DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
What is Depressive Disorder?
Depression is a serious, common mental illness that negatively affects the way a person thinks, feels, and acts. It leaves a person feeling helpless and causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities that were once found enjoyable. Simple everyday tasks such as working, eating, and sleeping become difficult. It can lead to emotional and physical problems and is likely caused by genetics, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Some common depressive disorders are major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and postpartum depression.
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Factor Examples
A combination of any of these factors have potential in leading to a depressive disorder.
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Genetics: The disease can be hereditary and be passed on from generation to generation
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Biological: Biology in combination with chemistry can cause differences in chemicals in the brain
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Psychological: High amounts of stress, personal image, and pessimistic views
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Environmental: Socioeconomic status, exposure to violence, and neglect
Symptoms
Symptoms are not the same for everyone and can be very different from each other.
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Loss of interest in things that were once enjoyable
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Severe weight loss or weight gain due to an alter in appetite (unrelated to dieting)
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Feelings of hopelessness and being overwhelmed more often
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Loss of energy
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Difficulty concentrating
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Having trouble sleeping
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Thoughts of suicide
Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean that you have depression because everyone has times when things get tough. However, according to the American Psychiatric Association, depression can be diagnosed after two weeks of having a symptom. At this point, an individual with ongoing symptoms should seek assistance.
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How to Help a Friend
If you start to see symptoms arise in your friend, it may be overwhelming and you won't have all the answers, but just being there for them in their time of need leaves a huge impact. Be a great listener when they want to talk about it and offer them words of comfort. Make sure they know you are supportive and stay away from telling them demeaning statements about their illness. They are most likely aware of their illness and don't have control over their feelings. If you believe your friend is at risk make sure to suggest seeking assistance and offer to accompany them to a doctor's appointment or a visit to the student health center. Suggest some helpful resources or coping mechanisms. Talking with them personally can be beneficial, but it is not a treatment and their depression could worsen if left untreated. It is not your job to cure them, so do not help them with your own mental health as an expense. Someone should not have to go through this alone. Be there for your friend.
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Getting Help
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
The ADAA is a nonprofit organization that strives for the prevention, treatment, and cure of depression and other mental illnesses through education, practice, and research. They focus on improving the lives of individuals with their multidisciplinary staff of neuroscientists, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, researchers, therapists, social workers, and more. You can click the link in the title or contact them at 1-240-485-1001.
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For more resources on general mental health, click here.
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