Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how one feels, thinks and acts. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness lasting nearly all day and every day, and is often accompanied by loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. For this reason, depression is commonly referred to as the common cold in psychiatry to indicate how common it actually is.
Sadness is normal. However, it is different from depression. Sadness usually fades with time or as adaptation to the event develops. However, depression is an illness characterized by sad dull mood with other symptoms that affect normal functioning.
Signs and symptoms of Depression
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Increase in restless activity or slowed movements and speech
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Depression is misunderstood and often under recognised and under reported due to the social stigma attached to it. Telling depressed people to “snap out of it”, “be positive”, “choose to be happy”, “it’s all in your head”, is not helpful or supportive. Rather, it helps to encourage them to seek help and provide unconditional love and support during treatment and recovery.
Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders for 80-90% of people. Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is often used along with antidepressant medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT is a form of therapy focused on the present and problem solving. CBT helps a person to recognize distorted thinking and then change behaviors and thinking.
Ms. Subathra Jeyaram, BA, MA, PhD
Psychologist/ Psycho-Oncologist
Bahrain Specialist Hospital
Email: subathraj@bsh.com.bh