What is Depression?

What is depression, and why does it occur?

Most people associate depression with loneliness and sadness experienced after a life-altering event. Death, divorce, and heartbreaks are possible triggers of this mood disorder. Yet, when the symptoms persist, society tells us to “snap out of it” and “move on.”

Unfortunately, this sadness isn’t something you can fix with a chocolate or a feel-good movie. Though these actions help you feel better, the moments of happiness are short-lived. Dealing with depression requires a more in-depth understanding of your emotional and mental well-being. You also need to know how environmental factors affect your mood.

This article covers signs and types of depression to understand why you might be feeling overwhelmed lately.

Here’s what you should know:

The Basics: What Is Depression?

Medical experts define depression as a mood disorder that “affects your mood and the ability to function well.” [i]Causes range from alterations in brain chemistry, genetics, environmental factors, stress, and medical condition.

During depressive episodes, you’re weighed down by heavy emotional feelings of worthlessness that influence how you think and behave. Without proper support, you might start isolating yourself and indulge in addictive activities [ii]to numb the pain.

Luckily, there are ways to manage these symptoms better and view them differently.

Living with Depression: How Does It Affect You?

People dealing with depression can become distant, uninterested, and detached for prolonged periods. They might start avoiding people, places, and activities they once loved.

Here’s a closer look at how depression impacts your social, professional, and personal life:

Social Isolation

Experts state that social isolation can be a “consequence of depressive symptoms.” [iii]Individuals dealing with depression pull away from others because they feel embarrassed about their mental health condition or have low self-esteem issues. They might consider themselves outcasts due to the negative emotions clouding their minds.

Signs of social withdrawal include:

●      Canceling plans

●      Avoiding texts

●      Ignoring phone calls

As a result, depressed people prefer to spend time alone instead of participating in social activities.

Professional inhibition

Living with depression can take a toll on your professional life. Your reclusive attitude can become a barrier between you and career-boosting opportunities. Common symptoms like tiredness, cognitive impairment, low mood, and energy might impact productivity.

This leads to:

●      Time management issues

●      Missed deadlines

●      Poor quality of work

●      A failure to accomplish assigned tasks

You might be unable to perform tasks at the same pace as before and find them challenging. The lack of motivation can stop you from working towards building a better career. Due to this, your professional growth may come to a halt.

Children and teens suffering from this mood disorder might experience a similar problem in academic life.

Personal Life

Your emotional and mental health suffers when you fail to seek support for depression. You fail to add self-care to your daily routine, which causes you to either work in overdrive or procrastinate because of the fear of failing. As stated above, this can affect your work-life balance.

In severe cases, managing small day-to-day activities might become challenging. These include brushing teeth, bathing, cooking, and changing clothes. Due to this, you slip into unhealthy habits and poor lifestyle choices. A lack of personal hygiene, poor diet, and irregular sleeping schedules are signs of depression.

Professional psychotherapy and unbiased support can help you incorporate self-soothing and self-care. At the same time, psychotherapy can help you reframe your mindset when you get caught up in depressive thought patterns. These science-backed techniques can eventually make living with depression more manageable.

The Big Three: What Are the Main Types of Depression?

Depression comes in different types and forms. We highlight the most common types of depression[iv] to help you identify the reason behind your sadness. It allows you to understand your symptoms better and seek the right therapist for help.

Here’s what you should know:

1. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major Depressive Disorder (often categorized as clinical depression) refers to a mood imbalance. A person becomes overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and guilt.  Due to this, they might stop participating in everyday activities and avoid social interactions. 

Signs of Depression: How to Recognize MDD?

●      Sadness

●      Fatigue and tiredness

●      Memory lapses

●      Lack of concentration

●      A feeling of worthlessness and low self-esteem

●      Irregular sleep patterns

●      Difficulty in maintaining a healthy diet or weight

●      Unexplainable body pain and headache

●      A disengagement from social interactions, recreational activities, and daily tasks

●      Self-harm

Symptoms typically last for more than two weeks for this mood disorder to be categorized as clinical depression. Without intervention, an individual with depression might find coping with responsibilities and duties challenging. You might become distant and cancel plans to avoid social gatherings.

Asking a licensed mental health therapist for help can prove beneficial. You can work with us collaboratively to identify the root cause of depression and ways to manage the symptoms.

2. Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

It’s a form of chronic depression that lasts for over two years. People dealing with depression of this type might feel good on some days but experience mild to severe symptoms most of the year.

Primary causes include major life changes like losing a loved one, stress, financial strain, or trauma. Genetics and brain chemistry are other variables that can cause PDD.

Signs of Depression: How to Identify Persistent Depressive Disorder?

●      Lower productivity levels

●      An irritable mood

●      A feeling of helplessness and loss

●      Low self-esteem

●      Change in appetite

●      Disruptive sleep cycle

●      Lower mental focus

Symptoms of persistent depressive disorder overlap with MDD. The only difference lies in how long they last. According to VeryWell Mind, adults dealing with PDD experience these symptoms for two years. Young adults and children might experience them for more or less twelve months.

3. Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD)

People dealing with depression affected by seasonal changes are diagnosed with SAD. Symptoms appear around the same time during fall and winter as the days become shorter and the weather becomes bleaker. The altering day and night patterns can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm. Consequently, this can negatively impact how you think and feel during the fall and winter months.

Signs of Depression: How to Know You Are Dealing with SAD?

●      Tiredness and fatigue

●      Drowsiness

●      Increase in appetite and cravings

●      An increase in weight due to unhealthy habits

●      Irritability

●      A feeling of heaviness

These symptoms fade away when spring arrives. Yet, the small duration of a depressive episode can drastically change your behavior and involvement in day-to-day activities.

Therefore, you should seek help from a trusted therapist to better cope with your mood disorder. Otherwise, you might miss out on the festivities, leisure activities, and social events that the festive seasons bring.

Getting Support

In the end, dealing with depression alone can be tedious, pervasive, and draining. Asking a therapist for help can help you break away from this vicious cycle. We can start by identifying the main signs of depression and categorizing them to develop a personalized therapy plan.

We talk things through to ensure the self-soothing techniques and clinically-approved therapy sessions positively impact your life. Eventually, you may learn to cope with depression in a healthy way. It can help you live every moment to its fullest potential.

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