Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, and it can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home. So, if you are diagnosed with the disorder, how you feel and think will be negatively affected as well as the way you act and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. This means that depression can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends, and the community, and can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.
Depression is different from sadness or grief
Depression is different from sadness or grief. The death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure and it is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Sometimes, people who are experiencing those losses might describe themselves as being “depressed” but that is not the same as depression. Compared to grief, when someone has major depression, their mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for the most part of the past two weeks, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common, and thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression.
Anyone can have depression, even those who appear to be living in relatively ideal circumstances — the myth about “being too lucky to have depression” is simply untrue. Depression is treatable. Treatments may include medication (antidepressants) and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, as known as “talk therapy”, can help people with depression by teaching them new ways of thinking & behaving and how to change habits that contribute to depression.
If you think you or a loved one may be struggling with depression, please do not hesitate to talk to a professional such as a social worker or therapist. Please know that there is nothing to be ashamed of for seeking help and remember that things do get better.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What Is Depression? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.). Depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022, March). Depressive disorder (depression). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
