Depressed But Not Contagious
Hanging around those of us that suffer from depression or bipolar disorder could drive saints crazy. Spouses, significant others and loved ones all know this, but for everyone else out there: mental illness is not contagious! Let me repeat this. It is not like a common cold or the flu; you cannot catch it from constant contact from one of us so-called crazy people.Now my husband of 30+ years may tell you that I drive him nuts, but what long term relationship doesn’t have that? He does get somewhat depressed when I go through a cycle of depression and that is normal as well. Who wouldn’t be depressed when someone you love is depressed and you are watching them go through this cycle and you may feel helpless? This does not mean that they are depressed. It is two completely different things.
One can feel depressed without being depressed and you have to know the signs and symptoms to know the difference. Being informed as to what causes depression is also as important in understanding this complex and difficult mental disorder.
Depression can be caused by the following:
- Genetic – biochemical imbalance in brain
- Heredity
- Medical Conditions – stroke, cancer, etc.
- Situational – divorce, death, job loss, etc
- Medication – side effects
- Substance Abuse – alcohol, drugs
- Diet Deficiencies – some vitamins and minerals can contribute to depression
Also certain people are more at risk than others:
- Females
- Advanced Age
- Lower Socioeconomic Status
- Chronic (long term) Medical Conditions
- Underlying Emotional or Personality Disorders
- Lack of Social Support
- Living Alone
In order to have a doctors’ diagnosis of clinical depression (also called ‘major’ depression), you have to have at least five of the following symptoms, including number 1 or number 2, for at least two weeks:
- Depressed mood (feeling sad or low)
- Loss of interest or pleasure (in activities you normally enjoy)
- Significant appetite or weight loss or gain
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too little or too much)
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation (being restless and jittery, or alternatively, slower than usual)
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Impaired thinking or concentration; indecisiveness
- Suicidal thoughts/thoughts of death.
From the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV)What is different about true depression is that these feelings will last for at least months rather than days. In addition to feeling “blue” all of the time, many other symptoms may occur though not everybody may have any or all of them.
- Losing interest in sex
- Being unable to gain pleasure from activities that normally would be pleasurable
- Losing interest in normal activities, hobbies and everyday life
- Feeling tired all of the time and having no energy
- Difficulty sleeping or waking early in the morning (though some feel that they can’t get out of bed and ‘face the world’)
- Having a poor appetite, no interest in food and losing weight (though some people overeat and put on weight – ‘comfort eating’)
- Finding it difficult to concentrate and think straight
- Feeling restless, tense and anxious
- Being irritable
- Losing self-confidence
- Avoiding other people
Whew, that’s a lot of stuff to remember and watch for now isn’t it? And it’s pretty scary. Very scary since most of us at one time or another can fall into just about any of these categories especially in this day and age with times as tough as they are and everyone wants to give you a magic pill for what ails you.
Just keep in mind that depression isn’t catching, and just because you have the “blues” doesn’t mean you are depressed. But if you have any of the signs and symptoms for longer than a few months, please, see a doctor just to be sure.
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