A Comprehensive Overview Of Depression And Depression Symptoms
Depression often involves symptoms like persistent sadness, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, low energy, and trouble sleeping. It can come in many forms, such as major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and post-partum depression. Risk factors may include past trauma, individuals in the family with depression, certain medical conditions, and substance misuse.
Treatment often involves a combination of healthy lifestyle choices, therapy, and medication. If you’re living with depression, therapy can be an effective tool. Learning more about depression can help you understand the treatment options available to you.
Types of depressive disorders
Depression may not always present in the same way. It can vary in severity and length. In the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), there are several depressive disorders that one can be diagnosed with, including the following.
Major depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder involves mild to moderate depression symptoms that last more than two years. Your symptoms may not be severe the entire time but can wax and wane throughout this period.
Seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of situational depression that occurs seasonally or during specific climates. It often occurs during the winter or in rainy areas with reduced sunlight. Studies have found sunlight and artificial light therapy effective in treating this condition.
Perinatal depression and post-partum depression
Perinatal depression refers to depression during pregnancy, whereas post-partum depression refers to depression after birth. However, adoptive, foster, and non-gestational parents and caregivers can also experience post-partum depression. This condition is often severe and requires treatment. It can occur up to one year after the birth or the welcoming of a new child.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is not a depressive disorder but a mood disorder in the DSM-5. However, it involves symptoms of depression offset by periods of elevated moods, which may be hypomania (in bipolar II disorder) or mania (in bipolar I disorder). Although bipolar disorder involves depression, it is distinguished from other types by the presence of hypomania and mania.
Risk factors for depression
There can be a variety of risk factors for depression, including the following:
- Family history of depression (40% to 50% hereditary)
- Medical diagnoses like chronic pain, cancer, or severe health conditions
- Past trauma and childhood adverse events
- A history of substance use disorders or substance use challenges
Symptoms of depression
There can be many symptoms of depression, including the following:
- Lingering sadness that won’t go away
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Anxiety
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Appetite changes or changes in eating habits (overeating or forgetting to eat)
- Sleep changes
- Inability to concentrate
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Headaches, stomach pain, or other physical symptoms
- Thoughts of suicide
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 988 to talk to someone over SMS. They are available 24/7 to offer support.
Treatment options
Depression is a treatable condition. There are techniques you can add to your home routine and professional support that may benefit you if you’re experiencing the above symptoms. Below are several lifestyle changes you can implement:
Stay socially connected
When you are experiencing symptoms of depression, you may feel like you don’t want to be around anyone or that you need to keep to yourself. Rather than remaining in isolation, you might spend time with loved ones, join a support group, chat with a friend, or play with your pets. Studies have found that being around others can be mentally and physically healing.
Take your time
If you have significant projects you are working on or have to complete many tasks, try to break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks to reduce overwhelm. Mental burnout is often experienced with depression and can cause symptoms to worsen.
Exercise and eat healthily
Exercising can balance your mood even if you only incorporate minor movement into your day. Keeping up with a balanced diet can also be highly beneficial for both physical and mental health. Studies have found that exercise increases feel-good chemicals like endorphins in your brain and body, even in small amounts.
Find ways to relax
Take time to relax when you need to. When you’re feeling anxious or run down, you may benefit from a few minutes to breathe and allow yourself to relax. Some individuals opt for meditation, and others enjoy taking warm baths. What you do to relax can be subjective and depends on what is effective for you.
Resume activities you enjoy
One of the symptoms of depression can be not feeling like partaking in the activities you enjoy. A way to change this could be to participate in activities you previously enjoyed. Perhaps you used to cook or paint. Start doing these activities again, even if they don’t bring you joy initially. Getting up and keeping busy can be beneficial in reducing specific symptoms.
Try psychotherapy
Speaking to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional about your depression symptoms can help you receive professional guidance. Therapy can alleviate depression symptoms by allowing you to talk about how you feel, receive advice, and feel less alone.
Consider medication
Several medications are available that may reduce many of the symptoms of depression. Don’t start, change, or stop a medication without consulting a medical doctor like a primary care physician or psychiatrist.
Alternative counseling options
When you’re living with depression, it can be challenging to get out of bed in the morning. When daily tasks feel unsurmountable, the thought of getting ready and leaving the house to attend a therapy session can also be daunting. To make things easier on yourself, you might consider trying online therapy. You may connect with a licensed mental health professional from the comfort of your home at a time that works for you.
According to one study, online therapy can improve depression symptoms and can also be used to treat many other mental health concerns. In addition, internet-based methods are often as effective as in-person options. Through a platform like BetterHelp, you can meet with a licensed professional from home within 48 hours after signing up. Many of the therapists through the platform are also experts in depression and can lead you through the latest coping mechanisms and research on your condition.
Takeaway
Depression can have various subtypes, such as persistent depressive disorder, major depressive disorder, and post-partum depression. Therapy, healthy lifestyle choices, and medication are often used to treat depression. Online therapy can be a convenient way to connect with a licensed therapist and begin your mental health journey.
What helps people cope with depression?
Coping with depression can often come with unforeseen challenges, and one of the best ways to cope is to enlist the help of a qualified mental health professional. Despite being a relatively common diagnosis, clinical depression is influenced by many unique factors, making the journey to recovery unique for everyone. A therapist or other professional can help identify underlying causes of depression and recommend treatment strategies that are likely to be effective.
