Why do i always feel depressed

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SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

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Last Updated: 08/30/2022

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Depression: what it is, signs, symptoms and how to cope with it

Fortunately, the diagnosis of depression is much less common than we use the word (but more often than our grandmothers think). Clinical psychologist Aliya Sabirzyanova

What is depression and how it differs in men women and children

Finished reading here

Depression is a mental disorder in which a person has a pathologically low mood, a persistent sense of guilt, loss of the opportunity to enjoy, a pessimistic assessment of oneself and one's future. It is not for nothing that depression is sometimes called the “disease of the 21st century”: today it is considered one of the most common disorders. According to the World Health Organization, about 280 million people worldwide suffer from diagnosed depression, that is, about 5% of the adult population of the planet. For several years now, experts have noted a trend towards an increase in the number of such diagnoses, and, according to forecasts, their prevalence will only grow.

In modern psychiatry, there are a large number of different classifications of depression, and first of all, this is necessary in order to more accurately determine the cause of the condition and more accurately choose a treatment algorithm. In general, two main types can be distinguished.

Women are diagnosed with depression more often than men: in men, the risk of falling ill is 7–12%, in women it is 20–25%

Endogenous depression occurs against the background of impaired neurotransmitter metabolism, most often against the background of complete social well-being. There may be mood swings during the day with improvement in the evening. The predominance of feelings such as guilt and anxiety is clearly noticeable. The perception of the future is often pessimistic and hopeless.

Psychogenic depression occurs under the influence of traumatic situations. During the day, mood swings are practically not observed: it is consistently bad. You may notice sleep disturbances: difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night. Feelings such as resentment, irritability, constant search for the guilty in their condition prevail. The perception of the future is always based on the hope of improvement.

Women are diagnosed with depression more often than men: in men, the risk of getting sick is 7-12%, in women - 20-25%. Scientists still cannot find a single reason for this variation. Most likely, this may be due to the fact that women seek help more often, as well as the greater influence of the stress factor and greater biological vulnerability, especially often occurring in the postpartum period.

Postpartum depression occurs in 10-13% of women who have recently given birth. Most often, it begins to appear 30-35 days after birth and can last up to 1.5-2 years. Talking about postpartum depression is very important, because in most cases in the initial period it remains unrecognized. Society still condemns and does not recognize postpartum depression or classifies it as a whim of a young mother, which contributes to the progression of the disorder and makes diagnosis difficult.

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Other differences in the structure of depression in men and women can also be noted. For women, loss of appetite, mood swings, suicidal thoughts, lack of strength, constant anxiety and guilt are more characteristic. Men are more likely to have a decrease in motivation, panic attacks, abuse of alcohol and other psychoactive substances.

In children, the occurrence and increase in depressive symptoms varies with age. So, in children 6-8 years old, sadness, crying, helplessness, hopelessness, immersion in their experiences are more often observed; 8-12-year-olds begin to change self-esteem, there is an expectation of failures and misfortunes. Adolescents develop feelings of guilt, self-flagellation, passive and active thoughts of self-harm.

Why depression occurs and how it affects the brain

There can be many reasons for depression, but it is important to note the main ones, which traditionally include biological, psychological and social. Speaking about biological causes, one can rely on the monoamine concept, according to which depression is caused by a deficiency of serotonin mediation.

The best known function of serotonin is related to the control of negative emotions. In our brain, there is a delicate work to maintain a balance between the centers of positive and negative emotions. Consequently, with a decrease in the level of serotonin, it already ceases to suppress those centers that are associated with resentment, sadness, disappointment, and the person begins to feel them very actively. Other biological causes can also provoke depression, namely hormonal changes (during pregnancy, the postpartum period, hypo- or hyperthyroidism or menopause) and asthenia (as a result of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19).).

Mild depression can be difficult to distinguish from sadness and melancholy, easily confused with melancholy or apathy

Depression can also have social causes. Violence in the family, constant comparison with others, the cult of success, growing up in a culture of perfectionism - all this leads to a high stress load, which can lead to the development of a depressive disorder.

Psychological reasons are largely considered the way of thinking of a person, his habits, stereotypes of behavior, which initially transmit a negative view of himself, the future, the world, which is always cruel and unfair. The trigger for the development of depression in this case is usually severe stress or a traumatic experience (loss of a job, death of a loved one, divorce or separation from a partner).

