Depression: Understanding What It Is

Depression is a mental disorder that affects approximately 14.8 million Americans. With so many people suffering, it’s amazing to think of just how much of a lack of understanding many people have towards what the disease is. Depression is not something that can go away at will. It is not something that people can control. This article is meant to give a clearer understanding of what depression is, and how you can help.

What is Depression?

Many people think that depression means that you are sad all the time, but this is not always the case. In fact, many people who have depression will go their whole lives undiagnosed because of this stigma. In reality, depression can have a multitude of different systems unique to each person. However, the main ones are as follows:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Feelings of guilt or hopelessness
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Lack of interests or hobbies
• Persistent aches such as cramps or headaches.
• Anxiety
• Thoughts of suicide.

When at least five of these symptoms occur for at least a two-week period, you may have depression. As you can see, not all of these symptoms are mental. Depression can take a toll on your body causing aches, pains, and fatigue.

The rates of depression are increasing. As of now, 14.8 million Americans suffer from depression. By the year 2020, major depression will be the second-leading cause of disability (behind heart disease).

Is There a Cure?

There are a multitude of ways that depression can be managed but there is no defined ‘cure’. The most common ways of treating depression are through counseling and medication. However, the latter is not recommended until after therapy has been tried. This is because the medication can cause side effects and relapses that in the end could just make matters worse.

Therapy works not only because it gives the person an outlet to talk about what’s going on, but it also becomes an introspective journey into what is causing these feelings. It offers emotional support, problem solving, changing thought processes and looking at personal behavior. It tries to root out the underlying factor of what’s causing the depression and has been proven an effective treatment for depression.
If therapy isn’t working, then a doctor may recommend medication. Antidepressants work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Most mental health experts agree that if the depression is severe enough to inhibit daily functions, antidepressants can help and even save your life. However, it is not recommended that a person take antidepressants unless instructed by their doctor, as the withdrawal period when stopping the medication can actually make depression symptoms worse.

How to Help Someone with Depression

If someone you care about is suffering from depression, know that you play an integral part in helping them fight through it. While the actual treatment may lie with the professionals, there are many things that you can do to help them fight through their time of struggle.

First, and most importantly, is making sure they are getting the treatment that they need. Many with depression think that it the disease will go away on its own if they leave it for long enough, but this is not the case. Depression is a medical condition that requires medical care. It’s important to keep this in mind - if you find yourself getting frustrated, tell yourself that this isn’t something that they can control.

Next is to make sure that you make it clear that you are supporting them. Unfortunately, mental health issues still suffer a negative stigma in many people’s minds. Because of this, people with depression may feel embarrassed to talk about what they’re going through. It’s important that they know that you are there for them when they need to talk. Talking about their feelings can be very therapeutic and help them manage their symptoms. Let them know whenever they need you, you will be there.

Lastly, focus on small goals. People with depression can feel the need to give up. They don’t see a point of getting out of bed in the morning. This is called depressive avoidance. It’s important to take note of even the smallest daily achievements. Let them know of their improvements – if they didn’t want to get out of bed one day, but did the next, praise that achievement. While it may seem minuscule to you, it’s progress to them.

Depression affects millions of people in America. Even though the rates are constantly increasing, many people still don’t have an understanding of what it is. It’s important to get awareness towards depression out there – it’s not something you can control, it’s a medical condition that needs attention.

If you or someone you know needs counseling, Holy Cross Counseling is there.