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Demystifying Depression: 15 Facts about Depression

What is Depression? It can be defined as a prolonged sense of sadness and loss of interest are symptoms of depression, a mood illness. Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, affects how you feel, think, and behave and can cause a number of emotional and physical issues. You can find it difficult to carry out your regular daily tasks, and you might occasionally think life isn’t worth living.

According to the World Health Organization, depression has become a common mental disorder. The Organisation has estimated, the condition affects 5% of adults worldwide. Consistent sorrow and a lack of interest in formerly fulfilling or joyful activities are its defining traits. Additionally, it may impair appetite and sleep.

A person’s capacity to function and lead a fulfilling life can be significantly affected by the consequences of depression, which can be long-lasting or recurrent. Complex connections between social, psychological, and biological factors are among the causes of depression. Childhood hardship, loss, and unemployment are all factors that can contribute to and/or hasten the onset of depression.

Here are 15 Facts about the Depression 

1. There are different types of Depression that exist 

Depression might interfere with daily functioning and can have various effects on different people. It is more than just being down or having a bad day.

Some  of the most common types of depression include

1. Bipolar disorder –  This is the transition between a manic or hypomanic state and a depressed condition. But most bipolar disorder sufferers experience symptoms that are similar to those of major depressive disorder, spending most of their time feeling down.
2. Seasonal  Depression- Typically occurs in the fall or winter, followed by a possible mood improvement in the spring and summer. The opposite is also sometimes true.
3. Major Depressive Disorder -(The most typical type) happens when a person is depressed and finds it difficult to enjoy things they used to like. The inability to fall asleep, changes in appetite, a loss of energy, difficulties concentrating or making decisions, feelings of hopelessness or having thoughts that life isn’t worth living, or suicidal thoughts that last for longer than two weeks are some other symptoms.
4. Chronic  Depression – is characterized by people who have been depressed for two years or more. People who have never been treated frequently have this type.

2. Women are more prone to suffer from depression than men 

photo by Alexander Krivitskiy

Studies have shown Depression is 70% more common in women than in males. In part, hormones are to fault. Because of the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth, women are more prone to experience depression during and after pregnancy. The strain brought on by both job and family obligations could also be a factor. But one of the ways that men and women differ is that women are more inclined to seek medical attention and disclose their concerns to their doctors.

3. Depression can be cured 

One of the medical conditions that are most easily treated is depression. Even the most challenging varieties of depression, according to Zajecka, “there is no reason why we can’t have everyone’s depression under good control.”

Remission, or the ability to return to one’s former self and level of functioning, rather than only symptom relief, is the aim of depression treatment.

Some of the common ways to treat depression might include 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- It is one of the most popular evidence-based psychotherapies that focuses on the patient’s current ideas, behaviors, and communication styles rather than their prior experiences. It promotes problem-solving as a remedy.
• Use of Antidepressants – people with moderate-to-severe signs of major depressive illness are given medication.
• Psychotherapy – This is a type of care in which medical professionals gain knowledge of the ailments, feelings, moods, thoughts, and actions of a patient. This method focuses on teaching the brain to become tolerant of unpleasant feelings or emotions.
•  Augmentation- It is when additional drugs are taken in addition to an antidepressant to have a larger impact when the antidepressant has not yet produced a complete remission.

4. Hallucinations are considered a symptom of depression

When you have a severe form of depression, you may hear, see, or believe things that are not true. Depression is accompanied by psychosis. For example, those who suffer from psychotic depression may hear voices or believe the government is after them.

These symptoms are present in 20% of individuals with serious depression. Your chance of developing psychotic depression may increase if there is a history of depression in your family. Because they act more quickly than antidepressants do, doctors frequently utilize shock therapies to treat this sort of severe depression.

5. Like other  mental illnesses, depression carries a stigma

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For a very long time, society has seen depression and seeking treatment for the condition as signs of weakness.

Even though many people, including famous people and elite athletes, have come forward to discuss their experiences with this illness, more has to be done before depression is recognized as a serious illness rather than just something that a person can choose to recover from.

