DEPRESSION

What Is Depression?

Depression, known as Major Depressive Disorder, is a mental illness characterized by feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and a loss of interest in daily activities. It interferes with the ability to sleep, eat, complete school work, and more.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Depression can manifest in a multitude of ways. For a diagnosis, symptoms must last for at least two weeks. Some of the symptoms of depression are:

feeling sad or having a depressed mood
loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
changes in appetite (weight loss or weight gain unrelated to dieting)
trouble sleeping or excessive sleep
loss of energy or increased fatigue
increase in purposeless physical activity (examples: hand-wringing or pacing)
noticeably slowed movements and speech
feeling worthless of guilty
difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
thoughts of death or suicide

How Does Depression Differ from Sadness?

While depression can cause sadness, all sadness cannot be considered depression. It is important to know the distinction between being sad and being depressed. Sadness is a normal emotional response that anyone can have to a difficult situation. Simply being sad does not necessarily indicate depression. Sadness if often an emotion that passes with time, while depression is something that endures. While sadness can come in waves, depression often lingers. When a person is sad, their self esteem usually remains intact. When a person is depressed, feelings of worthlessness and self loathing are common. Having depression also causes intensified feelings of sadness or grief.

What Are the Risk Factors and Signs of Depression?

There are several risk factors that can attribute to a person's chances of developing depression. Depression can be caused by the biochemistry of the brain when there are differences in certain brain chemicals. Depression can also have a genetic component where a person can inherit it from another family member. A person's personality plays a role in their odds of developing depression as well, as people with low self esteem and pessimistic world views who are easily overwhelmed by stress are more at risk. Environmental factors, such as exposure to abuse, neglect, or poverty, additionally increase chances.

Here are some important questions you can ask yourself if you may be worried that you have depression:

Do you constantly feel sad, anxious, or even “empty,” like you feel nothing?
Do you feel hopeless or like everything is going wrong?
Do you feel like you’re worthless or helpless?
Do you feel guilty about things?
Do you feel irritable much of the time?
Do you find yourself spending more time alone and withdrawing from friends and family?
Are your grades dropping?
Have you lost interest or pleasure in activities and hobbies that you used to enjoy?
Have your eating or sleeping habits changed (eating or sleeping more than usual or less than usual)?
Do you always feel tired, like you have less energy than normal or no energy at all?
Do you feel restless or have trouble sitting still?
Do you feel like you have trouble concentrating, remembering information, or making decisions?
Do you have aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or stomach problems without a clear cause?
Do you ever think about dying or suicide?
Have you ever tried to harm yourself?

How Is Depression Treated?

Depression can be treated in a number of ways, and is sometimes thought of as the most treatable of mental disorders. It is important to note that one should usually be diagnosed before they begin any treatment for their depression. To get a diagnosis, talk to a trusted adult and ask a parent/guardian to schedule an appointment with a doctor or mental health professional (see talking to parents).

Medication, specifically antidepressants, are a popular option for treating depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly prescribed, which increases serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is neurotransmitter popularly associated with feelings of happiness and well being.

Psychotherapy, or "talk therapy," is often used in conjunction with medication. During psychotherapy, a professional helps one to identify and manage emotions, thoughts, and behaviors related to depression. They help one to focus on the present and problem solving.

How Can You Cope with Depression?

People can cope with their depression in different ways. Popular coping methods for depression include regular exercise, quality sleep, a healthy diet, and spending time with friends and family. It is a good idea to look for positive outlets as well. An effective way to get things done when depression gets in the way is to break down the task (whether it be schoolwork or something) into smaller ones and prioritize doing what you are capable with completing.

Parents can help their children cope with depression by making themselves available to their children and listening empathetically to them. While it may be hard to understand, parents should trust in their child when they say something is wrong. Together, parents and their children can work on coping with depression.