[lifestyle] What is depression?

[Mr.Daniel]

Depression is a condition that goes beyond sadness. More than 280 million people suffer from it in the world, but fortunately there is treatment.

The topic of mental health came to light on a large scale at the recent Tokyo Olympics due to American gymnastics star Simone Biles, who withdrew from competition speaking about the mental toll competing at the highest level took on her.

Then, Biles told reporters that she retired not because of an injury, but to "work on [her] mindfulness." She talked about how stressful it was the day before the event, how she was "shaking" and could barely take a nap after her workout. She said she had never felt this way before a competition.

"I think we're too stressed," she told reporters. "We should be here having fun, but that's not the case."

Depression and suicide: where to seek help in Latin American countries and Spain?
But Biles isn't the only one who has spoken openly about her mental health. Another of the athletes whose performance was one of the most anticipated at the Olympics, the Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka — who was in charge of lighting the Olympic cauldron — withdrew from the French Open in May of that year, citing mental health reasons. and later revealed that she had "suffered long bouts of depression" since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018. Osaka later withdrew from Wimbledon.

What is depression and how to identify it?
Depression is a condition that goes beyond sadness, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

"People with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in their daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia, or excessive desire to sleep," the APA says. It also talks about "lack of energy, inability to concentrate or feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide."

Why everyday things like getting out of bed, bathing, and eating can be a struggle for people with depression
It is one of the "most common" mental disorders, says the APA, but, "fortunately," it adds, it is a condition that can be treated, with a combination of therapy and antidepressant medications that can help with recovery.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

It is a common mental disorder and more than 280 million people of all ages suffer from it globally.
It is a leading cause of disability worldwide, the WHO says, "and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease."
It affects women more than men.
It can cause a person to commit suicide. In fact, nearly 800,000 people die each year from suicide and it is the second cause of death in people between 19 and 29 years old, says the WHO.

 

Depression remains highest among adults under 30 and is not improving as quickly as in other age groups. About 56% of adults under age 30 said they experienced feelings of depression in a recent week, according to the latest survey data collected between May 26 and June 7, up from 65% at the peak of the pandemic.

How to help or seek help?
According to the APA, social isolation increases the risk of depression, worse, on the other hand, says the APA, discussing problems for a long time with friends can actually "increase depression as well."

Therefore, as depression is an illness that "carries high costs in terms of relationship and interpersonal problems, according to the APA, it can also cause problems for the family and cause the person to lose productivity problems.

How to combat depression? Experts explain treatments and options
Psychologists, behavioral therapy and medications are expert-approved treatments.

What to do if you have a loved one with depression, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.