Depression

Overview
Depression is a common mental disorder that causes a state of low mood and avoidance of activity that can affect one’s thoughts, feelings and well-being.  It can include feelings of sadness, guilt, low self-worth, anxiety, hopelessness, disturbed sleep or appetite, irritability, poor concentration and restlessness.

These problems can become chronic or recurrent, and seriously impair an individuals way-of-life.  In the very worst cases, depression can lead to suicide, an unfortunate fatality claiming about 850,000 lives every year.

Depression is very common affecting about 121 million people internationally.

Symptoms
Naturally, most of us feel sad, lonely or depressed at times.  These can be normal reactions to certain life events, including loss, struggles, or injured self-esteem.  However, when these feelings become overwhelming and last for extended periods of time, they have the potential to keep you from leading an active, normal life.

Symptoms of depression may include the following:

– Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
– Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
– Fatigue or decreased energy
– Insomnia or excessive sleeping
– Restlessness, irritability
– Loss of appetite or overeating
– Loss of interest in activities once found pleasurable
– Thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempt

Causes
The causes of depression are complex, and may not be easy to figure out.  In most cases, depression does not have a single cause and can be a mix of different factors.

Here are some of the more common factors that can play a role in depression:

– Biological: changes in brain functionality and chemical levels in the brain
– Life changes & stress: both negative and positive events can trigger depression
– Trauma & grief: e.g. violence, or physical and emotional abuse
– Genetics: research shows higher likelihood of depression if it is in the family
– Gender: studies show women are twice as likely as men to enter depression
– Age: the elderly are at higher risk than younger people
– Health conditions: experiencing certain health conditions can cause one to get depressed
– Medications & substances: e.g. many prescription drugs can cause symptoms of depression

Solutions
If you are experiencing depression, it is important to know that depression is not your fault.  It is a condition that can affect anyone.  However, the good news is that it can be treated and you can return to a regular life.  Depression can be reliably diagnosed in primary care by your physician, who can then refer you to specialists if needed.  Your doctor can prescribe medication to help you balance your mind and get you away from a critical state.

There are various treatments for depression which include:

– Psycho-therapy
– Medication
– Cognitive Behaviour therapy

However, there are things that you can also do at home, to help you or your loved one through depression, including:

– Identifying and focussing on activities that make you feel better and lighten your mood
– Talking with your family or friends, or joining a support group
– Exercise can work as well as medication in some cases, in boosting your mood
– Eating a diet rich in anti-oxidants, protein, and nutrients for repair, growth and wellness

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