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What Is Depression

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest that can negatively impact how one feels, thinks and behaves. Common symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, energy level, concentration and thoughts of death or suicide. While the causes are unclear, factors such as biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones and genetics may play a role. Those at higher risk include women, teens/young adults, and individuals with a family history of depression or who have experienced traumatic life events or medical illnesses. Left untreated, depression can worsen over time and lead to emotional, physical and social complications.

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54 views2 pages

What Is Depression

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest that can negatively impact how one feels, thinks and behaves. Common symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, energy level, concentration and thoughts of death or suicide. While the causes are unclear, factors such as biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones and genetics may play a role. Those at higher risk include women, teens/young adults, and individuals with a family history of depression or who have experienced traumatic life events or medical illnesses. Left untreated, depression can worsen over time and lead to emotional, physical and social complications.

Uploaded by

Feb Namia
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What Is Depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also
called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and
can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-
day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.

SYMPTOMS

o Feeling sad or having a depressed mood


o Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
o Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
o Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
o Loss of energy or increased fatigue
o Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed
movements and speech (actions observable by others)
o Feeling worthless or guilty
o Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
o Thoughts of death or suicide

CAUSES
It's not known exactly what causes depression. As with many mental disorders, a variety of factors
may be involved, such as:

 Biological differences. People with depression appear to have physical changes in their
brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain, but may eventually help pinpoint
causes.
 Brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that likely play a
role in depression. Recent research indicates that changes in the function and effect of these
neurotransmitters and how they interact with neurocircuits involved in maintaining mood stability
may play a significant role in depression and its treatment.
 Hormones. Changes in the body's balance of hormones may be involved in causing or
triggering depression. Hormone changes can result with pregnancy and during the weeks or
months after delivery (postpartum) and from thyroid problems, menopause or a number of other
conditions.
 Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people whose blood relatives also have this
condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.

RISK FACTORS
Depression often begins in the teens, 20s or 30s, but it can happen at any age. More women than
men are diagnosed with depression, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to
seek treatment.
Factors that seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering depression include:

 Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being too dependent, self-critical or
pessimistic
 Traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of a loved
one, a difficult relationship, or financial problems
 Blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism or suicide
 Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or having variations in the development of genital
organs that aren't clearly male or female (intersex) in an unsupportive situation
 History of other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorder, eating disorders or post-
traumatic stress disorder
 Abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs
 Serious or chronic illness, including cancer, stroke, chronic pain or heart disease
 Certain medications, such as some high blood pressure medications or sleeping pills (talk to
your doctor before stopping any medication)

COMPLICATIONS
Depression is a serious disorder that can take a terrible toll on you and your family. Depression often
gets worse if it isn't treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every
area of your life.
Examples of complications associated with depression include:

 Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes
 Pain or physical illness
 Alcohol or drug misuse
 Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia
 Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems
 Social isolation
 Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide
 Self-mutilation, such as cutting
 Premature death from medical conditions

PREVENTION
There's no sure way to prevent depression. However, these strategies may help.

 Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.
 Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough
spells.
 Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent depression from worsening.
 Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of
symptoms.

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