How Do You Know Your Depressed

How Common Is Childhood Depression And Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders in children. About 7% of children ages 3 to 17 have anxiety about 3% deal with depression.

Both depression and anxiety tend to be higher in older children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17. An estimated 3.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 13.3% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17. An estimated 31.9% of adolescents have had an anxiety disorder.

The Importance Of Self

Depression may make you want to be alone and not do that much. But it is important to push yourself and be proactive to help yourself feel better:

• Go outside, get some fresh air and do some exercise this can help boost your endorphins, your happy brain chemicals
• Maintain structure set yourself a positive daily schedule, which may include time for exercise, cooking and activities you usually enjoy dont stay in bed all day
• Try to eat healthily throughout the day evidence suggests that eating foods rich in folic acid such as avocado and spinach, as well as foods rich in omega-3 like salmon and tuna can help ease symptoms
• Dont use alcohol excessively or drugs people try to mask or manage negative feelings with alcohol and drugs, but this is counterproductive and should be avoided
• Establish a good bedtime routine try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Also avoid napping and make your bedroom a tech-free space, so you are away from screens before you sleep
• Document your thoughts and feelings before you go to sleep at night, write down three positive things about yourself and reflect on them when you wake up the next day. Also, jot down where you want to be emotionally, mentally and physically, and note the small steps you can take to get there

When Should I Call The Doctor

Call a healthcare provider if your child has any signs of depression or anxiety. If your child is showing signs of suicide, get help right away. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. This hotline connects you to a national network of local crisis centers for free and confidential emotional support. The centers support people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, call 911.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

While it may be difficult to watch your child dealing with depression or anxiety, help is available. The right treatment can ensure your child continues to grow and thrive throughout their development. In addition to medical help, you can support your child by making sure they have a healthy environment at home, at school and in the community. Always let your child know they can communicate openly and honestly about their feelings.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/17/2020.

References

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Can You Inherit Depression

Genetic factors do play a role in depression, but so do biological, environmental, and psychological factors.2 Unipolar depression is less likely to be inherited than Bipolar disorder , says Steven Hollon, PhD, of Brentwood, Tennessee, a professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University.

While depression does tend to run in families, just because a family member has depression does not mean you are going to get it, says Rudy Nydegger, PhD, Professor Emeritus of psychology and management at Union College and chief in the Division of Psychology at Ellis Hospital, both in Schenectady, New York. It is not a simple gene thing, he says. And the important thing is not so much why a person has depression but what are we going to do to help them.

Your Sleep Routine Is Interrupted

Sleep may have become a comfort and an escape from feeling low. Your lack of energy may also be leaving you constantly tired, where you need more sleep and find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

People with depression can also struggle with insomnia, restlessness and interrupted sleep, as thoughts stop them from being able to relax and sleep.

Both these situations can cause you to become tired which, when heightened by the sadness that you feel, leaves you without energy and feeling drained.

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Feeling Depressed Or Suffering From Depression

We often get mixed up between low mood and unhappiness and depression. The two things are very different. Depression isnt about feeling unhappy, its feeling youll never be happy again, explains Colin Grange, Psychologist and Clinical Director of Lifeworks.

If youre feeling low, is it starting to interfere with your day to day life? Are you not doing things that you used to do? Are you losing motivation in and enjoyment of life? Are you starting to not enjoy your hobbies? Is everything becoming an effort?

People suffering from clinical depression often experience a range of symptoms both physical and emotional which can interfere with day to day life. Discovering whether you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms could be an important step towards getting the help you need.

Quiz: Am I depressed?

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Types Of Depression Disorder

There are many types of depression, Mild, Medium, and Major. Such disorders have similar symptoms, but there are different symptoms related to each kind of depression.

General symptoms are:

• Appetite and sleep changes
• Concentration or decision-making issues

You may be diagnosed with major depression if you have five or more of those symptoms for two weeks or longer on most days. In this case, you should talk to a mental specialist and use antidepressants. Different types of online quizzes will help you determine if you have any crucial signs of a mental health condition.

