Depression

What is depression?
Depression is a mental disorder that negatively affects our behavior, our thoughts, and, above all, our mood.

The depressed person will show symptoms that are both affective (sadness, melancholy), cognitive (thoughts of hopelessness and negativity, low self-esteem) and behavioral (stopping doing activities that previously gave them pleasure, passivity, general inactivity).

Depression produces an inner discomfort that makes it difficult or impossible for the affected person to interact with their environment in a positive way.

How do I know if I have depression?
There are several common symptoms of depression, although these depend on its cause and the characteristics of the person suffering from it.

- Cognitive: difficulty making decisions, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, lack of motivation, apathy.
- Emotional: sadness, emotional flattening, irritability.
- Physiological: crying, fatigue, sleep problems, loss or increase in appetite.
- Behavioral: lack of energy, such that tasks or routines that were previously handled without problem now require enormous effort.

What causes depression?
Knowing the cause of depression helps to determine a more effective treatment for the patient.

There is a genetic factor, since having a family history of depression increases the likelihood of suffering from it.
Physiological factors such as low serotonin levels or endocrine disorders can affect this. It can also be due to personal situations or environmental factors, such as interpersonal relationships or pregnancy.

Common thoughts in people with depression:
I don't feel like leaving the house or talking to anyone.
Am I to blame for all the evils?
Getting out of bed and getting active is a real nightmare.
I can't enjoy anything.
I'm not interested in what people say, neither my partner nor my friends.
If I disappeared, no one would notice.
Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and helplessness
Thoughts of death and suicide