Humans have suffered from the effects of depression for as long as humanity has been on the planet, but it wasn’t until recently that depression was classified as a diagnosable condition that is experienced by many people. Unfortunately, with the number of people experiencing this illness in the United States and Canada, there are not enough psychiatrists to help them all out (about 13 per 100,000 people).
Many believe that depression is a result of a traumatic life event that produced an enormous amount of grief in sadness. However, the nature of depression is far more complex than that. Here we will discuss 8 informative facts that you may not know about the condition that is depression.
TOP 8 Informative Facts About Depression
1. 9 Forms Of Depression
Altogether, the mental health community recognizes 9 distinct forms of depression, countering the antiquated belief that all depression is the same. The first is clinical depression. This is the form that is diagnosed by a psychological professional. The second is a more nuanced form of this commonly known as a depressive episode. In this case, the depression is still diagnosed by a clinician but is designated by its severity including mild, moderate, or severe. If one has been diagnosed with depression multiple times, they qualify is the third type: recurrent depressive disorder.
What most people regard as depression is reactive depression. This is the type of depression that stems from a tragic, traumatic, or extremely stressful event in one’s life like losing a loved one, being diagnosed with a serious illness, or experiencing serious financial burdens. Some people experience long-term depression, even if it’s a mild form. This fifth type of depression is called chronic depression or persistent depressive disorder. Its clinical name is dysthymia.
Some people experience depression based on changes in the climate and weather in a type called SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Manic depression is a bit of a misnomer for individuals who are bipolar. While it is technically not a depression, individuals who suffer from it typically experience severe depressive episodes. A more extreme version of depression is known as psychosis or psychotic depression. These individuals experience depressive episodes so intense that they trigger hallucinations, rendering them delusional.
The final common form of depression is mostly experienced by prenatal or postnatal women. The difference is that prenatal depression occurs during the pregnancy, while postnatal occurs once a child is born. The latter can affect fathers as well.
2. 10% Of The Population Experience Depression
Depression has a far reach and is not limited to age, gender, or race. Studies have shown that 1 in 10 people will experience depression in their lifetime. If 10% sounds like a low number, it really isn’t. To put it in perspective, a 2016 study performed by The National Institute of Mental Health estimated that during that year alone nearly 16.2 million American adults experienced at least one depressive disorder. On a global scale, it is estimated that over 300 million people are battling depression of some sort, as reported by the WHO (World Health Organization), but only about 4% of the global population has actually been diagnosed.
3. The Reasons For Depression Are Not Always Clear
Losing a loved one, undergoing a traumatic experience, or severe anxiety are the most common causes for anxiety, but they are not always the only ones. At times, even the happiest people encounter depressive episodes, due to chemical or hormonal imbalances in their brains. Because humans are creatures of logic who naturally seek out reasons to explain how they feel, many experience depression but cannot explain it, or do not accept it for what it is.
4. There Are Over 15 Symptoms Of Depression
Sadness is often attributed to depression, but that isn’t the only symptom. While sadness is a natural human reaction to a negative situation, there are other symptoms including anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and feelings of emptiness. On top of that, many people who experience depression begin to lose interest in things that they are typically passionate about. Things that normally serve as their escape, no longer make them happy.
Other symptoms include a loss of appetite. Conversely, some individuals begin to eat significantly more, gaining weight to “fill the void.” Loss of sleep is another common symptom, as is the overwhelming need to sleep as much as possible to “escape” the feeling of depression.
Symptoms are not always emotional either. Sometimes depression manifests itself with physical ailments such as digestive issues, head, and body aches.
5. Help Is Not Available For Everyone
An antiquated belief is that people can just “get over” their depression, but that is a defunct belief. Depression is an illness, and like any other illness, it requires treatment. Unfortunately, as the WHO found in 2014, nearly half of the global population does not have access to a qualified psychiatrist. In those countries notably affected by this shortage, there is a stunning 1 to 100,000 ratio of psychologists to people.
