Depression Is A Real Medical Condition
Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. Depression symptoms can interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy your life. Although researchers are still studying the causes of depression, current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Most people with depression need treatment to feel better.
Depression Treatment Designed With Your Needs In Mind
At the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, we treat mental health conditions like depression with whole-person care. Our compassionate team of mental health professionals not only treat your symptoms but help you feel whole, physically, mentally and spiritually.
To help you overcome depression, our team can help you choose a treatment that works, like deep brain stimulation, talk therapy, a neuropsychiatric approach or medication management with innovative medications like SPRAVATOTM.
Learn more about our mental health care for depression or reach out to us to get started.
Signs Of Pancreatic Cancer
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer often don’t occur until the disease is advanced. They may include:
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
- Light-colored stools
- New diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that’s becoming more difficult to control
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You Can Play A Role In Research By Joining A Clinical Trial
Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others may be better helped in the future.
In addition to volunteer research opportunities for the patient groups listed above, research opportunities for healthy volunteers are also available. Healthy volunteers play a critical role in our studies.
For more information about clinical research and how to find clinical trials being conducted around the country, visit NIMH’s clinical trials webpage.
What To Know About Pancreatic Cancer
Sean Marchese, MS, RN, a registered nurse at The Mesothelioma Center with a background in oncology clinical trials and over 20 years of direct patient care experience says, “Pancreatic cancer can affect vital cells that control hormones and digestion. This cancer has a poor prognosis because this organ controls blood sugar, which can negatively impact other sensitive organs, such as the brain and kidneys. It’s challenging to detect pancreatic cancer early because the pancreas lies deep within the abdomen. Tumors aren’t easily seen or felt and may not produce noticeable symptoms at first.
Know the early warning signs if you are at risk for pancreatic cancer through genetics or lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about when and how to check your blood sugar. There are no tests that screen for pancreatic cancer early. However, your doctor may order imaging if you have warning signs or symptoms.”
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Diagnosing Depression And Fatigue
To make a depression diagnosis, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and give you a questionnaire that assesses depression. They may use other methods, such as blood tests or X-rays, to make sure another disorder isnt causing your symptoms.
Before diagnosing you with chronic fatigue syndrome, your doctor will run several tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. These may include restless leg syndrome, diabetes, or depression.
Symptoms And Causes Of Depression
Symptoms of depression can be very different from person to person. However, as a general rule, if you are depressed you feel hopeless, sad and lacking interest in things that used to make you feel happy.
Depression symptoms are bad enough to interfere with work, social life and family life, and can persist for weeks or months.
Doctors describe depression in one of three ways, depending on how serious it is:
- mild depression it has some impact on daily life
- moderate depression it has a significant impact on your daily life
- severe depression this makes it nearly impossible to get through your life day to day
A few people with severe depression may have symptoms of psychotic depression.
Below is a list of depression symptoms it’s unlikely that one person would have all of them.
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You Cant Just Snap Out Of Depression
Well-meaning friends or family members may try to tell someone with depression to snap out of it, just be positive, or you can be happier if you just try harder. But depression is not a sign of a persons weakness or a character flaw. The truth is that most people who experience depression need treatment to get better.
If you are a friend or family member of a woman with depression, you can offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement. But never dismiss her feelings. Encourage her to talk to her health care provider, and remind her that, with time and treatment, she can feel better.
Change In Weight And Appetite
Depression alters the way you feel and act. It also impacts your diet, food cravings, and eating habits. You may find yourself reluctant to eat or cook for yourself . You may also find yourself eating foods or using substances that are determinantal to your health. It is also common for depressed individuals to stop eating normally, choosing to skip meals frequently due to lack of hunger and disinterest in food. If you notice yourself losing or gaining weight due to lifestyle changes brought on by frequently feeling sad or hopeless, it could be depression.
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Signs You’ve Developed Depression Even If You Don’t Feel Sad
It’s been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost’s Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
Weve all witnessed the overly simplified depiction of a person with depression as someone who is perpetually mopey, sad and crying, their despair blatant and on display for all to witness. That is not reality.
