Depression is a serious health condition that impacts a higher number of men than women. Some estimates place people with disabilities anywhere from two to ten times more likely to develop depression. Depression is more than just feeling occasionally sad or down. Everyone has those feelings from time to time. Depression is a much more severe illness that affects all aspects of a person's life. It affects people's feelings, thinking, behavior, and physical well-being. Depression can range from mild to debilitating. Even mild forms of depression can keep people from enjoying life. When depression is more severe, it can cause pain and dysfunction for individuals and their families. Depression can be so severe that it causes physical illness and can lead to death by suicide.
Common symptoms of depression may involve sadness, a sense of hopelessness, anxiety, negative thoughts, loss of interest in activities the person previously enjoyed, sleeping too much or being unable to get enough restful sleep, appetite changes, weight loss and gain, irritability, low energy levels, fatigue from normal activities, difficulty with concentration, memory problems, mental slowness, and difficulty with decision-making. People with depression may feel overly guilty or have a sense of worthlessness and futility of life. They may become isolated and choose not to interact with others. They may cry frequently or have recurring thoughts of death. When symptoms such of these occur together over a period of time and cause a loss of daily functioning, this may be a sign of depression.
There are different kinds of depression. The most severe form of depression is major depression. It entails feelings of hopelessness and being overwhelmed. People with major depression have difficulty getting out of bed and taking care of themselves. Even simple day-to-day tasks like showering and brushing teeth may be overwhelming to someone with major depression. Major depression has been theorized to be a contributing factor in deaths that were preventable among people with disabilities.
Dysthymia is a less severe form of depression that is a chronic, low level of depression that lasts two years or more. It is less likely to be a contributing factor in suicide, but it does affect a person's quality of life. Some people do not seem to understand that depression isn't just something you can "snap out of." It is not something a person can will himself out of. It is a real illness with real biological causes. Depression can be hereditary and may arise as the result of life experiences or a combination of those factors. Depression is believed to be the caused by chemical differences in the brain. Symptoms of depression can be caused by medical conditions or may be caused by side effects of medications. Because of the many possible causes of depressed symptoms, it is important to get a thorough medical examination to determine if depression or some other factor is causing them.
Depression rates are higher among biological relatives. Women suffer from depression at rates almost twice as high as men. Causes of the difference between men and women may relate to hormonal differences or stressors.
If you or your child are suffering from symptoms of depression, the first and most important step in getting a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment is seeing your doctor. Your doctor can help rule out other potential causes of your symptoms and will recommend appropriate treatment. It is also possible that your doctor will refer you to a specialist such as a psychologist for counseling or a psychiatrist for possible psychopharmacological intervention.
This document has been reviewed by our Medical Review Board and is considered medically accurate.