Explain Depression

Mental Health Training

Depression Explained

Do you know someone who has depression?

Have you or someone in your family been diagnosed with depression?

Even if we are dealing with depression in ourselves or our families, we may not know what it truly is.

Is it just feeling sad all the time?

Why can't people merely snap out of it?

Depression is said to be the most widespread mental disorder. It affects women far more than men and is particularly prevalent in teens.

What Causes Depression?

There are various opinions on what causes depression, and even the role of brain chemicals is disputed. Generally, though, depression can be segregated into two categories: circumstantial and clinical.

Circumstantial depression refers to feelings surrounding an event, such as a death in the family or having to sell one's house and move.

The circumstances that can cause depression are incredibly numerous, from kids having trouble with friends at school to the elderly in a nursing home. Circumstantial depression is also highly individualized.

Clinical depression opposes circumstances, and the sad person may feel more depressed because they can't find a reason for such dreadful feelings. Clinical depression may also baffle those around the patient because they can't understand how a person could be depressed when their life seems to be going fine. This lack of understanding may make the patient's depression worse.

Treatment approaches differ according to the type of depression the patient is experiencing and the individual's personality and lifestyle.

Myths covering depression

There are many myths surrounding depression that, when explained, help people better understand the illness. For example:

* Isn't depression just self-pity? - Depressed people may seem to be "wallowing" in their sadness, but it's not wilful self-pity. It's a genuine medical illness; sources point out that it should be treated as such.

* Medication for depression is overkill and just treats the symptoms - For those on the outside, so to speak, medication can seem like putting a Band-Aid on a massive wound.

But often, medication is what the patient needs to feel good enough to seek help for the underlying dilemma.

* Depression is not a "real" illness - Actually, it is; brain imaging studies have revealed how the actual chemical imbalances occur in the brain of a depressed person.

Even if the cause is circumstantial, it is considered physiological - the chemical imbalance may still be present regardless of the depression's origin.

Other Factors

Depression can be affected not only by circumstances because genetics, personality, psychology, and biology may also play a role.

Women are far more likely to be diagnosed with depression, indicating possible hormonal factors.

On the other hand, men are more likely to succeed in suicide as a result of depression than women, although more women than men attempt suicide, sources report.