What is depression?
Sadness or downswings in mood are normal reactions to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness. Depression is deeply personal. The symptoms may vary, but the experience is very real. It is also a very common condition. Depressive disorders affect nearly 19 million people in the U.S. every year -- regardless of gender, age, race, religion, sexuality, income, or education.
Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed people don't feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel angry, aggressive, and restless.
Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.
The World Health Organization ranks depression as one of the world’s most disabling diseases. Yet with treatment, 70% of people with clinical depression can improve, often in a matter of weeks.
Depression: Why don’t we just deal with it?
People experiencing symptoms of depression (fatigue, general malaise, irritability, lack of overall enjoyment, sleeping problems, eating problems) often disregard their symptoms as “just the way life is”. When they look around, they may feel alone and wonder why it is they can’t handle life as well as everyone else appears to be handling it. The feeling like they should be handling things better than they are can create a dangerous cycle of depression that is difficult to deal with on your own.
About two-thirds of all people with major depression never seek appropriate treatment. The consequences of untreated depression can be devastating: personal suffering, missed work, broken marriages, fractured parent-child relationships, health problems and, in the worst cases, death.
What is keeping you from seeking treatment?
Do any of the following statements sound familiar?
“I will snap out of it”
Yes! Sometimes you snap out it. Sometimes you don’t snap out of it. We all hit walls of sadness, have a bout of the blues, or just feel off. When these feelings linger, strengthen, or penetrate our ability to have a fulfilling life, then it’s time to seek help. A good place to begin is by having a routine examine by a doctor and letting them know details about the way you are feeling. Let the doctor know that these symptoms are not normal for you. In some cases, there is a biological component to depression. A visit to the doctor is a good start. If they can find no medical reason you are having depressive symptoms, they may ask you to consider treatment for your symptoms. Recommended treatments might include antidepressants, or seeking out a therapist. A therapist is going to help you clarify your symptoms, and come up with a game plan for recovery from depression.
“I don’t want to take antidepressants”
It’s your body and your decision. If you have depressive symptoms that are interfering with your life and you would prefer not to take medicine, then treatment with a therapist is an option. The therapist will provide you with an evaluation of your symptoms to define a clear picture and a diagnosis. They will then develop treatment plan goals to help you on your path to feeling better. Treatment approaches may include a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach, recommending daily exercise, processing past events, trying different eating habits. There are many solutions and options for dealing with depression. You and your therapist will find an approach that works for your situation and symptoms.
“Sadness isn’t my main symptom…why should I be treated for depression?”
The classic picture of depression portrays a person who can’t stop crying or can’t get out of bed, but this is not always the case. You don’t need to feel sad or cry all day to be clinically depressed. Symptoms of depression that prompt a person to visit their primary care doctors include muscle pain, sleeping problems, or fatigue…all signs of depression. Sometimes these symptoms accompany sadness; other times they don’t. Sometimes depression “masks” itself, and when this happens people don’t necessarily feel in touch with a sense of sadness or abnormal mood. When depression is “masking” itself, reported symptoms might be hard to verbalize… a sense of apathy, a dull or blunted mood, or perhaps they don’t recognize themselves anymore.
“If I talk about the things that are making me sad, I will feel even worse.”
Often, depressed people avoid treatment for fear of having to undergo a probing examination of their psychological pain. It certainly doesn’t sound appealing to open up old wounds, present hurts, or lingering fears, but even when you are not dealing with depression, you are suffering the consequences of depression. Remember, untreated depression manifests in deeper psychological issues, and physical problems.
The fear of opening up to a stranger is real and reasonable. A good therapist understands the fear, meets the client where they are, and guides you through the process. While, you can’t avoid getting into painful discussions in therapy, it is necessary for healing. Find a therapist you that meets your comfort level, ask questions about the process and remember you are partners in your treatment.
Signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
- Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
- Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
- Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
- Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
- Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
- Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
- Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
- Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
- Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.