Depession
What is it, symptoms and causes
Depression is an illness which negatively influences the way an individual feels, thinks and acts. It may be long-lasting or recurrent and has a significant impact on both professional and personal life.
Major depressive disorder:
Impacts on an individual’s day to day life. They will experience a depressed mood and loss of interest and enjoyment in life. Depending on severity major depressive disorder can be categorised as mild, moderate, or severe.
Dysthymia:
The symptoms of dysthymia are similar to major depressive disorder, however they tend to be less intense and more persistent.
A large proportion of people who have depression never have it diagnosed or receive treatment. As depression is a major risk factor for suicide, recognising the symptoms of depression is critical.
Common symptoms of depression include:
Feeling worthless
Feeling hopeless
Feeling sad
Extreme fatigue
Appetite changes
Sleep problems
Indecision
Irritability
Restlessness
Loss of interest in things once enjoyed
Suicidal ideation
Like anxiety, the causes of depression can be difficult to identify. It is extremely complex and can occur for a variety of reasons.
Common factors which can cause depression include:
Death of a loved one
Sexual, physical or emotional abuse
Genetic predisposition
Serious illness
Unemployment
Relationship difficulties
Social isolation
Substance abuse
Child birth (postpartum)
Medication
Some women suffer from postpartum depression following childbirth. It may start any time during the baby’s first year, but most commonly begins within 3 weeks of childbirth.
Signs of postpartum depression include:
Feeling sad or despairing
Feeling unable to care for the baby
Feeling difficulty bonding with the baby
Crying a lot
Lack of interest
Talk to a doctor immediately if any of the above signs are being displayed following childbirth or if postpartum depression is suspected.
Did you know ?
4.4% of the global population suffer from depression
The number of people with anxiety increased by almost 15% from 2005
The number of people living with depression increased by almost 20% from 2005
Male depression is under-diagnosed because men are less likely to seek help
