe that you frequently call in sick from work because you cannot get out of bed.

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

Depression can hurt everything, including how you view yourself. You may think of yourself in unappealing and unrealistic ways, such as believing you are worthless.

You may also struggle to let go of a past mistake, which can lead to feelings of guilt. You may become obsessed with these “failures,” personalise insignificant events, or believe that minor errors demonstrate your inadequacy.

For example, consider a relationship that ended after you fought with your partner and said unpleasant things. This could lead you to blame yourself for the breakup while ignoring other issues in your relationship, such as an abusive partner or a poor communicator.

In some cases, the sense of guilt is so strong that it leads to delusion, which is the inability to see things for what they indeed are, resulting in holding onto false beliefs.

Having difficulty concentrating

Both major and persistent depressive disorders cause difficulty concentrating and making decisions. People who are depressed may recognise this in themselves, or others may notice that they are having difficulty thinking clearly.

Recurrent thoughts of death

Recurrent thoughts of death and excessive fear of dying are indicative of major depressive disorder. A person suffering from major depression may contemplate suicide, attempt suicide, or devise a specific plan to kill themselves.

Depression Symptoms Based on Age

While low mood and loss of interest are common symptoms of depression, other depression symptoms are often age-specific.

Depression Symptoms in Children:

Depression in children is likely to manifest as a lack of interest in activities and socialising with family and friends. Anxiety frequently coexists with depression in children. For example, your child may exhibit signs of fear or panic in an everyday situation (which may not have previously worried them).

Children’s depression symptoms are often misinterpreted as “hormonal changes” or a normal aspect of growing up. Nonetheless, you ought to speak with a medical professional if your child shows any indications of depression.

Depression Symptoms in Teens:

Depression in teenagers frequently manifests as self-blame, anger, hopelessness, and a pessimistic outlook on the future.

You will most likely notice changes in their academic performance; they may even skip school entirely. Teens may also begin self-harming, abusing drugs or alcohol, changing their appearance, or neglecting personal hygiene.

While it is true that teenagers go through many transitions, including emotional ups and downs, it is critical to speak with your teen if you suspect they are depressed.

Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults:

Sadness may not be the main symptom of depression in older adults. Older adults may experience emotional numbness instead. It can also be challenging to determine whether an older adult is depressed because they may be less likely to express their emotions.

In some cases, loved ones or healthcare providers may misinterpret an older adult’s depression symptoms as a response to life changes. Unfortunately, older adults are more likely to develop depression; we should take their symptoms seriously so that they can receive the necessary treatment.

Depression and Other Illnesses

People with long-term illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis often report having clinical depression as a side effect. The illness frequently causes depression, particularly in people who are biologically predisposed to the disorder.

People suffering from depression frequently coexist with other disorders or illnesses. This is referred to as a comorbidity or dual diagnosis. For example, someone suffering from chronic pain may develop depression and vice versa.

Similarly, substance use disorders and depression frequently coexist. Someone suffering from depression may use alcohol to self-medicate, and alcoholism can also cause depressive symptoms.

While neither condition directly causes the other, they frequently coexist, and one condition can aggravate the symptoms of the other.

Common co-occurring conditions in clinical depression include:

• Anxiety disorders
• ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder)
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Chronic pain
• Eating disorders and body dysmorphia
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Disorders Related to Sleep
• Substance Use disorders (addictions)

Depression: Myths and Facts

Numerous harmful misconceptions exist, which can prevent people from recognising depression symptoms and signs and receiving the necessary help. Moreover, stigma still exists for people who are depressed.

Here, we dispel these myths.

You can’t simply “get over it.”

Being diagnosed with depression does not imply that you are “crazy” or vulnerable. It’s not your fault; you can’t just snap out of it.

Depression is caused by a combination of factors, including an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain (chemicals that regulate mood).

Just as people with diabetes cannot force their pancreas to produce more insulin, you cannot “try harder” to overcome depression. It is a legitimate disease that requires proper treatment.

Depression doesn’t just cause mental symptoms.

Depression undoubtedly includes psychological symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, irritability, and hopelessness. However, many people suffering from depression experience physical symptoms as well.

Fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and digestive issues are all possible symptoms. People suffering from depression may also have a weakened immune system, increasing their risk of contracting the latest bug or virus.

Anyone can get depressed.

People of any race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background can experience depression at any age. Women are almost twice as likely as men to receive a depression diagnosis. It’s unclear, though, how much of this is because women report and seek treatment at higher rates than men.

According to one study, women’s depression symptoms may be more evident than men’s. For example, women may be more likely to exhibit typical symptoms of depression, such as crying, whereas men may not cry as openly.

Teenagers and adolescents may also be prone to depression. Sadly, a lot of depressed kids don’t get help because adults don’t see the warning signs, which aren’t always the same for adults.

Depression is treatable.

Even though depression can make you feel hopeless, there is hope for people who get help and get a diagnosis. 80% to 90% of people who are treated for depression get better. This makes it one of the most treatable mental illnesses.

How Do I Know If I Need Help?

Long-lasting symptoms of depression can impact many aspects of your life, including relationships, employment, hobbies, sleep patterns, eating habits, and general mood.

Talk to a psychologist if you’ve noticed changes in your mood or behaviour that are getting in the way of your daily life.

Treatment does not simply entail taking medications for the rest of your life. Therapy and changes to your lifestyle can also help you deal with your symptoms and keep you from relapsing.

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone you care about, do not hesitate to contact a mental health professional. It can be challenging to fully enjoy life when you are depressed, but you don’t have to suffer needlessly.

Click www.hopetrustindia.com for an online appointment with a therapist.