Could I Have Depression?
A Site for College Students
We all experience negative emotions. A certain degree of unhappiness
or sorrow is present in everyone's life. Sometimes though, sadness and melancholy become our prevailing moods, and our thoughts become more and more negative and self-defeating: this is the beginning of a depression.
This site is aimed at helping you become familiar with the symptoms of depression, and showing you where you can find help.
This site is aimed at helping you become familiar with the symptoms of depression, and showing you where you can find help.
What causes depression?
There is no one cause for depression. Causes can be biological, emotional, interpersonal, cognitive, or any combination of these. A traumatic event such as the loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship can cause depression. Childhood or adult abuse can cause several psychological problems, depression being one of them. Having a first-degree relative, especially a parent, with depression puts you at risk for developing major depression (3). Every person's experience of depression is unique, so every cause and treatment is also unique.
What are the symptoms? (3,5)
It is important to remember that everyone experiences depression differently. The symptoms listed below are the requirements for being diagnosed with either dysthymic disorder (also called dysthymia) or major depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) of mental disorders. However, there are still a wide range of other symptoms that you could have. The ones listed below are the most common. Something these lists of symptoms do not mention are the cognitive distortions many people experience along with depression. The average age of onset for major depression is the late 20s, but dysthymia appears more frequently before the age of 21(3).
Dysthymic Disorder
What if I have symptoms of both?
| Major Depression
|
Again, it's important to remember that everyone experiences
depression differently. You may notice that you have some symptoms that
are not on the official DSM list: that's okay. For example, some
people with depression withdraw from friends and family. Others draw
nearer to one or more people, and can be mislabeled as being "clingy." Some people experience their depressive symptoms more acutely in the morning or at night.
Physical symptoms of depression are not uncommon: some people get sick
more often and can experience such symptoms as stomachaches, nausea, and a diminished sex drive.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) can also be a symptom of depression. These purposeful injuries to the body are usually in response to a negative emotion, and can include cutting and burning. NSSI is a coping mechanism that some use to relieve distress. However, although NSSI can be a symptom of depression, it is not necessarily a sign of depression: self-injury can also be indicative of other disorders such as borderline personality disorder (2). One possible reason for why people engage in self-injurious behavior is related to goal-setting. It has been found that people who self-harm engage in more conditional goal setting than other people: they see the attainment of their goal(s) as being necessary for their future well-being and happiness (1). If their goal is not met, this leads to such a crushing disappointment and hopelessness that they engage in NSSI.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) can also be a symptom of depression. These purposeful injuries to the body are usually in response to a negative emotion, and can include cutting and burning. NSSI is a coping mechanism that some use to relieve distress. However, although NSSI can be a symptom of depression, it is not necessarily a sign of depression: self-injury can also be indicative of other disorders such as borderline personality disorder (2). One possible reason for why people engage in self-injurious behavior is related to goal-setting. It has been found that people who self-harm engage in more conditional goal setting than other people: they see the attainment of their goal(s) as being necessary for their future well-being and happiness (1). If their goal is not met, this leads to such a crushing disappointment and hopelessness that they engage in NSSI.
Anaclitic vs. Introjective Depression
According to Dr. Sidney J. Blatt, patients diagnosed with depression can be divided into two groups. Although they will mostly be showing the same symptoms, patients can be divided into these groups based on the psychological roots of their symptoms. An anaclitically depressed person will become depressed due to feelings of abandonment, and their depressive symptoms will intensify during times when their relationships with others are under stress. A person with introjective depression, however, will show symptoms due to feelings of failure and worthlessness. Introjective depression centers more around the self and self-esteem, while anaclitic depression centers around relationships.
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