I attended a program yesterday and the speaker asked if I have ever been depressed before. For a moment, I was mute until I got an idea what i believe it meant, funny we don't even know the meaning of some words we use almost daily. So, I am asking you. Have you been depressed before?
>What is depression? Everyone defines depression based on what it does to them and how it affects their mood. However we decide to define depression, the underlying fact is that it is a clinical mental disorder that affects the mood and other activities. So in a more appropriate way, We define depression as: >Depression is a clinical mental disorder that alters or affects the mood, causes several severe symptoms that influences how you feel, react to things, think, manage schedule or activities which includes driving, eating, walking,sleeping, and all other activities which we engage in daily According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression affects an estimated number of one out of every 15 adults (which is about 6.7%) in a year, and one in every 6 persons (16.6%) will be depressed at one point in their lifetime. There is no particular period or time when one should expect to be depressed, but it hits people at the first instant, mostly in the mid-20s. Statistics also has it that about one-third of women have a major depressive situation in their entire lifetime. Disparity between Depression and Sadness
It is almost very easy to confuse depression and sadness because of what they do to our moods and the fact that they both change the status quo of how we run things after they hit us. Of course sadness and depression sharer some characteristics but they are not the same. Loss of a contract, loss of a loved one, disappointment at work are occurrences that will naturally put us in a sad state of mind, because we conventionally react to such situations that way. Such response or feeling is most times confused with depression. Outlining the basic difference between the two:

When sad, one can still maintain a level of self-worth and the feeling is sometimes mixed with other things as in the case of losing someone, positive thoughts or memories of the dead can still find expression in mind of the person who lost someone in question. But in depression, self-worthless, self-hate, and some more thoughts of how unappreciated the person is, just occupies the whole thinking system. Although they could be interwoven sometimes, in that a person who just lost a relationship or job can be depressed. It is very deleterious to experience both at a time. Infact, it is to be sad without being depressed than to have both at the same time. That's suicidal

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmU5SHpqsz7HUeiUKxYxWtmZnYfyk7Ap1gRiGULgdKtYNo/image.png) [link](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.agoramedia.com%2Feverydayhealth%2Fgcms%2FHow-Trauma-Can-Lead-to-Depression-722x406.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fdepression%2Fhow-trauma-leads-to-depression.aspx&docid=DbwOnqTWbXDLhM&tbnid=9e_iH4ES181ALM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwj-ocqVit3YAhVE8RQKHa7uA2QQMwhCKAgwCA..i&w=722&h=406&client=firefox-b-ab&bih=656&biw=1366&q=depression&ved=0ahUKEwj-ocqVit3YAhVE8RQKHa7uA2QQMwhCKAgwCA&iact=mrc&uact=8) Forms of Depression
According to National Institute of Mental Health, three forms of depression have been identified, these forms may differ from each other but maybe in minimal ways or they may have their own peculiar appearances:

Psychotic Depression: Psychosis is a major contributor to this form of depression. I comes with delusions, hallucination and often result in illness.
The Pertinent disorder form of depression: Judging from the period of time this takes, it lasts for about 2 years. The symptoms associated with this form of disorder are only categorized as pertinent if it lasts for that long period of time
Perinatal depression: Characterized by symptoms such as sadness, frequent exhaustion resulting from this form of depression makes it arduous for mothers who just delivered to perform or engage in their daily activities. This form of depression is absolute peculiar to pregnant women or those who just delivered. Other forms exist but these are some of the major ones alighted. General Symptoms of Depression
How you know you are being depressed or someone around you is depressed is by knowing these symptoms which include:
- Weight loss
- Hypersomnia (i.e excessive sleeping) or insomnia (not being able to sleep properly
- Fatigue
- Depressed state of mind or mood
- Loss of interest in activities around
- Feelings of hopelessness and self-worthlessness
- Slow kn making decisions or remembering things
- Pains, headaches, and somewhat digestive problems
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Consistently in unhappy or mood with emptiness
Causes of Depression
No particular cause has been identified before now but we can affiliate depression to some possible causes like biological, environmental, psychological and genetic factors.Other sickness like cancer ,kidney failure, stroke, diabetes kill the patient faster with depression being present and it is almost impossible for someone going through such not to be depressed. ![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb2EkLDnXpjRnRTmH7ej7ueGkohTiLqN3DCx9gSJtFEsF/image.png) [link](http://cdn3.collective-evolution.com/assets/uploads/2015/08/depression.jpg) Risk Factors
The risk factors are: >Obvious physical illnesses and administering medications Stress, Life drama with changes and trauma Biological factor relating to genetics, family having depression history Treatment
Any form of depression can be treated really, and the early the commencement of treatment, the better. Psychotherapy is used as one of the tools to treat depression and also medications, or combing the two. However, if the case arise where after administering these two, depression persists, then the Electroconvulsive Therapy is used and other methods that can aid the stimulation of the brain. Conclusion
>No matter what we go through, science has given us an explicit and clear picture of what happens to us in case we see depression as an option. Depression has actually led to many commiting suicides and some just don't survive it. Depression is never an alternative and should be avoided as many times as possible. Other sicknesses kill already, combining it with depression kills faster. Decide to live, Stay around. Having quality sleep time and doing exercises regularly helps through depression. Thanks for visiting my blog. References: [1](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml) [2](https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression) [3](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933) [4](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007)![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb2EkLDnXpjRnRTmH7ej7ueGkohTiLqN3DCx9gSJtFEsF/image.png)

Have you been depressed before?

Disparity between Depression and Sadness

Forms of Depression

General Symptoms of Depression

Causes of Depression

Risk Factors

Treatment

Conclusion