WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION? COULD IT BE A SYMPTOM OF ANOTHER CONDITION?

Depression is a very real and serious condition that affects millions of people. It's important to understand how antidepressants work, to know how to take SSRI's, and how to adjust your treatment plan as you and your doctor decide what makes you feel best.

Depression is the main cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It can affect adults, adolescents, and children.

In this article, learn what depression is, the types and what causes it. We also describe their treatments, and more.

DEFINITION

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a mood disorder that makes you feel constant sadness or lack of interest in life.

Most people feel sad or depressed at times. It’s a normal reaction to loss or life's challenges. But when intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- lasts for many days to weeks and keeps you from living your life, it may be something more than sadness. You could have clinical depression, a treatable medical condition.

Millions of people struggle with the burden of depression. It can be a symptom of another condition, such as a thyroid disorder or other serious illness. Mary Shomon - Author of The Thyroid Sourcebook and ThyroidHobby.com - is prepared to help you relearn your health and be your own advocate in getting the answers you deserve from your health care provider.

Types of Depression

There are a few types of depressive disorders that doctors can diagnose, including:

• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, when children and teens get very cranky, angry, and often have intense outbursts that are more severe than a child’s typical reaction.
• Depressive disorder due to another medical condition
• Persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia, when depression lasts for at least 2 years
• Unipolar major depression 
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, when a woman has severe mood problems before her period, more intense than typical premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Substance-induced mood disorder (SIMD), when symptoms happen while you’re taking a drug or drinking alcohol or after you stop
• Other depressive disorders, such as minor depression

 Signs and symptoms

Perhaps you have noticed some of these signs and symptoms yourself, or perhaps you are worried about a loved one. 

The symptoms of depression can include:

• difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• slowed movement and speech
• reduced interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• changes in appetite
• a depressed mood
• unintentional weight loss or gain
• a loss of sexual desire
• sleeping too much or too little
• agitation, restlessness, and pacing up and down
• fatigue or loss of energy
• feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or an attempt at suicide

Who is at risk for depression?

You can't tell who is at risk for depression by looking at them: it could be your best friend, your mother, someone you work with. Depression affects people of all ages, incomes, cultures and education levels. People who have suffered from a brain injury are three times more likely to develop depression and early-onset dementia. Also, people under stress are more likely to experience depression: losing a job or caring for a sick family member can lead to depression…

Can depression be prevented?

We all know that depression can be treated, but what about preventing it altogether?

The evidence from hundreds of studies worldwide, including studies of children and adolescents, points to the same clear conclusion: social support is a buffer against depression. Having strong and trusting relationships provides protection against major depression in people of all ages and in every kind of family.

 

What causes depression? Could it be a symptom of another problem? 

Why does some medication not work on certain people? Did you know that antidepressant medications do not treat the cause of depression or help to restore lost neurotransmitters, but instead simply try to alter brain chemistry? Neurons are the cells in our brain that send and receive signals to produce feelings of happiness and those of sadness and depression. Dysfunction in neurotransmitter activity is the cause of this common misdiagnosed disease!

Summary:

Depression is a common illness that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness. It can also cause changes in appetite, sleep habits, energy level, concentration, memory, and even physical health.