By Tanille Williams
Depression is a common and serious mental illness that causes a persistent feeling of unhappiness and disinterest.
It also causes mood, mental and eating disorders.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it also creates a feeling of sadness where it causes negative behavioural changes and may affect an individual mentally and physically over a long period of time.
Many victims of depression are unaware that they are suffering from the illness and some are not knowledgeable of how serious it is and tend to tolerate the illness instead of seeking out professional help.
There are different types of depression that many people face at various periods of time throughout their lives.
Some of these include:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) – Lasts longer than two weeks and affects everyday life.
- Bipolar depression – People who suffer from bipolar disorder have fluctuating periods where their mood can be high or low at any given time. During their low periods is when the symptoms of depression take place.
- Perinatal and postpartum depression – This occurs during and up to one year after pregnancy, which causes slight unhappiness and stress.
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) – Less severe than MDD and symptoms may occur for more than two years.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – This affects women in the days preceding their menstrual cycle.
- Psychotic Depression – Persons who suffer from this have severe depressive symptoms and hallucinations.
In some cases, the symptoms of depression vary and are obvious but, because of the lack of circulation of information and taboo around the subject all around the world, many persons are oblivious to these symptoms, which may include:
- Feelings of restlessness
- Withdrawal from family, friends and social activities
- Changes in sleep pattern
- Fatigue
- Physical pain
- Reduced appetite and weight loss
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