Depression can Affect Anyone
This mood disorder is the most common mental illness in the world, Example, One in ten Americans suffers from depression, and women are twice more likely than men to be affected by this disorder. Someone might look like they have the perfect life on the outside but they may be battling, or have battled, anxiety and/or depression.
Causes of Depression
It’s not entirely clear what causes depression. There are a number of factors that have been linked to this mood disorder including:
Biological changes in the brain: The hippocampus, a small part of the brain, tends to be smaller in some people with depression than those who’ve never been depressed. Depression may be due to the fact that a smaller hippocampus means it has fewer serotonin receptors. (It’s believed that serotonin contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness.)- Brain chemistry. The way neurotransmitters (naturally occurring chemicals in the brain) interact with neurocircuits can have an effect on a person’s mood.
- Hormones. Women are much more likely than men to suffer from depression due to hormone imbalances. These imbalances can be due to pregnancy, giving birth (postpartum), menopause, thyroid problems, or some other hormone-related condition.
- Genetics. Depression may be inherited from a relative who suffers from the condition.
- Stressful life events. Something specific may have triggered the depression such as:
- Abuse. Physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse can create emotional turmoil for the victims, including self-blame and shame. Children who’ve experienced abuse are much more likely to experience adult depression.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can occur when someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. This is so common amongst our military. (It saddened me to learn that roughly 20 U.S. veterans commit suicide every day.)
- Cancer or other health-related illnesses
- Chronic pain
- Major life events such as the death of a loved one, getting a divorce or losing a job.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – This type of depression is caused by changes in the seasons. It’s most commonly experienced in the fall and winter seasons due to lack of sunlight.
- Certain Medications: The certain medication can also cause depression.
NB:
People who are depressed often feel sad and don’t have an interest in activities they once found interesting. Sometimes they feel like they have nothing to give to others. They may feel empty inside, have a sense of guilt or worthlessness, lack of hope, and even thoughts of death or suicide.
The symptoms of depression can include:
- a depressed mood
- reduced interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- a loss of sexual desire
- changes in appetite
- unintentional weight loss or gain
- sleeping too much or too little
- agitation, restlessness, and pacing up and down
- slowed movement and speech
- fatigue or loss of energy
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or an attempt at suicide
In college students
Time at college can stressful, and a person may be dealing with other lifestyles, cultures, and experiences for the first time.
Some students have difficulty coping with these changes, and they may develop depression, anxiety, or both as a result.
Symptoms of depression in college students may include:
- difficulty concentrating on schoolwork
- insomnia
- sleeping too much
- a decrease or increase in appetite
- avoiding social situations and activities that they used to enjoy
In teens
Physical changes, peer pressure, and other factors can contribute to depression in teenagers.
They may experience some of the following symptoms:
- withdrawing from friends and family
- difficulty concentrating on schoolwork
- feeling guilty, helpless, or worthless
- restlessness, such as an inability to sit still
In children
The CDC estimate that, in the U.S., 3.2% of children and teens aged 3–17 have a diagnosis of depression.
In children, symptoms can make schoolwork and social activities challenging. They may experience symptoms such as:
- crying
- low energy
- clinginess
- defiant behavior
- vocal outbursts
Younger children may have difficulty expressing how they feel in words. This can make it harder for them to explain their feelings of sadness.
Effects of Depression
Ways to Help Overcome Depression
If you feel like you might be depressed, you’re not alone. Did you know there are over 300 million people around the world who suffer from this disorder? Continue reading to learn about the ways to help overcome depression.
I recommend doing many — if not all — of the following coping skills and techniques once a day when experiencing depression. It’s important to know you probably won’t be motivated to do any of them at first because depression frequently saps motivation. In other words, know that it’s normal to feel unmotivated until you’re halfway done.
Grab Your Goodbye Depression pack now
Do Exercises.
Moving the body can significantly improve your mood and make you feel better about yourself. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which enhance the feeling of optimism. Exercise also suppresses hormones that cause stress and anxiety. Try working out at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Healthy diet.
When you eat a healthy diet, you not only have a healthier body (which can help you feel better about yourself), but you also have a better chance of getting your essential nutrients, which can also contribute to your emotional well-being. Try eliminating processed, junk, and fast foods, and incorporate healthier foods into your diet. Include mood-boosting foods such as dark chocolate (in moderation), salmon, oysters, blueberries, and leafy greens. Kris Carr wrote an article about
Relationships
Focus on people who lift you up. Interact frequently with others that bring you up (not people that bring you down). While it’s OK to have some alone time, find a balance and don’t isolate yourself or the depression will linger.
Take a different view.
With depression often comes a psychological myopia: the sufferer robotically repeats with soul-sucking negative thoughts: “Nothing I try ever works out” “How could I have been so stupid?” “I am not worthy of being loved”. A person deep in the throes of that kind of thinking can, if unchecked, spend an entire session staring at one spot—often the floor.
Make Plans.
When a person is depressed the only place he or she wants to be is in bed, preferably under the covers with the shades drawn. Lifting up the phone to hear a friendly voice, much less having plans outside the bare minimum (work, school, grocery store) feels way too difficult
Visualize a happy memory.
When a patient continually revisits a painful memory (say, of a romantic rejection or failed business enterprise), it can tip him or her into near emotional catatonia. I say, “Wait, before you ‘go down the rabbit hole’ and all the dark feelings overwhelm you, close your eyes and go to a happy memory.”
I suggested, “The moment you feel yourself sliding back to an awful memory that takes you under, take a breath and instantly conjure up with positive, uplifting and good memory. Counter the gloom with an immediate dose of positivity!”
Start doing things you Enjoy
Create a goal or plan you can get excited about, and/or get back into an activity you once enjoyed. Ie: Plan a vacation, take a class on something that interests you, join a book club, start taking group fitness classes at the gym.
Hellow,
if you or your relative,Friend or loved ones suffering from Depression, here is Programme Guide madeby medical and psychology proffesional will to help Step By step to overcome Depression
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