Depression: what is it, what are its symptoms

Depression is a mental health condition that causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in things. Depression is also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression. Depression is a common and serious illness that causes severe symptoms. It affects the way a person feels, thinks, and carries out daily activities such as sleeping, eating, or working, and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble carrying out normal day-to-day activities. In this, you will get information about what are the symptoms of depression.

What are the symptoms of depression

Depression can happen only once in your life, but people face many problems throughout their lives. The symptoms of depression may vary slightly depending on the type and can range from mild to severe.

• feelings of sadness, tears, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Getting angry, irritable, or frustrated over small things
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all usual activities, such as hobbies or sports
• sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Fatigue and lack of energy, so even small tasks require extra effort
• feeling tired
• Loss of appetite or weight loss, increased food cravings and weight gain
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
• thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts, recurrent suicidal thoughts
• Pain, cramps and digestive problems without any specific reason that do not subside even after treatment.

Not everyone who suffers from depression has these symptoms. Some people have only one symptom, while others have multiple symptoms. The symptoms associated with depression interfere with day-to-day functioning and cause a lot of distress for the person experiencing them. A person with depression may have mood changes.

• increased anger or irritability
• feeling anxious or stressed
• Becoming introverted, negative, or aloof
• excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs
• Inability to balance work and family responsibilities or neglecting other important roles
• Staying away from friends and family

Signs of depression in children and teens

• Feeling negative, sad, anxious, angry, irritable, and in pain.
• Refusal to go to school.
• Loss of interest in favourite activities.
• Feeling tired or lacking energy.

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• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Complaints of stomach ache or headache.
• Sometimes becoming overly sensitive and avoiding social interactions.
• Self-harm and attempted suicide.

Symptoms of depression in the elderly

• Personality changes and memory problems.
• Body pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, etc.
• Avoiding social interactions.
• Suicidal thoughts or feelings.

Symptoms of Depression

• Genetics – If someone in your family has depression, you are more likely to suffer from it too.
• Abuse – Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can make you more vulnerable to depression later in life.
• Age – If you are older, you are at greater risk for depression. Factors such as living alone or lacking social support can increase the risk.
• Conflict – If you frequently have personal conflict or arguments with family members or friends, this may also make you biologically vulnerable to depression.
• Medications – Isotretinoin, the antiviral drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids may increase the risk of depression.
• Alcohol and drugs -Using alcohol or other drugs can cause depression.

FAQs about Depression

Can depression be cured without any medicine?

Yes, many individuals manage and recover from depression without antidepressant medication. Non-drug approaches such as therapy, lifestyle changes, and social support can be effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

Why does depression occur?

People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic may be more likely to experience depression.

What causes depression in the brain?

Changes in brain chemistry, particularly disruptions in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which play an important role in regulating many bodily functions, including mood, sleep, and appetite.

What happens if you are too depressed?

Due to depression, hormones increase, which increases the speed of heart beat and tightens the blood vessels. This condition is most responsible for heart attack. According to the CDC, people who are going through even mild depression are at a very high risk of getting heart disease.

In how many days does depression go away?

It has a specific cause, doesn’t interfere too much with daily life, and usually doesn’t last more than a week or two. If these feelings last for weeks or months,