Are you or a loved one experiencing feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, or emptiness? Have you lost interest in your hobbies, spending time with your friends and family? Are you having trouble eating, sleeping or functioning? If you have been feeling this way for at least 2 weeks, you may have depression, a serious but treatable mood disorder.
What is Depression? Everyone feels sad or low sometimes, but these feelings usually pass with a little time. Depression—also called “clinical depression” or a “depressive disorder”—is a mood disorder that causes distressing symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. Depressions is the second most commonly treated health issue, after anxiety. 1 in 6 Americans will experience depression at some point in his or her life.
What Causes Depression? Scientists at the National Institute for Mental Health and across the country are studying the causes of depression. Research suggests that a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors play a role in depression, such as:
Imbalances in the chemicals that the body uses to control mood
Certain medicines
Lack of social support
Lack of good coping skills
History of traumatic experiences
Depression can occur along with other serious illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Depression can make these conditions worse and vice versa. Sometimes medications taken for these illnesses may cause side effects that contribute to depression symptoms. For more information on ongoing research on depression, visit www.nimh.nih.gov. What are the signs and symptoms of depression?Sadness is only one small part of depression. Different people have different symptoms. Some symptoms of depression include:
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
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
Restlessness or irritability
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
Does depression look the same in everyone? No. Depression affects different people in different ways. For example:
Women have depression more often than men. Biological, life cycle, and hormonal factors that are unique to women may be linked to their higher depression rate. Women with depression typically have symptoms of sadness, worthlessness, and guilt.
Men with depression are more likely to be very tired, irritable, and sometimes angry. They may lose interest in work or activities they once enjoyed, have sleep problems, and behave recklessly, including the misuse of drugs or alcohol. Many men do not recognize their depression and fail to seek help.
Older adults with depression may have less obvious symptoms, or they may be less likely to admit to feelings of sadness or grief. They are also more likely to have medical conditions, such as heart disease, which may cause or contribute to depression.
Younger children with depression may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that a parent may die. Older children and teens with depression may get into trouble at school, sulk, and be irritable. Teens with depression may have symptoms of other disorders, such as anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse.
Postpartum Depression Postpartum Depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, effects women after childbirth. Symptoms of PPD can occur anytime within the first year after child birth and include but are not limited to the following:
Sadness
Hopelessness
Low self-esteem
Guilt
Sleep and eating disturbances
Inability to be comforted
Exhaustion
Emptiness
Inability to experience pleasure
Social withdrawal
Low energy
Becoming easily frustrated
Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby
Spells of anger toward others
Increased anxiety and/or panic attacks
If you or your loved one is experiencing the symptoms mentioned, you are not alone. According to the NIMH, clinical depression is the most common mood disorder in the United State. It is also treatable. But don't wait to get help. Persistent symptoms can lead to thoughts of suicide. Call us today at (954) 779-8081, to schedule an appointment.