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When we think of someone who is depressed, many of us would imagine a person plagued by a sense of sadness that permeates their daily life. While all of us go through periods of sadness, depressive feelings become a problem when they prolong and interfere with everyday functioning.
Depression is like a bad fever. When we have a fever, it is a sign that our body is fighting an infection. When we feel depressed, it is a sign that there is something wrong going on. You have probably heard the theory that chemical imbalance in the brain is responsible for depression. However for most people, depression is more complex than merely a biological problem of hormones, chemical imbalance, or genes. The etiology of depression is complex and multifactorial. It involves social, emotional, & developmental factors in one’s environment, be it in one’s present life, past experiences, or anxiety about one’s future. Depression is more than a problem with one’s biology; it is a human experience resulting from lived experiences in the world.
Depression is very much a subjective experience, so what it looks like varies from person to person and day-to-day. There are many ways that depression can manifest itself.
Common Symptoms Include The Following:
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy level
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Decreased ability to feel pleasure
- Frequent crying
- Irritability or anger
- Isolation
- Feelings of guilt & hopelessness
- Difficulty with concentration
- Moving or talking slowly
- Frequent crying
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
There are times when we might be able to identify what went wrong that started the depression. For example, your depression can be traced to losing a loved one, an unsuccessful attempt in achieving a personal goal, experiencing a traumatic event, rejection, betrayal, or disappointment. Sometimes it is easy to pinpoint the cause of depression to a single event. Other times, depression develops over time as a result of the accumulation of unfavorable life circumstances that one was subjected to for a long time. At some point, most of us have wondered why two people who went through the same upbringing, negative event, or loss can have such different reactions. Perhaps you feel depressed after a traumatic encounter, while a family member or friend seems to have moved on unscathed by what happened. The answer to this question lies in the fact that our differences are rooted in a complex interaction of innate temperament and individual development, starting in very early life, when our environment shapes our most basic ways of thinking, feeling, & being in the world. Factors in our environment such as our family upbringing, experiences in school, community, & religion if applicable play a significant role in how we think & behave. If you experienced a parent as harsh or critical, for example, or if you experienced them as absent, then you might re-experience that sense of harshness or abandonment when you encounter a setback in your present life. At Summit Psychiatry, we can help you transform these painful moments in sources of deeper self-awareness and resilience in the present. Taking a deeper look at depression, it can be helpful to consider 2 subtypes: Anaclitic depression is characterized by feelings of helplessness, inadequacy and depletion. You might feel isolated or unloved and might struggle with fears of abandonment. Even worse, you might fear you have alienated the people who you want to love you. Introjective Depression, by contrast, is characterized by harsh self-criticism, feelings of worthlessness, guilt over real or perceived mistakes, and a sense of failure. You might feel you have fallen short of your own standards or expectations. You might believe that you have disappointed or will eventually disappoint significant others. These 2 forms of depression might occur separately or together. In either case, you might experience a loss of sexual desire, irritability, restlessness, headaches, back pain and constipation. You might also notice fatigue, low energy, weight loss or gain, and insomnia.What Causes Depression?
What are the different types of depression?
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