Globally, 5% of adults suffer from depression. That is millions and millions of people who are dealing with depression on a daily basis. People of color are more likely to experience depression in their lifetime than white people, too.
If you are reading this article, you may be one of them. Battling depression is not an easy road, especially if you feel that you are going through it alone.
Here are a few things you should know about depression – whether you have symptoms of depression or not.
Related: Depression Counseling & Therapy Services
1. It’s Okay to Ask for Help
In fact, it is actually encouraged to ask for help if you are feeling down or dealing with depression. As a person of color, you may feel more of a stigma around depression, though.
However, depression is a treatable illness, which means asking for help will actually do you good! Although you may feel embarrassed, there is no need to be – especially when so many people are going through it, too.
When you ask for help, you could start going to therapy, start taking medication, or learn more coping mechanisms to help you with your overall wellness.
2. Different Factors Can Cause Depression
Depression doesn’t happen because of one thing.
There are many different causes of depression that can make someone start feeling the symptoms over time. The different causes are:
- Genetics
- Hormones
- Seasonal changes like shorter days and less sun
- Substance abuse
- Chronic stress and trauma
Being depressed could be a culmination of a few of these factors, or it could just be one. And sometimes, there is not always an immediate cause for depression that you can pinpoint.
3. Depression Is Not Simply Sadness
While you may have feelings of sadness from time to time, that doesn’t not translate directly to depression. Depression has more symptoms, such as the following:
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty with concentration
- Feeling anxious
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling like you have an “empty” mood
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
Any of these could be symptoms of depression, especially if they last for a couple of weeks or months at a time.
4. Depression Is Real
If you feel that you are dealing with depression but are a fraud, many people feel that way. However, depression is a very real illness.
There are different levels of hormones in someone who is depressed than in someone who is not. Your levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin may be off.
Depression is more than just a feeling – it is an illness that should be treated as such.
Dealing With Depression
Dealing with depression can be scary and overwhelming at times. But knowing you have access to help and to a community can help.
At Honor Your Emotions, we want to make sure that you are getting the help you need. We offer depression therapy & counseling online.
If you choose to reach out, we will give you an initial assessment to fill out. From there, we will do some therapeutic work to help you overcome your illness.
If you are ready for help, contact us right away to get the help you deserve!
Honor Your Emotions provides professional counseling & therapy in Dublin, CA and serves the East Bay Area including Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore and Danville.
More Posts About Anxiety & Depression:
