Colorblind

 “Depression is being colorblind, and constantly told how colorful the world is.” (Atticus)

When temporary grief or sadness becomes intense and includes feelings of being helpless, hopeless, or worthless, sadness is likely to turn into depression. Depression is a medical condition that is diagnosed based on a person's symptoms. In most cases, having five or more of the following symptoms for at least two weeks indicates the presence of depression:

·       Difficulty focusing, remembering details, or making decisions

·       Feeling guilty or unworthy almost daily

·       Feeling restless or slowed down

·       Feeling sadness or grief most of the day, especially in the morning

·       Feeling tired or lacking energy most days.

·       Frequent headaches or body aches and pain with no apparent cause

·       Inability to sleep or sleeping too much most days

·       Lack of desire to participate in activities that you used to enjoy

·       Persistent thoughts about death or suicide

While it's often said that depression results from a chemical imbalance, research suggests that depression doesn't occur from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems. It's believed that several of these forces interact to bring on depression.

Please note that self-diagnosing depression based on the above symptoms is not recommended. Although you may feel sad or depressed, it's best to seek the advice of your primary care provider because depression is a medical condition. Once you've seen your doctor, they may recommend medication and/or counseling. Depression can be placed into at least five categories. Certain symptoms characterize each type:

Bipolar Disorder: Many people mistakenly think depression and bipolar disorder are two totally different mood disorders. The two conditions overlap. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a person’s frequent cycling of moods. A bipolar individual will show symptoms of one of two episodes during any given time; either manic or depressive. A manic episode is one in which the individual has an elevated mood with rapid thoughts, speech, and energy.

A depressive episode is on the opposite end of the spectrum and is characterized by feelings of sadness, a loss of energy, and increased irritability. In rare cases, an individual could show signs of a mixed state or “mixed mania” which are symptoms of both types of episodes.

Major Depression/Clinical Depression: We all feel low from time to time but only temporarily. But in serious cases, symptoms of depression that include feelings of hopelessness and guilt can last for more than two weeks. Major depression affects nearly 7% of adults in the United States. At least 25% of adults will experience a bout of major depression at least once in their lifetime.

Individuals that suffer from major depression have difficulty sleeping, working, eating, and sometimes even interacting with others. Suicidal thoughts are also common for individuals battling major depression. A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication is often the best remedy for clinical depression.

Postpartum Depression: Postpartum depression is a common type of depression among women that have recently given birth. Symptoms of postpartum depression include increased anxiety, feelings of sadness accompanied by long crying spells, difficulty sleeping, and frequent mood swings.

The exact cause of postpartum depression is unknown. However, the most likely culprit is a woman’s loss of the hormones estrogen and progesterone following pregnancy. Weight gain and the increased responsibility of being a mother could also play a role in the onset of postpartum depression.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): PMDD is a type of depression that only affects women. It is commonly referred to as a more severe type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The mood swings often associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder are much more severe. Like PMS, PMDD can also cause bloating and weight gain, fatigue, and changes in sleeping patterns in women. PMDD is characterized by increased anger and irritability, sadness, hopelessness, and anxiety. The most common cause of premenstrual dysphoric disorder is an underlying mood disorder that is worsened by the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Common remedies for PMDD include the prescription of antidepressants as well as birth control pills.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD is a type of depression that takes place when the seasons change. SAD is characterized by a loss of energy, longer periods of sleep, and increased irritability. SAD is most common during the winter months, and has the highest number of cases in Alaska and the fewest number of cases in Florida. The causes of SAD are the lack of sunlight and its impact on the body’s circadian rhythm. There are also exponential drops in serotonin in the brain during this period due to the lack of sunlight.

How to overcome depression

·       Build supportive relationships

·       Consciously shut down negative thoughts

·       Find something to look forward to 

·       Implement achievable lifestyle changes like healthy eating, regular exercise, seven to eight hours of nightly sleep

·       Make achievable goals for your life

“Depression is a prison where you are both the suffering prisoner and the cruel jailer.” (Dorothy Rowe)[i]  

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[i] Adapted from:

·       “5 Ways to Overcome Depression” by FavDoctor

·       “Five Common Types of Depression” by Pasadena Villa

·       “What Are the 5 Types of Depression and How Can You Determine Which You Have?” by Darby Faubion