Depression


Depression is an illness that can affect the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself and the way you think about everything.

 

Depression is more than a passing mood. It is not a sign of weakness, and it cannot be willed or wished away.

Depression affects one in four people at some stage in their lives. At any one time 5% of the population will be suffering from severe depression. Whether you suffer from mild or severe depression, there are always treatments available.

Symptoms of Depression

  • Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
  • Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
  • Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
  • Pessimism, indifference
  • Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
  • Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
  • Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
  • Unexplained aches and pains
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Types of Depression

Clinical depression like other illnesses comes in different forms. Three of the most common types of depressive disorders are major clinical depression, dysthymia, bipolar or manic depression. Within each of these types, there are variations in the number, severity and persistence of symptoms.

Major clinical depression is characterised by a combination of symptoms, including a low mood that interferes with the ability to work, sleep and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. Disabling episodes of clinical depression can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.

Dysthymia is a less severe type of clinical depression. It involves long-term (chronic) symptoms that do not disable, but yet prevent the affected person from functioning at "full steam" or from feeling good. Sometimes, people with dysthymia also experience episodes of major clinical depression.

Bipolar Depression (Manic Depression) shows a particular pattern of inheritance. Not nearly as common as the other types of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder involves cycles of clinical depression and mania, or excessive excitability. Bipolar disorder is often a recurring condition. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but more often they are gradual.

Post Natal Depression is a condition that occurs when a woman becomes depressed after having a baby. Sometimes, there may be an obvious reason, often there is none. It can be even more distressing when a woman has so looked forward to having a baby through the months of pregnancy. She may feel guilty for feeling like this, or even feel that she can't cope with being a mother. It can last for weeks or several months, sometimes longer.

Around 1 in every 10 women has Post Natal Depression after having a baby.