Depression is a liar. It alters how people perceive themselves and the world around them by providing them with false, negative information. It isolates people from those they care about by telling them they are worthless, hopeless, incompetent, ugly, etc. When someone is deeply depressed, they cannot see the positive aspects of themselves.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that affects how some people think, feel, and accomplish daily activities, such as grooming, eating, sleeping, studying, and working.
It is an equal-opportunity mental illness. Anyone can become depressed: age, race, income, education, or culture don’t matter.
Causes of Depression
Experts believe that some people are more likely to become depressed due to biological or psychological factors. When something in the environment triggers these factors, such as a stressful situation, the person experiences depression.
Biological factors encompass the way the brain regulates moods and its response to stressful life events. Some people have a genetic vulnerability that makes it more likely they will become depressed during their lifetime.
Psychological factors affect how someone experiences life and influence whether they will or not they will become depressed. The way they think, how often they experience a sense of failure, and how they cope with stress and loss all go into the mix.
The triggering event can vary from person to person. Some people find that their depression grows out of a loved one’s death or a job loss. Farmers may experience depression after losing a crop or due to financial difficulties. For others, the exact trigger for their depression may not be readily apparent.
Depression v. Grief
While grief can trigger depression, being depressed isn’t the same thing as being bereaved. Grief and depression are similar in that they are both emotional responses, but each is a distinct experience.
Grief is the normal experience of deep sadness someone experiences after a significant loss, “usually the death of a loved one.” It can also occur when someone loses a beloved pet, after the end of a relationship, their job, or their health after being diagnosed with a significant physical illness.
Symptoms of grief include:
- Confusion
- Insomnia
- Intense sadness
- Irritability or anger
- Obsessively living in the past
- Poor appetite
- Separation anxiety
- Weight loss
The main difference between grief and depression is that, over time (approximately two to six months for most people), grief subsides. They adjust to their “new reality” and the symptoms of grief begin to subside. For people living with depression, this is not the case.
Symptoms of Depression
The signs and symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Some people exhibit several of the symptoms on this list, while others experience only a few of them.
Emotional Symptoms:
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling numb, distanced from others
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless
- Irritability
- Less interest or participation in activities that used to be enjoyed
- Repeated thoughts of death or suicide
Physical Symptoms
- Changes in appetite (eating less or more)
- Changes in sleep patterns (trouble getting, staying asleep)
- Digestive problems
- Dizziness
- Headaches, body aches
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Loss of control, uncontrolled rage
- Low energy, feeling exhausted all the time
- Self-destructive behavior
How to Ask for Help for Depression
- Understand that You Aren’t Alone
The percentage of adults who will be diagnosed with depression during their lifetime has hit 29%, close to 10% higher than the 2015 rate. Americans who are or who have been treated for depression have jumped to 17.8%, an increase of seven percent over the same period, according to Gallup. Both rates are the highest recorded by Gallup since it began measuring depression statistics in 2015.
The good news about depression rates being reported in the news is that the stigmas around mental illness are slowly going away. You shouldn’t be afraid that being diagnosed with depression necessarily means you need to be treated on an inpatient basis. If inpatient care is the best option for you, your treatment will be medically supervised in pleasant surroundings.
- Put the Self-Talk Aside
Negative self-talk is one of the symptoms of depression. It’s very easy to fall into the mindset that your friends and loved ones don’t really care enough to want to help or are too busy. You don’t know how much help you can expect from those closest to you until you ask.
- Find a Quiet Time to Talk
If you decide to approach a friend or a relative about how you feel, make sure you choose a time when you won’t be interrupted. Someone who has a busy household that includes young children or seniors who may interrupt you may be a great listener; if you want to talk to them, you may wish to arrange a time when the two of you can go for coffee or a drive alone.
- Plan what you want to say in advance.
Don’t worry about diagnosing yourself or using labels on how you feel. All you need to say is that you haven’t been feeling good or like yourself lately and that you would like some help.
Asking for help is the most challenging part. Once you can say these words, you’ll find that people and resources will become available.
- Decide Exactly What Kind of Help You Need
Before you talk to a friend or a loved one about your depression and ask for help, decide what kind of help you need.
- Do you need someone to offer you emotional support? A friend or family member can listen to you with empathy as you share how you are feeling.
- Would you like someone to help you with daily tasks? Make a list of where you find yourself getting stuck and ask for specific help. “Could you pick up some groceries for me?” “I could use some help with planning some simple meals,” or “Could we chat a couple of times a week?”
- Do you need help making an appointment with your doctor or another healthcare professional? Ask a friend or loved one to make the call on your behalf.
- Consider asking someone to be your study buddy if you’re a student. It’s less likely you’ll become overwhelmed if you have someone to study with. You’ll feel less isolated if someone else shares their experiences too.
- Find someone who will meet you to go for a walk or spend some time outside. If going to a gym seems too overwhelming, start with something simple to get some exercise.
- Find Professional Help
You may need more help for depression than even the most caring friend or family member may be able to provide. There is no shame in asking for professional help for depression. A mental health professional can give you tools to help you cope with your depression and move forward in healing. If necessary, a mental health professional can prescribe medications that can help you feel better as you continue with your “talk therapy.”
Get Depression Help at Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health
You (or you and your mental health provider) may decide that the best treatment option is inpatient care for your depression. This option allows you to take time away from the distractions in your everyday life and focus entirely on improving your mental health.
Carolina Dunes offers advantages like 24/7 monitoring and support, along with individual and group therapy. Clients in our inpatient treatment program follow a regular schedule, which ensures they receive regular sleep, nutritious food, and participate in exercise—recreational activities and hobbies round out the program.
Our medical and psychological team constantly monitors our clients ’progress, ensuring they receive the necessary medications. At Carolina Dunes, our goal is to ensure that our clients achieve their treatment goals while maintaining their overall health.
