Depression

Depression unfortunately affects 10-15% of people at some point in their life and is actually more common in women than in me.  It can be quite difficult living with a depressive disorder and thankfully there are some treatments available and most people will be able to be treated successfully.

What is Depression?

Depression is an illness and it can cause a person to lose enjoyment in life and their leisure activities that they once enjoyed.  They may also lose interest in their performance at work and in personal relationships.  Depression can get to the stage where a person may not want to leave the house but will stay in bed all day.

Sure everybody feels depressed at some time but with depression a person feels depressed all the time.  You know when it is more than just having a bad day, you know when you feel like it constantly that you are suffering from depression.

Depression Symptoms

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or severity of symptoms with depression, but symptoms may include the following:

• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt and/or helplessness
• Inability to concentrate or make decisions
• Feelings of anxiety
• Reduced appetite
• Loss of interest in favourite activities
• Loss of interest in personal appearance
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Difficulty getting up in the morning
• Constant tiredness
• Lack of energy
• Changes in weight
• Headaches

Symptoms will develop over a period of time and some may present at the same time.

It is important to know that DEPRESSION IS NOT:

• A sign of weekness
• Just feeling ‘a bit down’
• Something to feel guilty about
• A punishment for being a bad person

Depression can affect anyone. It is ultimately caused by an imbalance of special chemical substances in the brain called neurotransmitters. Although the imbalance can be contributed to by personality and life events resulting in stress.

Many people think depression will just go away if the sufferer makes an effort to think positively and enjoy themselves. They do not understand that depression is an illness and as such required treatment. The lack of understanding in many people can in fact make the depressed person even more depressed and isolated. It is due to this lack of understanding that many people with depression are reluctant to talk about it or tell their family and friends about it.

By talking about depression and seeing your doctor to have your depression diagnosed is the first step on the road to recovery.

Click here for more information on treating depression