1 in 10 Americans suffer from depression. Learn the signs.

Depression: A Common Yet Serious Disease

Depression is a subtle yet prevalent disease that affects people’s ability to work effectively and have healthy relationships—to be an active part of society. In fact, in 2020, nearly 1 in 10 Americans suffered from depression, with 1 in 5 cases among adolescents. According to the World Health Organization, in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic alone, there was a 25 percent increase in depression worldwide.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Depression

We may be depressed at times and, even unknowingly, be among many people suffering from the disorder daily. Both our state of mind and physical health can be affected by depression. Here are six common symptoms:

• Feeling down or low: Feeling down or in a low mood is the primary manifestation of people with depression. For example, many are not interested in things that they found interesting in the past. Some may say, “I can’t cheer up or have feelings of joy anymore.”
• Loss of appetite or overeating: People with depression may experience a reduced appetite, find foods tasteless, and even have no desire for meals, consequently losing weight within a short period. Others experience the opposite behavior—finding the need to eat more and gain weight quickly.
• Difficulty falling asleep, waking up early in the morning: Sleep status is an essential indicator of depression. Depressed people often have difficulty falling asleep and may suffer from insomnia. They may also wake up very early in the morning, feeling sad and unable to return to sleep.
• Loss of concentration: The inability to concentrate is another common symptom in patients with depression. Therefore, the efficiency of work, study, and other everyday tasks and actions drops significantly.
• Frequent feelings of guilt: Another typical symptom of depression is that people often become self-critical and feel guilty. Persistent feelings such as “I can’t take responsibility and can’t do anything well” prevail. The patient may feel that various emotional and mental problems caused by the illness, such as being unable to get along with others happily or disappointing others are their fault.
• Suicidal thoughts: Severe depression can lead to suicidal behavior. One may feel that life has become joyless and meaningless, that they have become a burden on others, and that life is no better than death. In the worst case, thoughts of suicide become not just an idea but a desire or plan to end one’s life.

Getting Help for Depression

If you feel that your friends, family members, or even yourself are experiencing problems in this area, it is essential to seek professional help. Find a specialist physician, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, or consult your family doctor. For mild and moderate depression, doctors usually recommend that patients undergo psychological counseling and treatment. The patient may have biochemical abnormalities and more serious symptoms in more severe cases. In such cases, the doctor may recommend anti-depressant medications.

Remember, depression is a disease. This disease has nothing to do with the patient’s thoughts or moral values. Emotional symptoms are not the patient’s fault. Over time and with proper treatment, people can get better.