What do you think of when you hear the word “depression”? What does it mean to you? How would you define it? Like many, you’ve probably encountered depression at least once in your life, whether it be through the experiences of a family member, a friend, or even your own. For those who haven’t experienced it firsthand, it can be hard to define what depression really is or how it can influence someone’s life. It’s common for these people to label depression as just feelings of sadness, and it’s perfectly fine to have questions such as:
- “Is depression more than just sadness?”
- “How does depression affect you ?”
- “What causes depression?”
This blog seeks to discuss these questions and clarify how you can think about depression.
Table of Contents
Understanding Depression as a Mental Health Concern
Depression is an umbrella term for several types of different depressive disorders which all have their own unique causes, but the most common type of depression that will mainly be discussed in this blog is major depressive disorder, which is most simply referred to as “depression”. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, depression affected around 8.3% of the adult population in 2021, and almost 18% of adolescents in the same year. With depression rates on the rise, depression has become an increasingly glaring mental health concern nationwide, and it has become more important than ever to understand how depression can consume our lives.
The Emotional and Physical Impact of Depression
Depression is much more than just feelings of sadness, or feeling down from time to time. Depression is persistent and debilitating. Depression is characterized a variety of changes in mood including:
- Feelings of emptiness and hopelessness
- Loss of interest or motivation to complete daily tasks
- Anxiety, restlessness, lack of concentration
- Feelings of extreme guilt, or self blame
Even though you may not realize it, depression can have numerous negative effects in all aspects of your life, especially socially and physically. These negative effects include:
- Social isolation from friends and family, despite the desire for a genuine connection
- Unexplainable headaches, back pains, and other physical ailments
- Drastic changes in appetite, causing unhealthy physical changes
- Extreme lack or excess of sleep
- Worsened performance in school/work/hobbies
- Thought or behaviors exhibiting self harm
As you can see, depression can have multiple effects on our bodies and our daily functioning. It affects our ability to perform at school, work, and even at activities we used to find fulfilling. Depression also separates you from your loved ones, and makes you feel less connected to your loved ones.
Seeking Help to Move Forward
Letting your depression go untreated can lead to additional symptoms and increased severity of symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to seek help early on and to be aware of your own mental health. The reality is that so many people are still uninformed about the importance of maintaining positive mental health, and so they continue to neglect it, worsening the effects of conditions such as depression. By seeking help through depression counseling at Relucent Psychology Group, not only are you getting help, you are gaining an understanding of your depression and how to move forward with it.
We understand that there are many causes of depression. We take your own unique circumstances into account to develop a tailored plan that aims to tackle your depression and regain the life you deserve. Reach out to us today for a free consultation, and get the support you’re looking for.
