Depression 101

Depression is a complicated subject. Dictionary.com defines depression as: “feelings of severe despondency and dejection.” But it really doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface of what depression really is, what it looks like, and what causes it. Welcome to Depression 101.

Types of Depression

Major – Major depression, often referred to as ‘major depressive disorder’, refers to any form of depression where the sufferer feels depressed the majority of the time: most of a day, most days out of the week, most months out of the year. You get the idea!

Chronic – Chronic or persistent depression shares a lot of similarities with major depression, with the caveat that this form of depression is long-lasting: we’re talking 2 years or longer with regularly-occurring symptoms.

Manic – Manic depression is the there-one-minute gone-the-next sort of depression you probably think of when you think of someone with depressive mood swings. Bipolar disorder is also sometimes called ‘manic depression’ because of how people diagnosed with it seem to swing from one emotion to its polar opposite in very short time frames.

Seasonal – Seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression, refers to a form of depression associated with the change of seasons. Most commonly, seasonal affective affects people during the colder, darker winter months. However, any weather that causes long bouts of dark, gloomy, cold weather can trigger depression.

Depression Symptoms

Sad – If you notice someone who regularly seems out of it – down-and-out, unhappy, numb, etcetera, there’s a chance they are suffering from depression. Or just heard some bad news, or are having an awful day. Careful before jumping to conclusions!

Distracted – A chronic lack of focus is also strongly associated with depression. If you often find yourself fighting to focus on the task at hand, feeling generally bored, and generally listless, then you may want to take a step back and examine your state of mind more carefully.

Tired – Because depression often manifests as a lack of interest in activities and a general lack of energy, people with depression often feel sluggish, lethargic, and tired throughout the day. They feel like they don’t have the energy to do activities they normally enjoy, and instead withdraw to safe places.

Irritable – Depression brings with it a whole host of unpleasant emotions. Depression can cause increased agitation and irritability, as well as frustration with both yourself and others.

Causes of Depression

Genetics – Sometimes there’s no getting around it: sometimes we’re simply predisposed towards depression. It is widely accepted that there is a genetic component to most depressive disorders. If your family has a history of depression, you are more likely to become depressed at some point in your life.

Nutrition – Poor nutrition or diet can lead to any number of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which can in turn cause or exacerbate depression in many individuals. Many people with seasonal depression will take a vitamin D supplement, for example, to help combat their moods.

Physical Health – When your body is in poor condition, it affects your mind whether you want it to or not. Regular exercise releases endorphins, and studies have shown that exercise can be a major factor when it comes to both preventing and treating depression. If you aren’t physically fit, even just taking a walk outside can suffice.

Stress – Unsurprisingly, any sort of extreme sources of stress in a person’s life can lead to depression, whether it’s too heavy a workload at work or the death of a loved one. Managing stress and knowing how to let go is helpful to help prevent depressive moods from piling up.

While depression can be a very grim and serious topic, there’s no reason to avoid discussing it – and, in fact, acknowledging that depression exists, that it is commonplace, even, is part of learning to conquer it and cope with it.