Depression
Depression or clinical depression is more than feeling unhappy and fed up for some days. Mostly, people go through periods of feeling low, but if you are clinically depressed, you might be persistently sad for weeks or months. Even today, few people think depression is not an actual health condition; but they are wrong. Depression is an actual condition with real symptoms. So, it is not a sign of weakness or something you can solve by saying “pull yourself together” or “snap out of it.” The good news is that people can fully recover from the condition with the correct treatment and support.
Depression symptoms
The symptoms can vary, ranging from long-term unhappiness, hopelessness, losing interest in the things I used to enjoy, and tearfulness. Still, most people go through anxiety or anxiety attacks during the condition. They can also go through physical symptoms like feeling constantly tired, bad sleep routine, no appetite, loss of sex drive, and multiple aches and pain. People experience stress, low mood, and anxiety during the condition. A low mood can improve after a short period rather than being a sign of depression.
The symptoms are mild to severe, with mild being persistently low in spirit, while severe being thoughts of suicide and feeling that life is no longer worth living.
Depression causes
Following are a few causes of depression
- Triggering scenarios
- Life-changing events
- Losing your job
- Giving birth
- Family history
- Accidents
Depression treatments
The treatments can combine lifestyle choices, talking therapies, and medicines. The treatment will be based on whether you have mild or severe depression. Following are some treatments:
- Watchful waiting (a doctor will monitor the progress while it gets better on its own)
- Lifestyle measures
- Self-help groups
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Antidepressants
- Talking therapy
- Mental health specialist
It’s crucial to get professional’s help if you think you are depressed. People wait a long time before getting help for depression, but it’s good not to delay.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 23 JUNE 2022