{"id":1005,"date":"2013-03-07T05:00:41","date_gmt":"2013-03-07T05:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandaretreats.com\/blog\/?p=1005"},"modified":"2013-04-06T10:08:55","modified_gmt":"2013-04-06T10:08:55","slug":"is-depression-an-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandaretreats.com\/blog\/archives\/1005","title":{"rendered":"Is Depression an illness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"6a5180fa-efc3-4b38-96e2-79374ae27a3c\"<\/a>Depression has become a catch-all diagnosis that<\/a> some respected researchers say covers many other emotional and psychological conditions like anxiety, stress, and the unhappiness from distressing life events like divorce and bereavement.<\/p>\n

Busy and over-stretched doctors simply don\u2019t have the time to make a thorough diagnosis \u2013 despite their best intentions \u2013 and giving a prescription has frequently seemed the best solution.<\/p>\n

With depression being the number one illness across the whole world, there are a huge number of people out there who need to get the right help for them.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve suffered from depression you\u2019ll know how it seeps into every aspect of your life.<\/p>\n

The signs and symptoms include:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2022 First and foremost a pervading feeling that you\u2019re “blue”, down, feel despair, are sad, not yourself, low in spirits \u2013 essentially depressed.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Irritable and short-tempered for apparently no reason.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Have a lack enthusiasm for the things you once enjoyed.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Find it very hard to sleep or are sleeping too much.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Can\u2019t get motivated for things like work and day-to-day chores.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Loss of interest in sex.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Loss of appetite or wanting to eat more.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Feeling hopeless and also helpless.<\/p>\n

\u2022 You might also stop looking after yourself properly.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Unexpected feelings of anger.<\/p>\n

\u2022 You may feel guilty and\/or ashamed that you have no “obvious reason” to feel depressed.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Easily stressed out \u2013 you may find things that used to be easy now seem difficult.<\/p>\n

\u2022 You might have suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u2022 You might find yourself turning to alcohol or drugs to feel better, which is not the solution.<\/p>\n

\u2022 And you may notice your own unique symptoms.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve felt any of these symptoms for longer than two weeks then that should be a wake-up call to try and determine whether or not you have depression.<\/p>\n

Where Does Depression Come From?<\/b><\/p>\n

Although every person\u2019s set of symptoms and experience of depression is unique there are a few major causes, these are:<\/p>\n