The word depressed is a common everyday word. For example, people would say "I'm depressed" when really they are just going through a period of sadness. Feeling sad at times is normal! Depression is more than just sadness, it is having a low mood and other symptoms every day for at least two weeks. The symptoms can be so severe that they can interfere with everyday life.
Who gets depression?
5 in 100 adults suffer from depression every year.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be affected by depression at some point in their life.
Nearly 80,000 children and young people suffer with depression, with over 8,000 children aged under 10. The number of young people aged 15-16 suffering with depression doubled between 1980 and 2000.
Causes of depression
There is not single cause of depression. For some, depression is triggered by an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness or redundancy.
You may be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain personality traits, such as being overly self-critical or having low self-esteem.
If someone in your family has suffered from depression in the past, it is more likely you will too.
Alcohol and drugs can also trigger depression. Alcohol, although used by many to drown their sorrows, is a 'strong depressant' which can make depression worse. Cannabis is used by some drug users to relax, but it can trigger severe depression in teenagers.
Core symptoms of depression
Persistent low mood
Marked loss in interest or pleasure in activities
Common symptoms of depression
Too much or too little sleep
Change in appetite; eating too little, causing weight loss, or eating too much, causing weight gain
Fatigue
Slow moving/ slow at carrying out tasks
Poor concentration
Feeling worthless
Recurrent thoughts of death
How is depression diagnosed?
Depression is diagnosed if you have at least 5 of the above symptoms and:
They cause distress/ impair normal functioning
They occur most of the time on most days and have lasted at least two weeks
They are not due to medication side-effects or misuse of drugs/alcohol
Severity of depression
In mild depression, the core symptoms and 4 other common symptoms are present. Daily life is rarely affected. People with mild depression usually do not require treatment and symptoms clear up without medication.
In moderate depression, the core symptoms and 4 or more common symptoms are present. There is a higher chance that daily and social activities are affected. The ability to concentrate and solve problems becomes impaired. Unfortunately, many people are able to mask their feelings, delaying them receiving much needed treatments. Moderate depression usually requires treatment (will be explained on a separate post).
Severe depression almost certainly includes both the core symptoms and most, if not all, of the common symptoms. Daily function ceases beyond most basic activities. People suffering from severe depression may experience psychotic features such as hallucinations or delusions.
Celebrities who suffer from depression
Frankie Bridge
Demi Lovato
Owen Wilson
Gwyneth Paltrow
Who gets depression?
5 in 100 adults suffer from depression every year.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be affected by depression at some point in their life.
Nearly 80,000 children and young people suffer with depression, with over 8,000 children aged under 10. The number of young people aged 15-16 suffering with depression doubled between 1980 and 2000.
Causes of depression
There is not single cause of depression. For some, depression is triggered by an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness or redundancy.
You may be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain personality traits, such as being overly self-critical or having low self-esteem.
If someone in your family has suffered from depression in the past, it is more likely you will too.
Alcohol and drugs can also trigger depression. Alcohol, although used by many to drown their sorrows, is a 'strong depressant' which can make depression worse. Cannabis is used by some drug users to relax, but it can trigger severe depression in teenagers.
Core symptoms of depression
Persistent low mood
Marked loss in interest or pleasure in activities
Common symptoms of depression
Too much or too little sleep
Change in appetite; eating too little, causing weight loss, or eating too much, causing weight gain
Fatigue
Slow moving/ slow at carrying out tasks
Poor concentration
Feeling worthless
Recurrent thoughts of death
How is depression diagnosed?
Depression is diagnosed if you have at least 5 of the above symptoms and:
They cause distress/ impair normal functioning
They occur most of the time on most days and have lasted at least two weeks
They are not due to medication side-effects or misuse of drugs/alcohol
Severity of depression
In mild depression, the core symptoms and 4 other common symptoms are present. Daily life is rarely affected. People with mild depression usually do not require treatment and symptoms clear up without medication.
In moderate depression, the core symptoms and 4 or more common symptoms are present. There is a higher chance that daily and social activities are affected. The ability to concentrate and solve problems becomes impaired. Unfortunately, many people are able to mask their feelings, delaying them receiving much needed treatments. Moderate depression usually requires treatment (will be explained on a separate post).
Severe depression almost certainly includes both the core symptoms and most, if not all, of the common symptoms. Daily function ceases beyond most basic activities. People suffering from severe depression may experience psychotic features such as hallucinations or delusions.
Celebrities who suffer from depression
Frankie Bridge
Demi Lovato
Owen Wilson
Gwyneth Paltrow