All people go through times of sadness; external events or situations can lead us to experience that sadness, or it can originate within us.
The problem is not feeling sad, but feeling that way for a long time and perceiving its intensity.
If moments turn into medium to long periods, lasting weeks or months, then we are likely facing depression. Depression is a serious condition of mental distress; it is not a sign of weakness or something you can simply "snap out of." Depression can affect people in different ways and cause a variety of symptoms.
There are different types of depression, such as seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, among others.
Possible symptoms of depression
Continuous negative mood or sadness, feeling of hopelessness or helplessness, tendency to cry often, pervasive feelings of guilt, tendency to feel irritable and intolerant of others. People suffering from depression may experience a lack of motivation and interest in things or situations, an increase in indecision, a flattening of pleasure in life, perceive unusual levels of anxiety or worry, or a decrease in sexual desire. In some cases, there is a change in appetite and sleep patterns (sleeping too much/too little or sleeping with nightmares). In more severe cases, people may have suicidal or self-injurious thoughts or actions.
If you think you are suffering from depression, contact your family doctor to discuss your symptoms first. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may decide to pursue a pharmacological course combined with psychotherapy or a psychotherapy-only path. You may decide that medication is not for you at this time and request clinical psychological counselling. Following the first session, the treatment approach best suited to your needs will be recommended.
Treatment
A combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy has been shown to be the most effective method of treating depression. If you are interested in exploring the underlying causes of your depressive symptoms, psychoanalytic therapy could also be very helpful.
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