Depression

Many people feel sad or depressed at times. It’s a normal reaction to loss or life struggles. But when intense sadness - including feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless - lasts for many days to weeks and keeps you from living your life, it may be something more than sadness. You could have clinical depression – a treatable medical condition. A person suffering from depression feels extremely sad and dejected, has a deep sense of emptiness, and feels a loss of self-worth.  

You have depression when you have 5 or more of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks:

1.       A depressed mood during most of the day, especially in the morning.

2.       You feel tired or have a lack of energy almost every day.

3.       You feel worthless or guilty almost every day.

4.       You have a hard time focusing, remembering details, and making decisions.

5.       You can’t sleep or you sleep too much almost every day.

6.       You have no interest or pleasure in many activities nearly every day.

7.       You think often about death or suicide (not just a fear of death).

8.       You feel restless or slowdown.

9.       You’ve lost or gained weight.

10.   Overeat or stop feeling hungry.

11.   Have aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that don’t go away or get better with treatment.

People of all ages get depressed. Anyone can suffer from depression, although most common in people in their twenties or in older people. Women are diagnosed more often than men.

The causes of depression are not fully understood but can be due to a complex combination of:

·         Genetics

·         Biological – changes in neurotransmitter levels

·         Environmental

·         Psychosocial

Some people are at a higher risk of depression than others; risk factors include:

·         Life events – like loss of spouse or close friend, divorce, work issues, relationships with friends and family, financial problems, medical problems or acute stress.

·         Genetic factors – having a first degree relatives with depression

·         Childhood trauma

·         Some prescription drugs

·         Abuse of recreational drugs

·         A past head injury

·         Having had one episode of major depression – increases the risk of a subsequent one

·         Chronic pain syndromes – other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease make depression more likely.

Depression can be prevented or helped by doing the following:

·         Seek help

·         Keep strictly to medication instructions if using medication for depression.

·         Exercise regularly.

·         Eat well and do enjoyable things.

·         Get out and mix with other people.

·         Talk to a therapist to isolate the things that might be producing the depression.

·         Attend to other illnesses as they may be producing the depression.

·         Be persistent.

Depression will not just disappear on its own. Feeling depressed does not mean that the person is crazy, or is ‘past it’. People of all ages get depressed. Depression can be treated successfully. Rather than simply putting up with depression and hoping that it will go away or thinking that it is just a normal part of ageing, help should be sought.

                                                                 Happy Living!