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What Are The Most Common Health Problems In Yorkshire Terriers

The following are some of the most genetic and acquired common health problems in Yorkies. Abnormally low level of blood sugar is a common health problem in Yorkies and similar toy dogs. Yorkshire Terriers are at an enhanced risk of hypoglycemia in the first five months of their birth.

Remember that your Yorkie is a hyper dog. This breed is very family-friendly and craves attention. And if theyre not getting any, theyre likely going to start acting out. For this reason, make sure that youve set enough time in the day aside so that you can play with your dog.

Major Or Clinical Depression

Major depression is much less common than mild or moderate and is characterized by severe, relentless symptoms.

• Left untreated, major depressive disorder typically lasts for about six months.
• Some people experience just a single depressive episode in their lifetime, but major depression can be a recurring disorder.

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Tip : Eat A Healthy Depression

What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Some women find dietary modifications, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies can help aid in the relief of depression symptoms. These include:

Cutting back on salt, unhealthy fats, caffeine, sugar/refined carbs, and alcohol can help improve depression symptoms.

Not skipping meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every three to four hours.

Boosting your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To increase your intake, eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and eggs. Vitamin B-6 along with calcium, magnesium, Vitamin E, and tryptophan have all been shown to benefit women suffering from PMDD.

Eating foods with Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in stabilizing mood. The best sources are fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and tuna, or vegetarian options such as seaweed, flaxseed, and walnuts.

Making sure youre getting enough iron. Low iron levels can produce common depression symptoms like irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Iron rich foods to add to your diet include red meat, beans, leafy greens and dried fruit.

Adding herbal supplements may be helpful. Primrose oil and chaste tree berry have both been found to be effective in the treatment of PMDD.

Types Of Diagnostic Tools

Researchers have been using such scales since the 1960s. One of the first, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, is still sometimes used today. However, there are many more scales available that are better suited for doctors to use with patients. There are even scales patients can use on their own to track or self-report depression symptoms.

While scales can offer key insights, they tend to be quite different from one another. The way they are administered, the questions they ask, and the way the answers are interpreted may not be the same from one scale to the next.

The inconsistencies of the tools, their use, and interpretation can make it challenging to determine the severity of someones depression, as different scales may provide different results. That said, when used along with other diagnostic measures and the judgment of an experienced clinician, the scales can be useful tools.

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Savor Simple Sources Of Joy

You cant just will yourself out of depression or force yourself to feel happier, but you there are things you can do throughout day to find joy, boost your mood, and ease stress.

• Listen to uplifting music, watch funny videos online, or download episodes of your favorite sitcom.
• Try to spend some time in naturego for a walk in the park or find a new hiking trail.
• Help a friend or neighbor with an errand. Helping others can be just as beneficial to you as it is for them.
• Take a class online, listen to a lecture, or take a virtual tour of a museum.
• Take up a new hobby, learn to play an instrument, or write your memoirsanything that brings you a sense of joy.

Favorite Apps Products And Gadgets

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If youre feeling sad, lonely, or stressed, the 7 Cups app could provide you with online therapy and emotional support. With more than 160,000 trained listeners and licensed therapists, youll be able to speak to someone 24/7 in a confidential setting.

This app offers activities and games to overcome negative thoughts. Youll receive a happiness score that you can improve each time you play. Its based on effective, evidence-based psychological strategies. The company says 86 percent of those who use the app report feeling better about their lives after just two months.

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder , bright light therapy may help improve your symptoms. We like the Verilux HappyLight Lucent 10,000 Lux LED Bright White Light Therapy Lamp. Its compact and portable, so you can use it on the go. And it received an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon reviews. The cost is around $45.

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Tip : Challenge Negative Thinking

Depression puts a negative spin on everything, including the way you see yourself and your expectations for the future. When these types of thoughts overwhelm you, its important to remember that this is a symptom of your depression and these irrational, pessimistic attitudesknown as cognitive distortionsarent realistic.

