i havent really research on wat's depression n wat causes it but mel kinda went n search for sign n symptoms of depression.. well tink both of us r suffering frm depression.. i really wanna get out of it but i haf no idea how.. well, let's see, wat's depression?
Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives. Many people feel like they have no energy and can't concentrate. Others feel irritable all the time for no apparent reason. The symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel "down" for more than two weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed.
Most people who have gone through one episode of depression will, sooner or later, have another one. You may begin to feel some of the symptoms of depression several weeks before you develop a full-blown episode of depression. Learning to recognize these early triggers or symptoms and working with your doctor will help to keep the depression from worsening.
Major depressive disorder, commonly referred to as "depression," can severely disrupt your life, affecting your appetite, sleep, work, and relationships.
The symptoms that help a doctor identify depression include:
- constant feelings of sadness, irritability, or tension YES
- decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies SOMETIMES
- loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity YES
- a change in appetite, with significant weight loss or weight gain SOMETIMES
- a change in sleeping patterns, such as difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much SOMETIMES
- restlessness or feeling slowed down YES
- decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate YES
- feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt YES
- thoughts of suicide or death YES
Causes of Depression
Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things. You may have no idea why depression has struck you.
Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.
Some of the more common factors involved in depression are:
- Family history. Genetics play an important part in depression. It can run in families for generations.
- Trauma and stress. Things like financial problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can bring on depression. You can become depressed after changes in your life, like starting a new job, graduating from school, or getting married.
Pessimistic personality. People who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed. These traits may actually be caused by low-level depression (called dysthymia). - Physical conditions. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on. Depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear. In some cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat medical conditions.
- Other psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance abuse often appear along with depression.
well somehow or another this sounds rather serious.. but i do hope i'm not dat serious cuz i already suspected i'm having it.. well mayb i can get out of it but i seriously haf no idea how to do it.. shld i see a psychiatrist n mayb start taking medication like wat mel has spoken of previously.. or shld i juz leave it n mayb monitor it myself..
went for dragonboat gathering.. it was nice to see them.. but as de nite gets darker n darker, i can see myself getting tired n more tired.. thot i would fall asleep in de bus on my way home but suddenly sadness juz overwhelmed.. i kept asking myself wat am i upset abt but i juz cant seem to find de answer.. since der's no reason i shld b upset den i shldnt b but i juz cant help feeling sed.. i felt so sad dat tears began to dwell.. juz b4 they almost fall, i looked out of de bus n into de dark sky.. den my mind juz went blank.. next thing i knew, i was home n writing my blog now..
