What is depression?

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder marked by persistent sadness and diminished interest in things that you used to enjoy. It affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a number of ways. Depression interferes with your daily life by making it difficult to manage your routines, responsibilities, and relationships.

 

At Nafsology Psychology Center, we understand that it can be difficult to cope with depression, and seeking help can be a struggle.  Depression is treatable – get help today!

Depression can be manageable and treatable with several therapeutic techniques including:

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
  • Medication and medical support

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

  • Low mood (feeling sad, feeling depressed, or feeling down for most of the day)
  • Change in appetite (eating more or less than usual) with corresponding weight change
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Difficulty concentrating or thinking
  • Lack of energy (fatigue)
  • Loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed
  • Sleep disturbances (sleeping more or less than usual; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep)
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or suicidal behavior

What causes Depression?

There are many factors that are linked to depression. These may include:

  • Biological factors: having a family history of depression or other psychiatric problems
  • Going through stressful life events such as bereavement, losing your job, divorce or having financial difficulties
  • Experiencing traumatic events during childhood
  • Having a history of other mental health conditions
  • Suffering from serious and ongoing medical conditions

What are the different types of Depression?

  • Major Depression

Also known as clinical depression, major depressive disorder, or unipolar depression. It includes at least one of the following symptoms:
1) consistent low mood and
2) loss of pleasure in usually enjoyable activities and at least three of the other symptoms listed above. 

  • Bipolar Disorder

Sometimes called “manic depression, a person goes through alternating phases of depression and mania; mood episodes that range from extremes of high energy with an “up” mood to low “depressive” periods with longer waves of depression and shorter waves of mania. Mania refers to a period of hyper-elevated mood, high energy, euphoria, and racing thoughts.

  • Persistent Depressive Disorder(Dysthymia)

This causes low mood that can last for a number of years, but isn’t severe enough to affect how you function on a daily basis

  • Psychotic Depression

This includes the symptoms of severe depression as well as psychotic symptoms, such as Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), Delusions (false beliefs) and Paranoia (wrongly believing that others are trying to harm you)

  • Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression

An estimated one in seven women experiences peripartum depression. Peripartum depression is a serious, but treatable medical illness involving feelings of extreme sadness, indifference and/or anxiety, as well as changes in energy, sleep, and appetite, have difficulty bonding with their baby. It carries risks for the mother and child.

Postpartum depression can occur anytime in the year after you have your child. It lasts for two or more weeks, rather than a few days. It is not the same as the baby blues. The baby blues usually occurs within a few days of giving birth, with symptoms including mood swings, cry a lot, and feel overwhelmed after the arrival of your baby. These feelings are relatively common, which is why about 80% of women experience the baby blues.

Postpartum depression, as with other types of depression, is both manageable and treatable. Get in touch with us to find out how we canhelp you.

How is Depression treated?

At Nafsology, we offer several different treatment options for Depression.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Integrative Psychotherapy
  • Medication and medical support Where to get help for Depression

If you or a loved one are living with Depression then it is important that professional support and treatment is urgently sought. Contact us at Nafsology Psychology Center today.