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Ravindran AV, et al. Symptoms of a depressive episode can persist for several weeks or months at a time. Less commonly, depressive episodes last for over a year. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America , approximately Read on to learn more about the symptoms of a depressive episode and 12 tips for coping with one. Symptoms of a depressive episode are more extreme than normal periods of low mood and may include:.
For a diagnosis of depression , people must experience several of these symptoms for most of the day, almost every day, for at least 2 weeks. Tackling depression as soon as symptoms develop can help people recover more quickly.
Even those who have experienced depression for a long time might find that making changes to the way they think and behave improves their mood. Keeping track of moods and symptoms might help a person understand what triggers a depressive episode. Spotting the signs of depression early on may help them avoid a full-blown depressive episode. Use a diary to log important events, changes to daily routines, and moods.
Rate moods on a scale of 1 to 10 to help identify which events or activities cause specific responses. See a doctor if symptoms persist for 14 days or more. Identifying the onset of a depressive episode can be scary. Feeling panicked or anxious is an understandable reaction to the initial symptoms of depression. However, these reactions may contribute to low mood and worsen other symptoms, such as loss of appetite and disrupted sleep.
Instead, focus on staying calm. Remember that depression is treatable and the feelings will not last forever. Anyone who has experienced depressive episodes before should remind themselves that they can overcome these feelings again. They should focus on their strengths and on what they have learned from previous depressive episodes. Self-help techniques, such as meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises can help a person learn to look at problems in a different way and promote a sense of calmness.
Self-help books and phone and online counseling courses are available. Learning more about depression can help people deal with the condition. Depression is a widespread and genuine mental health disorder. It is not a sign of weakness or a personal shortcoming. Accepting that a depressive episode may occur from time to time might help people deal with it when it does.
Remember, it is possible to manage symptoms with treatments, such as lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy. If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:.
Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many. The severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness. Symptoms may also vary depending on the stage of the illness. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.
Current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression can happen at any age, but often begins in adulthood. Depression is now recognized as occurring in children and adolescents, although it sometimes presents with more prominent irritability than low mood. Many chronic mood and anxiety disorders in adults begin as high levels of anxiety in children. These conditions are often worse when depression is present.
Sometimes medications taken for these physical illnesses may cause side effects that contribute to depression. A doctor experienced in treating these complicated illnesses can help work out the best treatment strategy. Depression, even the most severe cases, can be treated. The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is. Depression is usually treated with medications , psychotherapy , or a combination of the two. If these treatments do not reduce symptoms, electroconvulsive therapy ECT and other brain stimulation therapies may be options to explore.
Quick Tip: No two people are affected the same way by depression and there is no "one-size-fits-all" for treatment. It may take some trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you. Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress. You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects.
A medication that has helped you or a close family member in the past will often be considered. Antidepressants take time — usually 2 to 4 weeks — to work, and often, symptoms such as sleep, appetite, and concentration problems improve before mood lifts, so it is important to give medication a chance before reaching a conclusion about its effectiveness.
If you begin taking antidepressants, do not stop taking them without the help of a doctor. Sometimes people taking antidepressants feel better and then stop taking the medication on their own, and the depression returns.
When you and your doctor have decided it is time to stop the medication, usually after a course of 6 to 12 months, the doctor will help you slowly and safely decrease your dose. Stopping them abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Please Note: In some cases, children, teenagers, and young adults under 25 may experience an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed.
For many people though, untreated depression could last months and even years. In fact, seeking the support of a professional often helps symptoms resolve much sooner. Even though there are a few established symptoms of the condition, not everyone experiences them in the same way. For some people, depression symptoms are persistent over the years. For others, symptoms will come and go at times.
Some research suggests that the symptoms of clinical depression can last an average of 10 months if no other mental health conditions are present.
But this is not always the case. Because there are different types of depression, symptom duration varies greatly. For example, a depressive episode caused by mourning might last a few days or weeks and often resolves on its own. Also known as clinical depression, major depressive disorder MDD is what most people refer to when talking about depression. Symptoms of clinical depression include low mood, loss of interest in daily activities, lack of energy, and feelings of low self-worth.
Some people experience clinical depression only once in their life, while others have recurring episodes. If you start treatment soon after you experience the first symptoms, you might be more likely to recover and prevent future episodes.
When your depression symptoms last for 2 years or longer, you are likely to receive a diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder. Sometimes called dysthymia, PDD is a chronic condition that generally involves less severe — but longer-lasting — symptoms than clinical depression. When you live with PDD, you may have low energy levels or feel unmotivated and disengaged from life at times. You may also deal with pessimism and a poor self-image.
Some people with PDD have experienced a major loss, while others experience the condition due to being under chronic stress. Because symptoms are often not as severe as those of other types of depression, they can sometimes go undetected. Health professionals often use a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants to treat PDD. This combination approach may be more successful at reducing the severity of your symptoms than using either treatment independently.
People with perinatal depression may experience feelings of anxiety, sadness, and fatigue that make it hard for them to care for themselves or others.
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