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| Are you depressed?
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| One in ten of you may well be
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Many of us from time to time feel anxious, sad, fed up, overwhelmed, tired and generally unhappy. But this feeling is usually caused by something in particular and will pass in a few days or weeks.
Depression however is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. It is feeling persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.
It's also incredibly common and indiscriminate. It is thought to affect one in ten people at some point in their lives - men and women, young and old. It also affects around 4% of children between 5 and 16 years old. For women who are mothers, it's estimated that up to a fifth may be affected by postnatal depression.
Some people still think that depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition, but it's a very real illness with real symptoms. It is not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of".
Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms, from sadness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.
Symptoms aren't just mental; depression can cause physical symptoms too, such as constant tiredness, bad sleep, loss of appetite or sex drive as well as mysterious aches and pains. The severity of the symptoms can vary. At its mildest, people may feel persistently “low”, while at its most severe, sufferers may feel suicidal and that life is not worth living any more.
Causes
Sometimes there is a trigger for depression: Life-changing events, such as bereavement, illness, a traumatic event like a car crash, divorce or a breakdown in a relationship, losing your job or even having a baby can bring on a depression. The following can also be factors:
Personality
You may be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or being overly self-critical. This may be because of the genes you've inherited from your parents, or because of your early life experiences.
Family history
If someone else in your family has suffered from depression in the past, such as a parent or sister or brother, then it's more likely you will too.
Loneliness
Becoming cut off from your family and friends can increase your risk of depression.
Alcohol and drugs
Some people try to cope when life is getting them down by drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs such as cannabis. This can result in a spiral of depression. Drugs and Alcohol are categorised as a "strong depressants" and actually make depression far worse.
But you can also become depressed for no obvious reason.
When to see a doctor
It's important to seek help from your GP if you think you may be depressed. If you do have depression, the sooner you can get treatment, the better.
If you've been feeling low for more than a few days, take this short test to find out if you're depressed.
The key is not to deny yourself help or stay silent about how you're feeling. There's nothing to be ashamed of. The best thing you can do is talk to someone about it. A friend, partner or family member or medical practitioner. Depression can't be dealt with alone, so don't try.
The following organisations can all provide confidential help with depression:
Reachout; Beyondblue; Depression.com.au; Black Dog Institute; SANE Australia.
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