What is depression?

• Depression is the feeling of sadness, loss, or anger that takes over a person’s day.  

• Estimated that 8.1% of American Adults ages 20 and over had depression in any given two-week period from 2013 to 2016.  

• Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia) is a depressed mood that lasts for at least two years. A person diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder.

• Depression occurs mostly in adulthood. However, it is now found to be in children and adolescents (the signs they show are irritability rather than a low mood). 

-Depression in midlife adults and older is shown through suffering from other medical illnesses like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease (medication taken to help these diseases at times make the depression worse.)

• What are the symptoms of depression:

If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

• Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism

• Irritability

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

• Decreased energy or fatigue

• Moving or talking more slowly

• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

• Appetite and/or weight changes

• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

 

Depression symptoms in children and teens

Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to those of adults, but there can be some differences.

• In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight.

• In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction.

• Risk Factors: 

You are at risk of getting depression through genetics, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. This basically means that you are prone to depression if someone in your family suffers from it or if you, yourself, have a history of some mental issue; if you are exposed to trauma, stress, or major life changes; if you take some specific medications or suffer from a physical illness. 

• Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.

• Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.

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

• Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.

• What is the treatment for depression? 

-Depression is treatable-even the worst cases of this mental issue. 

-Therapy and medications usually do the trick when treating a patient with depression. 

 

​