Depression is the common cold of psychological disorder but it can become a disastrous force in your life. Depression is a common illness, with a lifetime prevalence rate of 15%. During the fall, people may feel more depressed with the change in daylight, sleep patterns and hormones. Today, let’s learn more about the common cold of mental illness, depression.
People think that just feeling down is a depressive disorder. However, clinical depression is different from just feeling blue.
Depressive disorder
Depressive disorder is more than feeling sad or gloomy. It is the status that can affect your body and mind which eventually interfere with your ability to carry on your normal daily routine.Typically, to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you need to feel depressed for longer than two weeks. In some cases, you showvarious physical symptoms.
You may have clinical depression, if you have the following symptoms for longer than two weeks.
What causesdepression?
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1) Imbalance in the neurotransmitter system
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The most well-established theory is that this set of feelings is related to an imbalance in the neurotransmitter system in our brain. Neurotransmittersare hormones, transmitting signals from one neuron to another in our brain. It is believed that depression may be caused when this “transmitting process” is not working properly. That is why depression medication aims to correct these hormone imbalances.
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2) Physical Illness
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Somatic illnesscan also cause depression. Patients with endocrinopathy (hormone imbalance)show more severe symptoms of depression than others. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's diseasealsohave links with depression.A proper understanding of the cause is important because treatment of physical illnesses can eliminate depression.
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3) Drugs
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Depression can develop as a result of side effects of certain drugs like appetitesuppressants,hair-loss solutions and anti-androgens. Those with a genetic predisposition to depression are more susceptible to depression,so you need to check the side effects of medicines before use.
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4) Amount of Sunlight
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Sunlight is closely related to depression. Some people complain of feeling down on a cloudy day. In the worst case, they say they cannot do anything. Depression caused by lack of sunlight during the winter is common in Northern Europe (for example, Norway and Sweden). In Korea, morelight-related depression patients are reported during the monsoon season, winter and spring when people spend most of their time indoors due to yellow dust.
Researchers also found that there are other causes including relationship issues, genetic predisposition, aging, childhood trauma as well as abuse.
Six Ways to Prevent Depression
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1. Sleep enough (no caffeine or alcohol before going to bed)
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2. Get enough rest
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3. Eat well and drink a lot
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4. Talk to your partner often about your feelings and depression
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5. Exercise Regularly
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6. Go out and enjoy morning sunlight for 30 minutes (from 8:00 to 8:30 am)
Six Ways to Prevent Depression
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1. Attention and love between partners are the cure to all.
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2. See a physiatristwith depression when it lastsmore than two weeks.
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3. You may need help from your partner, family or friends as it is hard to recognize depression on your own.
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4. Frustration and disappointment can cause depression.
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5. Discuss how to share the burden of housework and child rearing.
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6. Have regular conversation with your partner while enjoying leisure activities.
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7. Have some private time with your partner every week while hiking or taking a walk.
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8. Having hobbies help.
When feeling extremely depressed, don’t avoid or suppress the feeling. Talk to someone around you how you feel. If you cannot help but think about ending your own life, get some help from mental health professionals. Do not ignore those talking about suicide or showing symptoms of depression. Talk to them and offer them help.
Don’t forget.We areall valuable individuals and deserve respect.
