Myths and Facts About Depression
                     MYTHS AND 
FACTS ABOUT 
DEPRESSION
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
• Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be 
described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that 
interfere with a person’s everyday activities.
Source: www.healthline.com
CONDITIONS DUE TO DEPRESSION
• Conditions that can get worse due to depression 
include:
– arthritis
– asthma
– cardiovascular disease
– cancer
– diabetes
– obesity
Source: www.healthline.com
DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS
• Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. 
Some affect your mood, and others affect your body. 
Symptoms may also be ongoing, or come and go.
Source: www.healthline.com
SYMPTOMS IN MEN
• Mood, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, 
anxiousness, restlessness
• Emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, 
hopeless
• Behavior, such as loss of interest, no longer finding 
pleasure in favorite activities, feeling tired easily, 
thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, 
engaging in high-risk activities
Source: www.healthline.com
SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN
• Mood, such as irritability
• Emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, 
anxious or hopeless
• Cognitive abilities, such as thinking or talking more 
slowly
• Sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping through the 
night, waking early, sleeping too much
Source: www.healthline.com
SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN
• Mood, such as irritability, anger, mood swings, crying
• Emotional well-being, such as feelings of 
incompetence
• Cognitive abilities, such as difficulty concentrating, 
decline in school performance, changes in grades
• Sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping 
too much
• Physical well-being, such as loss of energy, digestive 
problems, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain
Source: www.healthline.com
DEPRESSION CAUSES
• Common causes include:
– Family history. You’re at a higher risk for developing 
depression if you have a family history of depression or 
another mood disorder.
– Early childhood trauma. Some events affect the way your 
body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
Source: www.healthline.com
DIAGNOSIS
• Depending on the severity and pattern of depressive 
episodes over time, health-care providers may offer 
psychological treatments such as behavioural 
activation, cognitive behavioural therapy and 
interpersonal psychotherapy, and/or antidepressant 
medication such as selective serotonin reuptake 
inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
Source: www.who.int
TREATMENT
• You may successfully manage symptoms with one 
form of treatment, or you may find that a combination 
of treatments works best.
• It’s common to combine medical treatments and 
lifestyle therapies.
Source: www.healthline.com
TREATMENT CONT.
• Medications
• Psychotherapy
• Light therapy
• Exercise
• Avoid alcohol and drugs
• Take care of yourself
Source: www.healthline.com