What is Depression - Depression facts And Information?
If you or someone you love is struggling with sad feelings, you may be wondering, what is depression? Depression is a state of mind that hurts.
It's long been thought that depression and other disorders of the mind are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The fact is that this idea has never really been proven in scientific tests. Most researchers would say that what causes depression is a combination of factors, including genetics and social issues. In other words, it runs in families and can be precipitated by things that happen to you. However, in and of itself, depression often cannot be traced to an event. You don't need a reason to feel depressed.
Another answer to the question "what is depression?" is the definition of the term "clinical depression." Feelings of sadness that are intense enough to warrant treatment from a physician are called "clinical depression." A name sometimes given to this condition is a "major depressive episode." Clinical Depression is very common. Some experts estimate that about twenty-five percent of all women and ten percent of all men at any given time are experiencing feelings of depression.
Manic Depression is a particular mental disorder in which a person's moods move from feelings of depression to elation. Both ends of the spectrum are too intense to be healthy. Because of the two opposite "poles" people move between, manic depression disorder is more commonly called "bipolar disorder" now.
Now we know more about what depression is, but what are depression symptoms? Depression causes a distinctive set of symptoms in its sufferers. In addition to heavy feelings of sadness, insomnia is often one of the symptoms of depression. The sleeplessness that is associated with what is depression is often marked by waking too early and being unable to go back to sleep. In some cases, depressed people sleep too much, but it is more common to suffer from sleeplessness. Hopelessness and a lack of enjoyment of common pleasures (including sex) are often present. Thoughts of suicide are not uncommon among depressed people.
Another symptom that often accompanies depression is that of forgetfulness and confusion. It is hard to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Life becomes overwhelming so that little tasks like doing the dishes look like a mountain. A task like balancing the checkbook can be so confusing that a person is unable to do it correctly if they are badly depressed.
Commonly, depression sufferers will experience symptoms such as physical pains that may be misunderstood since depression is often considered an emotional problem. Even if the body is in good physical condition, depression can cause aching sadness in the center of the chest. It's not necessarily the physical heart that hurts, but it feels like it. Depression can cause aches and pains in other parts of the body as well. For instance, it can show up as a long-lasting headache.
Depression treatment often includes some sort of counseling. A trained counselor will inform their client about thought processes that are inaccurate and ultimately harmful. An example of poor thinking that causes what is depression is that things have to be "perfect" instead of just OK. Another is "all or nothing" thinking. A lot of what psychologists discuss with their clients is good common sense that is unfortunately clouded for a time.
For many people, depression self help techniques are very effective in driving away sadness. These self help methods include replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations and getting more exercise. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can make a big difference, too. So what is depression? A real condition, but one you can overcome.