The truth is that symptoms for depression vary widely, which is why someone can be posting nonstop selfies on Instagram and simultaneously be in the throes of a major depressive episode, no apparent signs of sadness in sight. Meanwhile, another person may exhibit signs of depression by withdrawing from normal activities or sleeping too much, all while showing no outward signs of sadness.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to mental health issues, including depression, among more people. But if youve never experienced the condition before, it might be hard to identify if you think it mostly includes feeling sad.
We spoke with a couple of mental health experts to help highlight signs that could indicate depression even if sadness isnt one of them.
Change In Sleep Patterns
A person can experience many sleep-related problems if they suffer from depression. Sleep patterns change, and insomnia is more common. Individuals with depression may find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. They may also have trouble staying asleep through the night, waking up too early in the morning, and they may feel unrefreshed after they wake up.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Depression And How Is It Diagnosed
The NHS recommends that you should see your GP if you experience symptoms of depression for most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks.
Doctors make decisions about diagnosis based on manuals. The manual used by NHS doctors is the International Classification of Diseases .
When you see a doctor they will look for the symptoms that are set out in the ICD-10 guidance. You do not have to have all of these to be diagnosed with depression. You might have just experience some of them.
Some symptoms of depression are:
- low mood, feeling sad, irritable or angry,
- having less energy to do certain things,
- losing interest or enjoyment in activities you used to enjoy,
- reduced concentration,
You may also find that with low mood you:
- feel less pleasure from things,
- feel more agitated,
- find your thoughts and movements slow down, and
- have thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Your doctor should also ask about any possible causes of depression. For example, they may want to find out if youve experienced anything traumatic recently which could be making you feel this way.
There are no physical tests for depression. But the doctors may do some tests to check if you have any physical problems. For example, an underactive thyroid can cause depression.
On the NHS website, they have a self-assessment test which can help you to assess whether you are living with depression: www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/clinical-depression/overview/
Changes In The Sleep Pattern
One of the quickest signs indicating depression relapse is changes in your sleep pattern. A shift in your sleeping habits like insomnia hints towards the condition. The lack of sleep may cause or worsen other symptoms linked to depression, such as fatigue. Dont hesitate to discuss the condition with your doctor.
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Electroconvulsive Therapy Electric Shock Treatment
If you have severe depression and other treatments, like medication, havent worked, ECT might be recommended for you.
When receiving ECT, you will be given an anaesthetic and medication that relaxes your muscles to begin with. Electrodes will be placed on your head that give an electrical shock to your brain.
ECT is given over a series of sessions, normally twice a week for three to six weeks.
ECT can cause side effects including nausea, headaches, aches in the muscles and memory problems.
Most people find that ECT is good for relieving severe depression, but the beneficial effects tend to wear off when several months have passed.
What Your Physician Looks For
Your primary care physician can evaluate your physical health to help you understand your symptoms. Theres no lab test to diagnose depression, but physical exams and blood tests can help your doctor better understand whats causing your symptoms.
Your doctor will likely want to do several tests to rules out other causes of depressive feelings, such as:
- Hormonal changes
- Thyroid conditions
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
To treat your depression, your doctor may prescribe you medications to help or refer you to a licensed mental health professional, like a therapist, for more in-depth evaluation and treatment.
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Thoughts Of Harming Yourself
Suicidal ideation is an immediate cause for concern. If you or someone you love has expressed having thoughts of suicide or of not wanting to be alive, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
The lifeline provides 24-7 access to free and confidential support from trained professionals and even provides a convenient online chat if you feel more comfortable communicating that way.
For additional suicide prevention and crisis resources, check out our page on suicide prevention.
Does any of this sound familiar? Have you been trying to shake these persistent feelings for weeks, but they just dont seem to go away?
Then what youre experiencing may be depression.
Remember that although depression has a range of symptoms, the presence of depressed mood, lack of interest, feelings of worthlessness, poor concentration, and thoughts of death are all serious signs that it may be time to consider seeking help.
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Youre Extremely Sensitive To Rejection
If you find yourself having a major meltdown over not being chosen for a project at work or accidentally being left off a group text, it could be an example of extreme sensitivity to rejection. Muyeba said this is one of several atypical features, or less obvious signs of depression.
Among other atypical features are weakness or heaviness in arms or legs that result in significant impact in social or occupational functioning and temporary improvement in mood in response to positive events or good news, Muyeba added.
