Depression is the leading cause of disability, and it is the most common illness worldwide as per WHO (World Health Organization) reports. As per the report, more than 350 million people are affected by depression globally. Depression causes vary from person to person and are based on the situations in personal and professional life.
Feeling of sadness, displeasure, irritation, loss of interest, feeling down are some of the depression symptoms those are common and comes under psychiatric problem. If these signs persist and affect your daily life then it might be possible that you are under depression.
Other than above, physical problems can also be a depression cause.
Depression Symptoms and Types of Depression:
There are different types and subtypes of depression, and they are:
- Major Depressive Disorder – In this depression, the patient feels a constant and profound sense of hopelessness and despair. Major depression may occur once but more commonly may occur several times in a lifetime.
- Psychotic Depression – The patient feels hallucinations and delusions in this type of depression.
- Chronic Depression and Dysthymia – The effect of this depression generally persist for longer duration but the best part is they are less severe in comparison to another form of depression. The patient suffers from dysthymia usually function normally, but they stay consistently unhappy.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder – The short form of this disorder is SAD. Depressive disorder with the seasonal pattern is a subtype of major depressive disorder that occurs every year in the almost same time frame. I.e. it may start automatically in winter and end in spring or early summer season.
- Bipolar Depression – This disorder causes extreme mood swings. The patient sometimes feels like they are very happy and after while you may find them sitting unhappily. The length of happiness and unhappiness period varies greatly from person to person.
Depressed mood, lack of interest, loss of sexual desire, low appetite, restlessness, slow movement, low energy, fatigue, feeling sad, are some of the common symptoms of depression.
Causes of Depression
Depression causes are not fully understood. The length of depression is also not fixed, it can happen due to a complex combination of factors like: Environmental, Genetics, Biological- changes in neurotransmitter levels, Psychological and Social.
The other depression causes and risk factors of depression are also listed below:
- Personality: People who are less successful in their life they curse themselves for their unimpressive personality.
- Life Events: These include any major accident (like a head injury), week personal relation with family or spouse, divorce, bereavement, work issues, relationships with friends, financial problems, medical issues, or acute stress.
- Trauma – Depression could also cause due to childhood trauma.
- Genetic Factors: Having a first-degree relative with depression increases the risk.
- Drugs Intake: Prescribed treatment of taking drugs for long also make patient depress at times. Prescription drugs like; corticosteroids, interferon, beta-blocker, and other prescription drugs.
- Drugs Abuse: Abuse of amphetamines, alcohol, and other drugs are strongly linked to depression.
- Chronic Pain Syndromes: Some patients likely to undergo depression in case of a severe health condition like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
What People with Depression Wish You Knew
Treatment or Depression Cure
The symptoms of depression are likely to manageably with the help of therapy and counselling. The depression cure is possible as it can treat mental illness with the right approach. There are 3 ways manage depression:
- Support – Family member and friends support is the best way to deal with depression. Talking and discussing practical solutions can help patients to overcome depression.
- Psychotherapy – CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) helps manage depression, CBT therapy also knows as talking therapy.
- Medicinal Treatment – The antidepressants work many times if at all recommended by a doctor.
- Exercise and Lifestyle Changes – Making some lifestyle changes also help to come out of stress and depression. Eating balanced diet, taking timely and proper rest, regular exercise (like aerobics, brisk walk) may help release depression.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy – Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective for psychotic depression to help in the severe cases of depression that may not respond to drug treatment.
Approach a depression cure as soon as you find out any depression symptoms in your loved ones. Also, know the depression causes so that it can be avoided in future if possible.
