We all have times when we feel down, but depression is about more than feeling sad or fed up for a few days.Depression might look like a minor health condition until you experience severe forms of it

1. (All you need to know)
Garima Bhati
Assistant Professor
Institute OfTeacher’s Education
 source: google

3. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a
persistent feeling of sadness and loss of
interest.Also called major depressive
disorder or clinical depression, it affects how
you feel, think and behave and can lead to a
variety of emotional and physical problems.
You may have trouble doing normal day-to-
day activities, and sometimes you may feel as
if life isn't worth living

5.  Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or
hopelessness
 Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even
over small matters
 Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal
activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
 Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or
sleeping too much
 Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks
take extra effort
 Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased
cravings for food and weight gain

6.  Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
 Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
 Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on
past failures or self-blame
 Trouble thinking, concentrating, making
decisions and remembering things
 Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal
thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
 Unexplained physical problems, such as back
pain or headaches.

7. In younger children, symptoms of depression
may include sadness, irritability, clinginess,
worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school,
or being underweight.

8. In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability,
feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor
performance or poor attendance at school, feeling
misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using
recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too
much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities,
and avoidance of social interaction.

9.  Memory difficulties or personality changes
 Physical aches or pain
 Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or
loss of interest in sex — not caused by a
medical condition or medication
 Often wanting to stay at home, rather than
going out to socialize or doing new things
 Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in
older men

10.  Major Depression Persistent Depressive
Disorder
 Bipolar Disorder
 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
 Psychotic Depression
 Per partum (Postpartum) Depression
 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
 Situational Depression

11. If you feel depressed most of the time for most
days of the week.
Some other symptoms you might have are:
 Loss of interest or pleasure in your activities
 Weight loss or gain
 Trouble getting to sleep or feeling sleepy during
the day
 Feelings restless and agitated
 Being tired
 Feeling worthless or guilty
 Trouble concentrating or making decisions
 Thoughts of suicide.

12.  If you have depression that lasts for 2 years or
longer, it's called persistent depressive disorder.
This term is used to describe two conditions
previously known as dysthymia (low-grade
persistent depression) and chronic major
depression.You may have symptoms such as:
 Change in your appetite (not eating enough or
overeating)
 Sleep too much or too little
 Lack of energy, or fatigue
 Low self-esteem
 Trouble concentrating or making decisions
 Feel hopeless

13. Someone with bipolar disorder, which is also
sometimes called "manic depression" has mood
episodes that range from extremes of high
energy with an "up" mood to low "depressive"
periods.
 When you're in the low phase, you'll have the
symptoms of major depression.
 Medication can help bring these mood swings
under control. If someone is in a high or a low
period, doctor may suggest a mood stabilizer,
such as lithium.

14.  Seasonal affective disorder is a period of
major depression that most often happens
during the winter months, when the days
grow short and you get less and less sunlight.
It typically goes away in the spring and
summer.
 If you have SAD, antidepressants can help. So
can light therapy.You'll need to sit in front of
a special bright light box for about 15-30
minutes each day.

15.  People with psychotic depression have the
symptoms of major depression along with
"psychotic" symptoms, such as:
 Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that
aren't there)
 Delusions (false beliefs)
 Paranoia (wrongly believing that others are
trying to harm you)

16.  Women who have major depression in the
weeks and months after childbirth may have
peripartum depression. Antidepressant drugs
can help similarly to treating major
depression that is unrelated to childbirth.

17. Women with PMDD have depression and other
symptoms at the start of their period.
 Besides feeling depressed, you may also have:
 Mood swings
 Irritability
 Anxiety
 Trouble concentrating
 Fatigue
 Change in appetite or sleep habits
 Feelings of being overwhelmed

18.  This isn't a technical term in psychiatry. But
you can have a depressed mood when you're
having trouble managing a stressful event in
your life, such as a death in your family, a
divorce, or losing your job.Your doctor may
call this "stress response syndrome."
 Psychotherapy can often help you get
through a period of depression that's related
to a stressful situation.

19. There are a number of factors that may
increase the chance of depression.

20. Abuse: Past physical, sexual, or emotional
abuse can increase the vulnerability to clinical
depression later in life.

21. Certain medications: Some drugs, such as
isotretinoin (used to treat acne), the antiviral
drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can
increase your risk of depression.

22. Conflict. Depression in someone who has the
biological vulnerability to develop depression
may result from personal conflicts or disputes
with family members or friends.

23. Death or a loss: Sadness or grief from the
death or loss of a loved one, though natural,
may increase the risk of depression.

24. Genetics: A family history of depression may
increase the risk.There are probably many
different genes that each exert small effects,
rather than a single gene that contributes to
disease risk.The genetics of depression, like
most psychiatric disorders, are not as simple
or straightforward as in purely genetic
diseases.

25. Major events: Even good events such as
starting a new job, graduating, or getting
married can lead to depression. So can
moving, losing a job or income, getting
divorced, or retiring. However, the syndrome
of clinical depression is never just a "normal"
response to stressful life events.

26. Other personal problems: Problems such as
social isolation due to other mental illnesses
or being cast out of a family or social group
can contribute to the risk of developing
clinical depression.

27. Serious illnesses: Sometimes depression co-
exists with a major illness or may be triggered
by another medical condition.

28. Substance abuse: Nearly 30% of people with
substance abuse problems also have major or
clinical depression. Even if drugs or alcohol
temporarily make you feel better, they
ultimately will aggravate depression.

29. We know that depression can sometimes run in
families. Children, siblings, and parents of
people with severe depression are somewhat
more likely to suffer from depression than are
members of the general population.

