What Depression is: Symptoms, Types, Causes and Treatments

Written by Martyna Bobek

Martyna Bobek is a Psychotherapist & a Certified Trauma Professional. Her background includes working in Trauma Research, Program Development, and Criminal Justice reform. Her English bulldog Chubs can confirm that her specialization is in writing blog posts & articles. He knows that if she's not with him, she's spending her time researching and writing about all things mental health.

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June 9, 2022

Contents

Introduction – What Depression is: Symptoms, Types, Causes and Treatments

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 10 Americans will become depressed sometime. Despite this staggering number, depression is seldom talked about. Many people with depression see it as a sign of weakness, which prevents them from seeking help even though many find relief through therapy.

The good news is that depression is highly treatable. One of the causes depression responds so well to treatment is that improvements can be discovered in medications, psychotherapy, or both. The key is finding the right kind of service to meet your needs and treatment goals. Read on to learn and better understand what depression is and what you can do to best support yourself if you’re depressed .

Facts

Depression impacts an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life.
Depression can strike at any time, but it first appears between 18-and 25 years old on average.
Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will share a major depressive episode in their lifetime.
Like screenings for other illnesses, depression screenings should be a routine part of your healthcare.

Signs and symptoms

Depression happens when a person experiences a low mood and low energy, impairing their daily functioning, and persists for more than two weeks. Depression is defined by multiple symptoms and can be expressed differently depending on the individual.

Symptoms of depression can manifest in many ways and are often overlooked until they become severe. They build gradually over time and can ultimately become debilitating and disrupt your day-to-day functioning.

Physical Symptoms and Behavioral Changes Caused by Depression Include:

Decreased energy, chronic fatigue, or feeling sluggish frequently
Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or recalling
Pain, aches, cramps, or gastrointestinal problems without any clear cause
Changes in appetite or weight
Difficulty sleeping, waking early, or oversleeping

Emotional Symptoms of Depression Include:

Loss of interest or no longer finding pleasure in activities or hobbies
Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
Feeling hopeless or pessimistic
Anger, irritability, or restlessness
Feeling guilty or experiencing feelings of worthlessness or helplessness
Thoughts of death or suicide

Too often, depression is misunderstood as simply “feeling sad.” The truth however, is that depression is the opposite of simple. It’s a complex condition that affects anyone regardless of age, gender, or race.

Here are a few other facts you may not fully understand about Major Depressive Disorder.

Depression has different triggers. It can stem from a major life event, or can come without any recognizable “cause” at all.
Some depression is genetic, but not all. The genetic predisposition to depression is becoming better and better understood every day.
It affects your physical body. Frequent headaches, stomach issues, or any other physical symptoms along with mental symptoms are common for those with depression.
Depressed people may not look depressed. It’s called the hidden illness for a reason. Some people are good at masking their depression with upbeat and cheerful attitudes.

Types of Depression

Since depression can be a complex condition, it can be challenging to define and diagnose with just one set of generalized criteria. Because of this, other categories describe the different types of depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the two most common forms of depression are major or clinical depression and persistent depressive disorder.

Other forms of depression include:

Perinatal or prepartum depression occurs during pregnancy.
Postpartum depression which after pregnancy and childbirth.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) features depressive episodes that come and go with the seasons.
Psychotic depression co-occurs with one other form of psychosis.
Finally, premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe extension of premenstrual syndrome.

Diagnosing depression requires an evaluation process done by a physician or mental health professional. Your symptoms need to be present for at least two weeks to be analyzed.

Sleep and Depression

About 80% of people with depression have issues with sleep. While some find it more difficult to fall asleep, others struggle to stay asleep. Or, you may find yourself sleeping too much. Both insomnia and depression involve chemicals in your brain. Changes in hormone imbalances and neurotransmitters can affect both your sleep and your mood.

For years, researchers studied which one of these factors came first: depression or insomnia. It was clear that the two issues often go hand-in-hand and exacerbate one another. Studies now show that sleep issues often occur before depression sets in. Experiencing insomnia before feeling depressed can increase the severity of depressive symptoms.

Improving Your Sleep Hygiene

Practicing good sleep hygiene can support you in improving both the quality and quantity of sleep and your physical and mental health. Changes to your daily habits and wind-down routine can make a substantial difference. Here are a few to consider:

Limit alcohol. A glass of wine or beer can be used as a means of leisure to relax at the end of a long day, but it can also disrupt your sleeping patterns. While you may feel like it can help you sleep, you’re more likely to wake up during the night. So it’s not going to help you stay asleep throughout the night or help you feel refreshed the next day.

