Depression is real! And it’s about time we knew about it.
A very common disorder, Depression is a serious medical illness that affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act – negatively. It causes feelings of intense sadness or a feeling of emptiness that is often displayed by a range of emotions. Signs range from a lack of interest in doing the things you once loved to thoughts of dying. As expected, this can lead to a disruption in day to day activities – both mental as well as physical.
Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can strike at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.
Fortunately, Depression is treatable! It is imperative that we are aware of the early warning signs that will ensure treatment as fast as possible.
- Depressed mood most of the day
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Too much or too little sleep
- Weight loss or weight gain; or increase or decrease in appetite
- Moving and speaking more slowly (or much faster) than normal
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)
- Fatigue or low energy
- Decreased ability to concentrate, think, or make decisions
- Thoughts of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
- Recurrent thoughts of death, or thinking about or attempting suicide
If 5 of the above symptoms are displayed where 1 symptom is either of the first two everyday for a minimum period of two weeks, then you might have major depression. Seek help immediately – it’s okay to talk to someone.
