Depression is a common mental illness that can impact people of all ages and genders. It can make it difficult to get up in the morning, think clearly and enjoy activities you normally love.

Symptoms of depression vary from person to person and are often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, numbness or emptiness. Understanding how it works can help you better support someone who is suffering from it.

Symptoms

Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects the way you feel, think, and handle your daily activities. It's a condition that's usually diagnosed by a doctor.

It can make you feel a lot of different things, including low or hopeless, sad, worthless, guilty, and tired. It can also make you feel irritable and restless, or it might even make you angry.

If you're feeling these symptoms for most of the day, every day, for at least 2 weeks, see your GP for a diagnosis. If you have a history of depression, your GP may refer you to a mental health professional to get treatment.

If you have other medical conditions, like diabetes or hypothyroidism, they can also cause depression-like symptoms. A blood test can help your GP diagnose these conditions and start treatment.

Causes

We all feel sad and lonely from time to time, but when your sadness lasts for weeks or keeps you from living the life you want, it may be a sign that you have depression.

We don’t know the cause of depression yet, but scientists believe it may be caused by something in the brain or by a combination of genetics and life events. People who have family members with depression are more likely to develop it too.

Some medical conditions can create changes in hormone levels that lead to depression. These include pregnancy, postpartum issues, thyroid problems, menopause or other factors.

You can learn to spot the warning signs of depression and take steps to get help. This includes identifying your depression triggers and seeking support from friends and family. Medications and psychotherapy can also be helpful. Depending on your symptoms, these treatments can start to help you feel better within a few weeks.

Treatment

Depression is a serious mood disorder that can impact on your everyday life. It can make it hard to function, and even lead to suicide if left untreated.

Treatment options for depression include education, lifestyle changes, social support and psychological therapy. Medications can also help.

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, antidepressant medication can be used to lift your mood, improve your motivation and reduce feelings of hopelessness. They take time to work, but they can be a good way to get your mood back on track.

Psychotherapy helps you understand your depression and gives you strategies to feel better. It can also help you deal with family and relationship problems that may be causing the problem.

Other treatments include exercise, a healthy diet and regular sleep. Some people find it helpful to write in a journal or read reputable self-help books or websites.

Prevention

The prevention of depression is a crucial area for mental health research. People with long-term illness or physical conditions have a high risk of developing depression, which can make them feel worse and affect their quality of life.

The onset or maintenance of depression is largely a result of biological, psychological and social factors. It can be triggered by the treatment or coping with a physical condition, by genetic pleiotropy, by common socio-economic and demographic characteristics and by a combination of such factors (de Geus 2006; McCaffery 2006).

Psychological and pharmacological interventions that aim to prevent depression have been shown to be effective in clinical trials. However, they might not be able to produce lasting effects and the effectiveness, acceptability and tolerability of these interventions may be compromised by safety considerations.