So I was going through the internet and I came across a picture relating to depression and I thought it would be a great topic to write about. For those who don't know, depression is a condition that generally is associated with being "stuck" in a mood of sadness or grief accompanied by a number of physical symptoms.
Fortunately, it is also treatable. Everyone gets sad from time to time, but clinical depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Depression can affect anyone, even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances.
Most people experience feelings of anxiety or depression
at times. Grief, loss of a job, divorce, illness, and other stressors
can lead to feelings of sadness, worry, frustration, and loneliness.
These are normal reactions to difficult life situations.
The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed.”
See Also: Coping With Death and Grief
But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving
process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the
same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve
intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities.
Some people experience these feelings daily, without a known
stressor. This can interfere with the ability to carry out every day
activities such as getting to work on time, proper self-care, or caring
for children. In this case, people might be suffering from depression,
anxiety, or a combination of the two.
Untreated clinical depression is a serious problem. Untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses.
Clinical depression, also known as major depression, is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. Depression affects the way you eat and sleep. It affects the way you feel about yourself and those around you. It even affects your thoughts.
The thing to remember about recognizing depression is that it's not a
one-size-fits-all disorder. There are many symptoms, and one person's
experience may be completely different from the next. But if you suspect someone you know is depressed, look out for this
physical signs:
Lack of
energy or feeling tired all the time
Restlessness
Having
difficulty sleeping
Poor
appetite
Smoking or drinking more than usual, or using drugs
Lack of
interest in sex
Unexplained
physical aches and pains
Self-harming
People who are depressed cannot simply “pull themselves together” and be cured. The very least you could do to help someone you think is depressed is by
Talking to them about it. ...
Empathize with them. ...
Don't try to fix their problems. ...
Give them resources to use. ...
Monitor their symptoms. ...
Honor their requests but watch for warning signs...
Have them get a physical therapy from their doctor.
Without proper treatment, including antidepressant and/or psychotherapy, untreated depression can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.