Depression is a mental illness that causes persistent feelings of grief along with disinterest. A depressive illness or clinical depression brings about changes in your mood, thinking, and behaviors, resulting in several challenges. Read along to know depression symptoms, warning signs, types, and their causes.
Symptoms
The average person has multiple episodes of depression in their lifetime, even if depression occurs only once. You may observe that symptoms of these episodes are present nearly every day:
- Irritability, frustration, or angry outbursts, even when nothing is at stake
- Lack of enjoyment or enthusiasm in most or all of life’s routine activities, including sex, hobbies, and sports
- Disturbances of sleep, such as insomnia or oversleeping
- There is fatigue and energy depletion, so even the simplest tasks are difficult
- Weight loss and decreased appetite or weight gain and a greater desire to eat
- Restlessness, anxiety, or agitation
- Thoughts, speech, or sluggish body movements
- Concern over mistakes or guilt, feelings of worthlessness
- Think, concentrate, make decisions, and remember things poorly
- Frequently or recurrently thinking about death, attempting suicide, or even committing suicide
- A backache or headache that is not explained
Depression symptoms are usually so painful that they interfere with most of an individual’s daily activities. Those with depression often feel generally unhappy without fully understanding why they are feeling that way.
Child And Adolescent Depression Symptoms
- Teenagers and children experience many of the same symptoms that adults do, but they can also experience some differences.
- Young children may experience anxiety, worry, discomfort, pains, refusing to attend school, or undernutrition as symptoms of depression.
- The symptoms of depression in teens include feeling sad, frustrated, worthless, angry, having poor attendance or grades, feeling misunderstood, using alcohol or drugs, overeating, and engaging in self-harm.
Older adults who suffer from depression
Aging does not mean that you are immune to depression, and we should never take it for granted. Depression among older adults often goes undetected and untreated, and patients may resent seeking treatment. An older adult may experience subtler symptoms of depression, such as:
- A change in personality or memory problems.
- Pain or aches in the body.
- Sleep problems, fatigue, appetite loss, or disinterest in sex are not due to medication or medical conditions.
- Instead of socializing or trying new things, staying at home is preferred.
- Suicidal feelings or thoughts in older men.
Causes
The exact cause of depression is unknown. There are several factors involved with depression, such as:
- Differing physiologies. It is uncertain if these changes have any significance, but they may ultimately provide clues.
- Chemotherapy for the brain. Depressive disorders are thought to be caused by neurotransmitters, which are natural brain chemicals. Recent studies indicate that these neurotransmitters, and their interactions with neural circuits that influence mood stability, may play a significant role in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression.
- Natural hormones. Depression can be triggered or caused by alterations in hormone balance. In pregnancy, hormones can change during the months following delivery (postpartum) due to thyroid problems or other conditions.
- Traits inherited from parents. Those whose family members suffer from depression are more likely to experience it themselves. Genes may play a role in causing depression; researchers are trying to discover.
What To Do In An Emergency?
If you’re thinking about suicide, you may also want to consider these options:
- Consult your doctor or mental health professional.
- Your faith community can provide you with the assistance of your minister or spiritual leader.
- You should make sure someone stays with your loved one if they are in danger of suicide or have attempted suicide. Alternatively, you can take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room if you believe it is safe.
Types of Depression
- Anxious distress. You feel restless and tense most of the time. You can’t concentrate because you fear something awful could happen, and you feel like you might lose control.
- It is difficult to enjoy the activities you once enjoyed, and you feel unfortunate. When good things happen, you still feel bad.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder. The term persistent depressive disorder refers to depression lasting longer than two years.
- Bipolar Disorder. Uncontrollable mood swings where one minute you feel euphoric joy and the next you feel gloomy.
Conclusion
It is okay to feel sad, and if this happens and affects your everyday life, you may be experiencing clinical depression. A therapist can help you, as well as a change in your lifestyle.
