It's normal to feel bad once in a while, but if you're sad most of the time and it's affecting your daily life, you may be experiencing clinical depression. But you don't have to worry. Because depression is a condition that you can treat with medication, talking to a therapist, and making lifestyle changes.

What is Depression?

Depression is a common medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, how you think, and how you act. It makes you feel sad or lose interest in activities you once enjoyed.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

The symptoms of depression are as follows:

• Feeling sad or in a depressed mood (mood that makes you say you don't want anything)
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed (Loss of interest that causes you to say you don't enjoy what you do)
• Changes in appetite (changes that cause you to say you're eating too much or have lost your appetite)
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy that causes you to constantly say you feel tired
• Increase in aimless physical activity
• Emotions that make you feel worthless or innocent
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

What Are the Types of Depression?

The types of depression are as follows:

• Clinical Depression (Major Depressive Disorder): Depression is the most severe type of depression. All negative emotions are felt intensely.
• Major Depressive Disorder with Atypical Characteristics: The individual manifests itself with certain behavioural patterns.
• Postpartum Depression: Postpartum depression can be seen during pregnancy and for a period of about one month after giving birth.
• Seasonal Mood Disorder: This is a condition that is usually felt in winter and autumn when the sun decreases and clouds form.
• Major Depression with Melancholic Characteristics: Individuals lose their sense of pleasure and avoid doing things they used to enjoy doing.
• Depressive Disorder with a Psychotic Feature: In this state, the individual begins to experience hallucinations and delusions.
• Major Depressive Disorder with Catatonic Characteristics: Individuals experiencing this depression have significant impairments in their psychomotor movements.
• Dysthymic Disorder: It is a chronic disorder. Symptoms such as hopelessness, hopelessness, lack of pleasure and lack of interest are observed in individuals with dysthymic disorder.

What are the Causes of Depression?

The factors that cause depression are as follows:

• Hereditary factors
• Changes in hormone balance
• Low self esteem
• Don't be too dependent
• Don't be overly self-critical
• Traumatic or stressful events such as physical or sexual abuse, death or loss
• Don't be overly pessimistic
• A difficult relationship or financial problems
• Presence of other mental health disorders such as anxiety disorder, eating disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Heavy use of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs
• Use of certain medications, such as sleeping pills

Depression Symptoms in Children and Teens

Depression in children and teenagers are as follows:

• Frequent sadness and crying
• Thoughts of harming yourself
• Physical complaints such as headache, stomach ache
• Lack of self-esteem, feelings of guilt
• Sleep disorders and changes in eating habits
• lack of energy
• Self-isolation, miscommunication
• Anger, destructive actions, aggression
• Decreased concentration, failure in school
• Lack of interest or pleasure in favourite activities

Depression Symptoms in Older Adults

Depression in older individuals may differ from younger individuals. The symptoms are as follows:

• An effort to stay at home instead of socializing or doing new things
• Memory difficulties or personality changes
• Suicidal ideation or intense feelings of death, especially in older men
• Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems, or loss of interest in sex not due to a health condition or medication use
• Physical pain or feelings of pain that have no medical cause

What Are the Risk Factors for Depression?

The risk factors for depression are as follows:

• Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty.
• Personality: People with low self-esteem, easily overwhelmed by stress, or generally moody are more likely to experience depression.
• Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain.
• Genetics: Family history of depression.

What are the Treatment Methods for Depression?

Depression treatment varies according to its severity and type. Therefore, the treatment of depression includes various methods. The methods used to treat depression are as follows:

• Medication
• Psychotherapy
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Hospital Treatment
• Self Help and Coping

FAQ

Why Do I Feel So Tired?

Depression is one of the diseases that cause fatigue. Meaning that you may experience feelings of being tired all the time. However, there are various health problems that cause feeling tired. Therefore, getting support from an expert is the best choice.

How Depression Changes Our Lives

In depression;

• Assertiveness decreases.
• Concentration is impaired.
• There is intolerance.
• There is unwarranted anger.
• The patient's quality of life decreases.
• Serious functional losses occur in work, family, social and academic life.
• Family relationships are damaged.
• Sexual dysfunctions, resulting in disagreements between spouses.

There are no such thing as certain situations mentioned above. How depression will affect your life depends on the severity of your depression and on the individual.

What are Natural Treatment Methods?

The treatment of depression, a healthy diet and paying attention to the intake of vitamins and minerals can prevent depression. Natural treatment methods for depression are as follows:

• Healthy and Balanced Nutrition
• Fish oil
• Probiotics
• Vitamin D3
• Adaptogen Plants (Plants that reduce stress hormones and relax the nervous system.)
• Group B Vitamins
• Centaury
• Lavender oil
• Exercise

What Should Be Done to Avoid Depression?

Here's what you can do to avoid depression:

• Communicate actively with friends and family
• Be physically active
• Be patient
• Stay away from alcohol and drugs
• Speak openly with your specialist doctor or psychotherapist
• Treat for as long as necessary
• Join the charity group
• Follow the advice of your specialist psychotherapist
• Set small and achievable goals
• Do not despair
• Get up as soon as possible after waking up
• Create your personal weekly plan
• Lighten your load