Written by Diya Desikan | Art by Charlene Cheng
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, affecting nearly 4% of the global population. It impacts all demographics but is more common in women and minorities, especially those in the LGBTQ community.
Symptoms of depression include feeling empty, sad, or worthless, and hopelessness. This can result in poor concentration, hopelessness, lack of interest, appetite or weight changes, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty sleeping. It also changes mood and behavior through increased anger, restlessness, impulsive actions, self-isolation, and increased usage of alcohol and drugs. Individuals experiencing depression may not display all these symptoms, but they all interfere with daily living. Depression may look different in different demographics. For instance, women living with depression may become more isolated and sad, while men may lash out and be angry. Men are more likely to visit the doctors if their symptoms manifest physically, such as chest pains, headaches, or digestive issues.
Risk factors for depression usually stem from family history or life experiences. It is closely affected by physical health, which may cause other diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory diseases). These create a stressful environment to live in, leading to depressive thoughts. Additionally, traumatic experiences cause depression in many groups of people, including soldiers, people living in abusive environments, and refugees, to name a few.
Depression manifests itself in various ways. Its most common form, major depression, includes symptoms that make it difficult to perform daily tasks and impede the quality of life for those living with it. Persistent depressive disorder has less severe symptoms but usually lasts over two years. Perinatal depressive disorders occur during pregnancy and after birth (perinatal and postpartum, respectively). Seasonal affective disorder includes symptoms of depression during the late fall to early spring. Those with bipolar disorder also experience depressive episodes, in combination with manic episodes.
The methods of treating depression can be divided into therapy, lifestyle habits, and medication. Psychotherapy helps patients identify habits to change and teaches them new methods of thinking to help them learn about their disorder. Additionally, it teaches them coping mechanisms, for when they find themselves overwhelmed by depression. Antidepressants are a common medication for depression, changing the brain’s usage of certain chemicals, especially those related to mood and stress. They take between one to two months to take effect and tend to cause many side effects before actually treating depression symptoms, such as sleep, appetite, and concentration issues.
Newer treatment methods, like brain stimulation therapies, are being investigated to identify their role in future treatment. Additionally, self-care can help manage symptoms of depression. Talking to loved ones, exercising, eating healthy, and engaging in activities that bring joy are all scientifically proven to relieve depression.
It’s important to spread awareness because depression affects so many people. By making a safer environment for people that have depression, they can receive better treatment and more efforts can be made to improve their standard of living.
Works Cited:
“Depression.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression. Accessed 8 June 2024.
“Depressive Disorder (Depression).” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression#:~:text=An%20estimated%203.8%25%20of%20the,%E2%80%9329%2Dyear%2Dolds. Accessed 8 June 2024.
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