Depression or major depression as a mood disorder in which a person experiences a feeling of sadness or loss of interest in things he or she previously enjoyed or both at the same time.
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders experienced by more than 264 million people worldwide. Depression is often confused with feelings of sadness, but two things are really different.
Traumatic life events such as the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, the loss of a job, the survival of a natural disaster can lead to feelings of sadness, but are generally short-lived.
The difference between sadness and depression
Grief is caused by a traumatic event, but it is not the only feeling one can experience. Apart from being sad, a person may sometimes have some happy memories or happy feelings, but in the case of depression, most of the time the person is sad. Feelings of sadness and loss of interest should last at least 2 weeks to be in the group of depression.
Feelings of self-harm or suicide do not usually appear when a person is sad. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person.
In the case of depression, a person intends to commit suicide or suicide because of the inability to cope with long-term grief or feelings of worthlessness. When depressed, a person feels worthless and unworthy of life, which is likely to lead to self-harm. When saddened by a traumatic event, the person generally does not feel worthless.
Self-esteem is damaged during depression and self-hatred is one of the symptoms of depression.
Symptoms of depression
In addition to grief, a person may experience a variety of physical and mental symptoms during depression and various negative emotions. If a person experiences 5 of these symptoms within 2 weeks, he or she will become depressed. Common symptoms of depression include:
1. Feeling sad or depressed
2. Irritable, anxious, restless, aggressive or moody
3. Loss of desire to do favorite activities
4. Loss of appetite
5. Weight loss or gain
6. Decreased libido
7. A disturbed sleep pattern such as too much or too little sleep
8. Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or completing routine activities
9. Feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing, despair and guilt
10. Fatigue
11. Suicide or having suicidal thoughts
Symptoms of depression should not be ignored because if left untreated it can aggravate the symptoms and grief and damage a person’s life.
Causes of depression
Genetics: If you have a family history, you are most likely or at least at risk of developing the disorder at some point in your life.
Traumatic eventsMajor traumatic events or traumatic events in childhood can provoke depression and lead to a spiral of negative emotions.
Brain structureLess activity in the frontal lobe of a person’s brain can put them at greater risk for depression.
health condition: A person suffers from depression after suffering from chronic diseases, other mental disorders or medical conditions.
Chemical activity of the brainChanges in the brain’s chemical activity can lead to feelings of depression. Changes in the level of neurotransmitters in the brain also trigger depressive symptoms.
in the end
Depression with a variety of symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors, but it can be treated. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of depression, do not ignore them and try to seek help. Seeing your doctor early can help minimize its negative effects and can change your lifestyle.
In general, it can make a person happier and restore his will to have a purposeful life. All that matters is to break the taboo of depression and seek help to improve our quality of life.
Translator: Elahe Zarei
