What is Depression?

Everyone experiences sadness and worry from time to time in life. That is the nature of this life. Everyone worries about themselves, their future, children, family, financial stability, aging, illness, etc. Almost everyone has some level of anxiety or depression in their daily life. That’s normal.

But if your whole day is full of sadness and worry, if your mind is full of it, it is not a good thing. Over time, the condition can develop into anxiety or depression. Since this article is about depression, I will no longer use both the terms ‘anxiety or depression’ and just use the term ‘depression’.

Types of Symptoms

Negative Thoughts

If you keep having these negative thoughts, you may be suffering from depression;

1. Things are getting worse and worse.
2. I’m worthless.
3. Even if I die, no one cares, no one will remember me.
4. I’m a failure.
5. I don’t expect anything more.
6. Without me, all of this would be better.
7. There are only regrets in my life.
8. I don’t see anything getting better.
9. I am ashamed of myself.

Distraught and Unclear Behavior

1. Crying for no apparent reason.
2. Inability to get out of bed.
3. Inability to exercise.
4. Doing nothing for fun.
5. Missing a lot of work due to lack of motivation.
6. Do everything at a very slow pace for no good reason.
7. Not caring about appearance.
8. Lack of smile on face.
9. Letting opportunities slip away.

Sad, Stressed Sensations

1. No appetite.
2. Wake up too early.
3. Sleep lot more than usual.
4. Have no energy.
5. Aches and pains without a reason.
6. Lost sex drive.

Serious Symptoms!

1. Suicidal ideation.
2. Feel hopeless.
3. Unexplained weight gain or loss.
4. Neglect of major responsibilities.
5. Hearing voices that aren’t there.
6. Seeing things that aren’t there.
7. Getting involved in unnecessary fights and arguments.
8. Taking risks that have never been taken.
9. Doing things like washing hands, locking doors, double-checking things more than usual.

Types of Depression

01. Major Depressive Disorder

A person may feel down most of the day or lose interest in almost all activities for at least two weeks. The most common form of depression is major depressive disorder. This is what we commonly call a person “clinically depressed” or “major depression”.

02. Persistent Depressive Disorder

After about a year, about 80% of people with major depression begin to recover without a treatment. Others fall into the most severe form of depression called Persistent Depressive Disorder.

03. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

This form of depression occurs leading up to and during the first part of a woman’s menstrual period.

Causes of Depression

01. Mother’s Behavior

Mother’s personality, how she disciplines you, is she moody, kind or strict or helpful, how does she spend time with you, how does she act when you are sick?

02. Father’s Behavior

Like what was said about mother, how is father dealing with you, how you feel about your father also affect this.

03. Your Childhood Matters

Things like the way your life was spent when you were young, those memories, the events you experienced at that time, the sufferings you went through also affect this.

04. Your Current Life

Problems, sorrows, worries, financial problems, any many other current problems which you have to face in your current life also affect this.

If you are facing this situation, it is not easy to treat yourself. But what you have to do is to find out the situation and the reason behind it and solve it. If this is difficult to do alone, it is better to seek the help of a skilled psychiatrist.

Read this article to face the upcoming problems mindfully. Read this article to find scientifically proven ways to reduce stress.