Depression
Clinical depression is an uncomfortable and debilitating experience. It is a need for deep rest from cumulative distress. One experiences feelings of despair or sadness and alterations in one’s thoughts, physiology, and emotions that negatively impact day-to-day functioning. Depression is a common mental health problem that varies in severity, duration, and expression. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects 251 to 310 million people of the global population, that is, 1 in 15 adults annually and 1 in 6 people at some point in their life.
Like other mental disorders, it affects your body, your emotions, your thoughts, and behavior. Depression affects the individual in the following ways:
How it affects your body
A person with depression may have a variety of problems with sleep, have little or too much appetite hence eating too little or too much, experience drastic changes in weight, have low levels of energy, and feel tired where no amount of rest is enough. Low energy levels may lead to demotivation to participate in any physical or cognitively demanding task, including an activity previously enjoyed. Depression may also medically unexplained physical symptoms such as body aches and pains and lowered immunity leading to frequent colds and flus.
How it affects your emotions
Individuals with depression often struggle to decrease negative emotions and or increase positive ones.They may have an enduring sadness without a reason or a feeling of emptiness in spite of achievements or exciting experiences. They may also feel extremely hopeless, like things will never get better, are easily frustrated, and may feel more guilt than a situation calls for. Any little thing may cause the person to overreact or become upset.
How it affects your cognition
Depression makes it difficult to focus and concentrate and reduces one’s ability to recall information about day-to-day tasks. One may notice they are becoming more indecisive, even about low stakes decisions like what to wear or what flavor of ice cream to get. One may also become pessimistic as though there is a dark cloud around their head, and have negative thoughts of worthlessness, extremely self critical, or strong dislike or self. A person may also think they are stuck or like a burden and have a wish to die.
How it affects your behaviour
When we are not feeling our best physically, emotionally, and cognitively we engage in various behaviors to try and cope with the situation. Such behavior includes avoiding people and social activities, overdoing activities like gaming, sports, and social media; comfort eating, increasing their drug use, and engaging in risky activities.
Do you recognize these signs in yourself or someone else? There is hope and there is help! Wazo Therapy Clinic uses evidence-based approaches to lower psychological distress and increase day-to-day functioning for individuals with depression. We use a strengths-based approach to teach healthy coping, and alter irrational negative beliefs about self and the world. Over time, you build resilience and self compassion to cope with life stressors.
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