Am I Depressed? What is Depression?

Learn about the causes and solutions to Major Depressive Disorder and other depressive states.

Equipped with this knowledge, you will be able to better understand and treat your depression.

Table of Contents

(click on a question below to be directed quickly)

What is Depression?
What is the real cause of Depression?
How do you treat depression?
What are the Different Types of Depression?
Can one become hospitalized for depression?
How Can I Help a Loved One who is feeling depressed?

Chances are you have heard someone, at some point in your life, express that they are feeling depressed. Although depression is a common term, it can be unclear what this diagnosis entails and how to determine whether you or a loved one is, in fact, depressed.

Education and understanding of warning signs and treatment can make experiencing or witnessing depression less overwhelming.

What is Depression?

Depression is a mental illness that can impact how you feel, think and act. Depression can cause difficulty in various aspects of a person’s life. Depressive symptoms can vary from mild to severe and often include:

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech 
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Anxiety
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

It is normal to feel down or sad from time to time. However, if someone is experiencing these symptoms for two weeks or more, they should consider consulting with a mental health professional.

According to the American Psychological Association and the Journal of the American Medical Association, Depression affects roughly one in 15 adults. It is one of the most common mental disorders. It has been estimated that one in six people will experience depression at some time in their life. 

Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.

Depression can also be a symptom of another mental illness, including Bipolar Disorder. 

What is the real cause of Depression?

There is no one cause of depression. Instead, there can be various events, experiences, or biological causes to depression. It is important to work with a trained psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, therapist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or social worker to identify the causes to your depression.

How do you treat depression?

Studies from the National Institute of Mental Health have shown that the most effective treatment for depression, especially for severe depression, is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. 

The good news is that people with depression have a variety of options to choose from.

Psychotherapy approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Systemic Therapies, along with many more. Various therapeutic approaches have shown to be equally effective in treating depression.

Your primary care doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms. 

Depression is not a “one-size fits all” diagnosis. It comes in many different forms.

For clients that are dealing with severe forms of clinical depression, including manic depression and psychotic depression, they may be best served by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).