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Depending on the severity, three degrees of depression are traditionally distinguished. Light can be difficult to distinguish from sadness and melancholy, easily confused with blues or apathy. The set of symptoms and their severity do not yet allow a clear diagnosis of depressive disorders, but with a high degree of probability a person may experience depression in the future. This condition is also called subdepressive or subsyndromal (minor) depression.

A moderate degree is characterized by a distinct clinical picture, but a person is able to fully (or almost fully) function in society. And only the severe form is associated with pronounced symptoms, up to loss of functionality, delusions or hallucinations.

Symptoms and signs of depression

Depression can be successfully masked and at first appear only as physiological symptoms: drowsiness, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain (the cause of which cannot be determined by a cardiologist). All this should already be a reason to pay attention to your mental health. However, there are also characteristic symptoms that make it possible to determine that a person has depression. If you notice symptoms within two weeks, please see your doctor. Symptoms of depression include:

depressed mood, the main emotions are sadness, melancholy, anxiety, sadness, irritability;
loss of the opportunity to enjoy even what used to interest or bring joy;
frequent feelings of guilt that tend to increase constantly;
loss of self-confidence, the appearance against this background of thoughts about one's own worthlessness, uselessness and uselessness;
constant fatigue, feeling that there is no strength even for the simplest and easiest things;
sharp fluctuations in weight and appetite, it can either decrease or increase;
sleep disturbances, difficulty falling asleep, insomnia, interrupted sleep or, conversely, increased drowsiness;
recurrent suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempts.

One of the most common psychodiagnostic methods for diagnosing and self-diagnosing depression is the Aaron Beck Depression Scale. However, it is worth knowing that depression as a disorder cannot be diagnosed by the results of only one test, so entrust the interpretation of the data to a specialist. Based on your history, symptoms, general condition and diagnostic results, he will accurately determine the disease.

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You need to understand that only a psychiatrist can diagnose depression. Self-medication is very dangerous, so the first thing that is important and should be done when you find similar symptoms in yourself is to seek professional help. The treatment of depression always stands on two pillars - drug therapy, which is individually selected by the doctor, and psychotherapy, which will teach you how to cope with various conditions and the factors that cause them.

In addition to medical care, you can start taking care of yourself: get enough sleep, eat healthy food, feel free to ask for support from loved ones, increase physical activity (at least 30 minutes of walking a day), stop drinking alcohol or other psychoactive substances.

What to do if a loved one is depressed

First and foremost, take care of yourself. In order to support a loved one, you must have a sufficient amount of internal resource. Track your condition, do not take full responsibility, relax. Seek psychological help if necessary.

It is very important not to devalue the condition of a loved one and not to give him harsh advice. The phrases “Don’t be sad!”, “Pull yourself together!”, “What a depression, wash the floors better / find yourself a husband / give birth to a child - and everything will pass” will deeply hurt a person, and perhaps he will no longer want to share his thoughts with you. state or feeling of depression. Focus on actions, not words - you can help loved ones with household chores. Making tea, grocery shopping, or even just ordering a delivery can be very difficult when depressed, and combined with the occasional loss of appetite, it can lead to more serious consequences.

Support and be there. Sometimes it will not be easy, because your loved one can become irritable, sad, touchy. It is important to show that you remain there and are ready to support, despite the negative emotions shown in your direction.

The opinion of the editors may not coincide with the point of view of the author

If nothing pleases: let's talk about depression

Depression . Surely, in the modern world, this word is known to almost everyone - both a child and an adult. It has become so popular that people often refer to any deterioration in mood as depression. Quite often, we can hear from relatives, acquaintances or colleagues: “I was depressed all evening yesterday” or “Again, the boss filled up with work, now I will be depressed all week,” etc. Against this background, the true meaning of depression is depreciated, and for many people in our time it is associated with something insignificant, ordinary, with a person’s desire to “cry” and “wine”.

At the same time, people who really suffer from depression do not admit that they are sick and do not want to voice their problems, so as not to be known as “whiners” and “weaklings”. But even if a person with depression decides to talk about his problems, as a rule, he hears in response: “Pull yourself together!”, “Look how beautiful life is! How can you be depressed?”, “You should be ashamed, others have problems, and nothing, they live!”, he is offered to “cheer up”, “shake up”, “move” and “change the scenery”. Meanwhile, such advice does not help a person suffering from depression in any way, they only make him once again feel like an “egoist” and “pessimist” and reject even the thought of visiting a doctor.

