What To Do When I Feel Depressed And Lonely – Medically reviewed by Jacquelyn Johnson PsyD. — Jennifer Berry and Hana Ames — Updated July 29, 2022
Depression is a serious mental illness that can affect a person’s life. It causes prolonged and intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness, as well as loss of interest in activities.
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Some people with depression may experience changes in appetite and sleep problems. Other aspects of depression can bring painful physical symptoms, such as headaches.
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Of US adults have experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year. However, despite its prevalence, depression is not always easy to recognize.
The symptoms and causes of depression vary from person to person. Gender can also play an important role in why depression affects a person and how they feel about it.
Although many people with depression experience sadness, this feeling is much more serious than feelings that come and go due to life events.
Symptoms of depression can last for months or years and can make everyday life difficult or impossible.
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Many people mistakenly believe that depression is a choice or that they should have a positive attitude.
Friends and loved ones often feel frustrated or don’t understand why a person can’t “make it.” They may even say that the person has nothing to be upset about.
Depression is a real mental illness. Those who suffer from depression cannot simply decide to stop being depressed. Unlike typical sadness or worry, depression can feel debilitating and hopeless.
Several factors can contribute to depression. Although depression may not have a single cause, experts believe the following are possible risk factors:
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As scary as it sounds, major or clinical depression is the “standard” type of disorder that doctors diagnose. The NIMH states that major depressive disorder is one of the
Some people have recurrent bouts of major depression, which may occur monthly, annually, or many times during their lifetime.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a disorder in which mood changes are associated with the seasons. It is a subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD).
It is a recurrent major depressive disorder with seasonal characteristics. It is most common during the cold, dark winter months and affects
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US population. The prevalence of people with SAD tends to increase as people live further from the equator.
Symptoms of this condition are depression, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, and increased alcohol consumption. grief happens
The cause of seasonal affective disorder is thought to be a lack of exposure to natural light during the winter months, although scientists aren’t entirely sure why. This lack of exposure can cause disturbances in serotonin and melatonin levels in the body.
Formerly known as dysthymia. PDD can last at least 2 years, and some symptoms may not be as severe as major depressive disorder, but others can be just as debilitating.
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Baby blues describe the typical stress and worry of caring for a newborn in the first 2 weeks after birth, while postpartum depression interferes with daily life and can last for weeks or months.
Examples include paranoia, difficulty understanding what is real or not, and hallucinations, which involve seeing, hearing or smelling things that other people cannot perceive because the affected person’s mind tricks their own senses.
It is a different type of depression than MDD because it is related to the menstrual cycle and can cause severe emotional instability. It also has unique physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness and bloating.
PMDD causes severe irritability, depression, and anxiety a week or two before menstruation. Symptoms usually subside 2-3 days after the start of menstruation.
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The review of studies also found that women experience different symptoms of depression. The women studied were more likely to experience symptoms such as fatigue, irritability and sleep disturbances in addition to depression.
Men are more likely to cause psychological distress than women. Loneliness and job dissatisfaction were strongly associated with psychological distress in both men and women.
Men were found to be more likely than women to experience anger aggression, aggression, and risk-taking behavior as depressive symptoms.
Despite the common belief that women are more likely to suffer from depression than men, the study shows that men and women suffer from depression equally.
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Differences in symptoms and what men report to their doctors can make it harder for men to diagnose depression.
Men may more often hide or not report traditional symptoms of depression, such as sadness and crying. Some may believe that these symptoms go against society’s view of men.
Those experiencing symptoms of depression should seek help from a health care provider. If left untreated, depression can worsen and affect a person’s quality of life.
A doctor or mental health professional will discuss treatment options to help people manage their depression and get on with their daily lives.
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Any suicidal thoughts or remarks that they do not want to live should be taken seriously. In times of crisis, a person should seek help from a hospital emergency department.
Help is also available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or by visiting the Lifeline website.
Depression can be treated. Treatment for depression includes antidepressants and psychotherapy, of which there are many different types.
Better adaptation to different treatment methods. Therefore, people may wish to talk to their doctor about trying different methods until they find what works best for them.
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It may be helpful to remember that many treatments may take some time to reach their full effect, so people may not get results right away.
People who are on the road to recovery after receiving a proper diagnosis may find it helpful to talk openly with loved ones and make healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle.
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Depression is a mental health condition that causes sadness and hopelessness, a lack of motivation or interest in life.
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It can also wreak havoc on a person’s physical health, with symptoms such as body aches, sleep problems, and decreased or increased appetite.
If a person has these feelings for more than 2 weeks and interferes with daily activities, they may be depressed.
Depression can also be difficult to recognize because it can start gradually and affect people in different ways.
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If you have symptoms of depression, completing any of these tasks can feel overwhelming. While some of these may feel tedious or mundane, they are important to your daily life.
You and your doctor can work together to create a treatment plan. This will help you manage your depressive symptoms and meet the needs of your life more easily.
Treatment for depression may include medication, therapy, or a combination of both. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as changing your diet or exercise habits.
Write or draw what you need to do each day and try to repeat this schedule as often as possible. Routines will help you find a rhythm and balance your to-do list while using less mental energy.
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This will help you with tasks and responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed. Consider using paper or digital calendars and to-do lists to help you stay organized and in control.
Large projects at work or at home can feel overwhelming and trigger symptoms of depression. Instead of aiming for a huge end result, try breaking the project into smaller pieces.
Along the way, set achievable goals that will help you complete your final product. Try to do small, timed chunks of work hourly or daily until the project is complete. This will help you manage stress and channel your energy effectively.
Try not to overextend yourself by throwing yourself into too many activities, events and obligations. Give yourself time to decompress and maintain other important aspects of your health.
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If you have too much to do at work, discuss with your supervisor and colleagues how to rebalance your workload.
Healthy eating, exercise and recreational activities are all important to maintaining a healthy body and mind. Try to make room in your daily life for these important aspects of self-care.
Instead of hiding your feelings or symptoms of depression, try talking to someone you love. It can be helpful to talk to people close to you about the stressors in your life. Relationships offer a concession that can help you gain perspective and give you helpful advice.
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