Understanding Depression, A Common Mental Health Condition

Despite being a common mental health condition worldwide, depression is often misunderstood, highlighting the importance of understanding depression.

It can also go untreated. This can lead to major problems down the road, especially when co-occurring with other mental health conditions.

At bonmente, we know how this mental illness can overwhelm those experiencing it. It can also have a profound impact on the people around them. Our compassionate evidence-based care helps patients address the root causes of the issue, working toward a healthier life. 

Understanding Depression: What is it?

Understanding depression begins with recognizing what it is. Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mood disorder that impacts everything from emotional well-being to daily functioning. When left untreated or unmanaged, it can feel all-encompassing. 

Depression can cause persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. 

But understanding depression also means recognizing its physical effects, which may include changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and even unexplained aches and pains.

These can occur in episodes that last anywhere from weeks to months. Symptoms must occur just about daily during these periods. This makes major depression disorder distinct from persistent sadness. The latter usually occurs naturally with difficult life circumstances such as the death of a loved one. 

At bonmente, our mental health providers understand that depression is more than just a low mood or negative thoughts. Understanding depression is key to identifying when support is needed, especially since it can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions if left unaddressed. Our team brings compassionate, evidence-based care to those experiencing the many layers of this mental health condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

• Intense sadness, feelings of “emptiness” or hopelessness
• Losing interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Feeling excessive guilt, worthlessness
• Insomnia (undersleeping) or hypersomnia (oversleeping)
• Slower speech, less movement
• Trouble concentrating
• Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or oversleeping)
• Changes in appetite or weight: this could be an increase or decrease
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Causes of Depression

• Genetics: First-degree family members with depression could point to a genetic link. So, having biological siblings or parents with depression can predict a high likelihood of depression. In these cases, having depression can be potentially twice or three times as likely than the average person. (The average person has only a 10% chance of developing MDD.)
• Brain Chemistry: Imbalances of neurotransmitters — brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine — can contribute to depression. 
• Hormonal Shifts: A common cause of hormonal shifts is pregnancy, which can sometimes lead to postpartum depression. 
• Difficult Experiences: Trauma, divorce or end of relationship, social isolation or lack of support, death of close ones. These and other challenging life events can trigger MDD in people susceptible to it.

Understanding Depression: The Different Types

Understanding depression means recognizing that not all forms are the same; some common forms include:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Daily or near-daily symptoms lasting at least two weeks.
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): Chronic depression lasting two years or more, often with less-severe but longer-lasting symptoms.
• Bipolar Depression: Periods of depression alternating with episodes of mania or the less-intense hypomania.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Depression that follows a seasonal pattern. It can present as occurring during fall and winter, or spring and summer. 
• Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression: Severe depression occurring after childbirth. Somewhat common, as it affects up to 15% of women. 
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Severe mood swings and depressive symptoms during the week before menstruation, and ending a few days after.

How Is Depression Treated?

Depression is treatable, as millions of people with depression around the world are able to live healthy lives. 

At bonmente we consider a patient’s needs in creating a personalized treatment plan for depression. This plan may include:

• Psychotherapy: Talk therapy comes in many forms, with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) being common for depression treatment. The object of much talk therapy is identifying negative or harmful perceptions and patterns that could be contributing to mental health issues, and finding ways to implement alternative healthier conduct. 
• Medication: Antidepressants affect brain chemistry to address issues like chemical imbalances. Common classes include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). At bonmente, our psychiatrists carefully evaluate each patient to determine whether medication is appropriate. We also do antidepressant medication monitoring to ensure that your prescriptions are doing the job. 
• Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise, getting enough sleep, a nutritious diet, mindfulness practices like meditation, and moderating one’s use of alcohol or recreational use of drugs like cannabis can improve depression symptoms and even avoid triggers of MDD episodes. In some cases, going to support groups for causes (grieving, substance abuse, divorce) could be helpful.

When to Seek Professional Help

If for at least two weeks you have been feeling on a daily basis (or close enough to daily) the symptoms outlined above in this article, then you may have major depressive disorder.

Whether it is you or someone in your life experiencing symptoms, getting professional treatment can be the first step in a journey toward a better life. 

Treatment is more about managing symptoms than eliminating them. Improving coping skills, taking the right medication, and changing behavior can dramatically improve mental health for the better. 

Experiencing symptoms of depression? We here at bonmente can help.

If you live anywhere in California, Florida, or Arizona, then the psychiatric professionals at bonmente can treat you! We offer in-person treatment along with telespsychiatry solutions. We also in-network with most insurances.