Depression meaning

When experiencing a depressive episode, a person can try to make changes to their thoughts and behaviors to help improve their mood. Understanding what triggers depression and tackling symptoms as soon as they begin may also help. Symptoms of a depressive episode can persist for several weeks or months at a time. Less commonly, depressive episodes last for over a year. According to the Read on to learn more about the symptoms of a depressive episode and 12 tips for coping with one. Share on Pinterest Symptoms of a depressive episode may include anxiety, frustration, feeling hopeless, fatigue, and a loss of interest in things once enjoyed. Symptoms of a depressive episode are more extreme than normal periods of low mood and may include: • feeling sad, hopeless, or helpless • feeling guilty or worthless • • irritability or frustration • • restlessness • changes in appetite or weight • loss of interest in things once enjoyed, including hobbies and socializing • trouble concentrating or remembering • changes in sleep patterns • moving or talking more slowly than usual • loss of interest in living, thoughts of death or suicide, or attempting suicide • aches or pains that do not have an obvious physical cause For a diagnosis of Tackling depression as soon as symptoms develop can help people recover more quickly. Even those who have experienced depression for a long time might find that making changes to the way they think and behave improves their mood. The following tips may he...

Over the last decade of diagnosing countless young patients with new psychotic disorders, one striking result has stuck out for New York City psychiatrist Dr. Ryan Sultan. “Of all the people I’ve diagnosed with a psychotic disorder,” he said, “I can’t think of a single one who wasn’t also positive for cannabis.” Sultan, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia Irving Medical Center, is one of many experts raising serious concerns about the increasing marijuana use by adolescents and young adults. And the evidence is growing of marijuana’s association with psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, especially in young men. New research published this month, involving millions of people worldwide over decades, is adding to worries that heavy use of high-potency cannabis and legalization of recreational weed in many U.S. states “There is a big sense of urgency not just because more people are smoking marijuana, but because more people are using it in ways that are harmful, with higher and higher concentration of THC,” Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), said in an interview. One of the studies, from researchers in Denmark in collaboration with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, found evidence of an association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia. The finding was most striking in young men ages 21-30, but was also seen in women of the same age. The paper, published in the...

Pixabay/DanaTentis Many people use the word “ The concept of depression as a mental disorder may be helpful for the more severe cases treated by hospital psychiatrists (medical doctors such as myself who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders), but probably not for the majority of cases, which, by and large, are mild and short-lived, and readily interpreted in terms of life circumstances, human nature, or the human condition. Figures for the lifetime prevalence of depression (the chance of any one person developing depression in the course of his or her lifetime) vary according to the criteria used to define “depression,” that is, according to where we decide to draw the line between normality and illness. Going by the criteria in the influential American classification of mental disorders, the The difficulty with diagnosing depression If someone is suspected of having malaria, a blood sample can be taken to look for malarial parasites; and if someone appears to have suffered a stroke, a brain scan can be taken to look for an arterial obstruction. But unlike stroke, malaria, and most other medical conditions, depression, like other mental disorders, cannot be defined and diagnosed according to its physical cause (etiology) or effect (pathology), but only according to its symptoms or manifestations. In practice, this means that a doctor cannot draw a diagnosis of depression on any objective criterion such as a blood test or brain scan, but only on his...

You get up every day and go through the motions. Some days are easier than others, but through it all, you have a sense of heaviness in your heart that’s invisible to the world. “You don’t look depressed!” you hear from those around you, unsure of what this means. How are you supposed to look when you live with depression? But then, one day, someone describes you as high functioning. What does that mean? Depression doesn’t look the same from person to person — and your own depression symptoms may change or evolve over time. If you’re still able to go about your day and people can’t tell you’re depressed, you may be considered high functioning. As far as official diagnostic criteria goes, you won’t find a condition called high-functioning depression. Although it’s been studied and referred to in medical circles, this isn’t a formal diagnosis or type of That said, you may still identify as having high-functioning depression or currently feel high functioning, and that’s valid. As far as diagnoses go, your symptoms and experience might be explained by persistent depressive disorder (PDD). Some people — including medical professionals — sometimes refer to Persistent depressive disorder is a An estimated The symptoms of PDD are similar to those seen in Because of this, you might live with symptoms and still “function” in many aspects of your life. You may not even be able to pinpoint the moment you started having symptoms. PDD used to be called dysthymic disorder or dysthymia. ...

