Unfolding Depression
- kesha Pillai
- Apr 2, 2021
- 3 min read
Depression has become some sort of invisible epidemic, which affects about 121 million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 20% of people will experience severe and clinical depression at some point in their lives.
What depression Is not?
People use the word depression to describe everything from a passing funk to deep disappointment in our everyday conversations. Being sad or blue is not always a sign of depression. We respond to life's challenges with a wide range of "normal emotions": sadness, anxiety, resignation, confusion, grief, and frustration.
Signs and symptoms
Depression is a serious condition that affects both your physical and mental health. While we all feel sad, moody, or low from time to time, some have intense feelings. The intense feeling about these things lasts for extended periods (weeks, months, or even years) for no apparent reason. A person must have at least five of the following symptoms over a two-week period to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder:
Mood swings (feeling sad or empty; being tearful)
Significantly reduced enjoyment or interest in all, or nearly all, activities
Significant weight loss or gain when not dieting; appetite decrease or increase.
Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too little or too much)
Thoughts and physical movements are slowed.
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of insignificance, as well as excessive or inappropriate guilt
Indecisiveness or a decreased ability to think or concentrate.
Recurrent death thoughts (not just the fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or detailed suicide plan.
What causes depression?
Depression is usually the result of a combination of recent events and other longer-term or personal factors. Living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation, and prolonged work stress are more likely to cause depression than recent life stresses. Current events (such as COVID 19), or a combination of circumstances, can 'trigger' depression if we are already predisposed to depression due to previous negative experiences.
Some characteristics can make people more vulnerable to depressions, like being too worrying, having little self-esteem, being a perfectionist, sensitive to personal criticism, or being pessimistic. Dealing with the stress and worry of a serious illness can also lead to depression, particularly in the long-term management of chronic pain. The use of drugs and alcohol can both cause and result in depression. Many people who suffer from depression also struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. According to Beyond Blue more than 500,000 Australians will experience depression and a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.
Types of Depression
The DSM-IV, a manual doctor use to diagnose mental disorders, also recognises other types of depression:
Dysthymia is a mild form of depression that lasts for a long time. Dysthymia must be present for at least two years to be diagnosed.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs as the days become shorter in the fall and winter.
Postpartum Depression sets in after a woman gives birth and can worsen over time.
Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is a disorder in which a person alternates between periods of major depression and periods of extreme elation or mania.
The (K10) checklist can help you get a better sense of how you feel if you have troubling thoughts or feelings. It is a distress scale commonly used by Australian GPs and mental health professionals to determine how much help you will need.
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