Depression: symptoms, causes and how to treat it

Definition of depression

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a person to continue to feel sad and lose interest.

This condition is more than just the feeling of sadness that normally healthy people experience. This is because feelings of sadness are so hard to get rid of, they continue to haunt you.

Another name for this mental illness is major depression or clinical depression, which affects feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that can cause a variety of emotional and physical problems.

Sufferers may have difficulty carrying out normal daily activities, because they feel life is not worth living.

How common is this condition?

Depression is a common condition in society. According to research, this condition occurs in 80% of people at some time in their life and can occur at any age. Usually, depression is more common in women than men.

Types of depression

You can experience this natural disorder in many different ways. Quoted from the Mayo Clinic and the National Institute of Mental Health, here are the types of depression in a more specific form:

• Anxiety disorders, which are unconventional restlessness or worry about possible events.
• Mixed forms, namely simultaneous depression and mania, which include increased self-esteem, talk too much, and increased energy.
• Melancholy form, which is a severe mood disorder with a lack of interest in pleasant things. In addition, you also experience worsening moods in the morning, large changes in appetite, to feelings of guilt.
• Atypical form, where you can feel happy in response to pleasant things, but only temporarily.
• A form of psychosis disorder, which is a condition accompanied by delusions or hallucinations, which may involve negative thoughts about oneself.
• Catatonia, namely depression which includes motor activity that involves uncontrolled movements without a goal.
• Peripartum onset, namely depression that occurs during pregnancy or depression after childbirth.
• Seasonal patterns are also known as designations seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a mood disorder that is influenced by seasonal changes and reduced sun exposure.
• Bipolar disorder, which is a liver disorder that causes a person to experience episodes of mania, depressia, and hypomania.
• Persistent depressive disorder or dysthymia, which is a depressed mood that lasts for 2 years.

Several other mental illnesses have symptoms of depression, such as cyclothymic disorders, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder , and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Depression signs & symptoms

Although this mental illness can only occur once in life, sufferers usually have many episodes. During this episode, depressive symptoms appear most of the day, most days and may include:

• Feelings of sadness, crying, emptiness or hopelessness.
• Irritable, frustrated, or irritable, even over small things.
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies, or sports.
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much.
• Fatigue and lack of energy, so small tasks require extra effort.
• Decreased appetite and decreased body weight or increased desire to eat and weight gain.
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness.
• Slows down thinking, speaking or body movements.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixated on past failures or self-blame.
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things.
• Frequent or recurring thoughts of death and suicidal thoughts.
• Unexplained physical problems, such as backaches or headaches.

For people with severe mood disorders, daily activities, such as work, school, social activities, or relationships with other people deteriorate.

Depressive symptoms in children and adolescents

The signs and symptoms of depression in children and adolescents are similar to those in adults, but there are some differences, including:

• In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusal to go to school, or being underweight.
• Depression in adolescents, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feelings of being misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping excessively, hurting yourself, lose interest. in normal activities, and avoiding social interactions.

Depressive symptoms in older adults

Depression is not a normal part of getting older, and should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, these mood disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated in older adults, and they may feel reluctant to seek help.

Depression symptoms may be different or less pronounced in older adults, such as:

• Memory difficulties or personality changes.
• Physical aches or pains.
• Fatigue, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping or loss of interest in sex that is not caused by a medical condition or medication.
• Often wants to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or do new things.
• Suicidal thoughts or feelings, especially in older men.

When should I see a doctor?

If you feel any of the signs above, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can. If you are reluctant to do therapy, talk to your friends or partner, health care providers, religious leaders, or other people you can trust.

There is no need to be ashamed to ask for help from doctors or other parties. The earlier you see the doctor, the better.

If you think you are going to injure yourself or try to commit suicide, you can call the emergency number of the Directorate of Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia at 021-500-454 or emergency number 112

Additionally, consider these options when you are contemplating suicide:

• Ask your doctor or other healthcare provider for help with depression.
• Talk to your closest friend or partner.
• Contact religious leaders or others in your faith community.

If your partner or friend is depressed and in danger of attempting suicide:

• Make sure other people stay with him.
• Call the local emergency number as soon as possible.
• If possible, take the person to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Causes of depression

It is not certain what causes depression. However, several causes that increase a person's risk of depression include:

1. Genetic factors

Most researchers suspect that depression is inherited. If you have parents or siblings who have this condition, you have the opportunity to experience it too.

2. Brain chemistry

This condition can be caused by an imbalance in levels of chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) that regulate mood. This can cause a series of symptoms known as clinical depression.

