Introduction: Depression, this term is frequently mentioned in modern society, but often gives people a distant and vague impression, as if it only exists in news reports or other people’s stories, with no connection to our own lives. However, reality is not so.
Depression is a real mental illness that may quietly sneak into our daily lives, affecting our mood, thoughts, and behaviors. According to a statistical report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of depression patients globally reaches an astonishing 322 million, accounting for 4.4% of the total population.
This data is shocking because it means that around us, one in every twenty-five people may be experiencing the torment of depression. Moreover, what is even more worrying is that this figure has shown a significant increasing trend in recent years.
However, due to the misconceptions and prejudice towards depression in society, many patients often dare not express their true feelings. They may fear being seen as weak, dramatic, or neurotic, and choose to bury their pain and distress deep in their hearts.
This silence and concealment not only prevent patients from receiving timely assistance and treatment but may also worsen their condition, potentially leading to irreparable tragedies.
01 Depression has three levels, hopefully you are not in any of them
Mild Depression
Patients with mild depression may feel continuous mood swings, loss of interest in usual activities, and slight disruptions in sleep and appetite. These symptoms, though subtle, if not addressed, can easily worsen gradually, affecting the patient’s daily life and work.
Moderate Depression
Patients with moderate depression may exhibit more severe symptoms than mild cases. They may feel continuous despondency, helplessness, and hopelessness, and may even lose determination for life. Additionally, they may experience significant sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can significantly impact a patient’s daily life and work capacity, possibly leading to social impairments and strained interpersonal relationships.
Severe Depression
Severe depression is the most severe form of depression, where patients may experience extreme despondency, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Their daily life and work capacity are severely compromised, and they may even struggle to carry out daily activities normally. Patients with severe depression require immediate professional treatment, including urgent psychological intervention, medication, and hospitalization.
02 Can people who smile a lot not get depressed?
We must be clear that a smiling face is one way of expressing human emotions, representing joy, happiness, and contentment. However, this does not mean that people who smile a lot will not face mental struggles, especially serious issues like depression.
In reality, depression is a complex mental disorder with factors including but not limited to genetics, environment, biochemistry, and social psychology.
These factors do not exist in isolation but interweave, collectively influencing a person’s mental health. Therefore, judging whether someone has depression based solely on their smiling habits is inadequate.
Furthermore, it is essential to note that depression patients exhibit various symptoms.
Some may display continuous mood swings and loss of interest in daily activities; some may show signs of irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and so on; yet others may appear normal on the surface, even maintain a smile, but internally endure immense pain and repression.
Such patients are often referred to as “smiling depression” patients, where their true feelings are often masked by surface appearances, making it difficult for others to notice and understand.
Therefore, we cannot simply equate smiling with not having depression.
03 Four Common Statements About Depression – If You Haven’t Said Them, Your Mental and Physical Health is Good
“I feel worthless, nothing I do has any meaning.”
Depression is a complex mental disorder often accompanied by a profound sense of self-worthlessness. When a depression patient utters phrases like “I feel worthless, nothing I do has any meaning,” it is not simply a mood vent but a deep-seated extreme self-negation.
This kind of self-denial is not baseless but a conclusion reached by the patient after long-term mental struggles and self-reflection. They may have plunged into deep self-blame and self-doubt, regardless of past achievements, feeling utterly insignificant and unable to contribute to society or others. This negative self-perception can lead them to profound desolation and hopelessness, feeling discarded by the world, losing direction and motivation in life.
The negative mindset of depression patients is not a sudden occurrence but a result of long-term accumulation. They may have experienced many setbacks and failures, leading to a gradual breakdown of self-esteem. Additionally, societal misunderstandings and lack of understanding about depression may exacerbate their self-denial. In such situations, patients often struggle to break free and require external assistance and support.
“I always feel overwhelmingly tired, have no energy to do any work.”
Depression patients often use a phrase like “I always feel overwhelmingly tired, have no energy to do any work” as a sign, subtly hinting at the suffering and struggle within them. If you have never experienced such feelings, then congratulations, your mental and physical health may be in a good state. However, for those unfortunate individuals grappling with depression, they battle this fatigue and powerlessness every day.
The fatigue experienced by depression patients is not mere tiredness or exhaustion but a deep-seated sense of helplessness to the core. They feel as if they are bound by an invisible force, making even basic daily activities like getting up, washing, eating, abnormally difficult. They may struggle to complete work tasks as usual and lose interest in activities they once loved.
This continuous fatigue not only makes them physically and mentally exhausted but also hampers their ability to concentrate, leaving them confused and overwhelmed when thinking. This fatigue and sense of powerlessness further exacerbate the patient’s depressive mood. They may feel worthless, unable to contribute to society, even developing thoughts of self-blame and self-punishment.
