The word depressed is common everyday word . People might say "I'm depressed " when in fact they mean " I'm fed up because I've had a row or failed an exam or lost my job " etc . These ups and downs of life are common and normal . However , depression is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness , hopelessness & worthlessness. It lowers motivation & energy levels . Depression permeates through the body and mind . Symptoms can become severe enough to interfere with day -to-day activities . When depressed , you may often experience feelings of low esteem , guilt and self-reproach driving you to make irrational decisions .
The exact cause is not known . Anyone can become depressed . Some people are more prone to it and may develop for no apparent reason . An episode of depression may also be triggered by life event such as relationship problem , bereavement , redundancy , illness etc. In many people it is mixture of the two . For example, the combination of a mild low mood with life problem , such as work stress , may lead to depression .
Do's & Don'ts about depression :
- Don't bottle things up and 'go by alone ' . Try & tell people who are close to you how you feel . It is not weak to cry or admit that you are struggling .
-Don't despair - most people with depression recover .
-Do try and distract yourself by doing other things . Try doing things that do not need much concentration but can be distracting such as watching TV. Radio or TV is useful late at night if sleeping is a problem.
-Do eat regularly , even if you do not feel like eating .
- Don't drink too much alcohol.
- Don't make any major decisions while you are depressed. It may be tempting to give up a job or move away .