Are You Depressed?
An individual may at times experiences a sense of feeling down which can be a form of depression, especially if it lasts for an extended period of time. If this mood is atypical, it may reflect an extreme reaction to everyday problems, during a particularly difficult crisis in a person’s life.
The causes of depression are complex and vary. They could be attributable to recent stressful events, unresolved past experiences, and even biology. At the very least, knowing the context of the depression is helpful in understanding the landscape of a person’s pain.
We all feel anxious from time to time. We all experience emotions that plague us until we become pro-active. We sometimes place excessive dependence on food, work, sex, drugs or alcohol to alter our sorrow.
However, when these disruptions cause relentless painful feelings, there is an inability to function as productive individuals. We come to feel empty and lethargic.
Diverse viewpoints define depression differently: medical science classifies it as an illness, while other approaches view it as a state of mind, or as a condition embracing psychological, social and physiological components. Regardless of the viewpoint, a major depressive episode is recognizable by at least four of the following signs.
- Feelings of intense or persistent sadness
- Increased need for sleep or difficulty sleeping
- Increase or decrease in appetite
- Uncontrollable or spontaneous crying
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Loss of pleasure from things that were naturally enjoyable
- Difficulty focusing
- More irritable moods
- Decrease in energy – both physical and emotional
How we think has a great impact on how we feel and of course on our behavior as well. Therefore, our thinking guides our thoughts which in turn effects the degree of our depression. As simple as that sounds, depression can alter the individual’s ability to find a balance between positive and negative thoughts.
Psychotherapy provides a supportive environment where the individual can learn how to manage symptoms, identify true and reasonable alternative thoughts, and understand the factors causing the depression. A mental-health professional who practices Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can detect even the most subtle evidence of negative thoughts. Skillful treatment will lead to the alleviation of symptoms, and can include correcting chemicals in the brain that control severe mood swings.