Women also tend to ruminate when were depressed, perhaps spending hours trying to figure out why were feeling this way. However, rumination can maintain depression or even make it worse. You cant break out of this pessimistic mind frame by just telling yourself to think positive. Often, its part of a lifelong pattern of thinking thats become so automatic youre not even completely aware of it.

You can develop a more balanced way of thinking by identifying the type of negative thoughts that are contributing to your depression, and then learning to replace them with a more balanced way of thinking.

What Risks And Complications Can Depression Cause

Having depression can cause other problems. It can affect your mental health as well as your physical health, and it may affect other areas of your life too. For example, depression may cause:

• disturbed sleep,
• difficulties with work and your hobbies,
• difficulties keeping contact with friends and families, or
• suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming.

Some people might also drink more alcohol to try and relieve depression. However, as we said in the previous section above, this can actually make depression worse.

If you have any of these problems, speak to your GP.

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Whats The Difference Between Sadness And Depression

Depression is about being sad, surebut its more than that. Depression is a mental illness that involves a lot of symptoms, like feeling exhausted all the time, losing interest in activities you normally enjoy, or thoughts of death and suicide. Episodes of depression last at least 2 weeks at a time. They can be triggered by a sad event or they can seemingly come of out of nowhere.

Every Success May Look Small And Temporary

Every mistake or disappointment may look huge and permanent. Its as if your mental energy gets focused on judging yourself and the judgment is always that youre not good enough.

I always tend to be down on myself, but it got really bad when my boss told me about a written complaint a customer made about me, says Susie, a 39-year-old grocery clerk. He wasnt too critical of me. But he didnt need to be I really did it for him! I couldnt stop second-guessing myself. I was thinking over and over about what Id done wrong and remembering every mistake Id ever made. I was so busy watching myself for mistakes that I could hardly do my job.

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Most People With Depression Need Treatment To Feel Better

If you think you may have depression, start by making an appointment to see your health care provider. This could be your primary doctor or a health provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions . Certain medications, and some medical conditions, such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same symptoms as depression. A health care provider can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam, interview, and lab tests. Your health care provider will examine you and talk to you about treatment options and next steps.

Talking to Your Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health

Communicating well with your health care provider can improve your care and help you both make good choices about your health. Read about tips to help prepare and get the most out of your visit. For additional resources, including questions to ask your health care provider, visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Does Depression Affect Children

Depression can affect people of any age, including children. Although children naturally have mood swings as they grow and develop, depression is different. The disorder can affect how children interact with friends and family. It may prevent them from enjoying school, sports, hobbies or other normal childhood activities.

In children, depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. Anxiety is a medical condition that causes feelings of fear, panic or worry about everyday situations. Sometimes, depression or anxiety in children gets chalked up to growing pains. But if you have any concerns about behavioral or mental health, talk to a healthcare provider.

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How To Tell If You Have Depression

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.

Add Mindfulness To Your Day

Mindfulness is the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. It can prevent you from getting caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past.

Listen to a favorite song. Sit somewhere comfortable and give your attention fully to the music, even if its a song youve heard a thousand times before.

Try a mindful chore. Complete a household chore such as washing dishes while giving your attention fully to the task. Notice how things feel, smell, or sound and whenever your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the task.

Meditate. HelpGuides Mindful Breathing Meditation can help you harness the power of your breath to ground yourself in the present moment and find inner calm.

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Treatment: Psychotherapy For Depression Symptoms

In essence, psychotherapy helps you get to the bottom of the depression symptoms, understand how depression affects your life, and cultivate healthy habits that will keep your depression at bay.

In general, experts believe therapy is an excellent treatment option for mild forms of depression, and most professionals specialize in depression or have experience working with people who are experiencing depression. When it comes to severe clinical depression, healthcare professionals recommend a psychiatric consultation followed by antidepressant medication to tackle the depression. This balance of treatment medications and therapy can help with the pain of depression while understanding the thoughts and feelings.

Aside from individual therapy, patients with depression can benefit greatly from family and couples therapy. Theres also group therapy for depression which brings together people who suffer from the same condition, creating a community that tests and provides mutual support for depression.