How common is depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting millions of people each and every year. According to data from the National Comorbidity Survey, depression impacts around seventeen percent of Americans at some point in their lifetime.

Depression can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. With that said, certain factors, such as female gender or a family history, may increase someone’s risk for developing depression.

Depression vs. Sadness

Just like happiness, boredom, or excitement, sadness is a normal emotion and a part of the human experience. Everyone feels sad on occasion, especially when faced with upsetting life events like job loss, divorce, or the death of a loved one. These feelings of sadness are usually temporary, and while they may impact your mood and behavior to some extent, they typically don’t lead to significant disruption in your daily life.

Depression is more than just feeling sad or blue. This serious mental health condition involves a persistent, prolonged depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Depression affects multiple different aspects of your life. Symptoms of depression may impact the way that you eat, sleep, and think.

Depression causes significant distress and limits your ability to function in day to day life. Those who are experiencing depression may struggle to maintain social relationships, stay on top of chores or personal hygiene, or find joy in the usual bright spots of their lives.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression is not a “one size fits all” condition. Each person’s experience with depression will be somewhat different, however, some common symptoms of depression include:

Feelings of sadness, emptiness, worthlessness, or hopelessness

Loss of interest in activities
Changes in appetite and weight
Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Fatigue and low energy
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Irritability or restlessness
Physical symptoms, such as headaches or digestive problems
Thoughts of death or suicide

Depressive Disorders

There are a number of different types of depressive disorders, each characterized by a unique set of symptoms.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

What causes depression?

Depression is a complex condition without one clear cause. Biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors may all play a role.

Dr. Betterly completes a thorough comprehensive psyc hiatric evaluation to identify factors that are relevant to your situation. This allows her to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that is tailored to you as a unique individual. As a physician, Dr. Betterly has in-depth knowledge and understanding of the ways in which our physical health can impact our mental health.

Some potential contributing factors may include:

Biological

Family history and genetics
Neurotransmitter imbalances
Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause)
Medical conditions (i.e. hypothyroidism)

Psychological

Stressful life events (grief, loss, relationship problems, transitions)
Negative thinking patterns
Personality traits

Social

Isolation
Financial stress

Treatment for Depression

Treatments for depression may include prescription medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes.

Dr. Betterly takes a personalized approach to treating depression, developing a treatment plan that considers your unique needs and preferences. As a board-certified psychiatrist, she has extensive experience treating depression.

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Learn more about depression

Dr. Holly Betterly is committed to educating her patients about their mental health, encouraging them to play an active role in their psychiatric care. She empowers her patients by sharing the knowledge and expertise that she has gained through over a decade of training.

She maintains a mental health education blog, Better Together, which features articles on timely topics in psychiatry, as well as answers to your mental health questions- straight from a trusted psychiatrist!

Check out some of Dr. Betterly’s latest articles about depression:

Featured

Taking on the “depression room”

When living with depression, it’s not uncommon to find yourself surrounded by piles of laundry, dirty dishes, and clutter on every surface- what some refer to as a “depression room”. Dr. Betterly explains why depression rooms develop, and how to tackle them.

How does depression impact our physical health?

While we often think of depression in terms of symptoms that impact us in the here and now, research shows that depression may also have long-term health consequences. Dr. Betterly provides insight into how depression can affect our physical health.

Can I take antidepressants during pregnancy?

If you’re struggling with symptoms of depression during pregnancy, you may be wondering whether antidepressants are even an option. Dr. Holly Betterly provides insight into the role of antidepressant medications during pregnancy.

What are the most common mental health conditions?

Mental health conditions are very common, impacting one in five Americans each year. Dr. Betterly summarizes key epidemiological data surrounding the most common psychiatric diagnoses in the United States.

Will my child inherit my mental health condition?

If you’re living with a mental health diagnosis, you may have wondered about whether your children will inherit your condition. Dr. Betterly explains that when it comes to psychiatric disorders, inheritance isn’t so straightforward.

Caffeine and Mental Health: Spilling the Beans

Despite how commonplace coffee drinking has become in our society, it may still come as a surprise that caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. Dr. Betterly spills the beans on how your coffee habit could be impacting your mental health.

How Your Thyroid Could Be Hurting Your Mental Health

You may be familiar with the thyroid’s role in metabolism- but did you know that it can also impact your mental health? Dr. Betterly explains why your thyroid could be to blame for common mental health challenges.

Navigating antidepressants and sexual side effects

Dr. Betterly provides insight into navigating the relationship between antidepressants and sexual dysfunction so that achieving recovery doesn’t have to feel like a trade-off.

How do I know if my antidepressant is working?

How do I know if my antidepressant is working? Dr. Betterly shares some common signs that your antidepressant is actually doing what it is supposed to be doing.

Is my antidepressant causing weight gain?

Is my antidepressant causing weight gain? Dr. Holly Betterly, board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL, weighs in on the complex relationship between depression, antidepressants, and weight.

Depression

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