What is it?
Depression is a mental health condition that causes long-lasting feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and low energy, making daily life hard for weeks or months.
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Description
Everyone has spells of feeling down, but depression is more than just spending a few days feeling sad or unhappy.
Anyone, from any background, can get depressed. This condition affects around one in 10 people over the course of their lives.
It impacts people of all genders and ages, and it can happen for no clear reason. Sometimes, it can be triggered by something tough that you’re going through.
With the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a full recovery.
Symptoms
Experiences of depression will vary from person to person, but here are some common signs:
- Psychological symptoms
- continuous sadness or low mood
- losing interest in things
- losing motivation
- not getting any enjoyment in life
- feeling tearful
- feeling guilty
- feeling anxious
- feeling irritable
- finding it hard to make decisions
- feeling intolerant of other people
- feeling helpless
- feeling hopeless
- low self-esteem
- feeling worried
- thinking about suicide
- thinking about harming yourself
- Physical symptoms
- speaking or moving slower than usual
- aches and pains that can’t be explained
- losing, or sometimes gaining, appetite or weight
- constipation
- loss of interest in sex
- disturbed sleep (having trouble falling asleep, for example, or waking up very early)
- loss of energy
- changes in your menstrual cycle (the time of the month when you get your period)
- Social symptoms
- avoiding talking to or spending time with your friends
- taking part in fewer social activities
- neglecting interests and hobbies
- doing poorly at work
- difficulties with your family or home life
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Stat
Depression affects around 2.8% of children under the age of 13
and 5.6% of 13-18-year olds
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Causes of depression
Causes
There are many ideas about the causes of depression, and research suggests that there is often more than one cause.
Depression can come from things that are unique to a person’s developmental stage and individual experiences. Academic pressure, social challenges such as bullying or peer rejection, family dynamics including conflict or instability, and biological factors like hormonal changes all play important roles.
Additionally, exposure to trauma, substance abuse, and genetics can cause depression. It’s important to recognise that each person’s experience with depression is complex and that there is often a combination of different factors. Understanding these potential causes can help in providing effective support and interventions for anyone struggling with depression.
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Voice
When sadness persists, or gets worse and when it is accompanied by at least several of the additional symptoms, then it is a good idea to get medical help.
- Dr Gordana Milavic, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Getting help
If you’re struggling with depression, help is available. The best place to start is by making an appointment to see your GP.
Below are some of the available treatment options. The treatment you are offered might depend on things such as your age and where you live.
- Talking therapies
Talking therapy involves discussing your thoughts, feelings, and life experiences with a trained professional, either individually or in a group setting. This process helps you identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, providing you with the tools to modify these patterns.
- Medication
Your doctor might recommend antidepressant medication to help treat your depression. While these medications can improve how you feel, they typically don’t address the underlying issues. Therefore, doctors often combine antidepressants with talking therapy.
There are many types of antidepressants, and individuals may respond to them differently. The most common type is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram, sertraline, and fluoxetine.
- Looking after yourself
Seeking help for depression is important, but there are also self-care strategies that can be beneficial. When you feel overwhelmed, it can be challenging, but it’s important to try.
Different things work for different people, so you’ll need to find what works for you. Some things that work for people are:
- If you believe you’re experiencing depression, reach out to someone you trust—whether it’s a friend, family member, teacher, or another supportive person you feel comfortable confiding in. Opening up about your feelings is often the initial step toward finding relief and support. If you’re worried about speaking to someone you know, you can contact an anonymous helpline.
- Being active can help by improving your mood, reducing stress, and enhancing your overall sense of well-being.
- Practicing meditation and mindfulness can help by reducing stress, improving focus, and enhancing emotional regulation.
- Use self-management resources to provide strategies and tools to cope with symptoms, improve mood, and enhance overall mental well-being. You can find a wealth of free resources on NCL Waiting Room that can support with symptoms of depression as well as information about local treatment options and services. Discover more below.
Some resources that may help
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