About Depression
This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of depression, including its symptoms and causes.
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What is depression?
Depression is a condition that affects your mental health, leading to feelings of sadness or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It’s more than feeling down; it’s a deep and persistent issue that can significantly impact your emotions and behaviour.
The symptoms of depression can differ from person to person. They can vary in how strong they are, how long they persist, and how much they interfere with your everyday life.
When experiencing milder forms of depression, you might still feel a persistent low mood but can manage to go about your daily routines. However, even routine tasks may seem more challenging than usual, and life might not feel as rewarding.
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Recognising depression
Everyone experiences periods of feeling sad or down, which are natural reactions to life’s challenges and usually pass on their own.
However, it might cross into depression if these feelings intensify to the point where they disrupt your daily activities or if they persist for an extended period, typically several weeks or months.
When your mood starts to significantly affect how you handle work, relationships, and self-care, it’s important to consider seeking help to address what might be depression.
What are the types of depression?
When you’re diagnosed with depression, your doctor might say it’s either “less severe” or “more severe.” This means how much your depression is impacting you and helps you decide what kind of treatment might help. Your depression can vary in intensity over time.
You might hear depression referred to as “major depressive disorder.” But there are other kinds as well:
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD): This is when you feel depressed almost all the time for at least two years. It’s also known as dysthymia or chronic depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): This type of depression happens during certain seasons or times of the year. More detailed information is available if you’re interested in SAD.
- Antenatal Depression: This occurs during pregnancy and is sometimes referred to as prenatal depression.
- Postnatal Depression (PND): This happens in the first year after having a baby and can affect both mothers and fathers or partners. More information on postnatal depression and mental health around childbirth is available.
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): This is related to hormonal changes and can affect your physical and emotional state, leading to depression. It’s considered a mental health issue.
For more details on how different mental health issues are identified and diagnosed, you can look up information on diagnosing mental health conditions.
Getting help and support
Understanding the symptoms and types of depression is the first step towards getting help. Treatment options vary depending on the severity and type of depression and may include therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
It’s important to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Depression looks different for everyone, with symptoms and their impacts varying from one person to another. It’s also important to recognise when normal sadness becomes something more, like depression, so the right help can be sought.
There are also many types of depression, each with its own set of symptoms and ways to treat them.
Knowing these points helps us understand that dealing with depression needs a personalised approach.
Get support
Talk with a trained professional about your thoughts and feelings with out free counselling and private counselling service for people over the age of 18.