What is depression best described as?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.


What is the best description of depression?

Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you doing your normal activities. Different types of depression exist, with symptoms ranging from relatively minor to severe. Generally, depression does not result from a single event, but from a mix of events and factors.

How do you describe a depressed mood?

You're just drowning in the dark that's your own mind. ANON It's like a grey veil. It separates you from the outside world and limits your perspective. Depression causes you to not feel “present” and affects the way you see and experience things. It saps the colour and vibrance from life, and even from yourself.


What are the 5 characteristics of depression?

We all have trouble from time to time coping with life's challenges, but it's important to recognize when persistent symptoms become something to worry about. Depressed mood, lack of interest, poor concentration, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death are signs that it may be time to consider seeking help.

What is the correct term for depression?

Depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.


What is Depression?



What do psychologists call depression?

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States.

What are other words for being depressed?

synonyms for depressed
  • desolate.
  • despondent.
  • discouraged.
  • miserable.
  • morose.
  • not happy.
  • pessimistic.
  • sad.


What is the key symptom of depression?

Depression has a range of different symptoms, and it can affect everybody differently. The symptoms include feeling very tearful, feeling hopelessness and sadness, and losing interest in things you enjoyed before. It's also common for people with depression to have symptoms of anxiety.


What are the three D's of depression?

The 3 D's: Delirium, Depression & Dementia | St. Charles Health.

What is the main factor of depression?

There's no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers. For some people, an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Different causes can often combine to trigger depression.

Why is depression so hard to explain?

Like other forms of mental illness, depression is difficult for people to understand because many of the symptoms are behavioral rather than physical. But remember that the way you feel and the things going on in your mind are no less real.


What are the 9 characteristics of depression?

Signs of Depression
  • Hopeless outlook.
  • Lost interest.
  • Fatigue.
  • Anxiety.
  • Irritability in men.
  • Appetite changes.
  • Emotions.
  • Suicidal thoughts.


What are 3 facts about depression?

Key facts
  • Depression is a common mental disorder. ...
  • Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
  • More women are affected by depression than men.
  • Depression can lead to suicide.


What are 2 characteristics of a depression?

The psychological symptoms of depression include: continuous low mood or sadness. feeling hopeless and helpless. having low self-esteem.


What are two characteristics of a depression?

It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite. Tiredness and poor concentration are common.

What is one of the two main criteria for depression?

The DSM-5 outlines the following criterion to make a diagnosis of depression. The individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

What happens in the body with depression?

Physical symptoms are common in major depression and may lead to chronic pain and complicate treatment. Symptoms associated with depression include joint pain, limb pain, back pain, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, psychomotor activity changes, and appetite changes.


What are the four levels of depression?

Types of major depression include melancholia, psychotic and antenatal or postnatal. You may be diagnosed with mild, moderate or severe depression.

What happens before a depression?

Irritability, anger, unexplained aches and pains, and changes in energy, focus, and sleeping patterns can occur in both depression and anxiety. Even the persistent dark, negative thoughts commonly associated with depression can look a lot like the endless worry of anxiety.

What is the root word for depression?

The term depression was derived from the Latin verb deprimere, "to press down". From the 14th century, "to depress" meant to subjugate or to bring down in spirits.


How do psychologists view depression?

Because depression is learned, behavioral psychologists suggest that it can also be unlearned. In the mid 1970s, Peter Lewinsohn argued that depression is caused by a combination of stressors in a person's environment and a lack of personal skills.

How do psychologists know if you have depression?

They'll ask about the way you feel, including whether you have any symptoms of depression such as: Sadness or depressed mood most of the day or almost every day. Loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable. Major change in weight (gain or loss of more than 5% of weight within a month) or appetite.

How do therapists diagnose depression?

To be diagnosed with depression, an individual must have five depression symptoms every day, nearly all day, for at least 2 weeks. One of the symptoms must be a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities. Children and adolescents may be irritable rather than sad.


What depression does to the brain?

As depression starts to affect the brain's chemical balances, neurons in the hippocampus shrink, which can cause difficulty concentrating and memory loss. A shrunken hippocampus can also make completing familiar tasks difficult, which can lead to hopelessness, guilt, and anxiety.

How big of a problem is depression?

Depression is one of the world's most common health conditions. It's estimated that one-in-three women and one-in-five men have an episode of major depression by the age of 65. Depression is one of the most common health conditions globally.
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