WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, pessimism, unhappiness, loss of interest, and loss of pleasure in activities. People with depression often experience sleep and appetite problems, as well as problems with thinking and memory. There are several types of depressive disorder characterized by symptoms such as pessimism, unhappiness, and guilt. Clinical depression, or major depressive disorder, is often simply referred to as depression.
Symptoms of depression include loss of interest in things you once cared about, low mood for a significant portion of at least two weeks, feeling unhappy, worthlessness and self-loathing, suicidal thoughts, lack of energy, and changes in sleep and appetite.
If left untreated, depression can worsen and last longer. In severe cases, it can lead to death through self-harm or suicide. However, depression treatments can be very effective in improving symptoms.
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Feeling constantly sad, unhappy and hopeless, loss of interest and expectations in life, sleep disturbance, increase or decrease in appetite, loss of self-confidence and feeling of worthlessness are the physical and mental symptoms of depression.
Symptoms that indicate depression include:
- Feeling sad and unhappy
- Grief and despair
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest in activities that were once interesting and enjoyable
- Having sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently)
- Increase or decrease in appetite
- Start doing everything slowly
- Lack of concentration
- Being irritable and intolerant towards others
- Feeling worthless
- Decreased sexual desire
- Low energy
- Having thoughts of harming oneself, such as suicide
- Failure to perform routine tasks
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be caused by life-changing and impactful events such as death, job loss, or childbirth. Furthermore, people with a family history of depression are more likely to experience it. It's known that depression can occur without any apparent cause. While the exact cause of depression isn't known, the contributing factors are as follows:
- A deficiency of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, known as the happiness hormones, can cause depression.
- If a first-degree relative has depression, you are about three times more likely to develop the condition than the general population.
- Difficult experiences such as the death of a loved one, trauma, divorce, isolation and lack of support can bring on depression.
- Chronic pain and conditions such as diabetes can lead to depression.
- Some medications can cause depression as a side effect.
- In addition, exposure to stress in daily life can also cause depression.
