Depression
The Truth About Depression: Causes, Types, Treatment, Prevention
September 7, 2022
Medically Reviewed by Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Tan Sheng Neng
MMED (Psych), MBBS, MCI, FAMSSeptember 7, 2022
Your mood and ability to function may be affected by a medical illness known as depression. The various types of depression include:
- Clinical depression
- Bipolar depression
- Dysthymia
- Seasonal affective disorder
Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, affects how you feel, think, and behave and can cause a number of emotional and physical issues. You will find it difficult to carry out your regular daily tasks, and occasionally think life isn’t worth living.
Counseling, medication, brain stimulation, and complementary therapies are all available as treatment options.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Depressive episodes can last for several weeks, months, or even years.
It is a chronic condition, patients may experience remittances after periods of improvement.
Major depressive disorder is the most prevalent form of depression, though there are other varieties. Symptoms must last for at least two weeks for it to be considered an episode.
Your body, cognition, and emotions might be impacted by depression. Depression can manifest as:
- Being exceedingly depressed, helpless, or concerned.
- Not finding joy in activities that you used to enjoy.
- Being prone to frustration or irritability.
- Eating excessively or insufficiently.
- Changes in your sleep patterns.
- Finding it harder to focus or remember things.
- Physical issues such as headache, stomachache, or erectile dysfunction.
- Consideration of self-harm or suicide.
Symptoms of depression may manifest in different ways in adults, teenagers, and young children.
Young Children
Depression in young children may manifest as melancholy, impatience, clinginess, concern, aches, pains, refusal to attend school, or being underweight.
Teenagers
Teens may experience symptoms such as sadness, irritability, feeling down and unworthy, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and overly sensitive, using alcohol or drugs recreationally, eating excessively, engaging in self-harm, losing interest in regular activities, and avoiding social interaction with friends and family.
Adults
Adults experience a variety of symptoms such as rage, aggression, irritability, nervousness, loss of interest, no longer finding enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities, feeling exhausted easily, suicidal thoughts, excessive drinking, drug use, decreased sexual desire or poor sexual performance, cognitive abilities, inability to concentrate, restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or trouble staying asleep all night, exhaustion, aches, headaches, or stomach issues.
Causes of Depression
Depression may be caused by a number of factors:
- Brain chemistry. Depression may be brought on by abnormalities in brain chemistry.
- Hereditary. You may be more prone to developing depression if a family member already struggles with it.
- Life events. Depression can be brought on by stress, loss of a loved one, traumatic experiences, loneliness, and a lack of social support.
- Chronic Disease. Constant physical discomfort and illness can contribute to depression – Diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses are frequently co-existing with depression in people.
- Medication. Depression is a side effect of some drugs.
- Substance abuse. Alcohol and recreational substances can both induce depression or exacerbate it.
- Personality. People who have management problems or are quickly overwhelmed may be more susceptible to depression.
- Trauma in early childhood. Some negative experiences have an impact on how your body responds to stress and frightening situations.
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Treatment and Prevention
Although it can be serious and debilitating condition, depression is manageable. Some methods to manage and/or treat depression include:
- Regular exercise, adequate rest, and interaction with loved ones can lessen the effects of depression.
- Seeing a mental health professional for counseling or psychotherapy. Your therapist can aid in problem-solving and the development of coping mechanisms. Some may only require a few sessions of therapy, while others might need to stay in therapy longer.
- Medication: Antidepressants, which are available only on prescription, can help alter the brain chemistry that underlies depression. The effects of antidepressants may not be felt for several weeks. The adverse effects of several antidepressants frequently get better with time.
- Brain stimulation therapy. People with severe depression or depression coupled with psychosis may benefit from brain stimulation therapy. Electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and vagus nerve stimulation are examples of brain stimulation therapies (VNS).
