Depression commonly manifests physically, through stomach pains, headaches, disrupted or excessive sleep, and motor control difficulty. While the causes of depression are varied, a predisposition for it runs in families and it can also be triggered by trauma and adverse life experiences. Bullying is a major cause of depression. Depression is diagnosed more frequently in women and tends to display differently in women than in men.
People tend to suffer higher rates of depression after giving birth and in late fall. Depression and anxiety often exacerbate each other and people with depression commonly have difficulty with focusing and concentrating on tasks and conversations. Some people abuse alcohol and drugs or overeat as a way of coping, causing them to develop other medical problems. Depressed people are also at increased risk for self-harm.
Depression is a mental illness which is characterized by prolonged emotional symptoms including, but not limited to:
- Apathy
- Sadness
- Guilt
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
To have a diagnosis of depression, a person must have experienced symptoms for at least two weeks. It is often helpful to see a medical doctor to have physical tests to determine whether a person’s symptoms are actually being caused by a different disorder. Every case is unique and requires individual attention, but there are a number of effective complementary ways of treating depression, including:
- Therapeutic interventions
- Medication
- Adopting a healthier lifestyle