What if you re depressed

Depression can cause mood swings. Depression is sometimes connected with suicide. In , more than 42, people died from suicide in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who die by suicide usually show symptoms first.

Often people will talk about it or make a first attempt before succeeding in ending their life. If you think someone is at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting another person:.

If you think someone is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at If you have had some of the previously mentioned symptoms for more than two weeks, you might be suffering from major depression disorder. Depression affects millions of people, but there are varying treatments available, from lifestyle changes to medications.

No matter the path of treatment you choose, asking for professional help is the first step to getting back to feeling like yourself again.

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Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms. They range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful.

Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety. There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains. The symptoms of depression range from mild to severe. At its mildest, you may simply feel persistently low in spirit, while severe depression can make you feel suicidal, that life is no longer worth living.

Most people experience feelings of stress, anxiety or low mood during difficult times. A low mood may improve after a short period of time, rather than being a sign of depression. It's important to seek help from a GP if you think you may be depressed. Many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression, but it's best not to delay. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery.

Sometimes there's a trigger for depression. Life-changing events, such as bereavement, losing your job or giving birth, can bring it on. People with a family history of depression are more likely to experience it themselves. Many people mistakenly believe that being depressed is a choice, or that they need to have a positive attitude. Depression is a real mental illness. Those who have depression cannot simply decide to stop feeling depressed.

Unlike typical sadness or worry, depression feels all-consuming and hopeless. Depression can be caused by a number of factors. Though a single cause cannot always be found, experts recognize the following as possible causes :. Relationship problems are a common cause of depression in women. Scientists suggest this is due to :. One study of twin brothers and sisters published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that personality and relationships with others were more likely to play a role in the onset of depression.

In particular, the study stated that marital problems, the relationship with parents, and lack of social support were more likely to cause depression in women than in men. Neuroticism , or being in a negative emotional state, was also a primary cause of depression in the women studied.

The women studied were more likely to have panic and anxiety disorders in addition to their depression. Other studies have indicated that women may be more likely to gain weight and have excessive sleepiness than men. Losing a job and not being able to provide for the family is a common trigger for depression in men. A study in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that men were more likely than women to have depression due to the following:.

The study also suggested that men may be more likely to become depressed as a result of failures to achieve goals in life and low self-esteem. Financial and legal issues and career problems were found to cause depression more frequently in men than women. The study mentions events such as losing a job and worrying about failing as a family provider as possible examples of what may trigger depression specifically in men.