What is depression? Is it a disease? How to distinguish depression from a banal bad mood? And is it really possible to “pull yourself together” and overcome this unpleasant state on your own? Today in our article we will deal with these difficult questions. The doctor of the highest qualification category, candidate of medical sciences, psychiatrist and psychotherapist of the Clinic "SMITRA" Koridze-Datunishvili Manana Nodaryevna will help us in this.

What is depression?

Of course, this is a real disease, registered in the International Classification of Diseases. Depression belongs to the group of affective disorders, in other words, mood disorders. But, of course, this is not the mood disorder that occurs, for example, after a car breakdown or a deuce in an exam.

Depressive disorder is characterized by several factors. First, depression is a long-term, persistent (lasting more than 2 weeks) condition. Secondly, in addition to a decrease in mood, a depressed patient has a significant drop in activity and a decrease in energy. Thirdly, when a patient is depressed, the pace of thinking changes, more often in the direction of slowing down.

A person suffering from depression begins to look at the world pessimistically, loses the ability to experience joy, his judgments become negative, the future seems unpromising. To live at the usual pace, to concentrate, to be interested, to enjoy what used to please - all this becomes difficult or even impossible for a depressed patient. Often there are thoughts of one's own guilt and worthlessness. In addition, even in mild forms of depression, self-esteem and self-confidence may be reduced.

Sleep is disturbed in a depressed patient: he is either exhausted by insomnia and wakes up several hours earlier than usual, or, conversely, the duration of sleep can increase significantly. At the same time, in the morning, as a rule, the symptoms of depression intensify and often become almost unbearable.

In addition to the above manifestations, depression may be accompanied by changes in appetite - its increase or decrease - and corresponding changes in weight, as well as severe psychomotor retardation, increased anxiety, and a decrease in libido.

Depression diagnostics

Depression is rich in its manifestations, and against this background, the patient can independently suspect such an ailment. But only a qualified psychiatrist, psychotherapist can finally confirm or deny the presence of the disease and, accordingly, prescribe treatment. The doctor will help determine the amount of care needed by the patient, will diagnose. Sometimes a depressive state and a decrease in vital energy can be a symptom of a serious somatic disease, which is why timely diagnosis and targeted assistance are so important.

Causes of depression

A depressive disorder can occur when a person’s psyche and somatics are subjected to unbearable loads for him personally. Depression can be triggered by chronic stress, a severe physical illness, or a sudden precipitating factor such as the loss of a loved one. Scientists also talk about genetic variants of the causes of depression. In addition, it is possible that one environment of life (family, the habit of perceiving life in a depressive light) matters in the development of depression.

Does depression affect a person's overall health?

On the one hand, depression is a kind of adaptation reaction developed in the process of human evolution. Under certain conditions, it helps to maintain overall mental health and even survive. But in situations where a depressive disorder causes unbearable stress on the body, these stresses can “somatize”, i.e. cause disorders of various organs and systems of the body.

But even without somatization in such a state there is little pleasant: depression can affect the whole life, the formation of goals, the choice of a person in certain situations. The behavior of a person suffering from depression can become reckless, sometimes dangerous for himself and others.

Prevention of depression

No matter how surprising it may sound, it is necessary to start prevention of depression ... from childhood. Certain methods of education will help teach the child to correctly perceive and process information coming from outside, as well as develop adequate ways to respond to various life situations.

For adults, there are also some simple rules to reduce the risk of depressive disorder. All these rules are built on the banal and well-known principles of a healthy lifestyle:

Always get enough sleep! Try to go to bed at the same time, and do not forget to close the room from the light. The sleep hormone (melatonin) can only be produced in complete darkness.
Eat healthy food. Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can help prevent mood swings and restore emotional well-being.
Maintain an active lifestyle. They say movement is the best antidepressant. Physical exercise or walks in the fresh air give the body energy, maintain a good mood and maintain vitality.
Communicate more with positive and pleasant people. Good, pleasant communication will give positive emotions and energize.
Allow yourself to be "a little selfish." Take care of yourself, relax, take time for yourself. A drop of healthy selfishness will benefit any person.

Let's sum it up: how can you still distinguish depression from a bad mood?

In the event of the usual “bad mood”, you know exactly its cause: troubles in the family, problems at work, or just stepped on your foot in public transport and ruined your new shoes.

Learn more