Depression is described as a feeling of sadness or loss of interest lasting at least 2 weeks. According to WHO more than 264,000,000 people Globally suffer from Depression. As such, it’s safe to say depression is quite common among a lot of people. This does not however, undermine it’s severity as depression causes a distortion in your mood, which makes it difficult to enjoy your life, in the best way possible. Luckily, it is very treatable.
”Depression causes a distortion in your mood, which makes it difficult to enjoy your life, in the best way possible. Luckily, it is very treatable.”
Some of the causes can be linked to:
- Family history. You’re at a higher risk for developing depression if you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder.
- Early childhood trauma. Some events affect the way your body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
- Brain structure. There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe of the brain is less active. However, scientists don’t know if this happens before or after the onset of depressive symptoms.
- Medical conditions. Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as chronic illness, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Drug use. A history of drug or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.
Some of the symptoms and signs of depression include changes in:
- mood, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness
- emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, hopeless
- behaviour, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favourite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
- sexual interest, such as reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
- cognitive abilities, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations
- sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night
- physical well-being, such as fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems
What should you do if you feel depressed?
You need to see a trained Medical professional (Psychiatrist)
Complications that may arise if left untreated include:
- weight gain or loss
- Physical pain
- Substance use problems
- Panic attacks
- Relationship problems
- Social isolation
- Thoughts of suicide
- Self-harm
Ask us questions to learn more.
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