What does depression mean?

Depression is a term that is thrown around way too much, but at the same time, it is not used enough. Many people feel sad or have a couple of bad days and claim a diagnosis of depression, while people that are in a chronic state of sadness for weeks and months without any relief won’t admit something is wrong or ask for help. Depression is common but does not include everyday sadness and all stressful situations.

DEPRESSION 

Clinically, depression is called Major Depressive Disorder; it qualifies as a mood disorder diagnosed at different levels. This disorder causes a loss of interest in activities and feelings of constant deep sadness. Depression is not something that can just be turned off or go away with effort. It usually involves a chemical imbalance in the brain similar to a glucose/sugar imbalance in the body with diabetes. If left untreated, depression can last numerous weeks, months, or years.

SYMPTOMS

For a diagnosis of depression, symptoms must last for at least two weeks, such as:

• Depressed mood: feelings of sadness or low mood with an aversion to activities
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities: inability to motivate self to participate in activities and to feel pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
• Fatigue or low energy: feeling exhausted and a constant desire to sleep more than usual.
• Hopelessness or feeling worthless: feeling no hope that things will not get better and feeling like you don’t deserve things to get better.
• Changes in appetite: the use of food as a comfort or a way of gaining control by not eating; causing weight gain or loss. 
• Suicidal ideations or self-harming behavior: thoughts of death or ending one’s own life and the act of hurting oneself to end one’s life or not. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

More symptoms can be found at Medical News Today.

MEN VS WOMEN

Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression. Men and women can exhibit different symptoms of depression. Men display anger to express their sadness, while women display anxiousness as well as actual sadness. Women internalize their sadness by dwelling on negative thoughts and feeling guilty for everything. At the same time, men focus on external factors to relieve the sadness like alcohol, risk-taking behavior, working non-stop, and isolating themselves from family and friends. 

Depression is best treated by psychotropic medication and psychotherapy. Learn more about treatment at the Mayo Clinic.