Depression, also known as depressive disorder, involves depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, an estimated 5 percent of adults suffer from depression.
“Depression can happen to anyone. People who have lived through abuse, severe losses or other stressful events are more likely to develop depression. Women are more likely to have depression than men,” WHO says.
An estimated 3.8 percent of the population experience depression, including 5 percent of adults (4 percent among men and 6 percent among women), and 5.7 percent of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression.
What is the best treatment for depression?
Depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Approximately 80% to 90% of people with depression who seek treatment eventually respond well to treatment, Cleveland Clinic says.
Treatment options include:
- Psychotherapy
- Medication
- Complementary medicine
- Brain stimulation therapy
How do I know I’m depressed?
We usually think of depression as feeling sad or down for a long period of time, but there are lots of other symptoms of depression, including:
- Frequently or constantly feeling sad, empty, hopeless, frustrated, irritable, or pessimistic.
- Unintentional changes in appetite, such as eating too little or too much.
- Changes in sleeping patterns, such as not being able to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much (hypersomnia).
- Feeling tired or low on energy.
- Being less interested in activities you usually like or enjoying them less than you used to.
- Having trouble concentrating or remembering things.
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or like you are not enough.
- Feeling overwhelmed and unable to tackle new challenges or seek help.
- Not taking care of yourself, including skipping showers, not brushing your teeth, or avoiding other personal-hygiene tasks.
- Using alcohol or drugs to deal with difficult feelings or situations.
- Preferring not to socialize with family and friends.
- Frequently having thoughts of death or suicide. Suicidal thoughts can range from, “I wish I wasn’t around” or “I wish I were dead,” to making plans about how to end your life.
What are the 7 types of depression?
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classifies depressive disorders as the following:
- Clinical depression (major depressive disorder)
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
There are also specific forms of major depressive disorder, including:
- Seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression)
- Prenatal depression and postpartum depression
- Atypical depression
People with bipolar disorder also experience episodes of depression in addition to manic or hypomanic episodes, Cleveland Clinic says.
How to recover from depression?
Recovering from depression isn’t easy. In about 20 percent to 30 percent of people who have an episode of depression, the symptoms don’t entirely go away. There are also things you can do at home to help improve depression symptoms, including:
- Getting regular exercise.
- Getting quality sleep (not too little or too much).
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Avoiding alcohol, which is a depressant.
- Spending time with people you care about.