Mental Health Overview: Exploring Depression Definition, Symptoms And Treatments
Occasional sadness is normal. However, sadness can escalate, linger, and grow stronger for some. When sadness gets to the point that it severely interferes with a person's ability to function at work, school, home, or in relationships, it may be a sign of a mental illness like depression.
To understand this condition, it can be essential to learn about the depression definition, the signs and symptoms to watch for, and how therapy can help you find healthy ways to live with depression's impacts on your life.
What Is Depression?
Depression is an umbrella term for any depressive disorder. However, it is often referred to as major depressive disorder (MDD), a condition marked by a severely prolonged low mood and a loss of interest in regularly enjoyed activities.
When depression symptoms persist for two or more weeks and cause substantial impairment in functioning in one or more areas of life, they may be considered clinically significant. If depression interferes with your daily life and activities, consider speaking to your healthcare provider about assessment for a mood disorder.
"Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable." — American Psychiatric Association
What Does Depression Look Like?
Depression can look different in each person who experiences it. However, after years of research, medical experts have identified several symptoms commonly seen in this condition, including the following:
Intense feelings of sadness
Thoughts of hopelessness or worthlessness
Slower speech, movements, and thoughts
Out-of-character outbursts of anger or irritability
Anhedonia, commonly defined as a decrease in the ability to take an interest in or pleasure from the activities you previously enjoyed
Drastic changes to your sleep or eating patterns
Persistent fatigue, possibly causing daily tasks to require extreme effort
Misplaced guilt or fixation on past failures
Unexplained physical pain with no apparent cause, such as headaches, stomach aches, or muscle pain with no known cause
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Suicidal thoughts or urges
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text 988 to talk to a crisis provider over SMS. They are available 24/7 to offer support. 988 also offers an online chat for those with an internet connection.
Depressive Disorders In The DSM-5
Depressive disorders can vary significantly in symptoms, influencing how one thinks, acts, and feels. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine, the medical community often uses the term "mood disorders" to classify mental health conditions that can influence a person's mood, thought patterns, behaviors, functional ability, and relationships. However, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), depression is listed under the depressive disorders category, which includes the following conditions:
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Substance or medication-induced depressive disorder
Depressive disorder due to another condition
Other specified depressive disorder
Unspecified depressive disorder
Postpartum depression (PPD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Below are further examinations of a few of the most common depressive disorders.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder is the most common depressive disorder, involving a persistently depressed mood for at least two weeks, a loss of interest in activities or social contact, and significant impairment to function in daily life. This condition impacts millions of adults each year.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder involves depressive symptoms that appear due to the changing seasons, most often in the fall and winter. SAD can often be treated with a combination of lightbox therapy, talk therapy, and medication.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD Or Dysthymia)
Persistent depressive disorder is characterized by chronic low-level depression symptoms that persist for two years or longer in adults or over a year in children and adolescents. This condition may be milder than MDD but can cause significant functional impairments.
Postpartum Depression
After giving birth or welcoming an adoptive or foster child to the home, some parents experience a drastic mood shift involving a low mood and intrusive, often worrisome thoughts or behaviors. These symptoms can be caused by postpartum depression, which may arise weeks or months after the birth or adoption of a child.
How Common Is Depression?
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that approximately 5% of the world's adult population lives with depression. Mood disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and those who identify as women are often diagnosed with depression more frequently than those who identify as men. However, this statistic may be due to the stigmas men experience in reaching out for support and the differences in symptoms between men and women.
While depression can be a common mental illness, effective treatments are available to treat mild, moderate, and severe depression—possibly mitigating some of the effects symptoms can have on daily life.
Treatments For Depression
The most common treatments for depression are similar to those used for many mental health conditions. Individuals are often recommended to partake in medication management, talk therapy, or a combination of the two.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular talk therapy modality for depression. This therapeutic approach can explore the connection between how you think and feel. By identifying harmful thought patterns, you can work to change your cognitive processes and reshape your behavior. This strategy can be particularly effective because depression can alter your thinking.
Finding Practical Ways To Live With Depression Symptoms
Because the symptoms of depression can look different for each person, the treatment methods can vary from one person to another. While working with a licensed therapist is one of the most effective ways to recognize and understand emotions, there are a few coping skills you can try, as well, including but not limited to the following:
Connect with close friends and family.
Get regular physical activity.
Consider checking off your to-do list.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Attend psychotherapy with a licensed therapist regularly.
Don't ignore "the little things" that make you feel better.
Be kind to yourself.
Practice daily affirmations or keep a gratitude journal.