While working with a therapist is likely the best route to overcome depression, several non-clinical strategies are known to be effective. One of the best-evidenced strategies is regular physical activity, which is one of the most effective depression treatments available. In some cases, regular exercise is even more effective than antidepressant medication like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Other effective strategies include keeping a gratitude journal and engaging in social activity. A gratitude journal is where a person can write down positive things in their life as they occur. Intentionally recognizing positivity is associated with a reduction in the severity of depression symptoms. Socializing is also associated with the improvement of depression symptoms. Interacting with others is likely to be helpful even if a person isn’t directly seeking support for their mental illness; positive social contact alone is likely to be beneficial.
What can contribute to the symptoms of depression?
Both internal and external factors can contribute to the symptoms of depression. A person might experience depression following a major life change, or they may struggle to apply their regular coping skills as needed. Grieving or other losses can also trigger depression, although other mental health conditions can also influence complicated grief. A person might also develop depression if they cannot have things most humans need. For example, loneliness is correlated with depression, and socially isolated people may develop depression from a lack of social contact.
Internal factors can also play a role. A medical condition may be the main cause of a major depressive episode. For example, hypothyroidism, an endocrinological condition caused by low levels of thyroid hormone, can cause emotional and physical problems like weight gain and depressive symptoms. When physical illness contributes to depression, treating the underlying cause and establishing disease control will likely be necessary to relieve the depressive feelings. This is one reason why working with a professional to address depression can be beneficial; mental health practitioners are trained to recognize both internal and external factors that contribute to depression.
What is the most important symptom of depression?
While all symptoms of depression can lower a person’s quality of life and overall well-being, arguably the most important symptom is suicidal ideation - a preoccupation with ending one’s own life. Evidence indicates a person diagnosed with major depressive disorder has a suicide risk rate of around 15%.
Depression is by far the most common condition associated with suicide and suicidal ideation, and the potential lethality of suicidal ideation means it is likely the most important symptom of depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are over a million suicide attempts per year in the United States alone. Thoughts of suicide - or any type of self-harm - should always be treated seriously, and suicidal ideation is usually the first symptom targeted when treating depression.
How can you help lessen the impact of depression?
Likely, the most effective way to lessen the impact of depression is to seek treatment from a qualified mental health professional. Depression is a complex condition that can be difficult to untangle solo. A therapist or other professional can likely help identify the underlying causes of depression, recommend coping strategies, and determine which treatment options are likely to be effective.
It is possible to recover from depression independently, but it is likely much easier and quicker to work with a therapist. Depression recovery has its own challenges in addition to those posed by the condition itself. A therapist can help navigate those challenges and help relieve some of the burdens posed by the recovery process.
How does depression affect you socially?
Depression is associated with reduced motivation for social activity. A lowered drive to socialize with others is likely one of the most insidious and dangerous components of depressive disorders. Evidence suggests that depression can both influence and be influenced by social interactions. Positive social interactions are known to alleviate symptoms of depression, while negative social interactions are associated with an increase in symptoms.
Depression, therefore, can introduce a cycle wherein a person becomes increasingly withdrawn and cut off from positive social interaction. The lack of positive socialization increases depression symptoms, which further decreases the drive to interact with others, forming a feedback loop that reinforces depression symptoms. If depression is a concern, it is likely worthwhile to intentionally choose to interact with others, even if motivation is low. A person doesn’t need to seek support for socialization to help reduce depression symptoms directly; casual or typical social interactions are still beneficial.
How does depression affect human behavior?
Depression can have a significant impact on how a person behaves. It is associated with disordered brain chemistry, meaning cognitive components like motivation, problem-solving, critical reasoning, and memory can all be affected. A person may struggle to stay in their daily routine, often illustrated by sleep disturbances and significant changes in diet. They may also withdraw from others and find it challenging to engage in activities they previously found enjoyable.
A depressed person is also more likely to engage in substance abuse and other behaviors that offer only temporary relief from their symptoms. The greatest risk, especially combined with substance use, is suicidal ideation. A person who is depressed often struggles to think clearly and may not see any reason to live. Those diagnosed with major depressive disorder have a suicide risk rate of around 15%, much higher than the general population.
How does self-esteem affect depression?
Self-esteem is commonly associated with a lower risk of developing depression. Many of the factors that contribute to high self-esteem also safeguard against depression, such as having a large, empathetic support network. Self-esteem alone likely cannot prevent depression, but building self-esteem should be part of any proactive strategy for managing depression and anxiety disorders. A good self-image likely makes it easier to recognize depression’s onset and seek help when necessary.
How does depression affect communication?
Evidence suggests that the cognitive components of speech become impaired in someone with depression. Depression affects the entire brain, but the effects may not be the same for everybody and differ based on the severity of symptoms. The National Institute of Health suggests that someone with severe depression will likely have increased difficulty speaking and understanding those around them. However, additional research is required to fully understand the neurocognitive impacts of depression on communication.
Can lack of human interaction cause depression?
Loneliness and social isolation are highly correlated with depression. Humans are social animals, and most humans use positive social contact to bolster their well-being. Evidence suggests that positive interactions with others can reduce the symptoms of depression considerably, and it stands to reason that an absence of positive interactions may worsen them. A lack of social interaction likely increases sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness while lowering self-esteem, resiliency, and overall well-being.
Why does depression affect some people more than others?
Many factors can cause depression, and the individual circumstances that prevent depression are different for everyone. Environmental factors are likely the easiest to spot. For example, those with large social networks are less likely to be depressed than those in more isolated conditions. Getting support resources, such as care assistance for an elderly person in the family, is likely to reduce chronic stress and subsequently reduce the risk of depression.
In addition, evidence suggests that depression is mediated by innate factors like a person’s genetics. While the exact genetic risk factors are not fully known, there is strong evidence to support the argument that some people are genetically predisposed to depression. Other factors beyond a person’s control, like their upbringing, also play a role.
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