The Impact of Depression

Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a mental illness that affects over 7 million adults in the U.S. alone. Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or race. While depression is most known for symptoms like a depressed mood, loss of interest in normal activities, and decreased energy it can affect much more than that. In some scenarios, depression can lead to suicidal ideation or self-harm.

Clearly, the impacts of depression can affect every area of your life including your family and relations in various ways. It’s a serious mental illness that often requires treatment, such as medication and therapy. However, depression is not something you should deal with alone. The first step to treatment is understanding its impact on your life personally and then reaching out for the appropriate help. Here’s what you need to know about the impact of depression and how you can get help:

The Impact of Depression on your life

The impact of depression not only affects your mood but also your physical health. Common health problems associated with depression include:

• Insomnia

• Headaches

• Fatigues

• Chronic pain

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Inflammation

• Loss of libido

• Stomach problems

• Increased risk of heart disease

• Weight gain or weight loss

These effects of depression are caused by changes in your brain that affect your body’s systems. In some cases, abnormal brain functioning can change your pain threshold, making you more sensitive to pain.

Depression has been shown to increase your risk of illness since it can affect your immune system. Furthermore, having depression is shown to increase your cost of care in many aspects of healthcare. So, not only do you have more health problems when you suffer from depression, but you also typically pay more for care.

The Impact of Depression on Your Family

Depression is not a vacuum. It affects your parents, children, and relatives, as well as your significant other (more on this in the next section). Depression can be difficult to spot, so your loved ones might not know that you are suffering from depression until you express that to them.

Symptoms of depression such as canceling plans, keeping a messy room, skipping meals, and spending all day in bed can be confusing to family members if they don’t understand what you’re going through. You might feel distant from your family until the time comes where you feel comfortable sharing about your depression with them.

However, families can also offer great support to those suffering from depression. Family-based intervention has been shown to be effective in reducing mood disorders.

The Impact of Depression on Your Relationships

Depression can strain any relationship, especially romantic ones. It can be difficult to date and maintain strong relationships. For instance, those with depression may struggle to communicate how they feel, yet communication is a critical part of healthy relationships. Your loved one may feel drained trying to understand you while looking after household chores or children.

Furthermore, approximately half of those who suffer from depression have problems with sex. This is typically due to a decrease or loss of libido, a common symptom of depression. This can cause a huge strain on your relationships, and it’s not easy to sort out alone. Reaching out for outside help may be the best option for your relationship.

Find Resources and Support

You shouldn’t have to suffer from the impacts of depression alone. Need help? Book a call with us today to learn about our current depression studies.