What does depression mean?

If you feel low, down, miserable and generally bad about yourself just about much of the time, find that you are increasingly preoccupied with negative thoughts about yourself and others, are not motivated by the things you used to find pleasurable, find most activities a chore and perhaps sleep poorly, you probably have some form of depression - if these symptoms have lasted for more than two weeks.  Depression is quite often not present on its own, commonly it is co-morbid (when two disorders exist  and feed each other) with other disorders such as, anxiety (which can present as severe, generalised or intermittant panic attacks) or physical symptoms (IBS, unexplained aches and pains).

How did I get here?

Depression can be driven by many factors, such as: guilt ("if only i hadn't ......"), anxiety ("what if this happens/ doesn't happen" etc), anger ("if the hospital had treated my mother better - she wouldn't have died") and sometimes it is a combination of all three of these factors.  Contrary to common belief there is no gene for depression, depression that runs in families is most commonly due to 'learned behaviour' - the way we learn to view and respond to life events.

How do I recognise depression in someone else? (including children and adolescents)

If you are concerned about the mental health of someone you know, be aware of the following signs:  some people may appear to be 'down' but also complain of aches and pains with no apparent reason (known as psychosomatic), insomnia or headaches.  In elderly people, the most obvious sign would be apathy, memory loss and maybe mild disorientation - some of these symptoms can be confused or be co-morbid with dementia, thus intensifying the symptoms.  Worrying about dementia can also fuel depression and anxiety.

With children, depression may be recognised by signs of indifference, apathy, a fear of being seperated from a parent (clingy behaviour at school time) or a fear of safety for the parent - when apart.  In adolescents, accept that they will from time to time have turbulent emotions as part of their age and growing up process but be aware of excessive sulking, irritability, negative thoughts, sleeping problems, poor eating habits, social and activity withdrawal or sometimes even anti-social behaviour.

Empirical research has consistantly shown, in most cases depression can be lifted when treated with the correct and effective psychological methods, with a far lower relapse rate than when treated with drugs.

Mood Disorders (depression)

Mood disorders can be classified as those in which depression is a prominent symptom.  Exactly what determines the differing diagnostic categories is  the nature of the environmental conditions with which it coexists (social and work situations, illness co-morbidity, post natal etc).  Depressed individuals often suffer with emotional, motivational, physiological and cognitive problems.  Overall they feel low in themselves and gain little or no pleasure from usual activities.  They often become socially withdrawn and unmotivated in their behaviour and hold negative views about themselves and are pessimistic about their future. Depressed people often describe, confused or slow thoughts and show marked difficulties in retaining information or solving daily problems.  Essentially:

Major Depression is a disorder in which the person's life is significantly impaired as a result of depression and is marked by: 

• A general lack of interest or pleasure in almost all previously desirable activities.
• Significant weight loss or gain, or/with an increase or loss in appetite.
• Physical agitation.
• Frequent periods of extreme fatigue or a loss of energy.
• Feelings of worthlessness and sometimes excessive guilt.
• Indecisiveness and a reduced ability to concentrate.

It is important to note the above symptoms are for guidance and the list is not conclusive or exhaustive.

Some Facts and Figures
It is reported that approximately 1 in 20 of the population are clinically depressed at any one time.  Around 17% will at some time in their life experience significant depression. Between 25% and 30% of depressed people remain so for 1 year after onset, and around 25% remain depressed for up to 2 years.  The typical age for onset is between the ages of 24 and 29, this is not to say that major depression cannot occur at any age and furthermore often continues to reoccur if it remains untreated.  It is suggested that women are twice as likely as men to report depressive symptoms and sadly many, both male and female, struggle through life without help. 

The Emotional Needs Audit  - follow this link to assess how well your emotional needs are being met in your life, now.

Bipolar depression is a disorder in which the person fluctuates between prolonged periods of debilitating depression and periods of mania.  The mania episodes typically involve at least three of the following:

• an inflated self-esteem or feelings of grandiosity
• a decreased need for sleep (wakefulness)
• an increased need to talk and keep talking
• having racing thoughts or flights of ideas
• easily distracted (difficult to focus)
• increased motor activity - agitation
• a wish to engage in risk-taking behaviours