Depression is a term that is often used to describe even small upsets and low moods. In medical terms depression is an illness that involves a lot more than feeling a little bit sad, so what is depression and what are its main symptoms?
What is Depression And How Does It Manifest
It is normal to feel sad when sad things happen in life. Depression, however, means more than feeling down after stressful or upsetting events. It is an illness that involves physical, psychological and social symptoms. One of the main symptoms is a persistent feeling of hopelessness, sadness or helplessness that does not go away after a few weeks.
What Are The Physical Symptoms of Depression
What is depression if it is more than just sadness? Depression can cause physical symptoms, including inexplicable pains and aches, headaches, sweating, sleeping problems, lack of energy and changes in appetite. A depressed person can find it impossible to perform everyday activities, such as eating, answering the phone or talking to friends. Depression can affect a person’s personal life, work and social life. At its worst the condition can go on for years and lead to suicidal thoughts.
The Different Levels of Depression
If you are asking what is depression and if you suspect you may have it, you can find basic depression tests online. To get an accurate diagnosis you will have to visit a doctor. The symptoms vary from one person to another and doctors can ask specific questions to make a diagnosis. A doctor can also explain more about what is depression and how to get help.
The following are the most common symptoms. It is generally said that you should get help if you have four or more of these symptoms and if you have experienced them almost every day, most of the day and for more than two weeks.
Depression Symptoms:persistent and continuous sadness and low mood,loss of energy, tiredness,you are not enjoying things you usually like to do,feelings of worthlessness and guilt,hopelessness, helplessness,tearfulness,irritability,feeling worried or anxious,loss of self-confidence and self-esteem,you have started to avoid other people including friends,difficulties in concentrating and in making decisions,problems at work, at school or in family life,sleeping difficulties: you might wake up very early in the morning or you might not be able to get to sleep at night,sexual difficulties and loss of sex drive,lack of appetite, weight loss (or sometimes overeating and weight gain),aches and pains,self-harming or thoughts of self-harming,thoughts of suicid
Mild depression is depression that has some impact on the person’s everyday life. Moderate depression makes a significant impact on the person’s everyday life. Severe depression makes it almost impossible to continue normal daily life.
What Is Depression And How Does It Feel?
People who suffer from depression can feel exhausted and have trouble getting out of bed. They might not be able to go through even with the simplest daily activities. The might lose interest in activities and hobbies they once loved. They might feel confused about who they really are. Depressed people can find it difficult to be around other people or enjoy social situations. They can also find it hard to talk about how they are feeling and they can hide their feelings from others, even their closest friends or family members. Many depressed people also suffer from anxiety.
Other Types of Depression
As well as clinical depression there are several other types of depression. Women can develop postnatal depression after giving birth. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression that comes seasonally, usually in winter. Manic depression, or bipolar disorder, involves periods of mania (high mood) that alternate with depressive periods.
What Is Depression And What Causes It?
Depression can be triggered by a major change or event, including divorce, job loss or the loss of a loved one. It is also possible to become depressed without an actual “reason”. This makes depression different from simply feeling upset when something “went wrong”.
Depression can come in cycles and the symptoms can come and go. The symptoms often appear gradually. The experience of depression is different for each person. Sometimes people do not realize they are depressed. They may think their symptoms are related to another illness or they may think the problems will disappear after a while. Some people think they just need to be strong and get on with life.
However, it is possible to treat depression and it is possible to find help. Sometimes people who have been suffering from depression for a long time do not even believe that it is possible to stop feeling that way and that the feelings and thoughts they have can be treated.
Depression Treatments
Treatment for depression can involve talking therapies and anti-depressant medication. There are also self-help techniques that can be used together with medication and talking therapy, including joining a support group, reading about what is depression and making healthy lifestyle changes. Learn how to get over depression.