Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects someone mentally, physically, and emotionally. In 2020, a national survey indicated that 21 million US adults (about 8.4%) from the age of 18 and over had at least one major depressive episode, with adult females (10.5%) suffering higher compared to males (6.2%).
Depression is diagnosed when someone experiences five (or more) depression symptoms consistently during a period of at least two weeks. These depression symptoms must be taken seriously as someone can suffer from distress or impairments in their everyday social life routines and careers.
For many individuals, a common sign of depression is experiencing diminished interest in activities that used to be of interest or pleasure, significant weight loss or weight gain, or feelings of worthlessness. All of these common symptoms affect the mind, body, and emotions.
We will provide you with information about the impacts of depression and how it affects someone mentally, physically, and emotionally, along with the tools to look after yourself, provide support to a loved one, and how/where to seek treatment.
Impacts of Depression
Depression has short and long-term impacts. As stated above, people who suffer from depression symptoms find it difficult to function in social activities with family, at work, or during simple daily routines. Due to the stigma that surrounds depression, many individuals do not seek the treatment they need, and in the long-term, it leads to worsened symptoms than the mood disorder itself.
Let’s look below at the common symptoms and signs of mental depression.
Mental Symptoms
The mental symptoms of depression include one or more of the following:
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia: Depression can often keep individuals awake at night due to being unable to quiet the mind.
- Trouble with memory or making decisions: Depression causes cognitive changes in the brain affecting memory, learning, navigation, concentration, perception, and decision-making processes.
Mental symptoms of depression could be linked to the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system uses neurotransmitters to send messages throughout the body to function well. Some functions include thoughts, memories, sleeping, healing, stress response, breathing, and so on. Oftentimes, a brain chemical imbalance leads to the depression mental symptoms mentioned above (more studies in molecular psychiatry are ongoing).
Physical Symptoms
The physical symptoms of depression include one or more of the following:
- Weight gain or weight loss: Some individuals experience changes in their appetite. Gaining or losing too much weight can lead to issues with the heart, fertility, or fatigue.
- Digestive system issues: Besides weight gain or weight loss, individuals can suffer from stomach aches, cramps, constipation, or malnutrition.
- Cardiovascular and immune systems issues: Because depression and stress hormones may correlate, there is a risk of heart problems due to constricted blood vessels, weight fluctuations, and a weakened immune system due to malnutrition.
- Inflammation: Irritated or swollen tissue is apparent when the red and white cells in your body fight against bacteria, viruses, or disease. Research shows a link between depression and inflammation that affects the central nervous system. Oftentimes, treating the inflammation helps treat depression.
- Other depression physical symptoms include lack of energy or fatigue, low sex drive due to loss of libido, muscle pain, headaches, body aches, or unexplainable chronic pain.
Emotional Symptoms
The emotional symptoms of depression include one or more of the following:
- Depressed mood: Examples of a depressed mood include expressing sadness, being tearful, feeling empty or hopeless, having bad tempers, aggression, or negativity, and suffering from anxiety or nervousness.
- Decrease interest: Often, individuals stop doing activities they enjoyed, avoid social gatherings, have disinterest in sex, feel numb, or lack emotions towards something they once loved.
- Feeling of guilt or worthlessness: Oftentimes, individuals feel guilty for things that are out of their control, or they preoccupy themselves with failing.
- Thoughts about hurting themselves, death, or suicide.
If you or a loved one are having thoughts about death, self-harm, or suicide, or you simply need to talk to someone, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Line available 24/7 by dialing or texting 988.
At the Alvarado Parkway Institute, we offer inpatient and outpatient depression treatment for those struggling with the symptoms of depression. Contact our trained call center staff who is ready to assist you at 619-333-7050 and is available 24/7, or complete our contact form.
How to Look After Yourself
Individuals who live with depression can use coping strategies to look after themselves and manage their mental, physical, and emotional symptoms. However, due to the depression symptoms themselves, it can present a challenge when it is time to implement those coping strategies.
Indeed, the first step will always be the hardest, but you only need to take one small first step—the rest will follow in time. Here’s how you can get started:
Talk About Your Feelings
Talk to someone you trust, find a peer support group, or join group therapy. Talking about how you’re feeling will lower any feelings of isolation that is common with depression. You can also gain new perspectives while getting and providing a support system.
For more information, read our post “What are some benefits of Group Therapy?”.
Eat Well
We mentioned above how depression will affect your body, so by eating well, you help your body receive the appropriate nutrients it needs to fight the symptoms of depression. Avoid skipping meals and minimize sugary snacks such as candy, cakes, cookies, ice creams, and sugar-sweetened drinks like sodas, juices, or energy drinks.
Eat food rich in B vitamins, such as citrus fruit, broccoli, leafy greens (cabbage, kale, spinach), beans, peas, chicken, eggs, or cereal fortified with folic acid. Both B vitamins and folic acid help the central nervous system in the body, and, in addition, folic acid helps with brain function and mental and emotional health.
Stay Active
It is a challenge to stay active when depression symptoms hit you, taking your motivation to recognizable lows. But a simple walk around the neighborhood or dancing at home with your favorite music will help lift your mood. If you have a dog, you can take them on a daily walk 2-3 times a day, or if you don’t have a pet, you can volunteer at a pet shelter or help a friend.
Those who may suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or the winter blues will find it effective to be outdoors for a daily dose of vitamin D boost under the sunlight. If home is a place with little to no sunshine, try a light therapy box to help you with the SAD symptoms.
Avoid Substance Use
Some individuals turn to alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs as a way to cope with the symptoms of depression. It often starts as a recreational use that progresses to intoxication, and it won’t work as a coping strategy as it has the opposite effect. In some scenarios, it can even turn into a substance abuse disorder with additional risk factors.
How to Find Support for You and Your Loved Ones
Remember that friends and family serve as a healthy influence for someone who is living with depression. You can provide support for yourself and your loved ones by learning about depression and mental mood disorders.
You can also start a conversation with loved ones to determine if they are quietly suffering from the depression’s effects on the mind, body, and emotions, and talk to them about seeking treatment. Professional mental health professionals can run a series of physical exams, lab tests, and psychiatric evaluations to correctly diagnose and treat depression.
Treatment could include antidepressant medications, talk therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT may prove effective in treating a wide range of depression types, including major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, and depressive episodes due to bipolar disorder.
Consult a mental health professional or your primary care physician for more information on how to proceed with depression treatments. At the Alvarado Parkway Institute, we provide depression treatment for those struggling with it to allow them to live happy and healthy lives.
If you are interested in learning more for yourself or a loved one, or if you’re ready to begin treatment, contact Alvarado Parkway Institute today. Our trained call center staff is ready to assist you 24/7 at 619-333-7050, or complete our contact form online for more information.
