What is depression?
Depression is a common and serious illness that makes one sad or negatively affects their behavior, thought process, and response to others. But unlike fever or cuts on skin or kidney failure, this illness is mental. The most common sign of depression is losing interest in most of the daily activities. According to WHO, “approximately 280 million people in the world have depression”.
What are the 4 major causes of depression?
Many factors may trigger depression or increase it. The 4 topmost causes of depression are: –
Abuse – Hurtful words or comments by colleagues, peers, relatives, even parents often lead to depression. Abuse includes all physical, emotional, and sexual tortures as well.
Life events – Good or bad both situations like a new job, divorce, death, etc. can cause depression.
Age – Old age and depression often go hand in hand. The fear of living alone, losing most friends, and absence of social importance or support make people depressed.
Medicines – Do you know isotretinoin used to combat acne may make you depressed? Similarly, some other medicines like interferon-alpha and corticosteroids also cause depression.
What are the three core symptoms of depression?
You know the other person is suffering from depression when you see the following 3 core symptoms of depression: –
No Interest – Work, hobbies, daily activities, and special occasions – a depressed person will have no interest in anything in life.
Pessimism – “Nothing is ever going to be good” is always playing in the mind of a depressed soul. This sadness depression symptom then often results in self-doubt, guilt, and self-hate.
Anxious – Depression and anxiety go hand in hand. A depressed being may have nervousness, a feeling of panic, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, trembling, etc. while reacting to simple or serious things/events.
Look out for these signs of depression around you and help these people.
Is a person born with depression?
A person may be or may not be born with depression. There can be a brief or long family history of depression in your family but that doesn’t mean you will also suffer from it. Also, you may be the first one in your family to have mild or severe depression. Only one answer is definite – one may suffer from depression at any point in time with or without any genetic records.
What happens to the brain during depression?
There’s ongoing research on this question. But reports till now have suggested that there can be loss of “gray matter” in the human brain as a result of depression. The hippocampus area of the brain (the region responsible for memory and emotions) shrinks the most among people with ongoing, recurring, or ill-treated depression.
What are the 5 types of depression?
Yes, there are many types of depression and to be sure which one is keeping you tensed, you must see a good doctor. Here are the types of depression: –
Major Depression – from loss of interest in favorite activities to suicidal thoughts, there can be many symptoms of this one.
Melancholy – feeling low in the morning, poor sleep, or feeling bad in good situations are primarily the signs of this type of depression.
Persistent Depressive Disorder – if you are suffering from depression for more than 2 years, you have PDD and the common symptoms are – no sleep or lots of sleep, loss of appetite or overeating, etc.
Agitated – there is an uneasy feeling most of the time and one may talk continuously or pace around the room, etc. in this type of depression.
Anxious distress – One is always tensed and restless in this category of depression. There is trouble in concentration in anything as there is a worry in mind that something bad might happen.
What are the examples of depression?
Depression affects people differently because they appear for varied reasons. Some have mild depression while some have severe depression. Various types of depression have various behavioral changes in people. The most common signs of depression are – feeling sad, feeling guilty, feeling low, loss of interest in all good things or favorite things in life, overeating, weight gain or loss, sleeping all through the day, or not sleeping at all, etc.
What does depression look like?
Depression is a disease just like fever or stomachache. Depression changes the way you think, function, feel, or react to daily things. From a feeling of hopelessness to suicidal thoughts – depression can have any face. But most commonly, there is a feeling of sadness, lack of interest in favorite things, a feeling of hopelessness, restlessness, anxiety, etc.
What can I do to help myself when I’m depressed?
The moment you have identified that you have depression, don’t delay the further process. You must meet a doctor and discuss at length about your thoughts and feelings to get better help. But also remember that a change in daily routine may help you a lot. For example, you can start exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, eat a healthy diet avoiding junk, sit for meditation, and look out for positive things in life.
Why do so many people have depression nowadays?
The rate of depression has surged all across the globe. One of the major reasons can be our modern lifestyle, the rat race that starts from school to big corporate buildings, the peer pressure to excel at your field, aging population, rising pollution, lack of proper healthy diet, lack of physical activities, overbearing presence of social media, etc.
Why do people with depression push others away?
When a person is suffering from depression, he/she is feeling helpless, useless, and worthless, irritated, all at the same time. That’s why they tend to push others away and stay in isolation or even when they are with people remain aloof.
Are people with higher IQ more likely to be depressed?
There is no such rule that people with higher IQ are more prone to depression. But research conducted by Ruth Karpinski suggested that mood disorders and anxiety (prime symptoms of depression) were rampant among the higher IQ population.
Why do teenagers get depressed so frequently?
Depression among teenagers is indeed increasing. Many researchers have attributed this trending depression among teenagers to pressure in school, colleges, universities, and home. Jean Twenge has pointed out that high school and college kids are five times more prone to anxiety and other mental health issues as compared to the youth of the same age during the era of the Great Depression.
What are some pieces of advice for someone who is depressed?
Just listening to a depressed soul with an open mind without criticizing them can work like a magic for them. It is not easy for them to open up and speak. They have to cross many battles in their minds to gather some courage to talk to you. So, you can guide them to see a good doctor and motivate them with your encouraging words. Most importantly, make them realize that whenever they are in confusion or feel like talking, you can lend an ear.
What is postpartum depression?
A kind of depression that may affect a person after childbirth is known as postpartum depression. Anytime during the first year of the baby’s birth or to be more precise 3 weeks post-childbirth can make one feel depressed. The feelings you may feel are hopelessness, sadness, and guilt for not feeling like caring for the baby or bonding with the baby.