DEPRESSION

Depression

 

Depression is a serious illness that affects approximately 350 million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization depression is the leading cause of disability.

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Symptoms

 

• Are you feeling sad, empty, despair, hopelessness, or even on the verge of tears?

• Are you angry, irritable or frustrated, even over small things?

• Are you feeling slow in your thinking, speaking or body movements?

• Are you experiencing feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or shame?

• Are you stuck in the past and keep feeling regret or anger towards past failures or self-blame?

• Are you feeling anxious, agitated or restless?

• Are you feeling you don’t have interest in normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports?

• Are you experiencing sleep disturbances, including having insomnia or on the other side of the spectrum: sleeping too much?

• Are you having difficulties remembering things or personality changes?

• Are you tired and have no energy, so that even small tasks take lots of effort?

• Are you eating too much or not enough?

• Are you losing weight or gaining extra weight abruptly?

• Are you having trouble thinking clearly, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things?

• Are you finding yourself frequently thinking about death, or having suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or plans?

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The disorder of depression involves feelings of the above mentioned, which can last for days, or even a week at a time. Depression can make someone lose interest in life and themselves. Depression can be regarded as a whole body illness which involves your thoughts, body and mood. Depression affects the way you feel about yourself, the way you eat, sleep and how you socially interact with people around you. It is very hard and difficult to beat, because most depressed people will easily say that they aren’t depressed at all.

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Overview

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Depression is a mood disorder that a depressed person consistently experiences feelings of sadness and loss of interest. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves can have an effect on a variety of emotional and physical problems. Although depression may occur only once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes. A person who suffers from depression most of the time becomes slow and unmotivated and may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities. In many cases he/she may feel their life isn’t worth living. Depression is a serious disorder that can have an unbearable strain on you and your family. Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults, and they may feel reluctant to seek help. It is very hard and difficult to beat because most depressed people will easily say that they aren’t depressed at all.

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Depression requires treatment that may be short-term or long-term. Most people with depression feel better with psychotherapy. Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and it should never be taken lightly. When you have a depression disorder, you will find it painful and hard to deal with it by yourself.

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Depression is more than just the blues, and it’s a noticeable decrease in day-to-day activities such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Depression doesn’t mean a person is weak, and that they should just change their mood, they will snap out of it. Depression has to be treated and often gets worse if it isn’t treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life.

 

Depression doesn’t have a singular cause. Instead, it results from a mix of things: your family background, events in your past, your current circumstances, and more. Traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or financial problems are all examples of potential causes for depression. Sometimes, in your journey your pride is damaged and broken and your life experiences start to feel like a failure. You need stillness, to know what had happened to be able to make sense out of it. It can victimize your delight and make you feel negative towards yourself. This can likewise breed disappointment because it failed your expectations. What you have sometimes as an outcome is the complete reverse of what you expected. Therefore, you will start to dislike yourself by blaming yourself and gradually creating self-hatred to no end. If you are modest, you will understand your restrictions and acknowledge that these expectations are not all that matters. Disappointments are a part of life and there’s no amount of feeling terrible about yourself that can change your situation. The most important thing for you to know is that life is not about being at fault. It’s not a flaw in your character. It’s an unfortunate thing that happened in your life and regardless of the cause there are many good ways to treat it.

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Complications

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Examples of complications associated with depression include:

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• Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes

• Pain or physical illness

• Alcohol or drug misuse

• Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia

• Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems

• Social isolation

• Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts or ideation

• Self-mutilation, such as cutting

 

When you’re depressed, it can feel like you’ll never get out from under a dark shadow. However, even the most severe depression is treatable. Caravan Counselling can help you to learn as much as you can about your depression.

 

 

 

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