Depression Defined

Depression is a mood disorder that causes sad feelings or hopeless for an extended period of time. More than just a bout of “the blues” or temporary feelings of grief or low energy, depression can have a significant impact on your enjoyment of life, your work, your health, and the people who you care about.

Depression affects people differently. Some feel down for extended periods of time; for others the feelings of depression com and go. If you have short episodes of mild depression, you may be able to continue to work and take care of daily activities. However, if you do not seek some form of treatment for your depression, you are at risk for getting more depressed or becoming physically ill. In severe cases, depression can cause people to become incapable of communicating, unable to do routine activities, or suicidal. In these cases, it is essential to seek medical attention.

People with depression may be reluctant to seek help because they feel that it is a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw or that they should be able to “pull out of it” on their own. We now know that depression, like other medical conditions, has chemical and biological bases.

Treatment for depression is safe and usually effective for severely depressed people.

Depression may be triggered by stressful life events, other illnesses, certain drugs or medications, or inherited traits.

Although causes of depression are not entirely understood, we know it is linked to an imbalance in brain chemistry. Once the imbalance is corrected, symptoms of depression generally improve.

Depression is more than just the normal, temporary feelings of sadness and hopelessness associated with difficult life events. Common symptoms include, depressed mood, inability to enjoy activities, problems in concentrating, poor memory and difficulty in making decisions, changes in eating and sleeping habits, weight gain or loss, difficulty going to work or taking care of daily responsibilities, feelings of guilt and hopelessness; wondering if life is worth living (common), slowed thoughts and speech and preoccupation with thoughts of death or suicide.

Symptoms also include complaints that have no physical cause (somatic complaints) such as headache and stomachaches.

All of these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life. Even if you do not have major depression, if you have experienced a few of these symptoms for at least two weeks you may have a less severe form of depression that still requires treatment.

Depression is usually treated successfully with professional counseling or antidepressant medication. People with depression usually can be treated as outpatients, but in severe cases a period of hospitalization may be necessary.

If you have mild or moderate depression, you may be diagnosed and treated by your family doctor or psychologist. If you have severe depression or other psychological disorders or do not respond to treatment, a psychiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems, may be helpful.

Let your health professional know if you suspect that you have depression, because it is often overlooked. If you diagnosed with depression, you and your doctor can decide on the best treatment. The earlier you are treated, the ore quickly you will recover.

If you have symptoms of depression, you are not alone. Only in United States, an estimated 15 per cent of people will have depression at some point in life, and chances of becoming depressed are even higher for certain people.

Women experience depression twice as often as men, although men are more likely to commit suicide as a result of depression. Separated or divorced individuals are more likely than married people to become depressed. People who have a serious illness are more likely to suffer from depression.