How depression is classified It’s common to feel down from time to time, but depression is a separate condition that should be treated with care. Aside from causing a general feeling of sadness, depression is known for causing feelings of hopelessness that don’t seem to go away. The term “depression” has become common in mainstream society. But depression is a more nuanced subject than popular usage may suggest. For one, not all cases of depression are the same. There are varying classifications of depression, and each can affect your life in different ways. Depression may be classified as: • mild • moderate • severe, also called “major” The exact classification is based on many factors. These include the types of symptoms you experience, their severity, and how often they occur. Certain types of depression can also cause a temporary spike in the severity of symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about the different classifications of depression and how they may be treated. Mild depression involves more than just feeling blue temporarily. Your symptoms can go on for days and are noticeable enough to interfere with your usual activities. Mild depression may cause: • irritability or anger • hopelessness • feelings of guilt and despair • self-loathing • a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed • difficulties concentrating at work • a lack of motivation • a sudden disinterest in socializing • aches and pains with seemingly no direct cause • daytime sleepiness and fatigu...

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. It’s also fairly common. Data from the Though depression and grief share some features, depression is In grief, positive emotions and happy memories of the deceased typically accompany feelings of emotional pain. In major depressive disorder, the feelings of sadness are constant. People experience depression in different ways. It may 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: • • • • • • It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression. Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling “blue.” Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be ongoing or come and go. General signs and symptoms Not everyone with depression will experience the same symptoms. Symptoms can vary in severity, how often they happen, and how long they last. If you experience some of the following signs and • feeling sad, • feeling h...

Consequently, this type of depression often goes undetected because when most people imagine a depressed individual, they think of someone who looks really sad or cries a lot. And while it's true that sadness and unexplained bouts of crying are common characteristics of depression, not everyone looks sad when they’re depressed. Individuals with smiling depression often look happy to the outside world and keep their depression a secret. Signs and Symptoms Whether you’re the one who works hard to pretend you’re happy when you’re not, or you have a loved one that you suspect might be hiding their pain, understanding smiling depression can help you take positive action. Here's an overview of the signs and symptoms of smiling depression. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that almost 265 million people around the world have depression. Individuals with smiling depression may experience many classic symptoms of depression, including profound sadness, low self-esteem, and changes in their everyday lives. Some of these symptoms may be observable to others, while other symptoms may be kept private. • Changes in appetite: While some people overeat when they’re depressed, others lose their appetite. • Changes in sleep: Some people struggle to get out of bed when they’re depressed because they want to sleep all the time. Others can’t sleep and they may report insomnia or exhibit major changes in their sleep habits, such as staying awake at night and sleeping during the day....

Everyone experiences sadness at times. But depression is something more. Depression is extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than days. It interferes with the activities of daily life and can cause physical symptoms such as pain, weight loss or gain, sleeping pattern disruptions, or lack of energy. People with depression may also experience an inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Depression is the most common mental disorder. Fortunately, depression is treatable. A combination of therapy and antidepressant medication can help ensure recovery. Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology The guideline recommends interventions for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents, adults, and older adults. Recommendations are based on a systematic review of the scientific evidence, a weighing of the benefits and harms of interventions, consideration of what is known about patient values and preferences, and consideration of the applicability of the evidence across demographic groups and settings.

Share on Pinterest pixdeluxe/Getty Images Unipolar depression is a The term “unipolar,” which comes from the roots “uni” (one) and “polar” (end), means you have symptoms from only one end of the mood spectrum. This sits in direct contrast to Unipolar depression often serves as an umbrella term for all Here’s a quick rundown on how to recognize unipolar depression, as well as how to get help for any symptoms of depression, regardless of your specific diagnosis. The main diagnostic criteria for unipolar depression involve having a low mood for For example, you may feel You may also experience Other core depression symptoms include: • Change in appetite: You might feel hungry more often or have • Significant changes in weight: Your body weight goes up or down by • Fatigue: You • Sleep disturbance: You may have • Psychomotor changes: Your body may feel very fidgety, or your movements may feel much slower than usual. • Extreme guilt: You may • Difficulty thinking: You may notice • Thoughts of suicide: You may have recurring If you’re having thoughts of suicide, help is available right now. You can access compassionate, confidential support from trained crisis counselors by calling 988 to reach the Prefer to connect over text? You can also text “HOME” to 741-741 to reach a crisis counselor at You can connect with these free helplines 24/7, 365 days a year. Again, unipolar depression often refers to major depressive disorder (MDD), which also goes by the names major depression, c...