We all occasionally feel sad, unhappy, as if we had enough. Such feelings do not usually last longer than a week or two but sometimes disturb us too much in carrying out daily duties. Sometimes there is a reason for that, sometimes there is not. Usually we can fight alone, sometimes with the help of friends. Ellen Starr therapist wants you to know that you are not alone at this.
In depression, however:
The bad feelings do not pass spontaneously after a few days, they can last for weeks and months
They are so intense that affect your life.
How depression looks like?
Most people with depression will not have all of these symptoms, but most of them have five or six different symptoms.
A depressed person is:
Depressed most of the time
Loses interest and does not enjoy the things that he/ she normally enjoys doing
It is difficult for them to make decisions
Unable to cope with problems that are normally borne by the successful people
Feels anxious and restless
Feels exhausted
Loses appetite or increased weight
Has difficulty falling asleep and often wakes up earlier
Losing interest in sex
It has low self-esteem
Feels useless, inadequate and hopeless
Avoiding other people
Feels badly at a certain time every day, usually in the morning
It is possible that depressed people do not realize right away that they are depressing, especially if the symptoms of depression appear gradually. A depressed person fights and often accuses themselves of being lazy or lacks the will to do anything. Occasionally they need a friend or partner to help them realize their problem.
Occasionally, a depressed person may feel pain, headaches or suffer from insomnia. These physical symptoms can be among the first symptoms of depression.
Why is this happening?
As in normal, everyday situations when we experience a change of mood, the cause may be obvious, but sometimes it cannot be easily identified. This may be a disappointment, frustration, or loss of someone or something that is important to us. Usually there are more reasons at the same time and they vary from person to person.
Life events – it is natural to feel depressed after a stressful event – mourning for the loss of a close person, loss of job, divorce.
The circumstances – if you are under stress, if you are concerned, if you are physically exhausted, you are at greater risk for depression.
Somatic diseases – some somatic diseases can affect brain function and thus cause depression; as well as risk factors for depression cause chronic pain. In some cases, the depression may be due to hormonal disorders, such as in the case of hypothyroidism.
Personality – some people are more susceptible to depression than others, either because of specific life events, the impact of genetics or of both.
Alcoholism – people who are heavy drinkers are at higher risk of becoming depressed, and statistics show that more often commit suicide.
