For most people, “depression” means feeling sad, moody, or unhappy for a while. For people with major depressive disorder (MDD), these feelings last for two weeks or longer and interfere with daily life. Depression is a mental health condition in which people experience extreme sadness and lack of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable. They may sleep too much, lose weight, and have trouble concentrating, thinking, or making decisions. Some experts report that depression is one of the most common mental disorders, but many people don’t seek treatment because they’re worried about how others perceive them.
Causes of Depression
Depression can be caused due to many factors. Following are some of the key factors:
- Genetic Factors
- Psychological Circumstances
- Chemical Imbalances
- Psychological Circumstances
- Physical conditions and trauma
- Irregular Sleep
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Chronic medical conditions
Symptoms of Depression
Depression can be described as an all-encompassing, overwhelming feeling. It can be defined as feeling sad for no specific reason. It is different from just having an off day where you’re in a bad mood for most of the day. It is also other than just feeling down about something. People with depression often feel sad most of the time or may feel beside themselves with grief.
Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental, emotional, or physical pressure. Stress is a normal response to difficult situations, and it is the body’s way of coping with challenging or worrying times. We all experience stress, but not everyone reacts to it in the same way. There are different types of stress. Acute situational stress, acute emotional stress, and chronic stress are examples of stress. Acute stress can last for days to months, while chronic stress can last for years. Some symptoms of acute stress are feeling anxious or upset, worrying about things out of your control, rapid or irregular heart rate, difficulty sleeping, weight changes, changes in appetite, feeling irritable or moody.
Types of Depression
There are many types of depression, and they can be quite different from person to person. Depression can be so severe that it can affect your daily functioning, mood, and thoughts. Depression is not a weakness, and it is not a simple case of feeling sad or blue for a while. Some types of depression are Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Bereavement depression, and Bipolar I and II.
Major Depressive Disorder
A major depressive episode is the most common type of depression. This depression occurs at least one week of depressed mood or loss of interest. One or more symptoms accompany it: loss of appetite or excessive appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, suicidal thoughts—Major Depressive Disorder, also known as clinical depression. Major Depressive Disorder is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness or general lethargy. The symptoms can include feelings of guilt, hopelessness, a sense of worthlessness, irritability, eating disorders, difficulties concentrating, insomnia, or suicidal thoughts. Depression can have many different causes, but it is diagnosed based on the presence of the nine DSM-IV-TR criteria mentioned earlier, and the criterion must be present for at least two weeks. Treatment includes psychotherapy or antidepressant medication. If these are not an option, there are still other treatments, such as exercise, cooking, yoga, listening to music, caring for plants, or taking up a hobby.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Variations in the length of the day can cause depression in the winter months and usually has a regular pattern. Some symptoms include agitation, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and other signs related to depression. Several types of antidepressants can be used to combat these symptoms, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and different types of antidepressants. Other therapies can provide relief, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Yoga can be an excellent method of removing oneself from depression, and yoga can help stabilize and regulate the nervous system, clearing obstructions in the nervous system.
Postpartum or Perinatal Depression
The latest buzzword in the medical field is perinatal depression, which is an illness that affects mothers during pregnancy or just after giving birth. Perinatal depression, also known as postpartum depression, can occur at any time during the period between pregnancy and the child’s second birthday. There are different kinds of postpartum depression. One is the “blues,” a familiar type that includes a sense of sadness, a loss of appetite, a lack of interest in daily activities, and a decrease in sexual desire. There is perinatal or postpartum psychosis, a severe form of depression characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Whatever form postpartum depression takes can be very serious, but fortunately, there are methods to treat it. One of the methods is psychotherapy, which can help a sufferer understand what’s happening to them and how they can best protect themselves. Another method is medication, which is taken orally or through injections. There are different kinds of postpartum depression.
Bereavement
Bereavement is typical among many of those who are diagnosed with depression. Bereavement depression is the type of depression that occurs for those who have lost a person, typically a spouse, to death. Grief is the typical type of depression for those who have had a person taken away from them. The specific symptoms are loss of interest in daily activities, prolonged periods of sadness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, REM sleep disturbances, fatigue, weight loss or weight gain, poor appetite or overeating, guilt, shame, trouble thinking or concentrating, restlessness or slowed behavior, hopelessness and low self-esteem.