Overall, depression looks different in everyone it affects. If you think you are struggling with depression, consider making an appointment with your primary care physician or a therapist. Its worth it to address whats going on.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.
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A Lack Of Standardization
Quantitative scales help researchers measure and organize symptoms, as well as designate a cutoff point for whats considered severe depression for the purpose of a specific study. However, methodologies vary between studies and researchers, meaning there isnt a single definition of severe depression across the board.
A lack of standardization means that if a persons depression symptoms are assessed with different scales by different providers, the diagnosis may not be consistent. Some providers dont use them in clinical practice unless a patient is taking medications, whereas others use them regularly.
Insomnia Or Lack Of Sleep
Sleep disturbances are a primary symptom of depression, and research has found that insomnia is an independent risk factor for developing depression.
Sometimes, a person with depression may be unable to sleep well and have trouble falling and staying asleep. They may stay up very late at night or wake up very early in the morning.
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You Feel Sad Empty Or Hopeless Most Of The Time
Your emotional life changes significantly when you have depression. Typical symptoms include the inability to anticipate happiness or pleasure, and an overarching feeling of emptiness.
However, irritability or increased anger can also be signs of depression. Your self-esteem might be low, too, with feelings of worthlessness or misplaced guilt creeping into your everyday life.
Who Can Diagnose Depression
Primary care providers often diagnose depression. They may refer an individual to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist for treatment. Typically, says Steven Hollon, PhD, of Brentwood, Tennessee, a professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, the provider uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to make a diagnosis.3 They go through the criteria in the DSM to see how many criteria the person meets, Hollon says.
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Are There Other Therapies To Treat Symptoms Of Depression
There are other treatments your doctor may consider. Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is a treatment option for people whose symptoms dont get better with medicine or who have severe depression and need treatment right away.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, involves using a noninvasive device that is held above the head to induce the magnetic field. It targets a specific part of the brain that can trigger depression.
With vagus nerve stimulation, or VMS, a pacemaker-like device is surgically implanted under the collarbone to deliver regular impulses to the brain.
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You Are Unable To Relax
Those experiencing the symptoms of this ailment are often overachievers who are often unable to relax.
These people are constantly on the go all the time because they are aware that once they stop, the sadness and emptiness will take over.
Thats why they restlessly shift from one assignment to another.
For example, they refuse to take a rest when they come home after an exhausting day at work. Instead, theyll find something to do around the house, do laundry, gardening, anything that would keep them occupied.
Reocurring feeling that time is of the essence and that its continually fleeting is also a big stressor for these people.
They spend enormous amounts of time calculating the time needed to complete an endless list of tasks. They even get nervous when engaging in hobbies or leisure and relaxation activities.
It leads to stressing and feeling guilty for not being productive, so the person lives in that vicious circle, powerless to get out of it, but used to live that way, not even knowing how to live differently.
Therefore if you are uncomfortable with peace and rest, because of the distressing thoughts and feelings that come to you when you actually slow down, and you do whatever it takes to keep your mind occupied, it can be a sign you are suffering from high functional depression.
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What Are The Causes And Risk Factors For Depression
There is no single cause of depression. Various risk factors have been identified as contributors to clinical depression. When there are several risk factors, the likelihood of developing depression increases.
Additionally, women are more likely to develop depression than men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, this disparity in depression levels may be partly due to the difference in reporting. A 2021 study concluded that females are more likely to report symptoms of depression than males. A National Health and Nutrition study found that 5.5% of men report symptoms, while 10.4% of women do. Note that this study was based on self-reported data. More research is needed to fully explore the differences.
There are also racial differences in depression rates. While white Americans tend to report higher initial levels of acute depression than Black Americans, 56% of Black Americans experience chronic depression compared to 38.6% of people who are white. Treatment rates are also lower in BIPOC populations potentially due to stigma and lack of access to treatment.
In addition to risk factors for depression, some triggers can contribute to a depressive episode. Common triggers for depression include but are not limited to:
- Stressful life events like the loss of a family member, loss of a job or significant relationship changes
- A diagnosis of a medical condition
- Previous incomplete treatments for depression