What is Depression?

Depression can be described as a low mood that lasts for a prolonged time and affects daily activities. Depression severity can range from mild, moderate or severe.

Although there is speculation that depression spurs due to chemical imbalances, research suggests that several potential reasons cause depression. These include stressful life events (i.e. divorce, bereavement, illness, redundancy), genes, family mental health history, personal characteristics (i.e. low self-esteem or self-criticism), giving birth or loneliness.

Main Symptoms of Depression

Emotional

  • Sadness, Guilt, Hopeless, Numbness
  • Lonely even in the company of other people
  • Tearful

Physical

  • Feeling worse at a particular time of the day
  • Tiredness
  • Restlessness
  • Poor memory
  • Sleep problems
  • Changes in appetite

Behavioural

  • Moving slowly, or being restless and agitated
  • Finding it hard to function (i.e at work/university/school)
  • Isolation and inability to relate to other people
  • Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
  • Loss of interest in pleasurable interests and activities
  • Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems
  • Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
  • Suicidal ideation

People with depression often experience anxiety as well. Research suggests that although patients respond to antidepressant treatment, 10%–30% do not improve or show a partial response. As with anxiety, untreated underlying problems such as trauma can lead to a depressive state, resulting in unresponsiveness to typical treatments (medication, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)). Therefore, trauma-focused therapy could be an effective treatment to combat depression.

Ref: Al-Harbi K. S. (2012). Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions. Patient preference and adherence, 6, 369–388. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S29716

Types of Depression

Major Depression

People experience symptoms most of the day, every day.

Persistent depressive disorder (i.e dysthymia or chronic depression)

It might be not as intense as major depression and can last two or more years. 

Manic depression or bipolar disorder

It consists of periods of high where a person feels very energetic, happy and confident. During this time, the individual may be prone to taking risks and harnessing unusual or self-destructive behaviours. However, the person is likely to encounter episodes of low depression later. In severe cases, episodes can consist of hallucinations and delusions. 

Depressive psychosis

Experiences of major depression and periods of losing touch with reality, such as experiencing hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are episodes of seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting things that aren’t there (i.e. hearing voices or seeing people who aren’t in the present moment). A delusion is considered an irrational/false belief that doesn’t make sense or conflicts with reality. Nevertheless, to someone who might be experiencing psychosis, all of these things seem true and real.

Perinatal or postpartum depression

Occurs during pregnancy or within four weeks of childbirth. Hormonal changes during pregnancy or/ and childbirth can trigger the brain, affecting changes in the moods (i.e. sadness, anger or rage, fatigue, difficulty caring for oneself or the new baby, thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby etc.)

Seasonal depression

Known as major depressive disorder relating to certain seasons (i.e. autumn, winter). Symptoms include social withdrawal, weight gain, fatigue, daily feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or unworthiness.

Situational depression

Also known as an adjustment disorder with a depressed mood. It manifests as a result of specific events or situations, such as the death of a loved one; a serious illness; a life-threatening event; divorce or child custody issues; relational or financial difficulties etc.

 

How Can Therapy Help?

Therapy can help to explore life events that contribute to the depression. Furthermore, it can: 

  • Guide the individual to find ways to accept, adopt or change those situations
  • Identify distorted thought processes, unhelpful believes or behaviours that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
  • Develop coping skills to better manage the symptoms and challenges
  • Identify and prevent future episodes of depression
  • Set realistic goals to engage in and live a more fulfilling life