Practice mindful meditation. Depression can cause you to ponder and worry—thinking about the same things repeatedly—which untimely keep you up at night. Meditation and other relaxation techniques can help calm your mind and prepare your body to fall asleep.These might include yoga or belly breathing. Finally, take a few minutes before bed to wind down by limiting your screen time, taking a warm shower or bath, or relaxing in preparation for sleep.

Journal. If your anxious thoughts aren’t going away after a few relaxation strategies, grab a journal and write down whatever is on your mind. Whatever thoughts are reoccurring, write them down. You may even decide to designate a bit of time before bed as your specified “worry time” to clear your mind.

Get up and out of bed. Get out of bed instead of tossing and turning if you don’t feel tired. Instead, go into a different room and do a tedious, dull task like cleaning your kitchen counters or reading a few book pages. Then, when you start to feel drowsy, go back to bed for what will hopefully be a more successful attempt at sleeping.

Limit screen time with your electronics. Researchers advise that these devices’ blue light can interrupt your normal circadian rhythms and cause additional disturbances.

Get outside during the day. Spending some time in natural light during the day can help regulate your circadian rhythm. Your internal biological clock that works to regulate your sleep-wake cycle is influenced by light, so when there’s less light at night, your body releases melatonin.

In the morning, the sun tells your brain and body to wake up. If you’re spending all of your time inside in the dark, you may suffer from sleep problems. Regular exercise can also be helpful for sleep issues and depression, as long as it’s not done right before you go to bed.

Finding Help for Depression

Coping with depression can be debilitating, and there’s much more to it than feeling sad all the time. You don’t need to manage your symptoms of depression alone. If you are experiencing any symptoms or signs of depression, it may be time to seek help.

Treatment Options

Depression is often treated with either antidepressant, psychotherapy, or both. There are several types of medications available. But keep in mind, it may take some time to encounter the right one for you, so working closely with your doctor is critical. Also, even with the proper medications, it often takes some time to notice an improvement in how you feel.

And while medication such as antidepressants has a long history of treating depression, sometimes, therapy for depression is just as beneficial. Treating depression with therapy or psychotherapy has proven helpful in both short-term and long-term cases of depression. There are various types of therapy to treat depression. Psychotherapy can be an effective form of treatment for depression because it can help you delve into possible underlying reasons for your depressive feelings and learn new skills to cope.

As with any condition, treatment should be tailored to a specific diagnosis. For example, a treatment plan for depression should be planned to help someone manage and reduce the symptoms. In many cases, symptoms of both conditions can improve with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Medication. Medications can also be useful. Research has shown that both anxiety and depression respond well to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) medications.
CBT. As it happens, certain types of medication and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are effective treatments for both anxiety and depression. CBT and talk therapy help get to the root cause of anxiety and depression, as well as provide coping strategies for symptoms.

Regardless of the approach, your therapist will work to help you:

Understand and work through issues. Your therapist will play a supportive role in listening, providing feedback, and working with you in developing coping strategies. You may be given homework, such as tracking your moods or writing in journals. This will help you to continue your treatment outside of appointments.

Improve relationships. Whether you choose to participate in individual or group therapy, you’ll learn different ways of improving your relationships. Understanding your relationships, building healthier relationships, and improving current relationships will help reduce isolation and make social support essential in preventing depression.

Learn how to set boundaries. If you are stressed and overwhelmed or feel like you can’t say no, your risk for depression is higher. Learning how to set healthy boundaries in relationships can help reduce stress, while therapy can help you identify and validate the appropriate limits.

Individual and Group Therapy

Typically, you probably think of individual sessions with a therapist when you think of therapy. However, group therapy is understood as one of the most practical strategies for treating depression. In individual therapy, you are building healthy relationships, which may feel more comfortable sharing some sensitive information with one person than with a group.

On the other hand, group therapy can supply you with a supportive support network, which can help relieve common symptoms of loneliness and isolation. Additionally, listening to peers going through the same struggles can validate your experiences and help build self-esteem. Frequently, group members are at various points in their depression, so you might get advice from someone in the same position as you and someone who has overcome depression.

Finding Help

Depression and its symptoms are challenging for anyone to overcome. However, seeking professional help is key to feeling better. With treatment, the heavyweight of depression can be lifted. In addition, early intervention can stop issues from worsening later on. Remember, the most important thing you can do is seek professional treatment as early as possible.

Featured Image Credit: Nathan Cowley (Pexels)