Defining Depression
Everyone has moments in life where they feel down. Sadness, hopelessness and loneliness are entirely natural human emotions and experiencing them is not, in and of itself, evidence of a mental health problem or disorder. In fact, those who are unable to feel lonely or “blue” are probably more likely to have a serious difficulty of some sort as those who can!
So, if experiencing sadness isn’t a demonstration of depression, what is? At what point does one move from simply experiencing the highs and lows of life normally to having a problem that requires attention?
There is no clear bright line separating sadness or a “low” feeling from depression. However, those who feel this way often or for a prolonged period of time may have a problem that justifies additional investigation and concern. When one experiences these down feelings and they don’t subside, they may be suffering from depression.
Depression is a disorder that impacts all areas of one’s life. It tends to change appetites, sleeping patterns, feelings of self-worth and self-esteem, and one’s ability to function normally.
When one is depressed, they cannot simply make the problem go away with willpower or dedication. The low feelings don’t simply disappear because one wants them to do so, and without intervention those feelings and their awful side effects can last for extended periods of time.
Depression is a very serious problem. Some have described a depression epidemic, and although that may strike some as an exaggeration, statistical evidence and new research do make it clear that the world is truly confronting a major medical problem.
The United Nations World Health Organization has projected that by 2020, depression will rank only second to heart disease as the most “devastating illness” in the world.
Depression, of course, is not merely an easily encapsulated mental health disorder. It has impacts on all levels of one’s well-being, giving it a “multiplied” power. Depression can influence other illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. It can make these other serious conditions very difficult to treat effectively, making it even more devastating.
The extent of depression exceeds most people’s understanding. Consider the following facts:
Depression does not discriminate based upon age, sex or gender. Statistics from nations other than the U.S. demonstrate that it is a global phenomenon and is not merely a problem for a few industrialized nations. Depression really is an epidemic.
When one considers the untold suffering caused by depression (not to mention the substantial economic losses it spurs), it is clear that we must learn more about the disease and how to treat it. The stakes are simply too high to allow us to pretend that depression is a problem for only a few unlucky souls or something that can be left alone to run its own course.
The staggering statistics should also provide some level of solace for those who may be suffering from depression. If you are depressed, you are clearly not a lone. Depression is not a matter of personal weakness or failure. It is a serious disease that harms tens of millions of people.