Spend time in nature.
Take a hot bath and listen to soothing music.
Rest when you need to.
Don't pressure yourself or judge yourself for your symptoms.
Spend less time with people who drain your energy.
When To Reach Out For Help
If your depression symptoms linger for weeks or you struggle to get out of bed, you might consider seeking professional support. If left untreated, depression can cause or worsen other mental and physical conditions. If you don't know where to start, consider talking to your doctor. They can refer you to a mental health professional or offer temporary medical advice to help you reduce distressing symptoms.
Support Options
Depression can be challenging to manage independently. If you are struggling to control emotions and cope with depression symptoms, consider working with a licensed therapist through a virtual therapy platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy may be helpful for people with depression because they do not have to leave home to receive services.
Through an online platform, you can build an array of adaptive coping skills to minimize the effects of symptoms, learn to understand and communicate your emotional needs, and examine the underlying causes of your feelings. In addition, you can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions depending on your needs.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research: Mental Health, online therapy can provide similar results to traditional in-person treatments, typically with lower costs and shorter wait times. Online CBT treatments can help clients identify harmful thought patterns and how they may affect behaviors to reshape them into healthier habits.
Takeaway
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are a few commonly asked questions about depression.
What Are The Five Levels Of Depression?
There are over five depressive disorders. However, depression is not often labeled in stages or levels. Your doctor or therapist may tell you if your depression is mild, moderate, or severe. Depending on your support needs, your treatment plan may differ. However, any form of depression can significantly impact one's daily life.
What Are The Seven Forms Of Depression?
There are ten depressive disorders listed in the DSM-5, including the following:
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Substance or medication-induced depressive disorder
Depressive disorder due to another condition
Other specified depressive disorder
Unspecified depressive disorder
Postpartum depression (PPD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Outside of these depressive disorders, some people with conditions like bipolar disorder or personality disorders may also experience depression as a symptom. However, these conditions are not in the depressive disorders category in the DSM-5 because of their distinct symptoms, such as mania or personality changes.
Each depressive disorder is a unique mental illness with different outcomes. For that reason, treatments for each condition are determined by a mental health professional. If you believe you might be living with a depressive disorder, it can be beneficial to talk to a therapist to discover which condition and devise a unique and personalized action plan.
What Are The Two Best Coping Mechanisms To Mitigate Depression?
There may not be one best way to cope with depression symptoms. There are hundreds of coping skills to choose from, so practicing each may help you find a strategy that works for you. In addition to practicing coping skills, avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and other substances as a treatment method for depression.
Below are a few coping strategies to try at home:
Exercising
Contacting old friends
Spending quality time with parents, children, and other family members
Practicing mindfulness exercises
Learning an instrument or a language
Spending time in nature
Practicing your spirituality or religion
Writing in a journal
Writing a story
Singing
Taking a hot bath
Playing with your pets
Calling a hotline
Watching funny videos
Watching a childhood movie
Completing puzzles
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources.
What Are The Five Causes Of Depression?
Depression may be caused by several factors, including but not limited to the following:
Grief after a loss
Major life events, such as losing a job or losing a house
Reckless behavior, such as substance use
Giving birth or adopting a child
A family history of mental illness or depression
Physical illness or a difficult diagnosis
A traumatic event
Another mental illness, such as an anxiety disorder
What Is The Most Serious Form Of Depression?
Clinical depression, sometimes known as major depressive disorder, is the most severe form of depression. MDD negatively affects mental health for an extended period and may resist treatments, including medications. If you are experiencing MDD, reaching out for support to start planning treatment can be essential.
Although MDD is the most severe form of depression, other depressive disorders are not "less important." All depressive disorders cause marked functioning impairments and daily challenges for individuals.
What Are The Three Stages Of Depression?
People often have different perspectives on the stages of depression. The three-stage view shows the following stages:
Origin
Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Lack of interest in or abandonment of obligatory activities
The first stage might involve the development of certain feelings or behaviors associated with depression. You may have negative automatic thoughts and develop unhelpful thinking styles or core beliefs. In the second stage, you may no longer appreciate activities you once enjoyed. Finally, you may stop doing activities that keep you healthy, such as laundry or brushing your teeth.
How Long Do Most Depressive Episodes Last?
Depressive episodes may vary depending on the person. Some people may have long-term depressive disorders, such as persistent depressive disorder. In contrast, others may experience one short depressive episode due to a life event like losing a loved one. Major depressive disorder often lasts over two weeks, and people with this condition may experience periods where depression is not as strong. However, the depression may return over time.
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