More than low mood:Could it be depression?

Take the first step: check in with yourself today

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Anonymous
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What is depression?

Depression is a common mental health condition that causes people to experience depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.

Depression is not a sign of personal weakness, failure, or laziness. It is not caused by possession of a spiritual force, it is not contagious, or a sign that someone is going crazy. It is a complex health condition caused by social and biological factors.

In pictures

1 in 10 Malaysians experience depression.

Women are 50% more likely to experience depression than men.

Around 20% of Malaysian teens experience depression.

There is a 4-year delay before people get help for depression. You don’t have to wait.

Around 10 Malaysians end their own lives every day. You can talk to someone now.

What to look for

Feeling low, irritable or miserable
Not enjoying your usual activities
Lasting two weeks or more
Changes in how you behave, feel in your body, and see yourself

The clearest indicators of depression are feeling low, irritable, miserable, and/or not enjoying or being interested in usual activities for two weeks or more. This low mood and/or loss of interest often leads to changes in behaviours, one’s physical state, and the way a person sees themselves and the world.

Myths and facts

Myth“Antidepressants are addictive.”

Fact

Antidepressants can be stopped. However, you need to do it gradually to minimise discomfort.

Read more “Antidepressants are addictive.”

Many people may not want to take antidepressants because they are concerned that the medication is addictive and lifelong.

In fact, depending on your history of depression, antidepressants may be recommended for only 6 months to 2 years more after you start feeling better to prevent a relapse.

The recommended treatment for moderate to severe depression is a combination of both psychotherapy and medication to significantly improve recovery and prevent relapse. In fact, psychotherapy itself is as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression!

Myth“Of all the alternative and lifestyle treatments for depression, vitamins are likely to be the most helpful.”

Fact

Unfortunately, vitamins have not been shown to improve mood.

Read more “Of all the alternative and lifestyle treatments for depression, vitamins are likely to be the most helpful.”

Other than medication and psychotherapy, there are lifestyle changes that you can make to help you feel better.

It is back to the basics: Rest, Eat, Activity and Love (REAL).

Rest: Sleep 7 to 9 hours a day.
Eat: Have a diet of good nutritious food with a high intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fish.
Activity: Exercise 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week.
Love: Surround yourself with people who care for you and can support you during the good and bad times.

Myth“Most people with depression need to be hospitalised.”

Fact

Most treatments for depression take place outside of the hospital.

Read more “Most people with depression need to be hospitalised.”

Only a small percentage of people with depression need to be hospitalised, which may include having severe depression that needs more intensive care or having other mental health conditions that need urgent treatment.

Causes

What causes depression? The simple answer is that the causes of depression are different for everyone. There are many factors which can cause someone to experience depression and often a combination of things lead to depression. However, the causes of depression can generally be split into two main categories:

Those which are internal to the person (such as biological factors and negative thinking styles)
Those which are external to the person (such as a stressful work environment, or interpersonal conflict)

Impact

161,574 healthy life years lost to depression a year.

RM 4,000,000 is the cost of depression in Malaysia every year.

Common types

It’s normal to feel down once in a while, but if you’re sad most of the time and it affects your daily life, you may have clinical depression. It’s a condition you can treat with medicine, talking to a therapist, and changes to your lifestyle.

Persistent depressive disorder

Some people may experience a more chronic form of depression called persistent depressive disorder (also known as dysthymia). The depressed mood lasts most of the day, for more days than not, for at least 2 years for adults and at least 1 year for children and adolescents.

Major depressive disorder

You may hear your doctor mention that you have “major depressive disorder”. This is the most common form of depression and is characterised by feeling depressed and/or loss of interest or pleasure, lasting most of the day, for most days for at least two weeks.

Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents

Depression can happen at any age. The prevalence rate of depression tends to be low in younger children, but increases significantly in adolescents. While depressive symptoms are often similar in children and adults, some children and adolescents may report feeling very irritable instead of sadness when depressed.

Peripartum depression

About 3-6% of women experience symptoms of major depression during pregnancy or in the four weeks following delivery. This is known as major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. Many women with peripartum depression also experience severe anxiety and panic attacks.

Looking for ongoing support?

Relate offers online psychotherapy at affordable rates to Malaysian residents.

Need to talk to someone now?

If you are in distress or thinking about harming yourself, please reach out today. These lines are free and confidential.

In an emergency, call 999.