Depression-WPS Office

Depression
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as

feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that
interfere with a person’s everyday
activities.
It’s also fairly common. The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source
estimates that 8.1 percent of American adults
ages 20 and over had depression in any given 2-
week period from 2013 to 2016.
People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with

your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also
influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.
Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:
arthritis
asthma
cardiovascular disease
cancer
diabetes
obesity
It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of

life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling
down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with
depression.
Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse

without proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see
improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.
Depression symptoms
Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling
“blue.”
Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your

mood, and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be ongoing, or
come and go.
The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among

men and womendifferently.
Men may experience symptoms related to their:

•Mood
•Emotional well-being,
•Behaviour
•Sexual Interest
•Cognitive Abilities
•Sleep Patterns
•Physical Well-being
Women may experience symptoms related to their;
•Mood
•Emotional Well-being
•Behaviour
•Cognitive Abilities
•Sleep Patterns
•Physical Well-being
Depression causes
There are several possible causes of depression. They can range
from biological to circumstantial.
Common causes include:
•Family History
•Early Childhood trauma
•Brain Structure
•Medical Conditions
•Drug Use
About 21 percent of people who have a substance use problem

also experience depression. In addition to these causes, other
risk factors for depression include:
low self-esteem or being self-critical

personal history of mental illness
certain medications
stressful events, such as loss of a loved one, economic
problems, or a divorce
Many factors can influence feelings of depression, as well as
who develops the condition and who doesn’t.
The causes of depression are often tied to other elements of

your health.
However, in many cases, healthcare providers are unable to

determine what’s causing depression.
Depression test
There isn’t a single test to diagnose depression. But your
healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on your
symptoms and a psychological evaluation.
In most cases, they’ll ask a series of questions about

your:
moods
appetite
sleep pattern
activity level
thoughts
If left untreated, complications can include:
weight gain or loss

physical pain
substance use problems
panic attacks
relationship problems
social isolation
thoughts of suicide
self-harm
Types of depression
Depression can be broken into categories depending on
the severity of symptoms. Some people experience mild
and temporary episodes, while others experience severe
and ongoing depressive episodes.
There are two main types: major depressive disorder and

persistent depressive disorder.
Major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder is the more severe form of
depression. It’s characterized by persistent feelings of
sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that don’t go
away on their own.
In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you

must experience 5 or more of the following symptoms
over a 2-week period:
feeling depressed most of the day

loss of interest in most regular activities
significant weight loss or gain
sleeping a lot or not being able to sleep
slowed thinking or movement
fatigue or low energy most days
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
loss of concentration or indecisiveness
recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Treatment for depression
Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can
help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare
provider about possible options.
The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your

area if you don’t already have a doctor.
You may successfully manage symptoms with one form

of treatment, or you may find that a combination of
treatments works best.
It’s common to combine medical treatments and lifestyle

therapies, including the following:
Medications
Your healthcare provider may prescribe:
antidepressants
antianxiety
antipsychotic medications
Psychotherapy
Speaking with a
therapist can help
you learn skills to
cope with negative
feelings. You may
also benefit from family or group therapy sessions
Light therapy
Exposure to
doses of white
light can help
regulate your mood and improve symptoms of
depression. Light therapy is commonly used in seasonal
affective disorder, which is now called major depressive
disorder with seasonal pattern.
Alternative therapies
Ask your healthcare provider about acupuncture or
meditation. Some herbal supplements are also used to
treat depression, like St. John’s wort, SAMe, and fish oil.
Exercise
Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity 3 to 5 days a
week. Exercise can increase your body’s production of
endorphins, which are hormones that improve your
mood.
Avoid alcohol and drugs

Drinking or misusing drugs may make you feel better for
a little bit. But in the long run, these substances can
make depression and anxiety symptoms worse.
Learn how to say no
Feeling overwhelmed can worsen anxiety and depression
symptoms. Setting boundaries in your professional and
personal life can help you feel better.
Take care of yourself

You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking
care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep,
eating a healthy diet, avoiding negative people, and
participating in enjoyable activities
Preventing depression
Depression isn’t generally considered to be preventable.
It’s hard to recognize what causes it, which means
preventing it is more difficult.
But once you’ve experienced a depressive episode, you

may be better prepared to prevent a future episode by
learning which lifestyle changes and treatments are
helpful.
Techniques that may help include:
regular exercise
getting plenty of sleep
maintaining treatments
reducing stress
building strong
relationships with
others
Other techniques and ideas may also help you prevent
depression.
Depression and
Anxiety
Depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Depressiin and Alcohol

Conclusion
Depression can be temporary, or it can be a long-term
challenge. Treatment doesn’t always make your
depression go away completely.
However, treatment often makes symptoms more

manageable. Managing symptoms of depression involves
finding the right combination of medications and
therapies.
If one treatment doesn’t work, talk with your healthcare

provider. They can help you create a different treatment
plan that may work better in helping you manage your
condition.

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Depression

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as

It’s also fairly common. The Centers for Disease

People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with

Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:

It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of

Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse

Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your

The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among

Men may experience symptoms related to their:

Women may experience symptoms related to their;

Common causes include:

About 21 percent of people who have a substance use problem

low self-esteem or being self-critical

The causes of depression are often tied to other elements of

However, in many cases, healthcare providers are unable to

In most cases, they’ll ask a series of questions about

If left untreated, complications can include:

weight gain or loss

There are two main types: major depressive disorder and

Major depressive disorder

In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you

feeling depressed most of the day

The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your

You may successfully manage symptoms with one form

It’s common to combine medical treatments and lifestyle

Avoid alcohol and drugs

Take care of yourself

But once you’ve experienced a depressive episode, you

Techniques that may help include:

Depressiin and Alcohol

However, treatment often makes symptoms more

If one treatment doesn’t work, talk with your healthcare

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