What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that's primarily characterized by a sense of feeling sad, but not just the kind of sadness that occurs in response to normal life events. People with depression have experienced symptoms for at least two weeks, and their symptoms are distressing or, to some degree, disabling. Symptoms associated with depression include loss of interest in activities, difficulty sleeping, changes in activity level, such as feeling very tired and sluggish all the time, or feeling very agitated and restless. People may have suicidal thoughts and may also have physical symptoms. Very often when people get depressed, they complain of changes in appetite, headache or bowel difficulties.
Does it matter what caused the depression?
People seem to feel that the diagnosis of depression is contingent upon whether or not it happened spontaneously or whether it's caused by some outside forces. The basic answer is: it really doesn't matter. The symptoms are the same. Some people get depressed in response to a loss or a death or a rejection. For others, everything on the outside is great. They have loving relationships, they are doing well in their school or career, and then suddenly they get depressed.
Why do you think some people are reluctant to get help?
Many people view depression as a weakness of character. They assume that if they're depressed, they have failed somehow, and that it's a reflection of them as individuals. There's also a belief that people should work it out on their own. There's a certain stigma associated with being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
“I think the biggest obstacle we face as professionals is getting people to understand that depression is a medical disorder,” says Sussman. There are clear biological changes that take place such as changes in hormone levels, sleep patterns and clinical symptoms. It's distressing, it's disabling and, more importantly, it responds to medical therapies.
