Did you know that an individual could be having a mood disorder and will not know it is depression?
Indeed, depressive feelings could drag a person down the road of sorrow until suicide attempts come in.
For such a person, a life that used to be interesting, suddenly becomes clouded, leading to a decision to end it all.
Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that causes severe symptoms. These symptoms could affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities.
It could affect your sleep, your eating habit and even work.
Whether it is a major depressive disorder or clinical depression the symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks to conclude that it is depression.
Signs and Symptoms Of Depression
This terrible condition comes with different signs and symptoms.
Basically, these signs and symptoms stays with you for most part of the day. They also nearly show up every day.
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems. This problems persist without a clear physical cause and do not go away even with treatment
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
- Irritability
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Moving or talking more slowly
- Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts (1)
As much as these are symptoms of this condition, you may not experience all of them.
However, several persistent symptoms and low mood must be present for diagnosis of major depression.
Basically, the stage of depression determines the severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last.
Forms Of Depression
Persistent Depressive Disorder
This is the a mood that lasts for at least two years and it is also referred to as dysthymia.
According to the National Institute Of Mental Health, a person diagnosed with this disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms (2).
However, the symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder.
Postpartum Depression
A woman having this condition after childbirth may experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety and exhaustion.
This postpartum depression is more serious than “baby blues”. While baby blues lasts for about two weeks after delivery, this kind of depressive feelings lasts longer.
Also, it affects the ability of a new mother to take care of themselves and their babies.
Psychotic Depression
This occurs when a person has severe depression plus some form of psychosis.
The individual often has disturbing false fixed beliefs (delusions).
They hear or see upsetting things that others cannot hear or see (hallucinations).
The psychotic symptoms typically have a depressive “theme,” such as delusions of guilt, poverty, or illness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
This often comes with the change of the season.
For instance, the onset of winter could make one withdraw from social activities and increase sleeping time. it can also trigger weight gain.
This situation could lead to depression.
However, this condition generally lifts during spring and summer.
People Of Two Minds
This is a different form of depression where someone that is of two minds experiences episodes of extremely low moods
A study also listed other types of depressive disorders newly added to the diagnostic classification. They include disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (diagnosed in children and adolescents) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Causes Of Depression
Basically depression can happen to anyone, but it often begins in adulthood.
A couple of things could make someone snap into depression.
For children it could be as a result of bullying or other circumstances.
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Here are other causes that you should watch out for.
Gene – An individual with a family history of depression is more prone to it.
Abuse – Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse makes a person more susceptible to depression later in life.
Age – Older persons that are alone without adequate support could become depressed.
Medications – Some drugs could trigger depression; like antiviral and corticosteroids.
Major Life Changes, Trauma Or Stress – Even being in the traffic for long hours of every day could trigger depressive feelings.
Gender – Women are about twice as likely as men to be depressed.
Social Isolation – When you withdraw from social activities, it could lead to being dressed.
Substance Abuse – A lot of persons who abuse drugs or other substances are also prone to depression.
How To Overcome Depressive Feeling
Fortunately, every type of depression has a treatment.
Experts could recommend medications or psychotherapy. Sometimes, they use both treatments.
However, if the treatments do not reduce symptoms, other methods like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and brain stimulation therapies could be explored (3).
The earlier the treatment begins the quicker the patient will recover.
Other things that you could explore are things that improve quality of life.
Often, if you will try these things out, you will feel better.
- Become more active and explore workouts and other physical activities.
- Have a life goal that is realistic you can begin to pursue. active and exercise.
- Cease from isolation. Do you best to be in the midst of people.
- Spend time with loved ones and family members
- Find someone you trust to always confide in
- Fine something you love and engage in it.
Unfortunately, anyone could come down with this condition, but in all, nothing in life is worth the life of an individual.
Keep your mind full of things that edify the mind and do not expose it to thoughts that could trigger depressive feelings.
Find time to take care of yourself. Your need your sanity to make life meaningful.
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