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Depression mainly affects women and is the main cause of disability in the world, but it has treatment

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Depression, according to the definition of the Ministry of Health, is a serious illness that affects around 15.5% of Brazilians. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the main cause of disability in the world. It usually appears after 30 years of age, but it can appear at any age, with a higher prevalence rate in women. Symptoms of depression are often deep sadness, a feeling of loss, or anger that interfere with a person's daily activities.

People experience depression in different ways. This can interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.

Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Obesity

It's important to know that feeling sad is part of life sometimes. Sad and disturbing events happen to everyone. But if you feel depressed or hopeless regularly, it could be a case of depression.

Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Those seeking treatment can experience improvement in symptoms in just a few weeks.

Depression symptoms

Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness. It can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect the mood and others the body, this second process is called "psychosomatization". Symptoms may also be ongoing or come and go.

Depression symptoms are experienced differently among men, women and children.

Men usually have symptoms related to:

• Mood such as anger, aggression, irritability, anxiety, restlessness;
• Emotional well-being, like feeling empty, sad, hopeless;
• Behavior such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities, getting tired easily, suicidal thoughts, drinking excessively, taking drugs, engaging in high-risk activities;
• Sexual interest such as reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance;
• Cognitive skills, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations;
• Sleep patterns such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night;
• Physical well-being such as fatigue, pain, headache, digestive problems.

Women usually have symptoms related to:

• Mood such as irritability;
• Emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, anxious or hopeless;
• Behavior such as loss of interest in activities, withdrawal from social commitments, suicidal thoughts;
• Cognitive skills such as thinking or speaking slower;
• Sleep patterns such as difficulty sleeping through the night, waking up early, sleeping too much;
• Physical well-being such as decreased energy, fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, pain, headaches, increased cramps.

Children usually have symptoms related to:

• Mood such as irritability, anger, mood swings, crying;
• Emotional well-being, such as feelings of incompetence (such as, “I can't do anything right”) or despair, crying, intense sadness;
• Behavior such as having trouble at school or refusing to go to school, avoiding friends or siblings, thoughts of death or suicide;
• Cognitive skills such as difficulty concentrating, decline in school performance, changes in grades;
• Sleep patterns such as difficulty sleeping or oversleeping;
• Physical well-being such as loss of energy, digestive problems, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain.

causes of depression

There are several possible causes of depression. They can range from biological to circumstantial.

Common causes include:

• Family history. There is an increased risk of developing depression if there are cases of depression in the family or another mood disorder;
• Early childhood trauma. Some events affect how your body reacts to fear and stressful situations;
• Brain structure. There is a greater risk of depression if your brain's frontal lobe is less active. However, scientists do not know whether this happens before or after the onset of depressive symptoms;
• Medical conditions. Certain conditions can predispose you to an increased risk of depression, such as chronic illness, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• Use of drugs. A history of drug or alcohol misuse can increase the risk of depression.

About 21% of people who have problems with drug use also suffer from depression. In addition to these causes, other risk factors for depression include:

• Low self-esteem or severe self-criticism;
• Personal history of mental illness;
• Certain medications;
• Stressful events such as the loss of a loved one, economic problems or divorce.

Many factors can influence depression, as well as who develops the illness and who doesn't. However, in many cases, health professionals are unable to determine what is causing the depression.

depression diagnosis

There is no single test to diagnose depression. But psychologists and psychiatrists can make a psychological assessment or diagnosis based on the symptoms presented.

In most cases, they ask a series of questions about:

• Humor
• Appetite
• sleep pattern
• Physical activity level
• Thoughts

Because depression can be linked to other health problems, your doctor may also perform a physical exam and order blood tests. Sometimes thyroid problems or vitamin D deficiency can trigger symptoms of depression.

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Don't ignore symptoms of depression. If your mood does not improve or worsen, seek medical help. Depression is a serious mental health illness with the potential for complications.

If left untreated, complications can include:

• weight gain or loss
• Physical pain
• drug addiction
• Panic attack
• Relationship problems
• Social isolation
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self-mutilation

Types of Depression

Depression can be divided into categories depending on the severity of symptoms. Some people experience mild, temporary episodes, while others experience severe depressive episodes.

There are two main types: major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder is the most severe form of depression. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that don't go away on their own.

To be diagnosed with clinical depression, a person needs to experience five more of the following symptoms over a two-week period:

• Feeling depressed most of the day
• Loss of interest in most regular activities
• Significant weight loss or gain
• sleep a lot or not be able to sleep
• thought or slow movement
• Fatigue or low energy most days
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Loss of concentration or indecision
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

persistent depressive disorder

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) used to be called dysthymia. It is a milder but chronic form of depression. For the diagnosis to be made, the symptoms must last for at least two years. DDP can affect life more than major depression because it lasts longer. It is common for a person with PDD:

• Losing interest in normal daily activities
• feel hopeless
• lack of productivity
• have low self-esteem

Depression can be successfully treated, but it is important to stick to your treatment plan.

Depression Treatment

Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Seek psychological and medical advice about possible options.

You may successfully manage symptoms with one form of treatment, or you may find that a combination of treatments works best.

It is common to combine medical treatments, psychoanalysis and therapies. Among the most common medications, your doctor may prescribe the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics. The ideal is to combine medical treatment with various forms of therapy or psychoanalysis. There are also alternative medicine options like white light exposure, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and exercise.

It is also important to try to avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs. Although they make you feel better, in the long run they can make your symptoms of depression worse. The

learn to say no

Feeling overwhelmed can make symptoms of anxiety and depression worse. Setting boundaries in your professional and personal life can help you feel better.

Take care of yourself

You can also improve depression symptoms by taking care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, avoiding negative people, and participating in enjoyable activities. Sometimes depression does not respond to medication. Your doctor may recommend other treatment options if your symptoms do not improve.

Natural Treatment for Depression

Traditional treatment for depression uses a combination of prescription drugs and counseling. But there are also alternative or complementary treatments you can try. It's important to remember that many of these natural treatments have few studies showing their effects on depression, good or bad. Some options may include using St John's wort, omega-3 supplements, aromatherapy, vitamin B12, B6 and D.