Depression has ruined my life (7 ways to take back control)

In this writeup, “ Depression has ruined my life” will be explored, a brief introduction about depression, it’s signs and symptoms, major classifications of depression, depression and it’s consequences, thriving after recovery from depression and finally some FAQ concerning the topics.

Depression has ruined life because:

• It disrupts the social relationship
• Hampers and cause impairment in everyday life functioning
• Evoke the sense of worthless and helpless
• Disrupts sleep cycle
• Diverting to substance and drug use
• Cause serious physiological reactions
• Dropped down one’ self-esteem
• Results in suicidal ideation and suicides
• Overthinking and negative thought patterns

Depression

It is a mood disorder that is often called Unipolar Depression or Major Depressive Disorder. It is one of the most common and prevalent mental disorders. Depression if remains untreated gets worse and takes a toll on one’s life in some cases.

The three main symptoms of an individual battling with Depression are:

• Anhedonia: Loss of interest in all pleasurable activities.
• Fatigability: low energy and get tired easily.
• Depressed mood: low mood and depressed mood for a prolonged time.

Depressive Symptoms

Some of the symptoms experienced by people suffering from depression are:

• Aggressiveness and Irritability
• Restlessness
• Hopeless feeling
• Loss of Interest, Anhedonia
• Get tired easily, fatigability
• Lack of sexual desire
• Recurrent thoughts on suicide
• Difficulty in communication and interaction
• Disruption in the sleepy cycle: Insomnia and Hypersomnia
• Inability to concentrate
• Pain and Headache
• Change in appetite
• Excessive and inappropriate guilt
• Diminished ability to concentrate
• Psychomotor agitation
• Significant weight loss
• Impairment in social and other major functioning.

Classification of Depression

Based on the severity of the symptoms and their duration, two major types of depression are Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression and Chronic Depressive Disorder/ Dysthymia. Apart from these, there are Bi-Polar Disorder and Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Major Depressive Disorder

To be diagnosed with MDD, there should be five depressive symptoms that last for at least 2 weeks. Adding onto that, there should either be a depressed mood or loss of interest. MDD is a periodic or episodic disorder where the symptoms go on and off over time. Along with it, suicide ideation and thought of death are common. 

Persistent Depression Disorder, Dysthymia

One of the essential features of Dysthymia is a depressed mood that lasts throughout the day for at least 2years, in case of children the duration is for 1 year. Along with depressed mood, they should also experience two of the six symptoms (poor appetite, sleep disturbance, low energy, low self-esteem, trouble in concentrating and hopelessness)

Bi-Polar Disorder

Two types of Bi-Polar disorder are, BP-1 and BP-2. The manic symptom is the defining feature of the two and the severity of the two differentiate these. Bi-Polar 1 is known as Manic-Depressive Disorder where there is a single episode of mania during their lifetime however, they may or may not have a depressive episode. While Bi-Polar 2 is characterised by hypomanic (milder version of Manic) episodes with Major Depressive Episodes.

Cyclothymic Disorder. 

It is also a chronic mood disorder where the proposed symptom (numerous episodes of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms) last for at least 2 years. They experience frequent alternating mild symptoms of Mania and Depression. People with cyclothymia have a high risk of developing Mania and Major Depression. 

Postpartum Depression. 

It is a blend of physical, emotional and behavioural changes that a woman undergoes after giving birth. The diagnosis is based on the length of time between their onset and delivery and the severity of depression. Some of the symptoms are difficulty in sleeping, appetite change, fatigue, decreased libido and frequent mood change. It generally begins within the 4 weeks after delivery

Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

It is known by recurrent depressive episodes occurring typically in winter.

The severity of the episode ranges from mild to moderate and in the worse case, have the risk of suicide as well. It is more prevalent in people in the northern part of the world than in summer. The change in melatonin is responsible for this episode, they show more change in melatonin than the rest. 

SAD Symptom is similar to those of Depression except that it coincides with seasons.

Facts about depression

Among all the people from varied age groups, teens are believed to be most vulnerable to fall in or suffer from depression. 

• Female teens are more vulnerable to depression than men.
• Teens with the history of abuse and neglect from their primary caregivers are actually at higher risk of depression. 
• Those teens with underlying chronic illnesses and medical conditions are also at higher risk of depression
• Teens with a family history of depression and any of their members with depression are most likely to suffer from depression.
• Tends with untreated medical or substance use are also at higher risk of depression and has another 

Depression and its consequences

There is shreds of evidence through research that depression can leave a harmful effect and drastic consequences to one’s life. It can have a serious toll on one’s physical health, social surrounding, mental health as well as other domains of life.

