Every so often, you may feel sad, disappointed, upset, irritated or downcast. All these feelings are normal and go hand in hand with things like setbacks and failures. However, depression is more than a short-term bad mood or sadness.
According to studies carried out in recent years, nearly 6% of people in Estonia suffer from depression. This means that at the time of the study, the number of people affected by depression was almost as high as the combined population of Pärnu, Viljandi and Rakvere – around 75,000.
How to spot depression?
- A depressed person has difficulties coping with everyday life. They feel low-spirited and unhappy for at least two weeks.
- Depression affects mental and physical health and may make it seem like everything is hopeless. Depression is often linked to anxiety, which means that a depressed person may feel anxious and irritable.
- Depression can lead to issues at school, a sudden downturn in grades and learning difficulties. It can also manifest as running away from home, computer and internet addiction, and substance abuse.
Remember that depression is an illness like any other and requires treatment. Experiences with depression can differ from person to person. It is a very multifaceted illness and does not have a single and specific symptom, but there are certain symptoms that occur with depression. Symptoms have to last for at least two weeks – a one-time experience is not depression. Symptoms of depression are expressed in behaviour, thinking, feelings and physical reactions.
Important! Depression is a persistent low mood accompanied by a loss of joy in life and decreased energy, resulting in a reduced ability to cope and quality of life.
Depression has also been described like this:
I found it very difficult to get out of bed in the morning. I wanted to hide under the covers and not talk to anyone. My appetite was gone and I lost weight. Nothing seemed interesting or fun anymore. Everything was lame. I was tired all the time and my sleep was fitful. But I knew I had to keep going because otherwise I wouldn’t get things done. At the same time, everything seemed impossible. I felt like nothing would ever improve.
Based on Peaasi.ee.