Dysthymic Disorder
What is Dysthymic Disorder? Dysthymic disorder, or chronic depression, is a mood disorder characterized by at least two years of persistent depression. The individual with this disorder experiences less severe symptoms of depression, including low mood, apathy, low energy, problems concentrating, low self-esteem, and feelings of hopelessness. What are the symptoms? People with Dysthymic Disorder may show symptoms less severe than those of Major Depression, but they are present more often. These symptoms may include low mood, apathy, low energy, problems concentrating, low self-esteem, and feelings of hopelessness. The person may also have concurrent or previous episodes of Major depression.
Bipolar I and II
When the depression is from a mental illness such as Bipolar Disorder, it is often a lifelong struggle with psychiatric medications and psychotherapy. A diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder will result in lifelong treatment. Bipolar disorder causes an individual to have highs and lows with no sense of a stable mood in between. The highs may be a mania with a rapid flow of thoughts and little need for sleep. The lows may be a state of significant depression condition. The roots of depression are complex, and the causes are not yet fully understood. The most common reasons are certain brain chemicals that can harm mood, health, and functioning.
Bipolar I is the term for a form of depression that is characterized by extremely low mood, an accompanying sense of hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal ideation. Bipolar II is the term for depression characterized by moderate mood changes with mild or mixed moods periods. Symptoms of Bipolar II are not as grave as those of Bipolar I. The causes are not well-known, but it is known that it is genetic in some cases. Some possible reasons are stress, lack of sleep, other medical conditions.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
The signs and symptoms of this type of depression include low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, difficulty making decisions, and changes in sleep and appetite. One should seek professional help if their symptoms of persistent depressive disorder fail to get better after two weeks.
Coping with Persistent Depressive Disorder
Depression can be complicated to manage, especially persistent depression. The following are some tips for managing persistent depressive disorder: Medications can help reduce the severity of symptoms but should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. There are many different types of medications that can be prescribed, so it’s best to get in touch with your doctor. Therapy can also help. There are many kinds of therapy like Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. HRM therapy is an option for people that do not want therapy. HRM therapy is a holistic therapy that looks at the body, mind, and spirit. Sleep is also essential for managing depressive episodes.
When should I talk to a professional about my depression?
If you feel suicidal or have thoughts of harming yourself or others, you should speak to a professional immediately. If you are not feeling suicidal but have thoughts of harming yourself or others, you can talk to a friend, family member, or doctor about your depression.
Treatment of Depression
The treatment for depression depends on the severity, the frequency, type of depression you have, and other factors. Treatment for depression may include psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. The goal of treatment is to identify and resolve the underlying cause of depression and eliminate or reduce the symptoms. Sometimes people may not be willing to take medication and try other treatments like therapy and medicine together, which is also a good option.
Medication
Certain medications and therapy manage depression. Most people think of antidepressants as the primary way to manage depression. However, they are not the only option, and they are not always the best option for patients with depression. There are many types of depression, and medication for one class might not be as effective as another. For example, as mentioned earlier, antidepressants are not always the best option for people with depression – these people may need therapy that is more focused on talking about their depression and unloading the buildup of emotions built up over time.
Yoga and Exercises for Depression
For many people, exercise is one of the best ways to address both depression and physical symptoms of depression.
To alleviate some of the symptoms of depression, you can use many different techniques. One of these techniques for treating depression is yoga. Yoga can help fight depression because it helps to release stress hormones, get rid of tension, and get the blood flowing. Yoga also improves respiration to help get more oxygen into the bloodstream. It can also focus attention, improve moods, and decrease anxiety. Yoga is a form of exercise where you focus on deep breathing while performing physical poses. Yoga has become very popular in recent years due to these benefits. Yoga has been shown to help relieve the symptoms of depression by easing feelings of stress. It has also been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety, which are also very common with depression sufferers.
The way to help someone
One way to help someone depressed is to offer your shoulder to lean on while they’re going through their journey. Depression is a terrible illness that can affect every aspect of life. While it can be managed and treated, there are times when it is still present. In these cases, you can help by offering positive statements to an individual struggling with depression. By being a source of motivation (rather than judgment), you may be the reason that your loved one chooses to do better. There are many different ways to help someone who is depressed. Some people may need medication to get by, while others may need support from family, friends, or therapists.