Too often depression sufferers are stigmatised as weak and unstable individuals. The truth of the matter is that many depression sufferers are well-qualified individuals with responsible jobs.

When experiencing signs of depression or on being diagnosed with depression, many sufferers will questions themselves. Why me? Am I emotionally weak? These concerns are perfectly normal and shared by most people suffering from this illness.

What is depression?

Depression has many different symptoms ƒ{ some are easy to recognise and then there are others that are more difficult. The first sign of depression is often a change in the person’s usual behaviour. Common symptoms of depression include the following:

    • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
    • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
    • Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
    • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, self-reproach
    • Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
    • Loss of appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain
    • Decreased energy, fatigue and feeling ¡§run down¡¨
    • Increased use of alcohol and drugs
    • Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts
    • Restlessness, irritability, hostility
    • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
    • Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain.

 

Causes of depression?

There are several possible causes of depression, or it can be caused by a combination of factors; however some people might relate to these factors without ever developing depression.

    • Learned behaviour. People learn what they consider ¡§normal¡¨ from the environment in which they are raised. If a person is raised around others with depression or a pessimistic attitude, they will adopt the same outlook. They will also not have good examples of coping skills to model their behaviour on.
    • Stress. Stressful life events such as failing an exam, moving far away from friends or family, or ending a serious relationship can bring on an episode of depression.
    • Other medical illnesses. The stress of being ill can increase the likelihood that someone will become depressed.
    • Gender. Women are twice as likely as men to develop depression. Researchers are not certain why, but it is believed that it might simply be that women are more likely to report being depressed.
    • Chemical imbalance. It is believed that an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain causes depression in some cases. Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine are chemical messengers that operate within the brain to influence mood. If these get out of balance, a person can become more sensitive to the onset of depression.
    • Heredity. Research shows that people with a family history of depression are more likely to develop depression themselves. This is especially true in the case of bipolar disorder.

Perfectionism. People who have unrealistically high standards for themselves or suffer from a persistent inability to be satisfied with outcomes due to perfectionism, have been shown to be more likely to suffer from depression.

Exercise and depression

If you suffer from depression, you might find your doctor or mental health provider prescribing a regular dose of exercise in addition to medication or psychotherapy. Exercise isn’t a cure for depression, but its psychological and physical benefits can improve your symptoms.

 

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about depression. Call us on our EAP number or email us