Depression
Kuvira Ramdeen
What is it?
Depression is a strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness. It can last for weeks, months, or even longer.
Signs or Symptoms:
Signs or Symptoms include:
- Negative Feelings and Mood. Depression involves a negative, low mood for weeks or more. Someone with depression may feel unusually sad, discouraged, or defeated. He or she may feel hopelessness, helplessness, or alone. Some people feel guilty unworthy, rejected, or unloved. Any or all of these emotions can be part of a depressed mood. Depression doesn't always cause people to feel mostly sad. For some, depression shows up as a lasting mood of feeling irritable, easily annoyed, angry, or alienated.
- Negative Thinking. When someone has depression, it can cloud everything. The world seems bleak, and the person's thoughts reflect that hopelessness and helplessness. This can make a person think that things will never get better, that problems are too big to solve, that nothing can improve the situation, or that nothing matters. People with depression tend to have negative and self-critical thoughts. They believe they are worthless and unlovable- even though that's not true. Depression can cause someone to think that their life isn't worth living. That can lead people with depression to think about harming themselves or about ending their own life.
- Low Energy and Motivation. People with depression may feel tired, drained, or exhausted. They might even move more slowly or take longer to do things. It can feel as if everything requires more effort. People who feel this way might have trouble motivating themselves to do or care about anything.
- Concentration. Depression can make it hard to concentrate and focus. It might be hard to complete schoolwork, pay attention in class, remember lessons, or stay focused on what others say.
- Physical Symptoms. People can feel depressed in their bodies as well as their minds. Some have an upset stomach or loss of appetite. Some might lose or gain weight. Some people notice headaches and sleeping problems when they're depressed.
Names or Forms:
None.
The Pain of Depression.
There's hardly any escape.
This is the smile one wears, to hide the pain they feel.
How is it Diagnosed?
Talking to a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or go to therapy.
How is it Treated?
By going to talk therapy, it helps understand emotions. One can identify and overcome negative thinking patterns, develop positive ways of looking at things, and it builds up confidence to deal with life's struggles.
An Interesting Fact.
Yoga, dance, art, music, journaling, daily exercise, meditation, daylight, and other positive things can affect the brain's activity in ways that restore mood and well- being.