What is Depression

Depression is a serious mental illness that can interfere with a person’s life. It can cause long-lasting and severe feelings of sadness and hopelessness, as well as a loss of interest in activities.

Some people with depression may experience appetite changes and sleep problems. Other aspects of depression may bring on painful physical symptoms, such as headaches.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that, in 2020 of all adults in the United States experienced a major depressive episode at least once in the past year. However, despite its prevalence is not always easy to identify.

Symptoms and causes of depression can vary widely from person to person. Gender may also play an important role in why depression affects a person and what it feels like to them.

How depression feels

One of the common misunderstandings about depression is that it is similar to feeling sad or down.

Although many people with depression feel sadness, it feels much more severe than emotions that come and go in response to life events.

The symptoms of depression can last for months or years and can make it difficult or impossible to carry on with daily life.

It can disrupt careers, relationships, and daily tasks, such as self-care and housework.

Doctors will usually look for symptoms that last for at least 2 weeks as a possible Depression may feel like:

• There is no pleasure or joy in life: A person with depression may not enjoy things they once loved and feel like nothing can make them happy.
• Concentration or focus becomes harder: Making decisions, reading, or watching television can seem taxing with depression because people cannot think clearly or follow what is happening.
• Everything feels hopeless: Depression may make people feel that there is no way to feel good or happy again.
• Self-esteem is often absent: People with depression may feel like they are worthless or a failure at everything. They may dwell on negative events and experiences and cannot see positive qualities in themselves.
• Sleeping may be difficult: Falling asleep at night or staying asleep all night can feel nearly impossible for some with depression. A person may wake up early and not be able to go back to sleep. Others may sleep excessively but still wake up feeling tired or unrefreshed, despite the extra hours of sleep.
• Energy levels are low to nonexistent: Some people have difficulty getting out of bed or feel exhausted all of the time, even when they are getting enough sleep. They may feel that they are too tired to do simple, daily tasks.
• Food may not seem appetizing: Some people with depression feel like they do not want to eat anything and have to force themselves to eat. This can result in weight loss.
• Cravings for comfort foods: Although some with depression do not want to eat, others find solace in food. They can overeat and crave comfort foods, leading to weight gain.
• Aches and pains may be present: Some people experience nausea, body aches, and other pains with depression.

Many people mistakenly believe that being depressed is a choice or that they need to have a positive attitude.

Friends and loved ones often get frustrated or do not understand why a person cannot “snap out of it.” They may even say that the person has nothing to be depressed about.

Depression is a real mental illness. Those who live with depression cannot simply decide to stop feeling depressed. Unlike typical sadness or worry, depression can feel all-consuming and hopeless.