What is depression?
Many of us Pacific Northwesterners consider summer time to be the best time to live here. With our sunny skies, blue waters, blooming gardens, and no end of opportunity no matter your preferred activity, it can be hard to imagine feeling anything other than joyful.
Unfortunately, unlike our kids, health conditions don’t always take the summer off, nor do our day to day stresses, and no matter how nice it might seem outdoors, many of you might be experiencing emotions or moods that don’t seem to fit with what you see outside your window. When it’s a feeling that you can’t seem to shake, how do you know when you might be experiencing that thing they call “depression”?
What is depression?
Depression is often referred to as a “mood disorder” by professionals and is caused by changes in your body chemistry. We haven’t figured out all of the reasons why people become depressed, and the more research we do, the more complicated the story becomes; at the very least, we find that depression is a syndrome that involves the interaction between genetic, environmental, and physical variables.
Sure, most of us feel down, irritable, or just “blah” from time to time. The defining feature of depression, however, is a persistent change in how you feel, that makes it harder to function in your day to day life. It’s an illness that research has shown as one of the leading causes of reduced workplace productivity and short- and long-term disability. Statistics vary, but a generally accepted figure is about 10% of all Americans will struggle with clinical depression at some point in their life. It’s not something that it makes sense for us to ignore, or wait until we “get over it.”
What should you be aware of?
- Depression isn't something that's "all in your head."
- Feeling drained. Doing something like getting a glass of water from the kitchen can feel like a monumental task.
- Sleep is difficult. Either by sleeping too much and not feeling rested or not being able to sleep at all. No matter how many sheep you count.
- An increase in hunger. Even beyond "emotional eating" that some of us do from time to time.
- Lost appetite. Food loses its taste and missing mealtime is no big deal.
- Forgetful. Start becoming more forgetful or "absent minded." More than just the occasional "senior moment."
- Work performance. If you start noticing that you're letting things slip at work, or finding it just hard to stay on top of all your responsibilities.
You might be reading the above and thinking, “well, those symptoms all sound pretty common.” That’s why, when a doctor is screening for depression, they will be asking if all those things have been happening at the same time and are a change from your usual self. Importantly, in depression, those physical symptoms are accompanied by the “depression” part of depression. Becoming focused on all the things you do wrong, feeling hopeless that you’ll ever get to where you want to be, and maybe even feeling like you don’t deserve to get there, regardless? All are typical of “depressed brains.” In severe cases of depression, your mind might be telling you that you, or other people you care about, would be better off if you just weren’t around anymore. Such thoughts should prompt an immediate call to your provider!
Depression is treatable
If some of the above is ringing a bell, it’s definitely worth talking to your doctor about it. Depression is highly treatable and no-one deserves to struggle without help. Your physician might want to check for some other conditions, like thyroid problems or anemia, that can mimic depression. And they’ll want to talk to you about all the options that you have, for ways to get you feeling better!
“But they’re just gonna push meds on me, and I’m not taking any antidepressants!”
You are definitely not alone in being hesitant about that, but medications are definitely not the be all and end all of depression treatment. While they can be extraordinarily helpful, there are other treatments that have been effective for folks. Counseling with a licensed therapist or psychologist can be a tremendously valuable experience - and I believe there’s not a person on the face of the earth who wouldn’t benefit from giving it a try, whether or not you have depression! Alternative options, like meditation, changes in diet, exercise, and more could also play a role in your overall treatment plan.
No matter how you and your doctor decide to proceed, there is very little to lose in having that sometimes hard conversation with your provider about whether those changes in your energy or mood are symptoms of something more. With help, even the gloomy, cloudy season that’s in our sights all too soon won’t be enough to get in the way of your living your life with a sense of meaning and accomplishment!
DISCLAIMER: The contents and opinions expressed by Everett Clinic teammates and providers on “A Healthier You” blog and those providing comments are theirs alone and are not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your own provider for personal health recommendations.
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