Between Canada and the United States, people are only nominally better off with 13 psychiatrists being available per 100,000 members of the population. Europe is in slightly better shape with anywhere between 20 and 40 psychiatrists per 100,000 people.
6. Depression Can Be Caused By Neurotransmitters
Dopamine and serotonin are two of the primary neurotransmitters in the brain that is linked to a person’s mood. An imbalance of either (or both) of those can lead to depression. While dopamine is a chemical linked to regulating memory, emotion, motivation, and thought, serotonin is the chemical produced by our brains when we experience happiness or elation. Unfortunately, the reasons for these chemical imbalances are still a relatively unknown science.
7. Depression Can Be Diagnosed As Early As 3 Years Old
Depression is not just something that affects adults, or even adolescents. In fact, the findings by the Brain and Behavior Foundation have reported that children as young as 3 years old have been diagnosed with early-onset depression. It is easier to identify symptoms in a child of that age because by 3 they have developed sufficient emotional and social behaviors, as well as communication abilities according to a Department of Psychiatry study by Dr. Luby.
It is, of course, possible that children younger than three can experience depression too, but because they have not had adequate development in the areas described above, no child under the age of 3 has ever been diagnosed with this illness.
8. The USA Is Third Most Depressed
One might wonder if the most depressed countries in the world are developing nations, but as research has shown, that is not an accurate belief. China has been found the be the world’s most depressed country, India comes in second, while the US ends up in third place. Ironically, these three huge nations have very limited psychiatric access per capita, which could be the reason for these numbers.
Even when the systems for diagnosis are available, care is not always available to anyone who needs it for a variety of reasons including inaccessibility and prohibitive costs. Due to this, many people do not visit mental health experts, leading to many cases of depression going unidentified and undiagnosed.
Informative Facts About Depression Conclusion
We hope you learned more about depression today. If you have a friend or a loved one who you suspect is having a hard time, reach out and check up on them. It is possible that multiple people in your life, some very close to you, might be experiencing depression. This is never an easy topic to bring up, but the more support systems available there are, the easier it becomes for people to cope with this otherwise crippling disease.
Since you finished reading this amazing article of the TOP 8 Informative Facts About Depression You should Know, we suggest to you to check this one: 10 things YOU MUST say to your kids DAILY – positive parenting guide
Frequently Asked Questions:
is ketamine addictive when used for depression?
Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic and has been used off-label to treat depression. Regular use of ketamine can lead to physical and psychological dependence, and withdrawal symptoms can occur upon cessation of use. However, the addictive potential of ketamine for depression treatment is not fully understood and requires further study.
how to find your passion when you are depressed?
Finding one’s passion when struggling with depression can be challenging, but there are steps that can help. It may be helpful to try new activities, reflect on past experiences and interests, and reach out to friends and family for support and advice. Consulting a mental health professional can also provide additional guidance and support.
how long does ketamine take to work for depression?
The onset of ketamine’s effect on depression can vary, but it is generally fast-acting. Some patients may experience relief from symptoms within hours of receiving ketamine, while others may take several days or longer to see results. The duration of ketamine’s effect on depression also varies and can range from a few days to several weeks.
Hello, and welcome to my blog! My name is Idammah, and I am the founder of this site dedicated to exploring the world's mysteries, uncovering fascinating facts, and delving into science's weird and beautiful aspects. I have always been fascinated by the unknown and the unexplained, and I love nothing more than digging deep to find the answers to some of life's greatest mysteries. Whether it's exploring the depths of the ocean, investigating ancient civilizations, or unraveling the mysteries of the universe, I am always on the hunt for new knowledge and insights. As a self-proclaimed weirdo and science enthusiast, I believe that there is always more to learn and discover, and I am constantly seeking out new and exciting ways to expand my understanding of the world around me. Through FoxPeek blog, I hope to share my love of all things strange and wonderful with like-minded readers and inspire others to embrace their inner curiosity and seek out the world's mysteries for themselves.
