Sadness is an emotion everyone feels throughout their lives. It’s a painful feeling that can be brought on by a number of circumstances. Under normal circumstances, time passes and so does the sadness. If this feeling of sadness intensifies, remains constant or begins to alter every aspect of your life, however, there should be cause for concern.
Sadness Vs. Depression
Though sadness and depression seem similar and go hand in hand, they’re different. Sadness is best defined as a natural emotion. A person can become sad if they lost a loved one, got fired from a job, broke up with a significant other, or got a horrible grade on a school assignment. After time passes, however, the sadness lessens and their mood improves.
Signs of Depression
A person suffering from clinical depression, however, has a very different experience. If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it is recommended that you start looking into treatment.
Pessimistic Outlook on Life
Depression causes some individuals to feel hopeless about life. Essentially, they have no hope for a brighter day. They have a pessimistic view of everything. Some will express feeling worthless.
Isolation
A depressed person becomes uninterested in people and things they once enjoyed. They don’t feel any joy or fulfillment and, therefore, prefer to be alone.
Sleep Problems
One symptom of depression is chronic fatigue. You feel drained and, therefore, have no energy to complete much throughout the day. Some depression sufferers, on the other hand, have reported struggling with insomnia which means they’re not getting much sleep at all.
Appetite and Weight Issues
Appetite and weight can go both ways for someone suffering from depression. There are some patients who find food to be a comfort that will eat all the time and gain weight which can lead to obesity. However, others will be too absorbed in their emotions and not have much of an appetite causing them to lose weight, causing them to become malnourished.
Suicidal Thoughts
In severe cases of depression, suicidal thoughts are very common. The person feels helpless as if life or they have no real purpose. They’re in constant pain and may believe the only way to end it is to end their lives. If you or someone you know is suicidal, reach out to a mental health hotline for immediate assistance.
Getting Treatment
Did you confuse depression for sadness? It’s very common and nothing to be ashamed of. However, now that you’ve realized you’re displaying signs of depression, it’s important to do something about it. Below are some solutions to treating depression:
TMS Treatment
Transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS treatment explained is a non-invasive solution for depression. Using magnetic fields it works to stimulate areas of the brain which help to reduce or treat symptoms of depression. This is an ideal solution for individuals who have attempted by been unsuccessful with other forms of treatment for depression.
Talk-Therapy
Counseling may be necessary to help treat your depression. Mental health counselors will work with you to try to determine the cause of your depression. You’ll learn how to identify triggers as well as lifestyle changes that can help improve your condition.
Lifestyle Changes
Speaking of lifestyle changes, to reduce the symptoms of depression it will be necessary for you to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly (which helps to boost endorphins and mood), and get plenty of sleep. You should also start doing things you love again, spending more time with family and friends, setting small goals and accomplishing them, and pushing forward.
Medication
Some patients may decide to take medications to treat their depression. They can be effective, however, antidepressants do have side effects that you should talk over with your doctor before making a final decision.
Sadly, depression and other mental illnesses are becoming increasingly common in the United States. Even worse, not enough people are getting the treatment they need to overcome it. If you or someone you know has been feeling “sad” or simply not yourself for a few weeks and have experienced any of the above symptoms, it is very possible you’re suffering from depression. Reach out to your doctor and make the above-discussed lifestyle changes to get back on track.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
