What Is Depression?

  What Is Depression?

Depression is a state that affects a person's mind, emotions, and body; it affects how you feel, think and behave.

When feelings of extreme sadness or despair last for two weeks or more and begin to interfere with normal living, you may be a suffering from a depressive disorder. Depression is not just "sadness," individuals who have depression feel helpless, hopeless and tend to blame themselves for feeling this way. Some may even have thoughts of suicide or death.

most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or another form of treatment. Understanding the signs and symptoms of depression can go a long way in finding the most effective treatment option for you.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

The severity, frequency and duration of symptoms will vary from person to person. However, there are some common signs and symptoms across most types of depression such as:

• A persistent feeling of sadness, anxiousness or emptiness that you just can't shake.
• Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. A belief that nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do.
• Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt or being overly self-critical.
• Low tolerance for daily frustrations; generally irritable, restless or agitated.
• A general loss in the ability to feel pleasure or joy; no longer interested in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities or sex.
• Feeling physically drained or an overall sense of sluggishness. Your whole body may feel heavy, and completing a small task seems exhausting.
• Difficulty remembering details, making decisions or focusing on a single activity or topic.

• Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
• Overeating or loss of appetite resulting in significant weight gain or loss.
• Thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempts.

• Persistent, unexplained aches and pains such as headaches, muscles aches, cramps or digestive problems. 

Treatment for Depression

Depression, even the most severe cases, typically responds very well to treatment. Many individuals who seek treatment go on to lead healthy, productive lives. The specific treatment approach used will depend on the type of depression, its severity, and personal preferences. In general, most depressive disorders are treated with psychotherapy or counseling, medication, or some combination of the two.

Psychotherapy

There are two main types of psychotherapy that have proven to be effective in treating depression: cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).

• Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) focuses on helping people change negative styles of thinking and behaving that may contribute to their depression and correcting or re-purposing the thinking process toward a more positive response.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on helping people understand and work through troubled personal relationships that may cause their depression or make it worse.

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