Depression is a grave medical condition defined by extreme and overwhelming feelings of sadness that disrupts one’s life. This disorder has been documented to affect as much as 15% of the entire population in most developed countries, in the US, the figure stands at 18.8 million Americans. Depression is not bound by age, gender or race. It can affect anyone at any given time and the severity often differs on how one copes and handles their depression.
The most common signs of depression include extreme sadness, disassociation and isolation, visible lack of pleasure in life, appetite and sleep changes, fatigue, self disgust and violence that may lead to suicidal tendencies. Depression involves an overall feeling of negativity that damages one’s sense of worth.
As Depression varies from one individual to another, this disorder has been categorized into two primary types. If an individual is showing signs of at least 5 of the signs of Depression over a course of two weeks, then this particular depression falls under the Unipolar Category. It mostly targets the young adult in the 15-30 age bracket. When Depression lasts for prolonged period of time accompanied by 2 visible signs of depression, then this is of the Dysthmic type of disorder.
Depression threatens one’s life and mental sanity. It can seriously alter how we live our life and how we deal with our relationships. False beliefs on depression are often the reasons why most people suffering from this disorder are left untreated, most of us believe that these feelings are normal and will eventually go away, but the truth is that depression can take one’s life.
Depression is a clinical disorder and should not be a cause of shame, and as with any disorder it is curable given the right diagnosis. Available treatments for depression can vary depending on the severity; it can run from anti depressants, to psychotherapy and rehabilitation.
The best way to combat depression is to surround ourselves with a strong support group and to keep a positive outlook in life. As each of us will inevitable go through tragic experiences in our lifetime, it is our ability to cope that will differentiate us from the rest and will pull us up from the pits of depression.
To learn more about depression signs and treatment options, check out a few of my other articles.