Today, awareness of the importance of mental health is getting bigger. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss a little about depression, one of the most common mental health problems. Check this out, Ladies!
What is depression?
Depression is one type of mood disorder, which is defined as a feeling of sadness, loss, or anger that interferes with a person's daily activities, for example by decreasing productivity. Depression is often thought of as no different from grief. Although depression and grief share some of the same characteristics, depression is different from grief.
Depression involves self-hatred or loss of self-esteem, whereas grief does not. In grieving, positive emotions and happy memories of the deceased usually accompany feelings of emotional pain. Meanwhile, in depression, feelings of sadness are constant. Depression can also affect several health conditions. Health conditions that worsen due to depression include:
- Asthma
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Arthritis
It's important to realize that feeling sad is a normal part of life. However, if feelings of sadness or hopelessness are experienced regularly, you need to take them more seriously as they can worsen if not given proper treatment.
Symptoms of depression
Depression, especially at severe levels, can cause a variety of symptoms that affect your mood and your body. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms of depression. Symptoms can vary depending on the severity, how often they occur, and how long they last. These symptoms can also come and go. Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of depression:
- Feeling sad, anxious, or "empty"
- Feeling hopeless, worthless, and pessimistic
- Cry a lot
- Feeling annoyed, annoyed, or angry
- Loss of interest in hobbies and interests you normally enjoy
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Move or speak slower
- Trouble sleeping, getting up early, or sleeping too much
- Appetite or weight change
- Chronic physical pain with no apparent cause that does not improve with treatment (headache, aches or pains, digestive problems, cramps)
- Thoughts of death, suicide, self-harm, or suicide attempts
If you experience some of the signs and symptoms above almost every day for at least 2 weeks, you need to check yourself further with an authorized medical professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Symptoms of depression in general also differ between men, women, teens, and children, both in terms of mood swings, emotional well-being, behavior, cognitive abilities, sleep patterns, and others. Here's the difference:
Men may experience symptoms related to:
- Mood swings, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety, or restlessness
- Decreased emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, or hopeless
- Changes in behavior, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities, feeling tired easily, suicidal thoughts, drinking excessively, etc.
- Decreased sexual interest, such as reduced sexual desire or lack of sexual performance
- Decreased cognitive abilities, such as an inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, or delayed responses during conversations
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, or not sleeping through the night
- Decreased physical well-being, such as fatigue, pain, headaches, or digestive problems
While women may experience symptoms related to:
- Mood swings, such as irritability
- Decreased emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, anxious, or hopeless
- Changes in behavior, such as loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social involvement, or suicidal thoughts
- Decreased cognitive abilities, such as thinking or speaking slower
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as having trouble sleeping through the night, waking up early, or sleeping too much
- Decreased physical well-being, such as decreased energy, greater fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, pains, headaches, or increased cramping
The last one, children may experience symptoms associated with:
- Mood swings, such as irritability, anger, rapid mood swings, or crying
- Decreased emotional well-being, such as feelings of incompetence (e.g., "I can't do anything right") or hopelessness, crying, or deep sadness
- Behavioral changes, such as getting into trouble at school or refusing to go to school, avoiding friends or siblings, thoughts about death or suicide, or hurting yourself
- Decreased cognitive abilities, such as difficulty concentrating, decreased school performance, or changes in grades
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much
- Decreased physical well-being, such as loss of energy, digestive problems, changes in appetite, or weight loss or gain
After knowing the symptoms of depression in general, as well as in men, women, and children. Hopefully, we can be more aware of the mental health of the people around us!
Source:
Higuera, V & Saripalli, V. (2021). Everything You Need to Know About Depression (Major Depressive Disorder). Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/depression