Depression

What is Depession?

Depression is defined as a common but serious mood disorder that effects an individual’s daily thoughts, feelings, and actions. Depression is considered a mood disorder; however, there are different types of depressive disorders including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, minor depressive disorder, and more (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). It is important to note that depression is more than a mood disorder and can have serious effects on your physical and mental health.

Symptoms of Depression

Although it will look differently for everyone, here are some common symptoms of depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism (negativity)

• Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

• Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling slowed down

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

• Difficulty sleeping, waking early in the morning, or oversleeping

• Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

• Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment

• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

Statistics

• LGBTQ+ individuals are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with depression (National Institute of Mental Health).

• Before puberty, girls and boys have an equal likelihood of developing depression. After puberty, girls are twice a s likely to develop depression as boys (Alshawwa, 2019).

• Depression can be hereditary (Alshawwa, 2019).

Treatment

There are many options for the treatment of depression. Psychotherapy, medication, mindfulness, support groups, and life changes are a few different ways to treat a depressive disorder. In the end, depression can lead to more issues if left untreated, but you should work with your health care provider to decide the best route of treatment for you.

Conclusion

In the end, depression looks differently for everyone. Some describe an overwhelming feeling of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. It is normal to experience ups and downs in our mood; however, this does not mean you are depressed. If you believe that you or a loved one are in need of help, feel free to contact us about starting counseling.

If this is an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local hospital.

References

Alshawwa, I. A., Elkahlout, M., El-Mashharawi, H. Q., & Abu-Naser, S. S. (2019). An expert system for depression diagnosis.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression#:~:text=Depression%20(also%20known%20as%20major,sleeping%2C%20eating%2C%20or%20working

Written by Sabreelyn Villalpando

Symptoms have been derived from The National Institute of Mental Health