The Million Dollar Question: What Is Depression?

“I’m depressed”, you may have heard a lot of people you know say this line. You may even have said the line itself whether, sarcastically, meaningfully or jokingly. However, if you said that line and you were asked, “What is depression?” honestly, would you be able to answer the question?

Getting to know what is depression is one way to understand the condition and most especially the people who are suffering from it. Being depressed is not the same condition as simply saying that you are. Genuine depression cases involve a lot of complications that should be given importance in all aspects.

Depression Defined

Depression is a mental disorder, in which you have abnormal signs of having depressed mood, low self-esteem, loss of pleasure and interest with life, and disturbance of appetite and sleeping patterns.

This condition can affect people of all ages, gender, and backgrounds. It is very common since 121 million people are being affected by this disorder, and the numbers are still increasing. It is actually the leading cause for disabilities worldwide.

Depression is also sometimes called the “common cold” in the paradigm of mental health. No, you don’t have to ask what is depression’s connection to colds is. The term is used in this manner because a lot of people are being depressed that’s why it’s as common as the colds.

Some Factors for Depression

There are a lot of factors that can cause or higher the risk for depression. One important factor of your life affecting your risk for depression is your environment. You may ask what depressions relationship to your environment is. Actually depression and environment are highly connected.

Environmental situations like living in a cramped up house, having money problems, being intoxicated by schoolwork, losing something or someone significant, can higher the risk of depression. If you are feeling helpless most of the time, since you can’t change your environment, then it would be best to seek a doctor’s advice.

Another factor affecting depression is interpersonal factors. What is depression’s relation to interpersonal factors? Well actually, the importance of the relationship can vary from person to person. One example of an interpersonal factor is a relationship breakup. Of course, lovers have definitely experienced being depressed due to their partner once in a while. Broken family relationships can also be an example of interpersonal factors. If you have problems relating to your family, you have a greater risk of developing depression.

Learning what depression is can be beneficial not only to you, but also to others. If you know of people who are showing depressive signs, then you should tell them of their behavior, or tell one of their family members. Depression can be dangerous since thoughts of suicide that sometimes occur in this condition can prove to be dangerous if acted upon.