What is depression?
Depression is a common but serious mental health condition that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness, self-loathing, and loss of interest in activities. It can negatively affect your personal life, including your thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and eating and sleeping habits.
Categorized as a mood disorder, depression affects an estimated 280 million people globally, around 3.8% of the world population, according to WHO estimates.
Depression can affect people of all age groups and genders. However, research shows it is more prevalent in women than men. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), women are twice as likely to develop depression as compared to men. 1 in 8 women experience some form of depression in their lifetime.
Moreover, younger adults (16-29 years) are at a greater risk of depression as compared to older adults, as per research.
What causes depression?
There are numerous probable causes of depression. Identifying the underlying cause of depression is key to its treatment and can help individuals better understand their triggers to overcome them. Following are the common causes of depression:
- Genetics: Depression may be hereditary. If depression runs in your family, it can potentially make you more susceptible to it. However, genetics isn't the only contributing factor to depression. Psychological, physical, and environmental factors can also play a role in its development.
- Hormonal Changes: Hormonal imbalances have also been linked to depression. Changes in estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid hormones can lead to mood disruptions, potentially causing you to feel low or depressed.
- Environmental Factors: The environmental factors that can contribute to depression include maternal stress, bullying, perinatal complications, and traumatic events.
- Psychological Factors: Depression symptoms have also been associated with psychological factors such as grief and loss, pessimism, low self-esteem, negative thoughts, loneliness and isolation, etc.
Symptoms of depression
Depression symptoms can be further categorized into psychological and physical:
Psychological symptoms
Psychological symptoms of depression can include:
- Persistently feeling sad or low
- Loss of motivation
- Hopelessness
- Irritability
- Low self-esteem
- Tearfulness
- Trouble concentrating
- Restlessness
- Suicidal thoughts
Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms of depression can include:
- Lack of energy
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep disturbances
- Weight loss
- Headaches
- Back pains
- Digestive problems
Types of depression
Following are the main types of depression:
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder (MDD), or clinical depression, is one of the most common mental health disorders that can affect anyone. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. Depression counselling Dubai can help lessen MDD symptoms and help you heal.
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), also known as dysthymia, is a form of depression with symptoms less severe than major depression, but it can last longer. If you have persistent depressive disorder, you might experience mild to moderate depression symptoms on most days that do not go away and can last for two years or more.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a serious mental illness that involves extreme shifts in moods from episodes of highs, known as mania, to lows, known as depression. There is no cure for bipolar disorder. Treatments such as therapy and medications can help individuals better manage their symptoms.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a form of depression that mothers may experience after giving birth or during pregnancy. Individuals with PPD may feel sad, hopeless, overly stressed, have difficulty sleeping, and may also find themselves crying frequently with no apparent cause. Postpartum depression can affect your ability to take care of yourself and your baby. It can last for months or even years if not treated.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
During the cold, bleak winter months, when sunlight is scarce and the days are shorter, people tend to feel sad, withdrawn, and depressed. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that people experience during specific seasons, most notably during the fall and winter months.
SAD has symptoms similar to major depression; however, they tend to improve in the spring and summer months. Seasonal affective disorder is similar to winter blues but with more serious symptoms. If you have SAD, depression therapy Dubai and related treatments can be worthwhile.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Women may experience severe depression symptoms, tension, irritability, and extreme mood changes a week or two before their period. This condition is known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD should not be mistaken for PMS (premenstrual syndrome), which presents with similar symptoms but is, however, milder and less severe than PMDD.
What does depression feel like?
Here are some real-life descriptions of what depression feels like:
- "Not wanting to do anything. Not wanting to be anything. Not wanting to be at all."
- "You feel hopeless."
- "Like you're in a black hole of despair."
- "Not being able to sleep, but feeling so tired."
- "Sometimes it feels like the air around you is too heavy to breathe."
- "In a nutshell, apathy and fatigue."
- "It feels like nothing matters."
How do I know if I have depression?
Everyone tends to feel sad at times, but if you are frequently feeling unhappy, depressed, in a low mood, with a diminishing interest in daily activities, you might have depression. To find out if you have depression, you can talk to a therapist or counselor online through Counsel Clinic.
