Depression
One common question about depression is, "Why do I feel this way?". But is it depression that you are feeling or is it just bouts of sadness once in a while?
When you have depression it is beyond just "feeling sad". It is an overwhelming sense of sadness, a really deep feeling of despair that you can't shake no matter what you do, and even being angry at everyone and everything no matter what the circumstances are, or how good things may get.
Sadness and feeling overwhelmed with life once in a while is normal...in fact, welcome to being human. It is part of living and experiencing the "trials and tribulations" of your life and of becoming an adult...all these things can contribute to feeling overwhelmed, which in turn can make you feel totally deflated and defeated.
It's okay to feel sad once in a while. It's okay to feel overwhelmed... And when you do, go out, take a walk, ride your bike, go surfing, or swimming, call your friend who makes you laugh, even closing your eyes and practicing some meditation techniques may help. Remove yourself temporarily from what gives you these feelings of sadness; just step away and take a break. Put yourself in a happy place for an hour or two, then come back when you are feeling a little refreshed and tackle what you need to or face what you need to face.
Depression can mess with your personality and take away the essence of who you truly are. Feeling excited about things is really difficult, even when things are not that bad. Everything can seem like a mess.
Depression is also much more complex than just sadness, it is an almost debilitating feeling. People who are suffering from depression feel like they are in a constant sad hole that they can't get out of. There are many contributing factors for depression. These feelings can range from having a family history of depression, to serious illness (known as clinical depression), to big life changes. These factors may be the reason why someone may feel constantly overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness.
Overall, depression is a medical illness. However, the good news is that depression is treatable!
Many of these factors are treatable. Whether it is a combination of other medication, therapy or support groups, there is help out there. By being aware of how you are feeling and what events have been happening around you, will help you and your doctor or trusted adult to understand what you are going through and be able to get the best help.
NOTE: Children and youth may experience different symptoms from adults, but overall the symptoms are very similar, from having physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches, to experiencing severe sadness, irritability, and even pushing family and friends away. Youth may experience more radical mood changes, going in and out of depression and mood swings. Parents, and society at large may see these changes as "rebellious" and therefore some of the reasons that it's sometimes difficult to diagnose youth with depression.
What is depression?
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression, is a serious, common mental mood disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
Irritability
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
Decreased energy or fatigue
Moving or talking more slowly
Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight changes
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
Risk Factors
Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. These may include:
Personal or family history of depression
Major life changes, trauma, or stress
Certain physical illnesses and medications
Treatment
There is no one treatment that works for every person struggling with depression. You must find what works for you.
Depression is either treated with medication or psychotherapy or both.
Medications: Antidepressants are medicines that improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals to control mood or stress. It is important you talk to your doctor about which type to take, potential side effects, and how long to take them for.
Psychotherapy: There are several types of psychotherapy (also known less specifically as counseling) that can help with depression. For more information click this link.
What You Can Do:
When you or a loved one is receiving treatment for depression, here are some things you can do to further help:
Try to be active and exercise.
Set realistic goals for yourself.
Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.
Try not to isolate yourself, and let others help you.
Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately.
Continue to educate yourself about depression.
Hawaii Depression Statistics
Youth With At Least One Major Depressive Episode (MDE) In The Past Year: 11,000 = 11.97% of population
National average = 13.10%
Youth With MDE Who Did Not Receive Mental Health Services In the Past Year: 6,000 = 57.9%
National average = 59%
Sources: Mental Health America https://www.mhanational.org/issues/2020/mental-health-america-youth-data
National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Depression, Drugs and Alcohol: the worst combination ever!
Depression often pushes youth to turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to relieve their frustrations and self-medicate themselves as a way to escape the feeling of hopelessness.
BUT this is truly the worst thing one can do when they are depressed.
What many don't know is that it can make the problem worse because scientific evidence has shown over and over that drugs and alcohol make depression worse by intensifying the feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Although people may think it makes them feel "normal", the damage that they can cause can make it even harder to recover from depression. Youth can have a more difficult treatment and high rate of relapse.
For more information about other factors that may be affecting your depression:
Resources
