Characteristics of Depression
Moods & Mood Disorders
Mood - Emotional states that are even more subjective and harder to
define than the emotions themselves. There are two types of moods; good
moods and bad moods.
Mood Disorders - Characterised by emotional extremes and challenges
in regulating mood (tend to be longer-term disturbances).
Factors of Mood Disorders
– Biological Factors
– Genetic Factors
– Psychological Factors
– Environmental Factors
Mood Disorders Run in Families
– You’re more likely to experience a bipolar or depressive disorder if you
have parents or siblings who suffer from them.
– Studies of identical twins shows that if one twin has a bipolar disorder,
the other has a 7 in 10 chance of also being diagnosed, regardless of
whether they were raised together or apart.
While a stressful life event can’t give you bipolar disorder, it could
trigger a manic or depressive episode in someone with a pre-existing
condition.
Depression
Depression is a physiological and psychology illness.
It messes with your sleep, appetite, energy, neurotransmitter levels, all
, interfering with the way your body runs itself.
Depression manifests itself more in terms of anger and aggression in men
rather than as sadness and hopelessness in women.
You may initially be diagnosed with clinical depression before you have a
manic episode (sometimes years later), after which you may be diagnosed
with bipolar disorder.
During an episode of depression, you may have overwhelming feeling of
worthlessness, which can potentially lead to thoughts of suicide.
Signs of Depression
– Depressed mood.
– Significant weight or appetite loss or gain.
– Too much or too little sleep.
– Decreased interest in activities.
– Feeling worthless, fatigued, or lethargic.
– Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
– Recurring thoughts of death and suicide.
First-hand Monologue of What It’s Like Living With Depression
Depression creeps upon you quietly. At the very beginning you struggle
with the little things, but usually you choose to ignore them.
It’s like a headache. You’ll tell yourself it’s temporary and it’ll pass. It’s just
another bad day.
But it’s not. You’re stuck in this state of mind. You… get used to putting on
a social mask and you continue to live among other people, because that’s
what you have to do. That’s what others do.
However, the problem does not go away. You struggle to put on a play
every day and it starts to cost you more and more.
That is why you fall even deeper and that’s when you slowly start to back
away from friends and family, sometimes completely shutting them out.
All satisfaction is gone. The little things that used to bring you joy are now
worthless. Even the simplest tasks become painful.
Moods & Mood Disorders
Mood - Emotional states that are even more subjective and harder to
define than the emotions themselves. There are two types of moods; good
moods and bad moods.
Mood Disorders - Characterised by emotional extremes and challenges
in regulating mood (tend to be longer-term disturbances).
Factors of Mood Disorders
– Biological Factors
– Genetic Factors
– Psychological Factors
– Environmental Factors
Mood Disorders Run in Families
– You’re more likely to experience a bipolar or depressive disorder if you
have parents or siblings who suffer from them.
– Studies of identical twins shows that if one twin has a bipolar disorder,
the other has a 7 in 10 chance of also being diagnosed, regardless of
whether they were raised together or apart.
While a stressful life event can’t give you bipolar disorder, it could
trigger a manic or depressive episode in someone with a pre-existing
condition.
Depression
Depression is a physiological and psychology illness.
It messes with your sleep, appetite, energy, neurotransmitter levels, all
, interfering with the way your body runs itself.
Depression manifests itself more in terms of anger and aggression in men
rather than as sadness and hopelessness in women.
You may initially be diagnosed with clinical depression before you have a
manic episode (sometimes years later), after which you may be diagnosed
with bipolar disorder.
During an episode of depression, you may have overwhelming feeling of
worthlessness, which can potentially lead to thoughts of suicide.
Signs of Depression
– Depressed mood.
– Significant weight or appetite loss or gain.
– Too much or too little sleep.
– Decreased interest in activities.
– Feeling worthless, fatigued, or lethargic.
– Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
– Recurring thoughts of death and suicide.
First-hand Monologue of What It’s Like Living With Depression
Depression creeps upon you quietly. At the very beginning you struggle
with the little things, but usually you choose to ignore them.
It’s like a headache. You’ll tell yourself it’s temporary and it’ll pass. It’s just
another bad day.
But it’s not. You’re stuck in this state of mind. You… get used to putting on
a social mask and you continue to live among other people, because that’s
what you have to do. That’s what others do.
However, the problem does not go away. You struggle to put on a play
every day and it starts to cost you more and more.
That is why you fall even deeper and that’s when you slowly start to back
away from friends and family, sometimes completely shutting them out.
All satisfaction is gone. The little things that used to bring you joy are now
worthless. Even the simplest tasks become painful.
