“People think depression is sadness. People think depression is crying. People think depression is dressing in black. But people are wrong. Depression is the constant feeling of being numb. Being numb to emotions, being numb to life. You wake up in the morning just to go back to bed again.”
What is depression?
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities.
People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It also can influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.
What are the causes of Depression?
There are several possible causes of depression. They can range from biological to circumstantial.
Common causes include:
• 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 impact the way that body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
• Brain structure. There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe of your 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 impact your risk.
What are the symptoms of Depression?
People with depression may experience a variety of symptoms, but most commonly, “a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities,” according to the American Psychiatric Association. Other symptoms of depression may include:
• Irritability, agitation or restlessness
• Lower sex drive
• Inability to focus, concentrate or make decisions
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Change in appetite and/or weight, eating too much or too little
• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Unexplainable crying spells
• Unexplainable physical symptoms such as headaches or body aches
• Feeling hopeless or worthless
• Withdrawal from social situations and normal activities
• Thoughts of death or suicide
One of the most important things you can do to help yourself with depression—other than medication and therapy—is to develop strong social support.
For some, this may mean forging stronger ties with friends or family. Knowing you can count on supportive loved ones to help can go a long way toward improving your depression.
For others, a depression support group can be key. It may involve a community group that meets in your area or you might find an online support group who meets your needs.
Children Are Not Immune to Depression
Although most people think of depression as an adult illness, children and adolescents can develop depression as well. Unfortunately, many children with depression go untreated because adults don’t recognize they’re depressed.
It’s important for parents, teachers, and other adults to learn about childhood depression. When you understand the symptoms of depression and the reasons children develop it, you can intervene in a helpful manner
While adults with depression tend to look sad, children and teens with depression may look more irritable and angry.
You might see changes in behavior, such as increased defiance or a decline in grades at school.
Your child might insist that he’s fine or he may deny that he’s experiencing any problems. Many parents pass off the irritability as a phase or they assume it’s part of normal development. But, irritability that lasts longer than two weeks may be a sign of depression.
Some children with depression often have physical complaints. They may report more stomachaches and headaches than their peers.
Also, for children talking to there parents about there mental health might help them .
“I don’t know how my parents will react.”
Talking can be scary, but the help available is worth it. The sooner you address things, the sooner you can feel better and the better you will be in the long-run. If you are concerned about how your parents will respond, one option is to schedule a meeting with both of them or with one parent at a time. Instead of a sudden, potentially unexpected conversation, choose a time and place where you are comfortable and plan what you want to say beforehand. The first step is to be honest with your parents. If you’re giving untrue information to them (even if well-intentioned), they will not fully understand how hard you’re struggling. Tell them you feel isolated, lonely, and sad. Tell them you’d like to try seeing a therapist again and that you’d like them to be a part of the process. You can plan by researching information online, taking a mental health screening and printing the results, or just by writing out a script for what you’d like to say.
“I am bent, but not broken. I am scarred, but not disfigured. I am sad, but not hopeless. I am tired, but not powerless. I am angry, but not bitter. I am depressed, but not giving up.”
Find a BUDDY to share all your problems with (even anonymously, if you want) on the FeelJoy Mobile App available for all Android users.