“I can’t concentrate, my memory is getting worse.”
Depression, this invisible killer often hidden deep within people’s hearts, not only deeply affects the moods of patients but may also trigger a series of cognitive impairments. One of the most common expressions is “I can’t concentrate, my memory is getting worse.”
For those who have never experienced the struggles of depression, it may be challenging to understand this situation. But for depression patients, they battle cognitive impairments every day. If you have never said such words, it indicates your mental and physical health may be relatively good.
Depression patients’ lack of concentration is often manifested as difficulty maintaining sustained focus when performing tasks. They may find themselves easily distracted, unable to focus on one thing for an extended period. This struggle not only impacts their work efficiency but also leads to frequent errors in daily life, further adding to their feelings of frustration and helplessness.
“I can’t sleep, maybe I can never wake up.”
Depression often comes with profound emotional distress, which tends to manifest in the sleeping patterns of patients. When you hear someone say, “I can’t sleep, maybe I can never wake up,” it could often be an indication of depression silently lurking. If you haven’t experienced such a situation, it somewhat indicates a healthy state of your mental and physical well-being.
For depression patients, sleeping issues are a common and disturbing symptom. They may experience prolonged insomnia, tossing and turning in bed, with swirling thoughts, making it difficult to fall asleep. Even if they manage to fall asleep, they may frequently wake up due to various anxieties and restlessness, resulting in poor sleep quality. Moreover, some patients may exhibit symptoms of hypersomnia, feeling abnormally fatigued even after sufficient sleep, as if they can never shake off this fatigue. This excessive sleepiness not only affects their daily life and work efficiency but may also further deteriorate their mood.
04 If you have depression, do you have to take medication for life?
Having depression and whether one needs to take medication for life is a complex and sensitive question. Firstly, it is crucial to understand that depression is a treatable illness, and most patients, after receiving proper treatment, can recover and lead a normal life.
Regarding medication, it is essential to note that drugs play a significant role in the treatment of depression. Medications can assist patients in alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life, and in some cases, even saving lives. However, this does not imply that all depression patients need lifelong medication.
In the treatment of depression, apart from medication, there are various methods such as psychological therapy and lifestyle adjustments. Some patients may show significant improvement in symptoms after a period of treatment, even complete remission. For such patients, under a doctor’s guidance, they may gradually reduce the dosage of medication or even discontinue it.
However, there are also patients whose symptoms may become more entrenched, possibly recurring due to various factors such as genetics, environment, etc. For these patients, long-term or lifelong medication may be necessary to maintain symptom stability.
05 Why do some recovered depression patients end up in a desperate situation again?
For depression patients, the path to recovery is often fraught with twists and turns. They may show good recovery for a period, but this doesn’t mean they have completely overcome the shadow of depression. They may still be silently struggling with this disease within themselves, just unseen by others.
Depression is a complex mental disorder involving multiple facets beyond just mood swings. It may touch upon a patient’s physiological, psychological, interpersonal aspects, etc. Sometimes, even if a patient’s symptoms have alleviated, they may still harbor pain and struggle within. They may excessively criticize themselves, feel hopeless about the future, and powerless in relationships with others.
Additionally, depression patients often face significant social pressure. They may feel misunderstood, neglected, or even ostracized. This pressure may make them feel increasingly lonely and helpless, exacerbating their depressive symptoms. When they feel unable to endure this pressure, they may choose to take a desperate path.
06 Further Reading: Self-assessment, Do You Have Depression?
Depression is a common yet underestimated mood disorder. It is not just about despondency or sorrow but may also involve loss of interest in daily activities, sleep issues, appetite changes, among various symptoms.
If you have been feeling off lately, you can use the following simple self-assessment form to evaluate your condition.
Answer Analysis:
0-4 points: Your mood is relatively normal, with no significant tendency towards depression;
5-9 points: You may be experiencing mild depression, it is advisable to pay more attention to your mood changes and try adjusting through healthy lifestyle choices;
10-14 points: You might be going through moderate depression, seeking professional psychological counseling or treatment assistance is recommended;
15-27 points: Your depressive symptoms may be severe, seek immediate professional medical assistance to prevent further deterioration.
Remember, this self-assessment form is just a simple evaluation tool and cannot replace a professional medical diagnosis. If you or someone around you is experiencing severe depressive symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.
Depression is not something to fear; the key is early detection and treatment. If you or someone around you is struggling with depression, do not hesitate, seek assistance promptly. Professional psychological counseling and medication can effectively alleviate depressive symptoms, helping you rediscover the joys and hopes in life.
