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Depression

Depression is a serious mental health disorder that affects how individuals feel, think, and perform daily activities, with symptoms lasting for at least two weeks. It can occur in anyone and is influenced by various factors, with women being diagnosed more frequently than men. Different types of depression exist, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and others related to specific life stages, and common symptoms include persistent sadness, hopelessness, and changes in appetite or sleep.

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11 views2 pages

Depression

Depression is a serious mental health disorder that affects how individuals feel, think, and perform daily activities, with symptoms lasting for at least two weeks. It can occur in anyone and is influenced by various factors, with women being diagnosed more frequently than men. Different types of depression exist, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and others related to specific life stages, and common symptoms include persistent sadness, hopelessness, and changes in appetite or sleep.

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dr.mudassar.dum
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Depression

Everyone feels sad or low sometimes, but these feelings usually pass. Depression (also called
major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is different. It can cause
severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as
sleeping, eating, or working.

Depression can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race or ethnicity, income, culture, or
education. Research suggests that genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors
play a role in the disorder.

Women are diagnosed with depression more often than men, but men can also be depressed.
Because men may be less likely to recognize, talk about, and seek help for their negative
feelings, they are at greater risk of their depression symptoms being undiagnosed and
undertreated.

In addition, depression can co-occur with other mental disorders or chronic illnesses, such as
diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain. Depression can make these conditions worse
and vice versa. Sometimes, medications taken for an illness cause side effects that contribute to
depression symptoms as well.

What are the different types of depression?


There are two common types of depression.

 Major depression includes symptoms of depressed mood or loss of interest, most of the time for
at least 2 weeks, that interfere with daily activities.
 Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia or dysthymic disorder) consists of less
severe depression symptoms that last much longer, usually for at least 2 years.

Other types of depression include the following.

 Seasonal affective disorder comes and goes with the seasons, with symptoms typically starting
in the late fall and early winter and going away during the spring and summer.
 Depression with symptoms of psychosis is a severe form of depression in which a person
experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations.
 Bipolar disorder involves depressive episodes, as well as manic episodes (or less severe
hypomanic episodes) with unusually elevated mood, greater irritability, or increased activity
level.

Additional types of depression can occur at specific points in a woman’s life. Pregnancy, the
postpartum period, the menstrual cycle, and menopause are associated with physical and
hormonal changes that can bring on a depressive episode in some people.
 Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a more severe form of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS,
that occurs in the weeks before menstruation.
 Perinatal depression occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. It is more than the “baby
blues” many new moms experience after giving birth.
 Perimenopausal depression affects some women during the transition to menopause. Women
may experience feelings of intense irritability, anxiety, sadness, or loss of enjoyment.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?


Common signs and symptoms of depression include:

 Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood


 Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
 Feelings of irritability, frustration‚ or restlessness
 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
 Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
 Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down
 Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
 Difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning, or oversleeping
 Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
 Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause
that do not go away with treatment
 Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

Depression can also involve other changes in mood or behavior that include:

 Increased anger or irritability


 Feeling restless or on edge
 Becoming withdrawn, negative, or detached
 Increased engagement in high-risk activities
 Greater impulsivity
 Increased use of alcohol or drugs
 Isolating from family and friends
 Inability to meet responsibilities or ignoring other important roles
 Problems with sexual desire and performance

Not everyone who is depressed shows all these symptoms. Some people experience only a few
symptoms, while others experience many. Depression symptoms interfere with day-to-day
functioning and cause significant distress for the person experiencing them.

If you show signs or symptoms of depression and they persist or do not go away, talk to a health
care provider. If you see signs of depression in someone you know, encourage them to seek help
from a mental health professional.

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