Margaret collapsed onto a couch after sending her kids to school. She could hardly make sense of her jumbled thoughts. “I’m exhausted.” “My husband is too busy to notice.” “The kids don’t help.” “I never get time for myself.” “I’m so lonely…but there’s no one to talk to.” After several minutes she looked at the clock and willed herself off the couch to head to her retail job, reminding herself that she had a pretty good life. “Then why am I so unhappy? Why does everything feel like such a chore?”
Here’s a sobering statistic. Major depression, the form that is severe and most debilitating, affects some 300 million people around the world and 21.4 million Americans (6.7% of the population) each year. And studies show that between 15% to 25% of the population will experience major depression at some time during their lives. And I’m not even talking about more mild forms of depression that go undetected because so many sufferers continue to function and lead somewhat normal lives.
Depression can occur to anyone, at any age, gender, race or ethnic and socio-economic background. It affects more people and causes more suffering than any other illness—physical or mental—known to humankind. Not only does depression squeeze the joy of life out of us, but it decreases our ability to function and leads to a variety of other emotional and physical problems.
But here is the worst part. People who are depressed too often conclude that there is something wrong with them. They feel shame, like they are broken and unworthy which not only aggravates the depression but makes it hard to talk about or seek help.
However, the truth is that depression is not a sign of personal weakness but an illness (like kidney failure, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease) in which the brain lacks chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine that regulate happiness, motivation and self-esteem. Although the causes vary, there is something real going on in the mind and brain that needs to be treated.
And here is the good news. Depression is very treatable. Most people who take steps to overcome their depression will experience a full remission—whether on their own or with the help of a professional.
In this article, I want to help you understand depression, it’s symptoms and causes. In my next article, I’m going to teach you the actions you can take to both prevent and overcome this malady that wears you down and strangles your enjoyment of life.
Depression revolves around a constellation of symptoms that have to do with how we think, feel and act. Brain physiology is altered and hormones surge, disrupting normal rhythms of mind and body and leading to disturbances in sleep, concentration, appetite, energy, self-esteem, emotional regulation and interest in life.
Although the symptoms will vary in severity, below is a checklist of the most common. Be aware that reading a list of symptoms does not really capture the totality of the anguish that a severely depressed person may feel.
For years mental health professionals believed that women were more likely to be depressed than men. Perhaps this is because women are more likely to talk about their feelings and seek treatment. However, research from studies of thousands of men and reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that men are just as likely to experience depression although their symptoms often demonstrate:
So, don’t be fooled. Such aggressive forms of behavior often mask deeper feelings of hopelessness, isolation and loss of interest in life and may mean that men experience depression as much as women.
It is natural for people to be curious about the causes of their depression. Some causes relate clearly to one’s situation and life events—loss or chronic stress. At other times depression seems to come out of the blue for unexplainable reasons. For most people, depression is caused by multiple factors, like those listed below:
Irrespective of the specific causes, there are three dynamics that not only contribute to depression but make it difficult to escape. Understanding these three factors will help you know what it is like to be depressed and also frame the most important work to loosen its grip.
First, is negative and distorted thinking. Depression is not so much a disorder of mood but of perception. People who are depressed view the world through a negative filter that influences everything they see, feel and do. This filter originates in the limbic system of the brain, which evolved to protect us from the threats and dangers of life but also robs us of hope, optimism and confidence. Negative thinking colors everything and makes it difficult to enjoy life. Challenging this distorted thinking is perhaps the most important and effective treatment of depression.
Second, the emotions of depression are addictive. Our bodies literally memorize such hormonal or feeling states as sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and self-distain. Although we hate these feelings, they become so powerful that it is difficult for the conscious mind to override them. They become default emotional states which crowd out more pleasant emotions. Overcoming depression has much to do with putting ourselves in new feeling states, incompatible with the feelings of depression.
Third, people who are depressed are trapped in a catch 22. They need to take action to overcome their state and yet they lack motivation. They feel fatigued, low energy and a loss of interest in life and so have a difficult time mustering up the motivation to do what they need to do to feel better. And yet, doing something different is exactly what the doctor ordered. They must act in new ways to feel better.
So, notice the pattern that I’m describing. Distorted thinking, negative, memorized feelings and inaction not only characterize depression but make it difficult to overcome. So many people like Margaret (opening paragraph) feel burdened by life and yet quite powerless to free themselves from the clutches of depression.
But there is so much hope. In my next article, I’ll teach you some powerful strategies to both avoid and overcome depression. The strategies get at the heart of these three patterns and are essential to feeling and doing better.
My purpose is to teach you strategies to replace negative patterns with a positive state of mind from which you can achieve your greatest desires and live a joyful and abundant life.
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"Thank you does not express the emotion I feel when I think of you! You have taught me so much and I live you and thank you for all you have done for me and my family. Thanks for the love and guidance when I thought I was lost. Thanks for validating my feelings and supporting me in my life."
Linda Hatch
As always you put into words exactly how I’m feeling. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in my current state of existence. I look forward to your next article. Thank you
Hi Shelly. I’m glad the article spoke to you. Hopefully, you can find some answers to your current state and begin to feel better.
[…] my last blog I talked about depression, its nature, symptoms and causes. In this post, I am presenting strategies to overcome […]
Thanks for the great blog post. The list of three reasons “dynamics” that keep us trapped in depression really spoke to me.
After 40 years, I am finally facing my depression.
I am bookmarking your article. Very encouraging information.
You are welcome, Joel. These dynamics, which you’re referring to, are big and get a good grip on us. Probably the most important thing we can do to loosen their grip is to be aware of them. I’m glad to hear you’re facing your depression and I wish you all the best.
[…] today, I came across Dr. Roger K. Allen’s article, about Understanding Depression. I encourage you to click over and read it. In the article, he shares many things that make me feel better about myself and my living with […]
Thank you so much for inviting me to your page, Roger. Your information is very helpful at this time for me as I have a grandson whose mother died almost two years ago and has been on a downward spiral since then. I hope to be able to help him as well as other friends that I can see are struggling with this very real disease as I follow your writings and read posts. I have always been impressed with your knowledge, kindnesses to others and the logic of your words.
Thank you, Marlene. I am sorry for your loss and I hope you can be helpful to your grandson. It is hard to watch people around us suffer.
This blog helps us to know about Depression
Wow! Such an amazing piece. Thanks very much for sharing this to the world. Depression as we all know is the root cause of all social ills.
Amazing. What a great blog post. Thanks very much for sharing this awesome article
Today, I came across Dr. Roger K. Allen’s article, about Understanding Depression. I encourage you to click over and read it. In the article, he shares many things that make me feel better about myself and my living with depresion.
Roger, thanks so much for this article. I got a referer from a friend.
Hi Eden. You are welcome. I’m glad you liked it.
super information very helpful
I’m glad. Thanks.
super information very helpful