30. In certain people, drugs may lead to depression. For
example, medications such as barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, and the acne drug isotretinoin
(formerly sold as Accutane, now Absorica,
Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Zenatane) have
sometimes been associated with depression,
especially in older people. Likewise, medications such
as corticosteroids, opioids (codeine, morphine), and
anticholinergics taken to relieve stomach cramping
can sometimes cause changes and fluctuations in
mood. Even blood pressure medications called beta-
blockers have been linked to depression.”

31.  In some people, a chronic illness causes
depression. A chronic illness is an illness that
lasts for a very long time and usually cannot be
cured completely. However, chronic illnesses can
often be controlled through diet, exercise,
lifestyle habits, and certain medications. Some
examples of chronic illnesses that may cause
depression are diabetes, heart
disease, arthritis, kidney
disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis
(MS). Hypothyroidism may also lead to
depressed feelings.

32.  When pain lingers for weeks to months, it's
referred to as being "chronic." Not only
does chronic pain hurt, it also disturbs
your sleep, your ability to exercise and be
active, your relationships, and your
productivity at work. Can you see
how chronic pain may also leave you feeling
sad, isolated, and depressed?

34. It’s important to determine whether your
depression symptoms are due to an
underlying medical condition. If so, that
condition will need to be treated first.The
severity of your depression is also a factor.
The more severe the depression, the more
intensive the treatment you’re likely to need.

35. It might take some trial and error to find the
treatment and support that works best for
you. For example, if you decide to pursue
therapy it may take a few attempts to find a
therapist that you really click with. Or you
may try an antidepressant, only to find that
you don’t need it if you take a daily half hour
walk. Be open to change and a little
experimentation.

36. Although medication can relieve the
symptoms of depression, it is not usually
suitable for long-term use. Other treatments,
including exercise and therapy, can be just as
effective as medication, often even more so,
but don’t come with unwanted side effects. If
you do decide to try medication, remember
that medication works best when you make
healthy lifestyle changes as well.

37. The more you cultivate your social connections,
the more protected you are from depression. If
you are feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to talk to
trusted family members or friends, or seek out
new connections at a depression support group,
for example. Asking for help is not a sign of
weakness and it won’t mean you’re a burden to
others. Often, the simple act of talking to
someone face-to-face can be an enormous help

38. If there is no underlying medical cause for your
symptoms of depression, talk therapy can be an
extremely effective treatment. What you learn in
therapy gives you skills and insight to feel better
and help prevent depression from coming back.
There are many types of therapy available. Three
of the more common methods used in
depression treatment include cognitive
behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and
psychodynamic therapy. Often, a blended
approach is used.

39. Depression is not just about a chemical
imbalance in the brain. Medication may help
relieve some of the symptoms of moderate and
severe depression, but it doesn’t cure the
underlying problem, and it’s usually not a long-
term solution.
Even if you decide to take medication for
depression, don’t ignore other treatments.
Lifestyle changes and therapy not only help
speed recovery from depression, but also
provide skills to help prevent a recurrence.

40. If you’re suffering from major depression that
has been resistant to therapy, medication, and
self-help, thenTMS therapy may be an option.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
therapy is a noninvasive treatment that directs
recurring magnetic energy pulses at the regions
of the brain that are involved in mood.These
magnetic pulses pass painlessly through the
skull and stimulate brain cells which can improve
communication between different parts of the
brain and ease depression symptoms.

41. Alternative and complementary treatments
for depression may include vitamin and
herbal supplements, acupuncture, and
relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness
meditation, yoga, or tai chi.

42.  Relaxation techniques: As well as helping to relieve
symptoms of depression, relaxation techniques may
also reduce stress and boost feelings of joy and well-
being.Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle
relaxation, or meditation.
 Acupuncture: Acupuncture, the technique of using
fine needles on specific points on the body for
therapeutic purposes, is increasingly being
investigated as a treatment for depression, with some
research studies showing promising results. If you
decide to try acupuncture, make sure that you find a
licensed qualified professional.

44.  Regular exercise can be as effective at
treating depression as medication.

45.  Strong social networks reduce isolation, a key risk
factor for depression. Keep in regular contact with
friends and family, or consider joining a class or
group.Volunteering is a wonderful way to get social
support and help others while also helping yourself.

46. Eating well is important for both your physical and
mental health. Eating small, well-balanced meals
throughout the day will help you keep your energy up
and minimize mood swings. While you may be drawn
to sugary foods for the quick boost they provide,
complex carbohydrates are a better choice.

47. Sleep has a strong effect on mood. When you
don’t get enough sleep, your depression
symptoms will be worse. Sleep deprivation
exacerbates irritability, moodiness, sadness,
and fatigue.

48. Make changes in your life to help manage and reduce
stress .Too much stress exacerbates depression and
puts you at risk for future depression.Take the aspects
of your life that stress you out, such as work overload
or unsupportive relationships, and find ways to
minimize their impact.

49. All of these depression treatments take time,
and sometimes it might feel overwhelming or
frustratingly slow. That is normal. Recovery
usually has its ups and downs.

50.  If you’re depressed, you need a routine.
Depression can strip away the structure from
your life. One day melts into the next. Setting
a gentle daily schedule can help you get back
on track.

51.  When you're depressed, you may feel like you
can't accomplish anything.That makes you
feel worse about yourself.To push back, set
daily goals for yourself.
 Make your goal something that you can
succeed at.
 As you start to feel better, you can add more
challenging daily goals.

52. If you are stressed and overwhelmed, and
feel like you just can’t say no, you are more at
risk for depression. Setting healthy
boundaries in relationships and at work can
help relieve stress,it can help you identify and
validate the boundaries that are right for you.