Depression has the potential to be fatal if ignored. According to studies, up to 20% of persons who suffer from depression may commit suicide, and this number rises to 25% in the case of bipolar depression.

6. Depression also affects children

Young children that experience depression is 1 in 30. Loss of interest in friends and activities is one indication of this. Depressed children may begin performing poorly in school. They frequently grow agitated or complain of bodily discomfort. Often, these symptoms go unnoticed. Adults believe there is a different issue at hand. Two-thirds of kids with mental health issues don’t receive assistance because of this. But treating depression in children is just as effective as treating it in adults.

7. Other health problems can result from depression

Sadly, depression can result in a wide range of health difficulties in addition to its other negative effects. For instance, those with depression have a two- to three-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. More alarming perhaps is the fact that people with depression who develop the cardiovascular disease have a higher mortality risk than people without depression.

There are explanations for why this occurs. One explanation puts it down to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. This system controls bodily processes, including heart rhythm.

8. The initial course of treatment could not be effective

In the first year after receiving a diagnosis of serious depression, up to 50% of patients do not improve. Depression that is resistant to treatment is a term used by doctors to describe it. That is the case when medication for depression has been administered for six weeks.

The involvement of genes in treatment-resistant depression is thought to be significant, according to experts. A medication’s dosage can often be adjusted or increased to provide relief.

9. Antidepressants are the subject of numerous myths

photo by Myriam Zilles

Antidepressants are misunderstood in numerous ways. The most frequent is that they alter your personality. Also, Antidepressants may aggravate or trigger suicidal thoughts, according to a different misconception. Only a few studies have shown that antidepressants can exacerbate suicidal thoughts in people under the age of 25, however, this does not necessarily suggest that antidepressants are to blame. Though the ultimate objective of treatment is to reduce depression symptoms, including suicidal thoughts.

10. Sometimes, genetics may be the cause of depression 

According to experts, genetics play a role in depression in roughly 50% of cases. This most likely results from a combination of genes rather than just one. However, your risk is two to three times higher than it would be for someone without this family history if you have a parent or sibling who suffers from depression. The likelihood of a hereditary component of depression increases with its severity. Child abuse, early parent loss, and extreme stress are some additional causes. The cause, however, is frequently unknown.

11. Depression can alter your thinking

Depression affects the body physically. There are several of these, such as general soreness, sleep issues, and weariness. Even the way someone speaks can change for some folks.

12. Talk therapy can be equally effective as medicine

Many people find relief from their depression by talking things out with a mental health professional (called psychotherapy). Some people find it just as effective as taking antidepressants.

In fact, talk therapy can be the best choice for mild to moderate depression. Numerous studies indicate that pairing medicine with psychotherapy is preferable to pairing medication alone if you do need an antidepressant. Talk therapy may also be the most secure course of treatment for expectant or breastfeeding women who experience depression.

13. It is believed Magnets may help with depression

The use of magnets might be considered one of the newest methods for treating depression with magnetic pulses. A coil next to your head is where the pulses pass through. RTMSS stands for repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation. Anesthesia is not required. You merely detect a gentle tapping. A 30- to the 60-minute session is typical. Over a 4 to 6-week period, your doctor might advise 20 or more sessions. For those who don’t improve after taking antidepressants, there is this treatment.

14. Anxiety and depression frequently coexist

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It’s typical for people to experience both at once or for one to trigger the other, despite the fact that depression and anxiety are separate conditions with separate causes and treatments.

Nearly 50% of depressed individuals experience anxiety on a regular basis.
Depression can be brought on by the issues faced by those who struggle with anxiety, such as their difficulty forming relationships or participating in life without worrying.
Living with anxiety can be quite difficult. People who encounter it might not be aware that it has an impact on their daily lives, though it is also rather frequent.

15. Misdiagnosis of depression is common

Misdiagnosis of depression is widespread worldwide. For instance, medical professionals may determine that those without depression have the disease and that those who do have depression have different health issues. This highlights the complexity of the condition of depression and demonstrates how difficult it can be to diagnose.

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