Depression -- formally diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) -- is a common but serious mood disorder in which someone experiences low moods that affect their ability to think, feel, and act the way they normally would.

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, with one in six people experiencing clinical depression at some point in their life.

While there is no “cure” for depression, treatment is available that can help people with depression find joy and take control of their lives again. Depression can feel overwhelming, but there is hope. If you or someone you care about is experiencing depression, you are not alone -- help is out there.

Depression looks different for different people, but there are common signs and symptoms that can indicate you are experiencing something more than a temporary feeling of sadness. Keep in mind that someone with depression may not experience all of these symptoms, and the symptoms they experience can vary in severity.

If you are experiencing five or more of these common symptoms of depression, you might have clinically diagnosable depression:

• Low or depressed mood every day for more than two weeks
• Losing interest in activities that used to be enjoyable or meaningful
• Intrusive thoughts about death or suicide
• Sleep disturbances, including sleeping much more or less than usual
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Changes in appetite, including eating much more or less than usual
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Cognitive disturbances, including difficulty thinking, focusing, or making decisions
• Fidgeting or moving more slowly than usual
  

People with depression experience symptoms like the ones above that disrupt their usual level of functioning and get in the way of them living their lives.

It’s important to keep in mind that there are different types of depression and that depression can present differently in men and women. Common male depression symptoms can also include anger, aggression, risk-taking behavior, physical aches and pains, and withdrawing from family and friends.

Depression is not the only illness that can cause these symptoms. Medical conditions such as certain thyroid disorders and vitamin deficiencies can also include symptoms like low mood, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. To rule out possible underlying or contributing medical conditions and make sure your diagnosis is as accurate as possible, make an appointment with your doctor.

Depression is a complex condition that can affect anyone, even if it appears that they have “no reason” to be depressed. Research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Genetic Causes of Depression

Do you have a family history of depression? Like other illnesses, depression can run in the family. Children of depressed parents are more than twice as likely to experience depression than children of parents who do not have depression.

Biological Causes of Depression

There are a number of biochemicals in your body that impact your mood, including neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Differences in the way someone’s body handles these chemicals can impact their risk for developing depression.

Environmental Causes of Depression

People do not exist in a vacuum -- their life circumstances can have a huge impact on their mental health. People who are exposed to violence, abuse, neglect, and poverty may have an increased risk for developing depression.

Psychological Causes of Depression

Depression is a psychological disorder, and it can be impacted by a variety of psychological factors. People who do not have healthy methods of coping with stress, who have low self-esteem or self-worth, and otherwise exhibit a pessimistic psychology are more likely to develop depression.

Just like there are a number of factors that can cause depression, there are a number of ways it can be treated. Research suggests that over 80% of people who seek help for depression eventually find relief from their symptoms.

Because depression involves a number of physical and mental risk factors, and depression-like symptoms can be caused by certain medical conditions, the first step in finding the right depression treatment is having a thorough diagnostic evaluation by a physician. Once your physician understands the factors that are causing your depression, they can start to build a treatment plan tailored to your unique situation.

Treatment for depression may include:

• Medication. If biochemistry is a factor in your depression, a doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help modify brain chemistry that may be causing symptoms.
• Therapy. Individual or group therapy can be helpful in addressing psychological causes of depression and resolving trauma that may be causing symptoms.
• Lifestyle changes. Improving physical health often has a positive impact on mental health, so a doctor might suggest making lifestyle changes such as taking vitamins or increasing exercise.
• TMS. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is an FDA-approved depression treatment that uses painless magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that are less active in people with depression. It is a non-invasive, non-drug alternative that can be an effective option even for people with treatment-resistant depression.
• Ketamine therapy. Safely used as an anesthetic in hospitals for decades, recent research suggests that ketamine therapy shows promise in individuals with severe depression that hasn’t responded to other medications or therapy.

At Transformations Care Network, we are dedicated to helping people in our communities access life-changing mental health care. If you believe that you are experiencing depression, contact us today to learn what our compassionate care providers can do for you.