Sinking Into Sadness
A Deeper Look at DEPRESSION
What is Depression?
Depression involves the balance of neurotransmitters, naturally-occurring chemicals in the brain that can be affected by social environment, daylight, seasons, life events, and certain medical conditions.
Signs or Symptoms
- negative feelings and mood
- negative thinking
- low energy and motivation
- concentration
- physical symptoms
- social withdrawing
How Does Depression Affect Someone?
- emotions and mood: unusually sad, helpless, discouraged, unworthy, unloved, alone
- twists way of thinking
- physically: can cause body aches and pains
Depression can affect more than just one's mood; it drains energy, motivation, and concentration.
Other Names or Forms
However, there is a related mental illness: seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In the winter, when there's less light, people might have this kind of depression.
How Is Depression Diagnosed?
Doctors can help someone get the right treatment if they find out that another condition is causing symptoms of depression.
How Is Depression Treated?
Treatment might include:
- talk therapy
- medication
- combination of above
- daily exercise
- exposure to sunlight
- relaxation skills for better sleep
Therapists help people:
- understand their emotions, put feelings into words, feel understood and supported
- work out problems and overcome negative thinking patterns
- develop more optimism, increase self-esteem, become more accepting of themselves
- build confidence to deal with life's struggles
Interesting Facts
Other people take it the wrong way and think that those with depression are failures, bad students/people, quitters, slackers, or losers.