People with depression are sometimes described as “overthinking,” “sentimental,” or having “low stress tolerance.” Even in the modern age when knowledge about depression has become increasingly common, there are still some prejudices or stereotypes about depression. On the other hand, when someone says, “I’ve been feeling down lately,” “I’m not interested in anything,” “I feel so tired every day,” etc., they may indeed feel depressed, but they do not necessarily suffer from depression.
Depression Is More Than Just Feeling Down
There are many symptoms associated with depression, and they can be psychological, physical, lifestyle-related, and more. They are divided into four categories.
1. Emotional Symptoms
Negative emotions: persistent low mood; unable to feel happy; irritability, anxiety, excessive worry, and nervousness2. Behavioral Symptoms
Loss of interest: loss of interest in many daily activities; reduced social activities; often tired and lack of energy3. Cognitive Symptoms
Cognitive decline: difficulty concentrating; decreased endurance and memory; slow thinking and talking; things that were once perceived as easy are now difficult to do4. Physiological Symptoms
Sleep problems: insomnia, restless sleep through the night, early waking, or hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness)What Are the Causes of Depression?
A person may suffer from depression for many reasons. For example, some people may have a family history that increases their likelihood of developing depression. Life difficulties and major stressful events can also ultimately lead to depression.Common causes of depression include:
Genetic
Depression can be partially explained by genes. In genetic studies, if one of the identical twins has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of developing it at some point in their life. Additionally, a family history of depression or other mood disorders also increases a person’s risk of developing the illness.Physiological Factors
The cause of depression may be related to neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, in the brain.Current research suggests that the dopamine system may be impaired in patients with depression. Dopamine, which regulates the brain’s reward system, keeps people energized and motivated. This may explain why people with depression experience symptoms such as a lack of enjoyment and loss of motivation.
Serotonin makes people feel happy. The brains of patients with depression may be less sensitive to serotonin.
Social Environmental Factors
The environment in which people live, ranging from family to society, can have a significant impact on their physical and mental state. Unfortunate childhood experiences, stressful life events, marital and family problems, and interpersonal issues are some of the factors that may increase the risk of depression.An unfortunate childhood may increase the chances of developing depression later in life, and it can also affect how people respond to stress and fear.
Psychological Factors
One of the psychological factors associated with depression is neuroticism. Individuals with elevated levels of neuroticism tend to exhibit more negative emotional reactions to stressful events than the average person. Additionally, low self-confidence, low self-esteem, pessimism, self-criticism, and being overly critical of oneself may all be related traits that contribute to the onset of depression. In short, negative thinking pattern is a significant risk factor for depression.Conditions/Diseases
Other mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or chronic physical conditions such as cancer and chronic pain, can also be triggers for depression.Drugs and Alcohol
Some people may turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with life’s challenges, but these behaviors can lead to even lower mood and increase the risk of developing depression.3 Ways to Treat and Manage Depression
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy mainly uses conversation as treatment. For mild depression, this method can be used alone; for severe depression, it can be used together with medication.Psychotherapy can be targeted toward a single patient, but it can also be conducted with multiple individuals at the same time, such as in marriage and family therapy, group psychotherapy, etc.
Interpersonal psychotherapy has been clinically proven to be effective. This treatment method believes that depressive symptoms seriously affect the patient’s interpersonal interaction with family members, friends, colleagues, etc. The patient’s reduced ability to solve interpersonal problems can lead to low self-esteem. Therefore, the purpose of interpersonal therapy is to help patients improve their interpersonal relationships, and strengthen their ability to communicate and interact with others, thereby alleviating depressive symptoms.
The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to change the patient’s negative thinking patterns. Usually, it begins by teaching patients that negative thoughts can lead to low mood. Patients will be asked to keep a record of their daily negative thoughts and be aware of how these thoughts affect their emotions. Then, they will be guided to change their views and behaviors.
For example, if a patient thinks, “I’m useless and I can’t do anything well,” the therapist will then help the patient find evidence that can refute these thoughts: Does not doing anything well really mean that one is useless? Or do these just happen to be things that the patient is not good at? The therapist will guide the patient to challenge their overly negative thoughts and discuss with the patient strategies to reduce these thoughts.
2. Physiotherapy
Medication is currently the most common way to treat depression. Common antidepressants include tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCA), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRI), etc.
However, medication may not be effective for everyone, and like all drugs, its benefits come with risks.
This treatment involves passing an electrical current through the patient’s brain, which induces electrical discharges and physiological changes in brain cells to adjust brain function. This type of treatment is drastic and controversial, and it is often used when medication or other treatments have failed.
3. Natural therapy
Exercising for 30 minutes, three to five times a week, can stimulate the production of endorphins, the hormone that improves mood.
Avoiding drinking and drug use can prevent depression symptoms from worsening. Learn to say no and avoid being at a loss in the face of difficulties in life. Maintain good self-care, such as following a healthy diet or participating in enjoyable activities.
Exposure to white light can help regulate emotions and improve depression. This therapy is primarily used to treat seasonal affective disorders.
Patients with depression can take supplements, such as S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe), 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), St. John’s wort, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins containing vitamin B or vitamin D. It is worth noting that St. John’s wort is used as an antidepressant in Europe, but it has not been approved in the United States. Research on its effectiveness has yielded both positive and negative outcomes.
Some treatment methods may lack sufficient research to prove their actual effectiveness in treating depression, and some supplements may not be approved for use in some countries. Therefore, patients need to follow the instructions of health care professionals when receiving treatment.
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