Depression
The “umbrella” of depression encompasses a variety of different subtypes (i.e., major depression, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum) and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Similarly, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 people within the UK will experience significantly depressed mood states at some point during their life.
In everyday language, depression is commonly used (albeit mistakenly) to describe a number of feelings such as sadness, frustration, disappointment and even lethargy. However, in the clinical world, depression is much, much more. For example, depression is acknowledged as an intense mood disorder characterised by the following:
Depressed mood most of the day and nearly every day (i.e., feeling sad, empty, hopeless, tearful)
Lack of interest or pleasure in almost all activities of life
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or an increase or decrease in appetite
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or creating a specific plan for suicide
Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of life
Note: The above must be present during the same 2-week period
“You are not not your feelings. You just experience them. Anger, sadness, hate, depression, fear. This is the rain you walk in. But you don’t become the rain. You know the rain will pass. You walk on. And you remember the soft glow of the sun that will come again.”
- Matt Haig