• DEPRESSION: Why you need to take care of your mental health.

Losing a loved one, getting fired from a job, going through a divorce, and other difficult situations can lead a person to feel sad, lonely and scared. These feelings are normal reactions to life's stressors. Most people feel low and sad at times. However, in the case of individuals who are diagnosed with depression as a psychiatric disorder, the manifestations of the low mood are much more severe and they tend to persist. Depression occurs more often in women than in men. Some differences in the manner in which the depressed mood manifests have been found based on sex and age. In men, it manifests often as tiredness, irritability and anger. They may show more reckless behaviour and abuse drugs and alcohol. They also tend to not recognise that they are depressed and fail to seek help. In women, depression tends to manifest as sadness, worthlessness, and guilt. In younger children depression is more likely to manifest as school refusal, anxiety when separated from parents, and worry about parents dying. Depressed teenagers tend to be irritable, sulky, and get into trouble in school. They also frequently have co-morbid anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse. In older adults, depression may manifest more subtly as they tend to be less likely to admit to feelings of sadness or grief and medical illnesses which are more common in this population also contributes or causes the depression.
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a persons everyday activities. People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It also can influence relationships and some chronic health conditions. Its important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if youre feeling miserable or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression.
Depression is considered a serious medical condition, and it can get worse without proper treatment. Yet, those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.
Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling blue.
Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood, and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be ongoing or come and go.

Symptoms of depression may include:
Mood: anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness
Emotional: feeling empty, sad, hopeless, anxious or hopeless, feelings of incompetence (e.g. I can’t do anything right) or despair, crying, intense sadness
Behavioral: loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favourite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
Sexual: reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
Cognitive: inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations
Sleep: insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night
Physical: fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems, increased cramps
The following are the major causes of depression
Family history: You’re at a higher risk for developing depression if you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder.
Early childhood trauma: Some events impact the way that the body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
Brain structure: There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe of your brain is less active. However, scientists don’t know if this happens before or after the onset of depressive symptoms.
Medical conditions: Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as chronic illness, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Drug use: A history of drug or alcohol misuse can impact your risk. This causes addiction to these drugs and absence or lack of access to these drugs would lead to depression. About 30 per cent of people who have a substance use problem also depression.
Low self-esteem or being self-critical: A lot of individuals who have low self-esteem are easily depressed due to that lack of belief in themselves as it affects every area of their lives. Some become very critical of themselves and every doubt their abilities and potentials even when they achieve little success and attain certain height.
Stressful events, such as loss of a loved one, economic problems, or a divorce: Dealing with the loss of a loved one, a very huge financial loss, divorce or even a break up can be very difficult as a feeling of loneliness, emptiness and a void can easily lead to depression. Sometimes failure in the examination can lead to depression. Individuals who are dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event like rape, near-death experiences often time deal with depression. Many factors can influence feelings of depression, as well as who develops it and who does. The causes of depression are often tied to other elements of your health.
There is no single test to diagnose depression. But your doctor can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a psychological evaluation. In most cases, your doctor will ask a series of questions about your moods, appetite, sleep pattern, activity level, and thoughts. Because depression can be linked to other health problems, your doctor may also conduct a physical examination and other blood work. Sometimes thyroid problems or a vitamin D deficiency can trigger symptoms of depression. Don’t ignore the symptoms of depression. If your mood t improve or gets worse, seek medical help. Depression is a serious mental illness with risks of complications. If left untreated, complications include w t gain or loss, physical pain, substance use problems, panic attacks, relationship problems, social isolation, suicidal thoughts, self-mutilation. Depression can be treated successfully, but it’s important to stick to your treatment plan. Read more about why depression treatment is important. Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your doctor about possible options. You may successfully manage symptoms with one form of treatment, or you may find that a combination of treatments works best. It’s common to combine medical treatments and lifestyle therapies, including the following:
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, antianxiety, or antipsychotic medications. Each type of medication that’s used to treat depression has benefits and potential risks.
Psychotherapy
Speaking with a therapist can help you learn skills to cope with negative feelings. You may also benefit from family or group therapy sessions.
Light therapy
Exposure to doses of white light can help regulate mood and improve symptoms of depression. This therapy is commonly used in seasonal affective disorder (which is now called major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern).
Exercise
Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity three to five days a week. Exercise can increase your body’s production of endorphins, which are hormones that improve your mood.
Avoid alcohol and drugs
Drinking or using drugs may make you feel better for a little bit. But in the long run, these substances can make depression and anxiety symptoms worse.
Learn how to say no
Feeling overwhelmed can worsen anxiety and depression symptoms. Setting boundaries in your professional and personal life can help you feel better.
Take care of yourself
You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, avoiding negative people, and participating in enjoyable activities. Sometimes depression t respond to medication. Your doctor may recommend other treatment options if your symptoms don’t improve.
Depression t generally considered to be preventable. It’s hard to recognize what causes it, which means preventing it is more difficult. But once you’ve experienced a depressive episode, you may be better prepared to prevent a future episode by learning which lifestyle changes and treatments are helpful. Depression and anxiety can occur in one person at the same time. In fact, studies have shown that 70 per cent of people with depressive disorders also has anxiety symptoms. Though they thought to be caused by different things, depression and anxiety can produce several similar symptoms. These include irritability, difficulty with memory or concentration, and sleep problems.
The two conditions also share some common treatments. Both anxiety and depression can be treated with therapy, like cognitive behavioural therapy, medication, or alternative therapies, including hypnotherapy. If you think you’ re-experiencing symptoms of either or both conditions, make an appointment to talk with your doctor. You can work with your doctor to identify coexisting symptoms of anxiety and depression and how they can be treated.
In conclusion, your emotional and mental health is as important as your physical health. Always try to be positive and spend more time with people that care about you. Avoid toxic people and always be happy. To everyone struggling with depression always remember that matter what life throws at you, you would be fine.