Index
- What is depression?
- What are the symptoms?
- Causes
- Prevention
- Treatment
What is depression?
Depression is an illness that consists of a mood disorder characterized mainly by a prolonged and severe feeling of sadness.
This feeling is associated with other symptoms and alterations in thinking and behavior. Depression can affect people of all ages, whether adults, adolescents or even children (childhood depression). However, it is more common in women and in people under 45 years of age.
Depression is one of the most frequent mental pathologies and one that requires more primary care visits.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of depression are:
- Irritable or low mood.
- Difficulty falling asleep or oversleeping.
- Tiredness and lack of energy.
- Feelings of hopelessness and abandonment.
- Loss or increase of appetite.
- Loss of pleasure in activities that usually make you happy, including sexual activity.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
- Becoming withdrawn or isolated.
- general apathy
The symptoms of depression in children may be different from those in adults. It is important to monitor the child’s school performance, sleep, and behavior to watch for possible symptoms of depression.
To distinguish a depressive disorder from any passing state of sadness, a psychiatrist’s diagnosis is necessary.
Causes of depression or why it occurs
There are different types of depressive disorders depending on their causes. It can often be passed on from parents to children, due to genes, learned behavior at home or the environment. It can also be triggered by a stressful or unhappy life event.
Factors that can cause depression include:
- Alcohol or drug addiction
- Conditions, such as cancer or long-term chronic pain.
- Stressful life events or situations: job loss, death in the family (bereavement), and divorce.
- Pregnancy: postpartum depression
- Social isolation
Can it be prevented?
Drinking alcoholic beverages or taking drugs can worsen depression and lead to thoughts of suicide.
What is the treatment?
The therapist indicates which is the best treatment for each person, but basically it is centered on psychotherapy sessions.
There are different types of depressive disorders according to their causes.
- Endogenous depression: triggered by genetic or biological factors, hormonal alterations or alterations in the neurotransmitters that transmit nerve impulses in the brain.
- Reactive depression: generated by a bad adaptation to external circumstances and environmental factors of strong emotional impact.
- Minor depression or dysthymia: only some symptoms of minor intensity are present, usually related to personality problems and prolonged stress.
- Masked depression: manifested by organic and functional discomfort (somatization), such as cardiovascular alterations or dizziness.