How long does depression last?
Depression affects everyone differently, with varying severities and durations. Clinical depression occurs in episodes that can last weeks to months. The average depressive episode usually lasts around five to seven months. Treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of depression symptoms, leading to shorter, less intense depressive episodes.
Depression treatment Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Counsel Clinic provides depression treatment in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE through affordable online therapy services. Our trained and licensed depression therapists are here to guide you on your way to recovery. Talking about your troubles can greatly help lighten your load and make you less depressed. To start depression therapy Dubai, contact us today.
Depression can be treated through different approaches such as therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of them:
Therapy
Psychotherapy, talk therapy, or simply therapy is an effective approach to depression treatment Dubai, leading to reduced symptoms and better quality of life. It consists of talk sessions with a mental health professional. Your therapist can employ various types of therapies depending on your needs. Some of them are:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a structured and goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that helps identify negative thoughts and behavior patterns and develop coping mechanisms to help you with your mental health challenges. CBT is effective in the treatment of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): IPT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on improving your relationships with others to relieve depression symptoms. IPT involves working with your therapist for 12-16 weeks for the short-term treatment of major depressive disorder. It is a time-limited treatment conducted in 3 phases (beginning, middle, and end).
Medications
A psychiatrist or mental health professional may also prescribe certain medications to manage and reduce the symptoms of depression. These include:
Antidepressants
Antidepressants work by increasing the level of chemicals in your brain known as neurotransmitters. They are further divided into various drug classes, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), for example, paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxetine (Prozac).
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), for instance, amitriptyline (Elavil) and doxepin (Prudoxin)
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
Mood stabilizers
Mood stabilizing medications are typically not the first-line treatment for depression, but they may be prescribed in addition to antidepressants, especially if antidepressants have been ineffective in managing your symptoms. Mood stabilizers help control extreme mood swings and prevent manic and depressive episodes. They are widely used for the management of bipolar disorder. Examples include lamotrigine (Lamictal) and carbamazepine (Tegretol).
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotic medications are used to treat mental disorders that involve psychosis. They are primarily used for the treatment of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia but can also be prescribed for depression and anxiety in case the symptoms are severe or resistant to treatment. Some examples of antipsychotic medications are aripiprazole (Abilify) and risperidone (Risperdal).
Lifestyle modifications
In addition to therapy and medications, individuals with depression can significantly benefit from certain lifestyle modifications. These include:
- Regular exercise: Regular exercise keeps you in shape and is an excellent morale booster. It also keeps your mind and body engaged in something positive, keeping negative thoughts and emotions at bay.
- Healthy diet: A healthy diet nourishes the mind, body, and soul and keeps you going even on bad days. Aim to consume a mix of essential nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Try to incorporate lots of healthy fruits and vegetables in addition to whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean protein, and legumes into your diet.
- Quit smoking: Smoking and vaping are bad habits that can worsen mental health conditions such as depression rather than improve them. Quitting smoking can lead to a better mood as well as reduced anxiety and stress.
- Get adequate sleep: Getting enough sleep is synonymous with good mental and physical health. Try to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each day and limit unhealthy urges like using your phone or drinking caffeinated beverages before bed.
Prevalence of depression in the UAE
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the UAE much like it is worldwide. Several studies on depression prevalence have been conducted in various areas of the UAE including one in Dubai, two in Sharjah, and two in Al Ain. The depression prevalence rates in the UAE according to these studies range from 12.5 to 28.6%. If you are struglling with depression in Dubai, do not hesitate to seek help.
Help for depression in Dubai
Depression is a debilitating condition but it is treatable. At Counsel Clinic, we are simplifying depression counselling through convenient online talk sessions with top therapists in Dubai. Do not ignore the symptoms, start depression therapy in Dubai and reclaim your peace and mental clarity.
Get depression treatment Dubai
At Counsel Clinic, our trained and licensed depression therapists are highly skilled in helping individuals manage depression. We understand that depression affects everyone differently and provide personalized treatment plans based on your specific needs.
Our team is committed to delivering expert care to improve your emotional well-being and quality of life.
Contact us on WhatsApp at +971525609479 to schedule an online therapy session with our depression therapists.
