Depression is a mental health disorder that causes a person to lose interest in performing various activities.
Furthermore, this type of mental disorder can affect anyone, from children to adults.
This is why maintaining mental health is crucial for everyone to prevent the onset of depressive disorders.
To understand what depression is, including its causes, symptoms, and how to overcome it, let’s explore the following article!
What is Depression?
Depression is a type of mental disorder that can affect a person’s feelings, thoughts, and actions.
Individuals with depression generally experience primary symptoms such as depressive affect (a persistent negative or deeply sad mood), anhedonia (loss of interest in favorite routines), and anenergy (easily fatigued).
Consequently, someone suffering from depression will face various emotional problems that can disrupt daily routines.
The impact of depression can last for a significant amount of time and is prone to recurrence, which disrupts a person's daily routine.
Therefore, if someone around you is suffering from depression, they should seek professional help immediately.
If left untreated, depression can lead to self-harm and may even trigger suicidal thoughts.
Causes of Depression
The onset of depressive disorders is generally caused by many factors, ranging from biological issues to the consumption of certain medications.
The various causes of depression include:
1. Biological Issues
One cause of depression is biological issues occurring in the brain. Usually, these biological problems cause physical changes in the brain's structure.
However, such changes of the brain still need further research.
Although the exact nature of these changes is not yet fully understood, research in Cermin Dunia Kedokteran mentions that monoamine abnormalities can lead to depression.
Monoamines are neurotransmitters in the brain that help transmit information throughout the body.
Certain types of hormones from these neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, can trigger depression.
2. Hormonal Imbalances
The next cause of depression is hormonal disturbances. Changes or imbalances in hormones can trigger depressive disorders.
This condition frequently occurs during pregnancy and in the months following childbirth.
Additionally, individuals with thyroid problems or those going through menopause are at a high risk of developing depression.
3. Genetic Factors
Genetics also play a role as a potential cause.
If a member of your immediate family has a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other mental disorders, your risk of developing depression is higher.
4. Medical Conditions
Having a history of chronic physical illness is another factor.
Someone with a history of serious diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, or Parkinson's, is more vulnerable to depression.
The pain caused by these illnesses can decrease a person's spirit and quality of life, increasing the risk of mental health struggles.
5. Personality
An individual's personality can also trigger depression.
For example, people who easily feel overwhelmed or frequently engage in overthinking are at an increased risk of experiencing stress and depression.
6. Life Events
Everyone goes through sad events in life. However, certain life events you have passed through can also trigger depression.
For instance, the death of a loved one, past trauma, lack of support, chronic stress, or the habit of self-isolation make one prone to depression.
7. Medication and Substance Use
Lastly, frequently consuming medications that have mental health side effects can be a cause.
While medicine generally helps maintain health, over-consuming certain types of drugs that list depression as a side effect can trigger the condition.
Furthermore, the consumption of alcohol and drugs can both cause and worsen depression.
Symptoms of Depression
Depression is more than just a feeling of sadness.
There are other signs of depression that you need to recognize early on, including:
- Feeling hopeless, worthless, or having low self-esteem.
- Feeling guilty easily.
- Increased sensitivity, leading to irritability or frequent crying.
- A persistent bad mood or continuous sadness.
- Always feeling excessively worried or anxious.
- Lack of motivation and loss of interest in many things.
- Changes in menstrual periods for women.
- Feeling easily tired and drained of energy.
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions quickly and accurately.
- Speech and body movements are relatively slower than usual.
- Loss of sexual desire.
- Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia.
- Changes in weight or loss of appetite.
- Emergence of thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Diagnosis of Depression
If you or someone close to you experiences several of the symptoms mentioned above, you should see a doctor immediately for a diagnosis.
The diagnostic stages usually include:
- Asking questions (amnesis) regarding the patient's health history to identify potential causes.
- Taking laboratory tests to ensure whether or not there are thyroid gland disorders that could be causing the depression.
- Taking mental examination Asking questions related to the symptoms felt, thoughts, and behavior patterns.
- Aligning findings with the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria.
Complications of Depression
As previously explained, depression is a serious mental disorder and can be fatal if not handled immediately.
Untreated depression can trigger worse conditions and complications. Some complications of depression include:
- Increased risk of physical illness.
- Excess weight, which can trigger diabetes and heart disease.
- Risk of problems at work, in education, or family conflicts.
- The occurrence of panic disorders, anxiety, or social phobias.
- Suicidal feelings or attempts.
- Drug abuse and using alcohol as an escape.
- Premature death due to deteriorating physical health.
How to Manage Depression
How do we overcome depression to prevent complications? Generally, depression can be managed with professional help.
Here some explanation on how to manage depression:
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is recommended for mild to severe depression. Types of psychotherapy include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Aimed at helping patients release negative emotions and replace them with positive thoughts.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Helps address problems that arise during interactions with others.
- Problem Solving Therapy (PST): Improves the patient's ability to face events that trigger pressure.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Helps patients understand their feelings and responses to their actions.
2. Brain Stimulation Therapy
Aside from psychotherapy, depression can be managed though brain simulation therapy.
This is often intended for patients who do not recover after medication.
The bahrain simulation therapy includes:
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Attaching electrodes to the neck to stimulate the vagus nerve.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Passing an electric current through the brain, causing a brief seizure.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Using magnets to create an electric current under the skull to help regulate emotions.
3. Self-Care
Depression also can be managed with Self care. This method can be effective when depression is still classified as mild.
This involves adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise and improving sleep quality.
In addition, self care also encourages eating healthy foods, and avoiding alcohol.
4. Medication
Lastly, consuming medication as prescribed by a doctor.
Consuming medicine can help balance chemical levels in the brain. Doctors typically prescribe antidepressants.
However, these must not be over-consumed as it could worsen the condition.
How to Prevent Depression
In addition to knowing how to treat it, you should understand how to prevent the risk.
Here some tips to prevent depression:
- Build simple life habits and create short-term or long-term plans.
- Reduce the habit of being alone and practice frequent socialization.
- Exercise regularly for at least 15–30 minutes per day.
- Consume nutritious food regularly.
- Avoid stress triggers, such as excessive worry.
That is the information regarding what depression is, its symptoms, causes, and methods for management and prevention.
In conclusion, depression is a dangerous psychological disorder that impacts daily routines.
Thus it is important to be aware of its symptoms so you can have the proper treatment.
One way to maintain mental health is by increasing your consumption of mineral water, such as AQUA.
Mineral water is proven to help improve mood because it carries oxygen to be circulated throughout the body.
AQUA is mineral water sourced from mountains and processed through various tests to ensure its nutrition remains intact.
Furthermore, AQUA feels naturally cool and fresh even without being put in the refrigerator because it is 100% pure mountain water.
For that reason, let's make it a habit to #AQUADULU every day! Created by nature, 100% PURE mountain mineral water with no added ingredients, just as nature intended you to drink it.
