Depression is a state in which a person feels very sad and blue, unhappy as well as miserable and also is down in the dumps. It is common to feel this way sometimes for short periods of time, and when one thinks about what depression is, one is generally thinking about a mood disorder wherein lies feelings of being sad, lost, angry as well as frustrated, which interferes with our everyday life routine for prolonged periods of time.

Rank In Terms Of Severity Of Depression

Also, when considering what depression is, one will generally rank it in terms of its severity, which can range from mild to moderate to severe. This degree of severity is best assessed by a doctor and it will influence the treatment method used. Some of the common symptoms of depression are having trouble going to sleep, or excessive sleeping, a noticeable change in appetite that is often accompanied by putting on weight or sometimes even losing weight, and feeling fatigued as well as lacking in energy.

What depression is has been studied in depth, and it has led to conclusions that the affected person will feel worthless, have self-hate as well as feel guilty and will also find it very hard to concentrate. He or she may also feel agitated, restless as well as irritable and there is also inactivity as well as withdrawal from normal routine activities. The person also feels hopeless and helpless and there are constant thoughts regarding death and suicide.

There is also low self-esteem and there are also sudden bursts of anger as well as not being able to derive any pleasure from activities that generally should make a person feel happy such as having sex. In the case of children, what depression is may not be quite as close to classic symptoms found in adults. Nevertheless, you should watch the child or children for any changes in their performance at school, in their sleep patterns, as well as in their behavior.

What depression is can be categorized into major depression, dysthymia, and atypical depression. And, there is also postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder as well as seasonal affective disorder. It may also occur along with mania in which case there will be noticeable mood cycles that alternate between depression and mania. Depression is also more common to women than to men, more so in their teen years.

The common causes of depression are that it runs in families and includes heredity, learned behavior as well as genetic predisposition, and is quite stressful as well as causes unhappiness. You may also find that depression sets in due to a disappointment at home, school or at work, death of a relative or friend, prolonged pain or due to some major illness, hypothyroidism, cancer or hepatitis, drugs including high blood pressure medications, alcohol or drug abuse, chronic stress and many other similar conditions.

Tags: What Is Depression

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