13 - Depression

Unlike some of the other neurotic behaviours, depression is part of our everyday vocabulary. Some people use it casually to mean they are temporarily “down in the dumps”. But depression is also related to much more serious emotional concerns.

Depression is a debilitating mood that lasts for several weeks or longer. It interferes with our work, our relationships, our social life, and our sense of personal worth. It is characterized by pessimism that interferes with the way a person needs to function in his or her everyday life. Some of the more specific symptoms include the following:

depression• irritability or sadness
• inexplicable fatigue
• aches and pains
• loss of appetite, digestion problems, constipation
• bouts of crying
• lack of sexual interest
• sleep disturbances
• feelings of anxiety, guilt, and worthlessness
• inability to concentrate or make decisions
• restlessness or lethargy
• thoughts of suicide

A combination of social/emotional factors along with genetic variables is thought to be the cause of depression. Unpleasant, stressful situations in one’s life can trigger depression such as loss of a job, serious financial difficulties, termination of a marriage or long term relationship, the onset of a serious illness, or the death of someone very close. A person’s life history is another factor to consider. As a child, the person may have been subjected to many traumas. A person may have endured physical or sexual abuse. However, many people who have experienced the horrors of being raised in a war-torn country do not develop depression.

An imbalance in one’s brain chemistry is another possible cause of depression according to recent research. A deficiency of serotonin can cause alteration of moods and the increase of negative thoughts and emotions. Physicians treating their depressed patients with antidepressants note that when the chemical imbalance is treated, the depression goes away. Then comes the question, Does depression alter the brain chemistry or does the imbalance in brain chemistry lead to the depression? Which one comes first? Another interesting question is, If depression is strictly due to a chemical imbalance, then why are the number of depressed people increasing dramatically over the past few decades? Perhaps depression is linked to increasing social problems in our society.

If depression is untreated, the possibility of a suicide risk increases. Even mild depression can reduce creative energy, so treatment is definitely recommended rather than simply letting the person come out of the depression by themselves. Approach a depressed acquaintance in the same way you would someone with a physical illness, and give them support. Listen if the person wants to talk about some of his or her problems. Help with daily chores if that is possible. Join the person for little social outings such as a walk, coffee, or going to a movie. People withdraw from others when they are depressed, but this is the time when they need outside contacts the most. To be mentally healthy, people need strong connections to meaningful employment, their communities, and, of course, their families.

If you are the depressed person, ask your family doctor for a referral to a counsellor, psychologist, or therapist. Sometimes a local distress line or crisis line may give you a place to start. Do not let depression go untreated.