It's different from sadness

The death of a family member, the loss of a job or the end of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to go through. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations.

People who experience a loss often describe themselves as “depressed”. But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and even shares some characteristics with depression.

Both grief and depression can involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities, but they are different in important ways:

• In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often mixed with positive memories of the deceased.

• In major depression, mood or pleasure decreases for more than two weeks.

• In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained.

• In depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.

• In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending one's life as they feel unworthy of living because they are unable to cope with the pain.

However, grief and depression can coexist.

What do you know so far?

The symptoms

The symptoms of depression can be mild or severe. They must last at least two weeks and must represent a change from your previous level of daily functioning to a diagnosis of depression.

Additionally, medical conditions such as thyroid problems, a brain tumor, or vitamin deficiency can mimic symptoms of depression, so it's important to rule out general medical causes. Symptoms include:

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood.

• Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities.

• Changes in appetite, weight loss or gain unrelated to the diet.

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.

• Loss of energy or increased fatigue.

• Feeling of worthlessness.

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.

• Thoughts of death or suicide.

What do you know so far?

Treatments

Unlike anxiety, depression is among the most treatable mental disorders. About 80% to 90% of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Usually almost all patients get some relief from their symptoms.

Prior to treatment, the physician should perform a complete diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and some physical examination. In some cases, a blood test may be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition. The assessment will identify specific symptoms and explore medical and family histories, as well as cultural and environmental factors, with the aim of arriving at a diagnosis and planning the best therapy.

The medical specialty is psychiatry, although combining it with psychology is a good bet. In my opinion, psychotherapy in mild or medium cases will be enough, but there are depressions that require the use of drugs.

These drugs range from antidepressants to benzodiazepines better known as tranquilizers. There is also electroconvulsive therapy that may be recommended when other options are exhausted.

Conclusion

If anxiety is living in the future, depression is living in the past, but there is a high chance of recovery. As we can read above there are several causes but I think that environmental factors are the most common cause.

What can be a challenge, my conviction tells me that the best existing treatment, whatever it is, is of little use if the depressed person is not willing to do so, that is, the person has a fundamental role in the effectiveness and speed of recovery.

Don't be ashamed to ask for help, if you don't feel comfortable going to a doctor, talk to someone you trust first, cry, scream at him/her and don't worry, it's not weakness.

I hope you have become more familiar with depression and if you need to talk remember that there is a chat and a forum here on the website (soon) where you can talk to people who have been in the same situation.

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