Depression & Mood Disorders
Depression, also known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder, is a serious mood disorder characterized by a constant sense of sadness and a lack of interest in life. It is a complex condition that impacts your emotions, thoughts, and physical health, often making routine daily tasks feel overwhelming.
It is important to remember that depression is not a personal failure or a temporary case of the "blues" that you can simply overcome through willpower. While it often requires professional, long-term care, most individuals experience significant improvement through therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
While some people experience only one episode, most face recurring bouts of depression where symptoms persist for the majority of the day, nearly every day. These may include:
Symptoms
Emotional Distress: Persistent feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, or tearfulness.
Irritability: Frequent frustration or angry outbursts, even over minor issues.
Loss of Interest: Withdrawing from hobbies, sports, or physical intimacy.
Physical Changes: Unexplained pain (like headaches or backaches), significant weight changes, or constant fatigue even after small tasks.
Sleep Issues: Struggling with insomnia or sleeping excessively.
Cognitive Struggles: Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions, often accompanied by slowed speech or movement.
Low Self-Esteem: Fixating on past failures or feeling excessive guilt and worthlessness.
Thoughts of Self-Harm: Recurring thoughts regarding death or suicide.
There is no single known cause for depression; rather, it is usually triggered by a combination of factors:
Causes
Biological and Chemical Factors: These include imbalances in brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
Genetic Predisposition: Your risk of developing depression triples if a parent or sibling has the condition, although many people are diagnosed without a family history.
Stressful Life Events: Traumatic experiences, such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, or isolation, can act as triggers.
Health and Medication: Symptoms can be triggered or worsened by chronic medical conditions (like diabetes or chronic pain), as well as by the side effects of certain medications or substance use.
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