What is depression?

There are times when we all feel sad, hopeless or fed up; it’s part of life. Depression is different. With depression these feelings don’t just go away. They can last for months, becoming so intense that carrying on with everyday life can become impossible.
Depression can be hard to spot. There are many different symptoms, some emotional and some physical. These are some of the most common, so if you've experienced four or more for most of the day, nearly every day for over two weeks, it might be time to talk to someone and visit your GP for help.

• Tiredness and loss of energy
• Persistent sadness
• Loss of confidence and self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Avoiding others and becoming isolated and lonely
• Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting
• Undue feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
• Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking much earlier than usual
• Finding it hard to function at work/college/school
• Change in appetite
• Loss of sex drive and/ or sexual problems
• Physical aches and pains
• Thinking about suicide and death
• Self-harm

It’s easy to blame ourselves, but depression can affect anyone. You might feel guilty or frustrated that you can’t find the motivation to keep up with things, and it can be especially hard to spot the symptoms if you’ve been feeling the same way for a long time. Many people find they also experience anxiety alongside their symptoms, so nausea, breathlessness and headaches are all signs that it might be time to get help.
Depression is common, and in its mildest form most people can lead a healthy and active life with the right treatment and support. On the more severe end, depression can be devastating and even life-threatening, so don’t go through it alone. Spotting the signs and getting help early can be vital, so talk to someone about it and visit your GP for help.
Source:  http://www.depressionalliance.org/information/what-depression

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly. Depression is an illness that can affect the body as well as your emotional state. It is not just feeling down or unhappiness when something does not go your way, but usually a more sever problem. Real depression takes over the mind and the body. Clinical Depression: Sever cases of Depression are referred to as clinical depression. It has an effect on your routine activities and the way feel physically the way you think and the way you behave. You may be unable to do everyday activities, and in sever cases you may have suicidal feelings. Depression is not just a mood you can “get over”. It is an illness that often requires medication and treatment. What are the Symptoms of Depression? Depression can occur in anyone and is not only rooted in genetic predisposition. There are many reasons why we get depressed. Sometimes its temporary, which would not be considered clinical depression which we are discussing here. But other times, in the cases of clinical depression, it can lest for years and sometimes a lifetime. It is important you realize the symptoms of depression so you can eventually treat it. Symptoms of Depression include:

• Feeling unhappy and sad most of the time
• Getting frustrated over small things
• Lack of desire for sexual intimacy
• Difficulty sleeping or too much sleep
• Difficulty eating or overeating
• Trouble keeping your thoughts clear
• Feeling like you are in slow motion
• Decreased concentration
• Self blame, feeling useless and worthless
• Memory failure
• Crying for no reason

What Causes Depression? Because depression is a real illness, it is just that you had a bad day. That may cause temporary feelings of sadness, but it takes more to cause true depression. Often times, people suffer from depression because of major life changing events, life the death of a loved one, a divorce, or bankruptcy. Some people have gone through traumatic life changing physical events. For example those who have been abused, raped or assaulted find that their life seems to be spinning out of control. Is Depression Hereditary? There have been many studies that show that people suffering from depression actually have different wave patterns in their brains. They also may have a hormone imbalance or chemical imbalance due to life changes, physical or medical problems. Sometimes depression can be genetic and passed onto other family members through someones genetic makeup. Scientists are still researching the connection between a persons genes and clinical depression. Prevention and Treatment: While we do not usually have the ability to prevent traumatic events from happening, but we can try to build up our support systems. Having people to turn to when life changing events happen can be the best medication. However, there are times when we need to seek professional help. Seeking Professional Help: Counseling can help prevent depression from getting worse and can also give you the support you need to get through the difficult times. And other times you may need the help of a prescription medication. It is important to see your doctor if you are feeling depressed. They can evaluate your symptoms and guide you to the best treatment.
Source: http://www.consumerhealthreview.org/brain-health/depression/