Depression

Depression affects as many as 1 in 15 adults, according to the American Psychological Association, and over 16% of adults will have a bout of depression in their lifetimes. Depression can be experienced as a one-time episode, but many people experience it chronically.

Anyone can be impacted by depression, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, age, or gender, but depression affects certain populations differently. For example, women are more likely to experience depression than men: a third of women experience a depressive episode during the course of their lives. Depression also tends to run in families; if you have an immediate family member with depression, you have a 40% chance of experiencing it yourself.

Depression doesn’t just affect one’s mood. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), depression increases your risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases by 40%. Teens who experience depression are two times as likely to drop out of high school. Depression and mental illness increase the likelihood that people experience substance abuse, and that they become unemployed.

Hearing all of these statistics may sound … well, depressing. But probably the most important thing to understand about depression is that it’s highly treatable. Psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can be effective in treating depression and making it possible for depressed individuals to lead healthy and full lives.

Certain people and population groups may be at higher risk of developing depression than others. For example:

• Women are more likely to experience depression than men, although this may be because women are more likely to seek care for their symptoms.
• Trauma such as childhood abuse or neglect, the death of a loved one, financial hardship, or any difficult or sudden life change, may make someone more prone to depression.
• People who identify as LGBTQ are more likely to experience depression, especially if they don’t receive support for their identities or lifestyle.

Other life experiences that may make you more prone to depression include:

• Having a family history of depression or other mental health disorders
• Having a personal history of mental health issues, including anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or postpartum depression.
• Experiencing chronic illness, such a fibromyalgia, cancer, or heart disease
• Being someone who has a history of substance abuse
• Taking any medication that may cause depressive symptoms, such as blood pressure medication or medication to help you sleep

Depression symptoms may differ according to age groups as well. For example:

• Depression in children may present as refusing to go to school, being extra clingy to parents, or experiencing physical symptoms such as stomachaches.
• Older children and adolescents may experience difficulties at school, inability to complete school work, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, and ADHD symptoms. Teens who have depression may experience eating disorders and substance abuse.
• Adults may experience depression at pivotal moments in their lives or during major life changes. Young adults may experience other mental health disorders alongside their depression, such as anxiety, panic disorder, and eating disorders. Middle aged adults may experience more physical symptoms, including gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia.
• Elderly adults with depression may experience grief, moods of generalized depression, and feelings of loneliness.

There is hope for even the most severe cases of depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 80-90% of people who seek treatment for their depression respond positively. Almost all people treated find relief or reduced symptoms. If you are dating someone with depression, or have a friend or family member with this condition, urge them to seek treatment.

Before being treated for depression, it’s important that you receive a proper diagnosis. Since certain medical conditions — like thyroid issues, hormonal issues, or vitamin deficiencies — can have similar symptoms to depression, most experts recommend that you get a full medical workup before being diagnosed with depression. If everything else is ruled out, you may be diagnosed with depression by your doctor or by a psychiatrist.

There are several different ways to treat depression and treatment can work better if different methods are combined. For example, lifestyle changes may not be effective alone, but when combined with therapy and medication, they can propel you faster toward healing from depression.

If you are in a life threatening situation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline +1 (800) 273-8255, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or use these resources to get immediate help.

The types of therapy most often used to treat depression include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. A therapist can help understand the origins of your depressive feelings, offer a safe place to express your thoughts and feelings, and can help you come up with effective ways to cope. These days, therapists work both in-person and virtually; there is a way to fit therapy into almost any lifestyle.

In some cases, therapy alone can treat depression, but often severe cases of depression are best treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

The most common types of antidepressants prescribed are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Other antidepressants include serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Choosing the right antidepressant will include considerations like medication side effects, what particular type of depression you are experiencing, and what medication works best for your body. It can take 2 – 4 weeks for an antidepressant to work, so it’s important to be patient and keep in touch with your doctor. It’s also important not to go “cold turkey” and quickly stop taking an antidepressant, as doing so can have negative physical and emotional side effects. Instead, it’s best to taper off gradually with your doctor’s advice.

Some people need to be on antidepressants consistently, while others only need them for a few months or years, depending on their life circumstances. There is no shame in needing to take antidepressants. They are life changing for many people and for some who are suicidal, medication may even save their life.

Staying active

Exercising and moving your body are great ways to boost the mood. Exercise releases endorphins and can decrease your stress levels. You don’t need to be a runner or a weightlifter to benefit from exercise. A walk around the block or an impromptu dance party works just fine.

Creating healthy and mindful routines

Getting enough sleep, eating regular, healthy meals, decreasing your alcohol intake, and creating a daily routine can help get you out of the rut of depression. Additionally, incorporating regular mediation or journaling into your day can help immensely.

Talking about it

Besides routinely seeing a therapist or counselor, having a few trusted people in your life to share your feelings with can really help you process your feelings and feel supported. If you are having trouble finding these people, look for depression support groups, either online or in person. Keeping your feelings bottled up only exacerbates depression, so finding a safe space to let them out is vital.

Being realistic

Having realistic goals about what it will take to manage your depression can help. Keep in mind that healing from depression is a journey, one that may have setbacks along the way. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Simply deciding that it’s time to feel better is an enormous first step.

If you are struggling with depression — whether it’s something you’ve battled your whole life, or whether you are facing it for the first time — there is support out there for you. Depression is not something you need to just “put up” with. Everyone deserves to live a full, balanced, and happy life.