Depression is a mood disorder with different types: major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression.
Depression is an illness that affects the way a person feels, thinks or behaves. There may also be changes in daily activities such as sleeping, eating or working as a result of the disease.
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
Depression can cause different symptoms. Emerging symptoms of depression can help diagnose the illness. Some signs and symptoms that have been present for at least two weeks and occur most of the day, almost every day, may indicate depression. Some of these symptoms are as follows:
Sad or anxious mood,
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism,
Irritability, frustration or restlessness,
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness,
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities,
Feeling tired all the time,
Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions,
Difficulty falling asleep, waking up early in the morning or oversleeping,
Decreased appetite and accompanying weight loss,
Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that have no obvious physical cause and do not go away with treatment,
Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts,
Increased anger or irritability,
A sense of loneliness,
Keeping to yourself,
Increased smoking or alcohol use,
Isolation from family and friends,
Failing to fulfill work and family responsibilities or ignoring other important roles,
Problems with sexual desire and performance.
Depression is an illness that can occur at any age, but it usually occurs in adulthood. The causes of depression may differ from person to person. Depression can occur especially in middle-aged or older people, in combination with diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions can lead to further progression of the existing illness and an increase in the symptoms of depression.
There are different types of the disease depending on the factor causing the depression and the severity of the depression:
Major Depression: A type that usually lasts for at least two weeks and includes symptoms such as depressed mood or loss of interest that interferes with daily activities.
Persistent Depressive Disorder: Persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia or dysthymic disorder, usually lasts at least two years but can last much longer.
Perinatal Depression Pregnancy is a sensitive period of mood swings. This condition that occurs during or after pregnancy is called perinatal depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: The type of depression that occurs in some seasons and disappears at the end of the season is called seasonal affective depression. This type can usually appear in late fall or early winter. Seasonal affective depression can improve as symptoms begin to disappear in spring and summer.
Depression with Psychotic Symptoms: This is a severe form of depression in which the person experiences symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions (disturbing false fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not hear or see).
Depression is a treatable illness. Early diagnosis is very important for treatment. Patients who are diagnosed early have the chance to start treatment early and thus the progression of the disease can be prevented. Factors such as stressful environments, family problems and illicit substance use are among the triggers of depression . Elimination of such factors that trigger the disease can also be effective in the treatment to be applied. Depression can usually be treated with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.
Not all people are affected by depression in the same way. There is therefore no one-size-fits-all treatment for the disease. It is very important that the method to be applied to treat the disease is planned by a doctor for the treatment to be effective. In order to get accurate information about depression and to determine the appropriate treatment, it is necessary to consult a health care provider. One Dose Health with health apps available 24/7 online health counseling service. Thus, it becomes possible to make an online doctor’s appointment from your location. This allows for online treatment.
There are different types of the disease depending on the factor causing the depression and the severity of the depression:
