Let’s face it. Life is not always sunny days and happy times. Sometimes life is rainy days and cloudy skies. The ups and downs in life can have us experiencing a range of emotions from happy and joyous to unhappy and sad that may not have a long lasting effect on us. But if you have been feeling sad for some time now and feel like you are unable to “shake it”, you may be experiencing depression. Depression can make life seem overwhelming and hard to enjoy. Understanding the signs of depression is one of the first steps to overcoming depression. In part one of this series, you will find information such as some common signs and symptoms of depression, some causes of depression, and few options for treatment.
What Is Depression?
Sadness is a normal reaction to the challenges that life throws our way. Many use the word “depression” to describe feeling sad; however, depression is much more than just feeling sad. Truth be told, not everyone with depression feels sad at all. Some people feel empty, lifeless, angry, or not interested in things that they once enjoyed. The difference between depression and sadness is that depression interferes with life. It interferes with work, school, eating and sleeping habits, your thoughts and feelings, and your ability to have fun.
Am I Dealing With Depression?
Depression does not look the same for everyone. Although the common signs and symptoms of depression can be a normal response to a challenging time, it is possible that you may be experiencing depression the more symptoms you are have, the intensity of the symptoms, and the length of time you have been experiencing the symptoms. Here are some common signs and symptoms of depression:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, depression, or emptiness
- Changes in sleeping habits such as sleeping more or sleeping less
- Feeling tired or drained, restlessness
- Changes in eating habits such as eating more or eating less
- Feeling irritable, agitated, frustrated, moody, or short-tempered
- Feeling worthless, helpless, hopeless, or guilt
- Trouble concentrating, focusing, remembering things, or making decisions
- Loss of interest of activities or hobbies that you once enjoyed
- Crying spells
Some Causes for Depression
Depression is not a sign of weakness or a flaw in who you are and does not have to define who you are. Depression is a treatable illness that is caused by a combination of biological, environmental, genetic, and psychological factors. Examples of each include:
- Biological – chemical imbalance in the brain
- Genetic – family history of depression
- Psychological – low self-esteem, sensitivity to loss or rejection
- Environmental – stress at home or work
How Depression Can Be Treated
Just as depression symptoms and causes are not the same for everyone, the road to recovery is not a “one size fits all”. What works for someone may not work for you and not all treatment options are appropriate for everyone. The sooner you seek help for depression the better as your symptoms could increase if not treated. If you think that you are experiencing depression, seek help from a doctor or mental health specialist. Some symptoms of medical conditions can look like depression symptoms.
Your doctor can complete a physical exam to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing your symptoms. When you seek help from a mental health specialist, you will undergo a mental health assessment where information such as a complete history of your symptoms and family history of mental health illnesses will be obtained to determine if you are experiencing depression. Treatment options for depression includes but not limited to are:
- Therapy/counseling
- Medication
- Healthy lifestyle changes such as meditation and exercise
In part one of this series, we provided information such as some common signs and symptoms of depression, some causes of depression, and few options of treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, you do not have to go through this alone. We look forward to working with you in our Charlotte (University area) counseling office or our Rock Hill (downtown area) counseling office. Give us call at 980-209-3222 or you may schedule an appointment to get started with living the life you desire.
