Depression can have many forms and widely ranging symptoms depending on your personal ways of dealing with emotions. It is typically characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities, with physical symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, or difficulty concentrating. Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe, sometimes affecting your ability to function in daily life but often hidden and denied even to yourself.
Depression affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds; most of us experience low mood - reactive depression - in response to upsetting life events at various points, but it is believed 1 in 6 people will experience more serious or prolonged phases of depression. A family history of emotional problems, past or present trauma or abuse, chronic stress or relationship issues can all increase the risk of developing depression, but anyone can become depressed and it is not always clear what causes it. If people feel trapped or helpless in some aspect of their life, and have negative or critical feelings towards themselves they are more susceptible. It is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw, and people who experience depression cannot simply "snap out of it".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tznztJVsW9E Effective treatments for depression can include therapy, medication, and self-care. The type of treatment that works best can vary depending on the individual and the severity of their depression. Some common treatments include:
- Therapy: Talking to a psychotherapist or counsellor can help make sense of feelings, understand contributing factors and work through relationship difficulties that may be triggering depression.
- Antidepressant medication can help to make things more tolerable when feelings are especially intense, but it can take time and working with your GP to find the most effective medication and dosage for you.
- Self-care: Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and avoiding alcohol and drugs can help improve symptoms of depression.