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Depression is a term that is commonly used to describe feelings of sadness, loss or passing mood states. All of us know how it feels to be down in the dumps due to a fight with a partner, difficulties at work, or a poor mark on an exam. However, depressive illness is a mood disorder that profoundly interferes with a person’s ability to function at work, at school, or in relationships.
To receive a diagnosis of depression, a number of symptoms of depression have to be met. Depression can affect a person on many different levels. Emotional symptoms may include depressed mood or lack of interest in activities that previously were enjoyable to the person. Inability to concentrate, difficulties making decisions, or forgetfulness may lead to problems at work or at home. These cognitive symptoms usually alter a person’s ability to think and reason clearly and sometimes may result in thoughts about death or suicide. A depressed individual may also complain about physical symptoms, such as changes in sleeping and eating patterns. Decreased energy levels and fatigue may make it increasingly difficult to get out of bed in the morning or to sustain energy to perform work duties.
Depression may be categorised in different ways. Major depressive disorder and a more chronic but less severe type of depression called dysthymic disorder are types of unipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder or a manic-depressive illness manifests as alternating episodes of mania and depression. Seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression are other forms of depression. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world and depressive disorders affect nearly twice as many women as men. Nearly 20% of all people in North America will have experienced depression in their lifetime. Since depression is such a common problem and affects so many of our friends and relatives, including ourselves, what can we do when we suspect that we may be suffering from symptoms of depression?
 Personal Development Centre offers individual counselling and psycho educational groups such as Understanding Depression that individuals seeking therapy and information may take part in. Cognitive-behavioural and interpersonal therapy have been shown to be effective in dealing with and alleviating symptoms of depression. For some individuals, a combination treatment of both antidepressant medication and psychotherapy is most effective. The Understanding Depression course offers information about depression, its symptoms, causes, and various types of treatments. Participants are also encouraged to become knowledgeable consumers. Group discussions and exercises are designed for individuals to learn from each other and additional resources are distributed.
Depression can be a debilitating illness, which for some people, without treatment, becomes unmanageable. Other people experience milder forms of depression, which are transitory in nature and disappear with the passage of time. Anyone who is suffering from symptoms of depression, no matter how mild in form, requires understanding and support from others in their lives. By learning more about this illness, we may be able to help our loved ones or some day, ourselves, to better cope with it.
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