Understanding Depression: When feeling depressed becomes something more.
We all experience sadness, low energy and moments of discouragement. But when these feelings persist for a long time and interfere with daily life, it can be a sign of depression. Depression is one of the most prevalent disorders today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), approximately 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and more than 700,000 individuals die each year by suicide. Depressive disorders are the third leading cause of morbidity worldwide, especially in individuals between 15 and 29 years of age (Zhao et al., 2023) and, according to the Global Diseases Burden (GDB) study, depression has been the third leading cause of disability worldwide in the last two decades (Erazo, 2020).
What is depression?
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) represents the most common disorder within the group of depressive disorders (DSM-5, 5th ed., APA, 2014) and is what most of us know as depression. Depression is more than just feeling sad. It is a persistent, pervasive, low mood that can affect the way you think, feel and act. It can rob you of energy, motivation and enjoyment of activities you once loved.
Symptoms of depression
At least 5 of the following symptoms have to be present almost every day for at least 2 weeks:
Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless most of the day, almost every day.
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed.
Changes in appetite: weight loss or weight gain unrelated to dieting
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Loss of energy or increased fatigue
Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things
Restlessness or feeling slowed down
Thoughts of death or suicide
Increased feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Within the 5 symptoms required for diagnosis, at least one of the first two must be present.
In addition, it is required that (B) the distress be clinically significant or impairing to life functioning; (C) not attributable to a medical condition or physiological effect of substances; (D) not explained by a psychotic disorder; and (E) the absence of a history of a manic or hypomanic episode.
Finally, this text is only informative aiming to help you to better understand your mental health and increase awareness about mental conditions and their prevalence. It’s necessary that a mental health professional establish and makes a diferencial diagnosis with other disorders or psychological difficulties. If this post resonates with you, I encorage you to look for help.
Couseling as a tool to cope with depression
Counseling could be a powerful tool for overcoming depression by
Developing coping mechanisms: learn healthy ways to manage stress, limiting thoughts, and difficult emotions.
Identifying unhelpful thought patterns that feed depression: counseling can help you identify these patterns and develop a more useful way to relation with them.
Connecting with things that bring you alive:
Set realistic goals and develop problem-solving skills: Together, we can create a roadmap for recovery and equip you with tools to navigate challenges.
Explore the root causes of depression: Sometimes, depression can stem from past experiences or unresolved issues. Counseling can provide a safe space to explore these issues and find healing.
Depression can be overwhelming, but you don't have to go through this alone. There are resources and support systems available to better cope with this and achieve a fulfilling life despite going through this difficult time.
Sources
American Psychiatric Association. (2014). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Erazo, R. (2020) Depresión e inflamación: ¿Una relación más allá del azar?. Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes, 31(2), 188-196. https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-medica-clinica-las-condes-202-articulo-depresion-e-inflamacion-una-relacion-S0716864020300225
World Health Organization (March 31, 2023). Depression. https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
Zhao, B., Wang, Q., Wang, L., Chen, J., Yin, T., Zhang, J., Cheng, X. & Hou, R. (2023). Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy for depressive disorders: a meta-analysis. Ann Gen Psychiatry, 22(34), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-023-00462-1
