Depression

Depression is a common mental disorder that causes people to experience depressed mood, loss of interest. Feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.

Depression is different from feeling down or sad.

A person suffering from depression will experience intense emotions of anxiety, hopelessness, negativity and helplessness and the feelings stay with them instead of going away.

^^~ Depression vs. Sadness ~^^

Sadness and depression have similar reactions except for depression lasts longer than sadness

Depression can affect someones mood, cause them to feel drained, and cause someone to feel down for weeks/months

Sadness is the feeling of sorrow or unhappiness.

Sadness doesn’t last very long, it can be something that makes you sad that day and then you can eventually get over it.

^^~ Biological factors ~^^

Genetics

→ Will run in family.

→ Increased chance of developing.

Decreased or imbalance of brain chemicals

Serotonin:

→ Imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression

→ Serotonin influences a persons mood and emotions, as well as sleep patterns, appetite, body temperature, and hormonal activity. Researchers believe that low levels of serotonin contribute to depression.

Dopamine:

→ Dopamine plays a big role in motivation and reward. If you ever worked hard to reach a goal, the satisfaction you feel when you achieve it is partly due to a rush of dopamine.

→ The main symptoms of depression include; low motivation, feeling helpless, and a loss of interest of things that used to interest you.

Biological factors that may lead to depression

• Imbalance of chemicals in the brain
• Excessive alcohol
• Family history of depression
• Poor diet
• Drug abuse

^^~ Psychological factors ~^^

Psychological responses to stress and dysfunctional ways of thinking

Negative thinking:

→ Results in decreased mood.

→ Some people are pessimists.

Psychological factors that may lead to depression

• Poor self-concept
• Negative ways of thinking
• Poor coping skills
• Feeling overwhelmed

^^~ Social factors ~^^

Poverty and social stress

Difficulties in interpersonal relationships:

→ Social stress - produced by relationships with others.

→ Leads to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness

→ Lacks basic necessities of life.

Social factors that many lead to depression

• Poverty
• Recent bereavement
• Lack of family support
• Lack of friendship
• Bullying
• Isolation
• High responsibility levels.

^^~ 5 Categories of symptoms associated with depression ~^^

To be diagnosed with depression, clients need to have a depressed mood for most of the day, nearly every day for a period of at least two weeks.

Cognitive symptoms

→ negative thinking

→ irrational thinking

→ They may also have feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, find it hard to concentrate and have suicidal thoughts.

Depressed Mood

→ Means feeling very low, sad, useless, helpless and hopeless.

→ This mood does not improved in circumstances that might normally make someone feel better. E.g. hearing good news, or going out with a close friend.

Anhedonia

→ People have a lack of enjoyment, enthusiasm or interest in activities that they would normally engage or participate in.

→ They get not pleasure form everyday things.

→ Can also feel lethargic (no energy and tired), find everything an effort and leave things unfinished.

Psychomotor changes

→ Related to physical and mental activity.

→ Clients may become restless, unable to concentrate or relax.

→ Symptoms also involve slowing down of a persons movements, thoughts and speech. Some examples could be someone walking really slow, or speak really slow and dry.

Biological changes

→ these are changes that occur internally within the body

→ Loss of appetite

→ weight changes

→ leep disturbance

→ Consitpiton

→ Fatigue and exhaustion