3. Environmental factors

This mental disorder can be caused by things that are encountered daily, such as work. A pile of work, an uncomfortable work environment, to personal problems with a boss or coworkers can trigger a person to experience depression.

Not only work problems, the environment at home or unsupportive friendships can also trigger this condition.

4. Chronic and severe stress

Losing loved ones, problematic relationships, or being under constant stress can all cause depression. Researchers suspect that constantly high levels of the hormone cortisol can suppress serotonin levels and eventually trigger depressive symptoms.

5. History of certain diseases

Often times, stress and pain from chronic illness can trigger major depression. Certain illnesses, such as thyroid disorders, Addison's disease and liver disease, can also cause depression symptoms.

6. Childhood trauma

Trauma in childhood has a big influence on a person's psychological condition as an adult. Some bad events such as sexual harassment, loss of parents, or the effects of parental divorce can trigger this condition

Depression risk factors

Depression is more common in adolescence, around the age of 20 or 30. However, this condition can occur at any age. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men, but this could be because female sufferers seek help and treatment more frequently.

Factors that increase your risk of or trigger depression include:

• Have a family history of mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Alcohol abuse or illegal drugs.
• Some personality traits, such as low self-esteem, dependence, self-criticality or pessimistic.
• Chronic or serious illness, such as cancer, stroke, chronic pain, or heart disease.
• Take certain medications such as some high blood pressure medications or sleeping pills (discuss with your doctor before stopping the medication).
• Traumatic or stressful events, such as sexual violence, death, or the loss of a loved one or financial problems
• Having a blood relationship with someone with depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, or attempted suicide.

Diagnosis & treatment of depression

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

In general, your doctor will diagnose it from your symptoms and medical history. In addition to examinations performed by doctors to determine this condition, including:

• Physical examination. Your doctor may do a physical exam and ask questions about your health. In some cases, depression may be related to certain physical health.
• Laboratory test. Your doctor may order a complete blood count or test your thyroid to make sure it's working properly.
• Psychiatric evaluation. The mental health specialist will ask questions about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire to help answer these questions.
• DSM-5. Medical personnel can use the criteria for determining depression that are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
• PPDGJ. Medical personnel use these criteria, which are also known as PPDGJ (Practical Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Mental Disorders).

What are the treatment options for depression?

Depression therapy usually uses drugs, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. Your doctor will review your condition and will consider what therapy is suitable for you.

There is no need to be embarrassed to discuss your concerns about the therapies that your doctor offers. Treatment options for treating depression are:

1. Medicines

The drugs used are antidepressants, such as escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, and citalopram.

These drugs include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) class of drugs.

In addition there are also drugs venlafaxine, duloxetine and bupropion. This medication may cause some side effects, such as:

• Increase in weight
• Sexual problems
• Nausea

Antidepressants are not addictive. When you don't need antidepressants and stop using them, your body won't become addicted.

However, the use and discontinuation of antidepressants should be under the supervision of a doctor. Sudden discontinuation can cause worsening of depressive symptoms. Always consult your doctor about using antidepressants.

2. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is done by teaching you new ways of thinking and behaving, and changing the habits that lead you to these conditions.

This therapy can help you understand and get through a problematic relationship or situation that is causing depression or even making it worse.

3. Electroconvulsive therapy

For severe mood disorders that are difficult to treat or do not work with medication and psychotherapy, sometimes electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is required, which is performed under anesthesia.

Although ECT had a bad reputation in the past, now it has improved and can heal when other treatments have not worked.

ECT can cause side effects such as confusion and memory loss. Although these side effects are temporary, sometimes they can stick around.

Home treatment of depression

In addition to undergoing doctor's treatment, lifestyle changes for depressed patients also need to be implemented, including:

• Change your expectations so that later they don't make you feel sad, disappointed, and hopeless.
• Participate in activities that might make you feel better.
• Reduce stress by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly because both of them affect your brain and mental health.
• Eat healthy foods for people with depression such as more vegetables, fruit, fish, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy products.

Depression prevention

There is no sure way to prevent depression. However, there are a number of steps that can help you do to lower the risk, such as:

• When you are stressed, be sure to find ways to relieve it. Don't let yourself get carried away by the problems you are facing. Try to take the time to free yourself from this stress, so that your mind becomes clearer and you can find solutions to the problems you are facing.
• Don't harbor stress to yourself, if you need someone to share with you, try opening up with family or friends. If you can't relieve stress in this way, don't hesitate to consult a psychologist.