Depression causes a person to experience:

• depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty)
• loss of pleasure or interest in activities
• for most of the day, nearly every day
• for at least two weeks or more.
• Other common symptoms reported include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness about the future, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, and lack of motivation to perform daily tasks.

It is vastly different from the temporary mood fluctuations in response to incoming life challenges.

• “It’s just a phase.”
• “You just need to be more positive.”
• “It is just in your head.”

Here are some common feedbacks received by patients prior to seeking professional psychiatric help due to social discrimination and lack of empathy. Chronic depression when left untreated, can lead to suicide or attempts on suicide.

Is there treatment for depression?

• Your attending physician might require a comprehensive blood test with thyroid hormone assessment to identify causes or complications from your deteriorating mental health.
• Occasionally, brain imaging such as CT or MRI is required to exclude organic lesions which can cause altered behavioural changes in patients.
• Lastly depending on the age and severity, psychotherapy and medication may also be considered.