A person is considered to be depressed if they have a low mood and other symptoms for at least two weeks.  Symptoms can be mild and last a short time. On the other hand, symptoms can be moderate or so severe affecting one’s life and ability to carry out normal activities.

Symptoms

Some people may or may not know when they have depression.  A person may feel they are not carrying out their activities as well as they usually do or they do not feel right in themselves.  There are many symptoms of depression and it is not unusual to have them all.  The more symptoms experienced the greater the severity of the depression.

Symptoms can include:

Ø       Low mood most of the day, almost every day

Ø       Loss of enjoyment and interest in life, even for activities normally enjoyed

Ø       Abnormal sadness often with crying

Ø       Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or uselessness

Ø       Poor motivation – simple tasks seem hard

Ø       Poor concentration e.g. difficult to work

Ø       Difficulty getting to sleep, waking early & unable to get back to sleep, sleeping too much

Ø       Lack of energy – always tired

Ø       Difficulty with affection – including going off sex

Ø       Poor appetite & weight loss or comfort eating & weight gain

Ø       Irritable, agitated, or restless

Ø       Physical symptoms – headaches, palpitations, chest pains

Ø       Symptoms seem worse first thing each day

Ø       Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts

Depression who is affected

Ø       Can affect anyone, of any age, sex or status

Ø       Approximately 2 in 3 adults get depression at some time in their lives.

Ø       1 in 4 women & 1 in 10 men have had an episode of depression at some time in their life serious enough to require treatment

Ø       Some people have two or more episodes of depression at some time during their life

What causes depression?

The exact cause of depression is unknown and anyone can be affected by it.  Most often, it can occur as a result of result of a combination of events or circumstances.  But whatever the cause, it’s important to remember that depression is not just in your mind.  Some common factors that can trigger depression include:

Ø  Family History: Depression can run in families so depression can be genetic

Ø  Trauma and Stress: a traumatic event e.g. a car accident, or a death of a family member can have a severely effect and stresses such as relationships, life changes can trigger depression

Ø   Low Self-Esteem: People with a pessimistic personality and a negative outlook on life are at greater risk of becoming depressed.