Depression: Could you be a Victim?

Feeling a bit blue sometimes is normal, particularly if you’ve experienced a traumatic event recently. However, these feelings persisting for more than two weeks at a stretch could indicate that you are suffering from depression; a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, think and act.

If you experience one or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks, you could be depressed:

• Persistent feelings of sadness and or a depressed mood.
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
• Changes in appetite resulting in losing or gaining significant amounts of weight, unrelated to dieting or exercise.
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Loss of energy and increased fatigue.
• Increase in meaningless physical activity like pacing or slowed movements and speech that maybe noticeable by others.
• Feeling worthless or guilty.
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, these symptoms must last for at least two weeks for a diagnosis to be made. It’s also important to note that medical conditions such as thyroid issues and vitamin deficiencies can mimic these symptoms and thus, a full medical evaluation is often advised if you experience these symptoms for a prolonged period.

What to do if you think you’re depressed?

Regular physical exercise and a good, healthy diet are a great way to combat and even prevent depression. Exercise can help improve mood and create positive feelings. Positive social interactions can also help combat and prevent depression.Getting enough good quality sleep regularly and avoiding alcohol and other drugs can also reduce the symptoms of depression.

If this doesn’t help, you may require proper treatment from a qualified medical professional and you shouldn’t hesitate to seek it. See here for a list of professional therapists in Sri Lanka.

How are depression and sadness different?

People who’ve experienced a loss, such as the death of a loved one, may describe themselves as being depressed. But being sad and being depressed is not the same. Grieving is a natural response while depression is a clinically diagnosable disorder. Here are some ways they differ:

• In grief, sadness comes in waves and is often mixed with positive memories. In depression, mood and/interest (pleasure) are decreased for more than two weeks at a time.
• Self-esteem is usually maintained in grief but in depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.
• Sometimes grief can bring on major depression. When these two co-exist, grief is experienced more severely and lasts longer. But despite the similarities, grief and depression are two very different animals. 

Depression is a real illness and help is available no matter how much a sufferer may think otherwise.

How Nations Trust Bank Can Help 

If you’re just feeling a bit blue, may be its time to take a break from everything and spend some time on yourself. With Nations Trust Bank American Express and MasterCard you have access to a variety of savings and privileges on hotels, spas and resorts in Sri Lanka and plenty of savings on foreign travel too.