Depression

These symptoms don’t mean a person has a lazy character or is unable to “pull himself together”. In fact, depression is quite common, affecting 5 – 12 % of the population, and the World Health Organization lists depression as one of the most debilitating conditions.

For patients
If you are suffering from depression, you are no longer in control over your mood or feelings. If you have been depressed about almost everything, almost all the time, for several weeks or months, you may be suffering from depression. Here are some of the typical symptoms of the condition we call “depression”:

• Feeling sad or “blue”
• Feeling tired of everything
• Pessimistic outlook
• Nervousness and anxiety
• Confusion
• Trouble making decisions
• Worrying about trivial matters
• Reduced self-confidence
• Feelings of guilt
• Poor memory
• Slow, languid movements
• Slow speech
• Reduced appetite
• Trouble sleeping
• Physical pain
• Fear of getting sick

It is difficult to find an exact reason for developing depression in each individual person. It can be triggered by psychological trauma, stress, illnesses, unemployment, and many other genuine problems. But there are also other things that can trigger a depression.

Depending on your sex and where you live, up to 23% of all people will become clinically depressed at least once during their life. That means depression is actually as common as other physical disorders such as diabetes or asthma. The World Health Organisation now lists depression as the most debilitating conditions in the world, along with high blood pressure and cancer.

The good news is that depression can be treated very effectively.

For relatives
Knowing someone with depression or seeing that someone close to you develop depression can be painful, irritating, even scary. A constant bad mood, lack of interest in once-popular activities, the inability to make decisions, worries over trivial matters – all these things can make it very difficult to deal with someone.

Depression is a very common disease. Up to 23% of all people suffer from depression at least once during their lives. That means depression is actually as common as other physical disorders such as diabetes or asthma. The World Health Organisation now lists depression as the most debilitating conditions in the world, along with high blood pressure and cancer.

It is difficult to find an exact reason for developing depression in each individual person. It can be triggered by psychological trauma, stress, illnesses, unemployment, and many other genuine problems. But there are also other things that can trigger a depression.

Happily, depression can be effectively treated and your support, as a friend or family member, can be an important part of the therapy. To begin with, you can convince someone to seek help, and to let this person know that you are there for them. Talk about what you feel, and when you see positive changes during the treatment, point them out in an encouraging way. Your support even can save a life if someone suffering from depression chooses suicide as a way to end their suffering.