Depression is a serious condition that could lead to suicide or a severe reduction in quality of life. Too often, people confuse feeling sad with depression, but this condition does not always produce sadness. Not everyone experiences the same signs of depression, and this condition differs from a temporary depressed mood. If you feel concerned about depression in yourself or a loved one, arm yourself with knowledge about its symptoms and how to get help. You could save a life.

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mental illness that ranks among the most common in the United States. This condition seriously affects your mood, how you think and feel physically. While there are many types of depression, all share the same symptoms. To receive a diagnosis, you must suffer from those symptoms for at least two weeks. Forms of depression include:

• Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): People with this condition have chronic depression that lasts for two years or more. They may not know what not feeling depressed is like because the depression is their normal state.

• Postpartum depression: After giving birth, women may experience depression that makes caring for themselves and their new baby difficult.

• Psychotic depression: When false beliefs, called delusions, or hallucinating accompany depression, the person has a psychotic form of the condition.

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Changes in light levels during the fall and winter can cause depression symptoms that ease in the spring.

Other types of depression exist based on additional factors and how long you have experienced symptoms. Some of these conditions have depressive episodes while a consistent depressed mood accompanies other forms. A recovery coach in a depression treatment program can help you to battle the form of depression you may have.

What Are Common Signs of Depression?

Signs of depression accompany all forms of the condition during depressive episodes. If you identify with any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks, contact your doctor or a recovery center to find out more about treatment. Symptoms may include any of the following:

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Change in appetite

• Chronic physical problems with no other causes (stomach upset or aches and pains)

• Feeling empty or sad

• Loss of motivation

• Restlessness or reduced energy

• Thoughts of worthlessness or hopelessness

• Suicidal thoughts

• Problems with concentration

You may not experience all of these signs of depression. In fact, two people with depression could show completely opposite signs of the condition. For example, one person could have trouble staying asleep at night, feel restless during the day, and lose weight from a lack of appetite. Another person may sleep too much, have no energy during the day, and gain weight from feeling constantly hungry. Both people have depression but very different ways of showing their condition. Because signs of depression are so hard to spot, you need a professional evaluation to see if you have this condition.

How Do Depression and Addiction Affect Each Other?

Addictions to drugs or alcohol often affect mental health. Conversely, conditions such as depression could cause addictions from the sufferers medicating themselves. When addiction and depression occur simultaneously, doctors refer to it as a dual diagnosis. Not all treatment facilities offer programs for dual diagnosis due to the difficulty of addressing both the mental health problems and the addiction. If you suffer from both depression and an addiction, though, you will need such a program to fully recover.

How You Can Get Help for Depression

Because depression and addiction affect both the body and mind, at Acqua Recovery Center, we take a holistic approach to recovery. We use nutrition as part of our treatment program along with therapy and other trusted methods for recovery, and all our clients and patients get a recovery coach upon admission. Addiction and depression can steal your drive to fully live your life. If you suffer from either, break free from the chains these conditions have put on you. Contact Acqua Recovery if you need depression treatment in Utah or a dual diagnosis program in Salt Lake City.