What is Depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental health concerns and one of the leading causes of difficulties today. According to the World Health Organization, around 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression globally.
The most common types of depression include:
- Clinical Depression
- Depressive Episode
- Bipolar disorder
- Postpartum depression
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Recurrent depressive disorder
How to Recognize Depression?
It is natural to feel down sometimes. We all experience sadness, lack of energy, stress, and negative thoughts now and then. However, depression is much more than feeling blue, and it presents itself through a variety of emotional, cognitive, physical, and social symptoms.
Based on the number and severity of these symptoms, one may suffer from mild, moderate, or severe depression.
- Chronic anxiety
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness most of the time
- Feeling guilty and ashamed
- Feelings of self-loathing
- Attention difficulties and forgetfulness
- Reduced ability to concentrate, think and reflect
- Automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)
- Suicidal thoughts
- Lack of energy
- Low libido
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (daytime sleepiness)
- Pains and aches without a clear physical cause
- Social anxiety and social withdrawal
- Strained relationships
- Lack of interest and pleasure in activities that you used to enjoy
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What Causes Depression?
Depression may be triggered by a wide range of factors and their combination. Some of the most common factors that may contribute to the onset of depression include:
- A family history of depression
- Changes in hormones and chemicals in the body
- Traumatic events
- Other illness
- Life events (financial struggles, divorce, increased work demands)
- Alcohol and substance misuse
Depression can often be linked with thoughts of self-harm, suicidal ideation and suicide.
How to Cope with Depression?
There are ways of managing depression available that you can practice on your own such as mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques, positive affirmations, and physical activity. Many people with depression never seek professional help because they either do not recognise the symptoms or are afraid of the stigma attached to mental illness.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for managing symptoms of depression. Talking therapy is offered by skilled professionals through private practice, clinics and health centres. Therapeutic rapport has proven to be very helpful in managing depression. Counselling can help you cope by changing the way you think and behave.
Medication
Medication therapy for depression involves antidepressants that help balance neurotransmitters in the brain, alleviating the symptoms of depression. There is a variety of antidepressants available, and they need to be prescribed by your GP.