Let’s talk about depression,
Definition by American Psychiatric Association: Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Fortunately, it’s also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
According to The Mayo Clinic experts, depression (major depressive disorder) is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interests. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day to day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. Depression may require long term treatment, most people feel better with medication or psychotherapy or both.
Symptoms, can vary from mild to severe and can include:
•Feeling sad or having a depressed mood.
•Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
•Change in appetite (weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting)
•Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
•Loss of energy or increased fatigue
•Increase in purposeless physical activity, example; inability to sit still, pacing, handwriting or slow movements or speech (this action must be severe enough to be observable by others) .
•Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions.
•Thoughts of death or suicide.
Symptoms must last at least two weeks and must represent a change in your previous level of functioning for diagnosis of depression. Also medical conditions (thyroid problems, a brain tumor or vitamin deficiency) can mimic symptoms of depression so it is important to rule out medical causes. Depression affects an estimate 1 in 15 adults, which is 6.7% in any given year and 1 in 6 people, which is 16.6% will experience depression at sometime in their lives. Depression can occur anytime but on average first appears in late teens to mid 20’s. Women are more more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that 1/3 of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is
a high degree of heritability (approx. 40%) when first degree relatives (parents, children, and siblings) have depression.
DEPRESSION IS DIFFERENT FROM SADNESS OR GRIEVE
The death of a loved one, lost of job, or the ending of a relationship all are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grieve to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed”. But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grieve and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities.
Next week we’re going to continue talking about this important mental health illness, simple things that we can do to feel better or help someone. And always remember that you are not alone we have our God that it’s always there when you seek him in prayer.
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
“The lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalms 34:18