What is Depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide every year.1 Treatment options are available and will be provided to a greater or lesser degree depending on the severity of symptoms. Depression often co-occurs with other conditions and disorders, such as anxiety disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and as a withdrawal symptom following cessation of substance use. While mild episodes or bouts of depression are common for most people, it becomes a serious condition when it lasts for an extended period of time and interferes with a person’s ability to live a normal, healthy life.

Feelings of depression escalate to clinical depression when the symptoms have met the diagnostic criteria outlined in the latest edition of the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual (DSM-V)2:

• Depressed mood (self-reported or observed by others)

• Loss of interest in normal, daily activities and activities previously enjoyed

• Significant weight loss or gain (more than 5% in one month)

• Sleep problems (insomnia/hypersomnia)

• Psychomotor changes

• Increased tiredness/low energy

• Decreased efficiency in routine tasks

• Low self-worth

• Excessive, inappropriate feelings of guilt

• Poor cognition, concentration, and decision-making

• Suicidal ideation/attempts, recurrent thoughts about death

• Social and/or occupational distress and/or impairment due to symptoms

• The symptoms are not directly related to the physiological effects of substance use

• The symptoms are not better explained by another condition

• The symptoms are not better explained by bereavement or grief

In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, a person must meet at least five of the diagnostic criteria outlined above.

Depression – Signs and Symptoms

Before the condition develops into clinical depression, there are general signs and symptoms that a person is suffering. Noticing these signs is important, as it can help you check in with yourself or a loved one. Depression can be a dangerous condition, even more so when combined with substance use. Watch out for the following signs and symptoms of depression so you can reach out for help as early as possible before the condition worsens.

• Sleeplessness

• Over-sleeping

• Loss of energy

• Fatigue

• Persistent sadness

• Loss of appetite

• Irritability

• Loss of interest in engaging with life

• Collapsed posture

• Tearfulness

• Sense of worthlessness and lack of meaning

• Physical aches and pains

• Suicidal thoughts

• Poor memory and concentration

What Causes Depression?

Depression can affect anyone. While there are certain risk factors for depression, each person is unique and what leads to depression in one person may not have the same effect in another. The following are some of the most common risk factors for depression3:

Difficult Life Events

• Unemployment

• Unhealthy relationships

• Isolation and loneliness

• Stress or prolonged work stress

• Job dissatisfaction

• Illness

Personal Factors

• Family history of depression

• Anxious tendencies

• Low self-esteem

• High sensitivity to criticism

• Perfectionism

• Substance misuse and abuse

Brain Changes

• Inhibited serotonin and noradrenaline production

• Diminished communication among brain cells

Depression Facts and Statistics

The following are some facts and statistics regarding the prevalence of depression across the globe.

According to data compiled by Statista, almost 5% of the U.S adult population suffered from depression in 2017.4

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)5:

• Over 264 million people of all ages globally suffer from depression

• Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide

• More women than men clinically present with depression

• Depression is a common risk factor in suicide

Depression and Addiction

Depression and substance abuse sometimes go hand in hand, and it can be difficult to determine which came first. While substance abuse can lead to depression, the symptoms of depression can diminish one’s quality of life to the point that an individual can turn to substances for symptom relief. It is a vicious cycle because one feeds the other.

Attempting to relieve the symptoms of depression with substances is an attempt to self-medicate. The consequences can be dangerous, even fatal, as the body’s tolerance to substances builds quickly. This means that more of a substance must be consumed to achieve the same degree of relief, and as more is taken, the strength of one’s dependence increases. Addiction soon follows, which makes treatment for both conditions more difficult.

Heather R. Hayes & Associates Recovery Resource

Addiction can be complicated to treat. It very often co-occurs with other mental health conditions. Whether the addiction caused the mental health issues or the mental health issues caused the addiction is usually unclear, but what is clear is that recovery is possible.

At Heather R. Hayes & Associates, we specialize in addiction recovery. Our services include:

• Trauma-Informed Responsive Intervention™

• Recovery coaching

• Case management

• Crisis intervention

• Respectful Therapeutic Transport Protocol™

• Sober companionship

Navigating the world of healthcare can be taxing for individuals and their concerned loved ones. We make it easier by acting as a single point of contact among our clients, their families, and the services that can offer treatment options. Please contact us today for more information or to arrange for a meeting