Anxiety | Stress | Fear | Depression
Depression
Depression is a disease. It can happen to anyone, the strong, the weak, the fortunate, and the healthy. Major depression is one of the most debilitating illnesses affecting Americans today. It can affect your ability to function, think, and feel. More specifically, it is a mood problem noted by pervasive sadness, disappointment, and hopelessness. The depressed person usually has difficulty finding pleasure in life, has feelings of intense loneliness, and has limited energy to engage in life activities. Most people have periods when they feel discouraged about their circumstances. However, true depression goes deeper by lasting longer and impacting ones whole existence.
People dealing with depression often wish for a better day, but have lost hope that it will come. They do not know how to feel better. Those suffering from depression may experience extreme mood fluctuations or a desire to withdraw from interactions with others. Frustrated with the inability to snap out of it, they become more discouraged. In some cases, depression can last for extended periods of time months or even years. One way to deal with depression is to determine the severity of the experience, understand the influences that prompted its onset, and securing treatment options.
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be prompted by a variety of factors. Some episodes of depression are situation-induced. For example, the death of a loved one, the loss of ones job, or the disappointment of failed efforts to get into graduate school can all initiate an episode of depression. When someone can discern the source of depression, the outlook is more favorable. Specific measures can be incorporated to deal with the pain. However, when no source is clear, the depression may worsen due to lack of treatment.
In addition to situational factors, there are other stressors that prompt depression. Chemical imbalances, personality factors, drug and alcohol use, physical illness, and inadequate dietary practices can influence the onset of depression. Given that so many influences can impact ones mental health, it is important to monitor ones lifestyle and health practices.
Depression Severity
Depression can impact a persons life in many different ways. To a large degree, the manifestation of depression depends on the persons coping style, personality, and previous level of functioning. Following are some symptoms of depression. Review the areas and determine how you compare with the descriptors.
Emotions:
- Blunted emotional presentation or frequent crying spells
- Difficulty in finding pleasure in life activities
- Decreased sexual desire
- Profound feelings of guilt or shame
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Cold or distant feelings toward family or friends
Behavior:
- Decreased interest in participating in activities previously enjoyed
- Diminished interest in maintaining ones hygiene
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Reduced coping ability
- Impaired communication with others (e.g., irritating, sarcastic)
Physical Complaints:
- Lack of energy
- Compulsive eating or loss of appetite
- Headaches, backaches, or general muscle aches without a specific cause
- Gastrointestinal problems (e.g., stomach pain, nausea, change in bowel habits)
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
If you have several of these symptoms, you may be seriously depressed. Consulting with a professional counselor may be helpful as you determine a way to handle the problem. One step in this process is to understand the various causes of depression.
- College Stress Can Lead to Depression
- http://www.wimentalhealth.org/Topics/collegedepression.htm
- Heading back to campus? Watch for depression triggered by college stresses
- http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/collegedepression.htm
- What do These Students Have in Common?
- http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/students.cfm
- American Psychiatric Association
- http://www.healthyminds.org/collegementalhealth.cfm