Depression

Sadness, feeling down, and having a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities are familiar feelings for all of us. But if they persist and affect our lives substantially, the issue may be depression.According to WHO, it is one of the major issue of disability.

In this article, I'm going to describe about what depression is and what causes it. I also describe about its types, treatments and more.

Definition

Depression is a mood disorder that involves a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is different from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience as a part of life.

Major life events, such as bereavement or the loss of a job, can lead to depression.

Depression is an ongoing problem, not a passing one. It consists of episodes during which the symptoms can lasts for several weeks, months, or years.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of depression can include:

.Depressed mood

.Reduced interest or pleasure in activities

.Agitation, restlessness

.Changes in appetite

.Unintentional weight loss or gain

.Sleeping too much or too little

.Lack of concentration

.Slowed movement and speech, loss of Energy

.Feelings of guilt

.Difficulty in thinking

.Confusion

.Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or an attempt at suicide

In females

Depression is nearly twice as common among women as men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Some symptoms of depression that tend to appear more often in females:

>Irritability

>Anxiety

>Mood swings

>Fatigue

> negative thoughts

>Postpartum Depression

In males

Around 9% of men in the United States have feelings of depression or anxiety according to American Psychological Association.

Other symptoms of depression in males may include:

>Avoiding families and social situations

>working without a break.

>Having difficulty keeping up with work and family responsibilities.

In college students

Symptoms of depression in college students may include:

>difficulty concentrating on study

>Insomnia or sleeping too much

>decrease or increase in appetite

>avoiding social situations and activities that they used to enjoy

In teens

They may experience some of the following symptoms:

• withdrawing from friends and family

• difficulty concentrating on schoolwork

• feeling of guilty

• restlessness

In children

The CDC estimate that, in the U.S., 3.2% of children and teens aged 3–17 have a diagnosis of depression.

In children, symptoms can make schoolwork and social activities challenging. They may experience symptoms like Crying,lose of energy, rude in behaviour and vocal outburst.

Younger children may have difficulty expressing how they feel in words. This can make it harder for them to explain their feelings of sadness.

Causes

Factors that are likely to play a role include:

• genetic features

• changes in the brain’s neurotransmitter levels

• environmental factors

• psychological and social factors

Triggers:

These are some of the most common triggers:

>Stressful life events,such as any loss,family conflicts and changes in relationship.

>Incomplete recovery after accident

>Medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Types of depression

There are several forms of depression are following:

A.Major depression

A person with major depression experiences a constant state of sadness. They may lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy.Treatment usually involves medication and psychotherapy.

B.Persistent depressive disorder

Also known as dysthymia,causes symptoms that last for at least 2 years. A person with this disorder may have episodes of major depression as well as milder symptoms.

C.Bipolar disorder

Depression is a common symptom of bipolar disorder, and Research shows that people with this disorder may have symptoms around half of the time.

D.Psychotic depression

Some people experience psychosis with depression.Psychosis can involve delusions, such as false beliefs and a detachment from reality. It can also involve hallucinations — sensing things that do not exist.

E.Postpartum depression

After giving birth, many women experience depression which lasts for months or years.Anyone who experiences ongoing depression after delivery should seek medical attention.

F.Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern

Previously called seasonal affective disorder or SAD, this type of depression is related to the reduction in daylight during the fall and winter.It lifts during the rest of the year and in response to light therapy.

Treatment:

Managing symptoms usually involves three components:

1.Support

2.Psychotherapy:

Including Counselling & CBT(cognitive behavioural therapy)

3.Drug Medication:

Antidepressants.

Medication:

Antidepressants can help treat moderate to severe depression.Several classes of antidepressants are available:

• selective serotonin  reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

• tricyclic antidepressants

• atypical antidepressants

• selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

A person should only take these medications as their doctor prescribes.

Some people stop taking medication after symptoms improve, but this can lead to a relapse.

Consult with a doctor about your intention to stop taking the medication.

Medication side effects:

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Diarrhoea

• weight loss

• rash

• sexual dysfunction

• Low blood sugar

4.Food and diet:

Result of a 2019 study suggest that eating more of the following foods help to reduce depression:

• fruit

• vegetables

• fish

• olive oil

5.Psychotherapy

Speaking with a therapist can help you to learn skills to cope up with negative feelings. You may also benefit from family or group therapy sessions.

6.Exercise

Aim for 30 minutes of physical activities 3 to 5 days a week.Exercise can increase your body's production of endorphin with all hormones that improve your mood.

7.Avoid alcohol and drugs:

8.Vitamins:

Research suggests that 2 vitamins are especially useful for easing symptoms of depression:

Vitamin B:(B-12, B-6),Vitamin D

9.Supplements:

Talk to your healthcare provider before adding supplements to your treatment plan.

10.Take care of yourself:

You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself. This includes:

>plenty of sleep

>eating a healthy diet

>avoiding negative plan &

>participating in enjoyable activities.

Statistics:

[[During any given year in the U.S., major depression affects over 16.1 million people aged 18 or older or around 6.7% of the adult population.

According to CDC, 3.2% of children & adolescents between the ages of 3 to 17 years about 1.9 million individuals have received a diagnosis of depression. They also note that 7.6% of people aged 12 years or over in the U.S. have depression in any 2week period.]]

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