Some of the major consequences or impact of Depression on the individual are discussed below:

Difficulty in health care choices and treatment

It was found through a research study that people who are underlying medical conditions and are battling with depression had a hard time making and deciding onto their health care choices. Along with it, they also find it hard and challenging to follow the instructions of medical professionals and to cope up with the challenges resultant of their illness. 

Adding onto that, there is a higher rate and risk of death in the patient with depression having an underlying heart attack. 

Disruption in the sleep cycle

Another major concern of the effect of depression on the individual is a change in sleep cycle or sleep patterns, 

Insomnia being the most common and frequent problem where people find it difficult to get sleep, there are also cases of people feeling an increased need for sleep, unlike normal days. Besides that, they also undergo excessive energy loss and tiredness resulting in impaired concentration and decision-making processes.

The feeling of hopelessness and helpless

These two feelings dominate the individual thought processes as well as behaviour during the phase of depression, and it also bothers the person even after recovery from depression. They constantly feel worthless and irritable resulting in serious impairment and dysfunctioning in their everyday life. 

Alcohol use and drug abuse

It is prevalent in individuals diagnosed with depression as well as those who are battling with it. More than that, it is common in teens and youth. Some signs or indicators of drug use are the inability to maintain their social circle, secretive substance use, tremors, memory loss and reluctance to discuss drugs and alcohol. These are some of the indicators that need to be taken care of.

Increased risk in suicide

Depression results in higher risk and chance of the individual committing suicide as well as suicidal ideation. It is the worst and most serious outcome or consequences of depression. Thus, those individuals who are battling with depression, on top of that having constant suicidal thoughts and ideation, they should immediately seek help and should be taken seriously. 

Elderly people experience more suicidal ideation than the rest of the age group. And many who had actually committed suicide were the one with depression and overlapping mental health issues and disorders.

Disrupts family relationship

Depression and living with depression is challenging and demanding. It takes a toll on one’s mental health, physical health, their daily functioning and social circles. For the individual as well as the family, depression results in great disturbance both physically and mentally. Often family members fail to understand and empathise the struggle and the suffering that the individual is undergoing and the failure of the individual to communicate their feelings and struggle. 

Physiological Reactions

Some of the physical and physiological reactions of depressive people include palpitation, sweating, racing heartbeat, dry mouth and muscle agitation. These are physical consequences of depression to the individual.

Lowered self-esteem

Depression has often resulted in the loss of self esteem and the individual tends to feel hopeless and worthless. The confidence that they have dropped down after combating with depressive symptoms and the consequent negative thought patterns.

Overthinking

Individuals when diagnosed with Clinical Depression, they spend an enormous amount of time overthinking and engaging oneself in negative thoughts and distorted thinking. And over a period of time, this takes away their self-confidence and self-esteem resulting in a sense of worthlessness and existential crises in some serious cases. 

Impairment in everyday life functionings

Depression can cause severe impairment and disruption in the functioning of an individual be it in terms of their job performance, role in the family, social circle, academic etc. It results in severe decline in the performance of an individual. 

Thriving post-depression

It was evident that despite the toll of depression in the individual in all spheres of his/ her life, there is space for recovery and remission of the symptoms.

Some of the factors that play an important role in thriving after recovery from depression are:

• Good and trusted social support system
• Motivation to reach out for help in need
• Keeping a positive social and psychological well being
• Engaging in physical exercises and spirituality

These are a few strategies that can help the individual who has recovered from depression to thrive well and prevent himself from another depressive episode. 

FAQs: Depression has ruined my life

 Conclusion

In this writeup, “ Depression has ruined my life” was explored, a brief introduction about depression, it’s signs and symptoms, major classifications of depression, depression and it’s consequences, thriving after recovery from depression and finally some FAQ concerning the topics.

Internal links for more information

http://www.sane.org.uk/how_you_can_help/blogging/show_blog/2117

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/depression-ruined-relationships-made-hate-14652283

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/untreated-depression-effects

Bibliography

Anjum, D. (2017). Depression ? What is depression ? quora. https://www.quora.com/Depression-has-ruined-my-life-How-do-I-turn-it-around

Binns, S. (2018). Depression ruined my relationships, made me hate myself and left me broken – I wish I’d talked sooner’. Manchester evening news. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/depression-ruined-relationships-made-hate-14652283

WebMD. (2020). Untreated Depression. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/untreated-depression-effects#3

Young, K. (2019). Life After Depression: How to Thrive – What Helps. What Gets in the Way. Depression. https://www.heysigmund.com/life-after-depression/