All About: Major Depression
All About:Major Depression
DEFINITION
Depression is a medical illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression can cause physical symptoms, too. Also called major depression, major depressive disorder and clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and depression may make you feel as if life isn't worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness, nor is it something that you can simply "snap out" of. Depression is a chronic illness that usually requires long-term treatment, like diabetes or high blood pressure. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or other treatment.
SYMPTOMS
Depression symptoms include:
--Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
--Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
--Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
--Reduced sex drive
--Insomnia or excessive sleeping
--Changes in appetite ? depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain
--Agitation or restlessness ? for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
--Irritability or angry outbursts
--Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
--Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
--Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy ? even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort
--Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right
--Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
--Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
--Crying spells for no apparent reason
--Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
For some people, depression symptoms are so severe that it's obvious something isn't right. Other people feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why. Depression affects each person in different ways, so symptoms caused by depression vary from person to person. Inherited traits, age, gender and cultural background all play a role in how depression may affect you.
Depression symptoms in children and teens
--In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, hopelessness and worry.
--Symptoms in adolescents and teens may include anxiety, anger and avoidance of social interaction.
--Changes in thinking and sleep are common signs of depression in adolescents and adults but are not as common in younger children.
--In children and teens, depression often occurs along with behavior problems and other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).
--Schoolwork may suffer in children who are depressed.
Depression symptoms in older adults
Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and most seniors feel satisfied with their lives. However, depression can and does occur in older adults. Unfortunately, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Many adults with depression feel reluctant to seek help when they're feeling down.
--In older adults, depression may go undiagnosed because symptoms ? for example, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of interest in sex ? may seem
to be caused by other illnesses.
--Older adults with depression may have less obvious symptoms. They may feel dissatisfied with life in general, bored, helpless or worthless. They may always want
to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things.
--Suicidal thinking or feelings in older adults is a sign of serious depression that should never be taken lightly, especially in men. Of all people with depression, older
adult men are at the highest risk of suicide.
When to see a doctor
If you feel depressed, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you can. Depression symptoms may not get better on their own ? and depression may get worse if it isn't treated. Untreated depression can lead to other mental and physical health problems or problems in other areas of your life. Feelings of depression can also lead to suicide. If you're reluctant to seek treatment, talk to a friend or loved one, a health care professional, a faith leader, or someone else you trust.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away. Here are some steps you can take:
--Contact a family member or friend.
--Seek help from your doctor, a mental health provider or other health care professional.
--Call a suicide hot line number ? in the United States, you can reach the toll-free, 24-hour hot line of the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to talk to a trained counselor.
--Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
When to get emergency help
If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If you have a loved one who has harmed himself or herself, or is seriously considering doing so, make sure someone stays with that person. Take him or her to the hospital or call for emergency help.
CAUSES
It's not known exactly what causes depression. As with many mental illnesses, it appears a variety of factors may be involved. These include:
--Biological differences. People with depression appear to have physical changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain, but may
eventually help pinpoint causes.
--Neurotransmitters. These naturally occurring brain chemicals linked to mood are thought to play a direct role in depression.
--Hormones. Changes in the body's balance of hormones may be involved in causing or triggering depression. Hormone changes can result from thyroid problems,
menopause or a number of other conditions.
--Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people whose biological family members also have this condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be
involved in causing depression.
--Life events. Certain events, such as the death or loss of a loved one, financial problems, and high stress, can trigger depression in some people.
--Early childhood trauma. Traumatic events during childhood, such as abuse or loss of a parent, may cause permanent changes in the brain that make you more
susceptible to depression.
RISK FACTORS
Depression often begins in the teens, 20s or 30s, but it can happen at any age. Twice as many women are diagnosed with depression as men, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to seek treatment for depression. Although the precise cause of depression isn't known, researchers have identified certain factors that seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering depression, including:
--Having biological relatives with depression
--Being a woman
--Having traumatic experiences as a child
--Having family members or friends who have been depressed
--Experiencing stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one
--Having few friends or other personal relationships
--Recently having given birth (postpartum depression)
--Having been depressed previously
--Having a serious illness, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's or HIV/AIDS
--Having certain personality traits, such as having low self-esteem and being overly dependent, self-critical or pessimistic
--Abusing alcohol, nicotine or illicit drugs
--Taking certain high blood pressure medications, sleeping pills or certain other medications (Talk to your doctor before stopping any medication you think could be
affecting your mood.)
COMPLICATIONS
Depression is a serious illness that can take a terrible toll on individuals and families. Untreated depression can result in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life. Complications associated with depression can include:
--Alcohol abuse
--Substance abuse
--Anxiety
--Work or school problems
--Family conflicts
--Relationship difficulties
--Social isolation
--Suicide
--Self-mutilation, such as cutting
--Premature death from other medical conditions
COPING AND SUPPORT
Coping with depression can be challenging.
Tips:
--Simplify your life. Cut back on obligations when possible, and set reasonable goals for yourself. Give yourself permission to do less when you feel down.
--Consider writing in a journal. Journaling can improve mood by allowing you to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.
--Read reputable self-help books and websites. Your doctor or therapist may be able to recommend books to read.
--Join a support group. Connecting with others facing similar challenges can help you cope. Local support groups for depression are available in many communities,
and support groups for depression are also offered online.
--Don't become isolated. Try to participate in social activities, and get together with family or friends regularly.
--Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
--Learn ways to relax and manage your stress. Examples include meditation, yoga and tai chi.
--Structure your time. Plan your day and activities. You may find it helpful to make a list of daily tasks, use sticky notes as reminders or use a planner to stay
organized.
Don't make important decisions when you're down. Avoid decision making when you're feeling very depressed, since you may not be thinking clearly.