What is Depression?

Feeling sad is a normal and common emotion that everyone experiences from time to time in response to things that happen in our lives. It is a natural response to loss, disappointment, or stressful situations. Depression, on the other hand, is a mental health disorder that involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities that a person used to enjoy. These feelings may not be related to any specific event or situation, and they can persist for weeks, months, or even years. In depression, the feelings of sadness and hopelessness are more intense, pervasive, and long-lasting than in normal sadness. Additionally, depression can cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating or making decisions.

In children and youth, a depressed mood may be replaced by an irritable mood, so youth may appear oppositional, easily frustrated, or angry.  This can make depression difficult to recognize in youth.

Symptoms of Depression:

The symptoms (note: you do not need all of these for a diagnosis) of depression include:   

• Feeling sad throughout the day, nearly everyday (may appear tearful)
• Feeling worthless, helpless, hopeless
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Change in appetite or weight (+ or -)
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Loss of interest in or enjoyment from activities one used to enjoy
• Avoiding others
• Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
• Thoughts of death or suicide (click here for more information on suicide prevention)
• Feelings of irritability
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Aches and pains (such as headaches, stomach pain, joint pain, or other pains)
• Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down

​Depression warrants professional support when it begins interfering with different areas of one's life (e.g., school, family, friends, work, or connecting to the community):

• At home, you may become more withdrawn, quite, or angry. 
• At school, your grades or schoolwork may suffer, you might start missing classes, or you may become argumentative in the classroom. 
• In regards to peer relationships, you might stop or reduce spending time with your friends, stop engaging in extracurricular activities, and spend more time on the computer.​

Does Depression Get Better?

Yes, things can get better. The Mood Disorders Society of Canada reports that 80% of people respond well to treatment for depression. Unfortunately, about 90% of people never seek treatment for their depression, even though a lot of their suffering could be alleviated.

Treatment for Depression

Treatment for depression can vary depending on the severity, the individual preferences, and other mental health issues the person is experiencing. We often use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to treat depression because there is extensive research evidence indicating that CBT is an effective treatment for depression. This often involves about 12 sessions of individual therapy, that focuses on the following key components of CBT:

1. Identifying unhelpful thoughts: we help you or your teen identify unhelpful, self-defeating thought patterns that are contributing to your symptoms of depression. These may include thoughts like "I'm a failure" or "nothing ever goes right for me".
2. Challenging unhelpful thoughts: once unhelpful thinking patterns have been identified, we help you or your teen challenge these thinking styles by examining the evidence for and against the thoughts or by helping you shift your internal self-talk to something more supportive and realistic.
3. Behavioral activation: an important component of CBT for depression, involves a focus on increasing positive activities and behaviors that can help improve mood and reduce isolation. We will work with you or your teen to develop a realistic plan for engaging in pleasurable or rewarding activities.
4. Problem-solving: we may also work on developing problem-solving skills if there are specific challenges that need to be addressed. 

Getting a Physical Exam When Experiencing Symptoms of Depression

It is important to rule out potential medical causes of your symptoms of depression as depression can mimic or overlap with numerous medical conditions, including:

• Hypothyroidism
• Chronic pain
• Sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia or sleep apnea can disrupt normal sleep patterns, leading to fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating)
• Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., deficiencies in vitamin B12 or vitamin D, can lead to fatigue, low mood, and difficulty concentrating)
• Chronic illness (e.g., diabetes)

It is important to have a physical exam to rule out a physical cause of the symptoms that you are experiencing.

Resources for Depression

• Skills workbook for depression. This workbook was created through the collaboration of Simon Fraser University and BC Mental Health Services and Addiction. It provides self-help strategies to manage depression.
  • Adult workbook:  Antidepressant Skills Workbook
  • Youth workbook: Antidepressant Skills for Teens 
• Interactive skills workbook for depression: the MoodGYM training program teaches cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) skills for depression.
• Here to Help BC provides info sheets and personal stories about depression. They also provide tips and self-tests to help you understand a number of different mental health problems.
• ​Mood Disorders Association of BC provides resources and information on mood disorders as well as information on support groups around BC.
• Mood Disorders Society of Canada provides advocacy, resources, and information on mood disorders.  They also work to raise awareness about mood disorders and run numerous anti-stigma campaigns.
• Defeat Depression provides information and works to reduce stigma for people impacted by depression or other mood disorders.​
• Canadian Mental Health Association provides information and links to community resources for all mental health issues.​

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