You may have heard that more people have depression during the holidays because, for some, it can be a difficult time of year, plagued by loneliness, regrets and sadness. However, you might be surprised to know this isn’t really the case.
Dr. Adeola Adelayo, a practicing psychiatrist withBanner Behavioral Health Hospitalin Scottsdale, Ariz., explains there is a difference between what some call the blues and full-blown depression.
“The hallmark of depression is dysfunction,” Dr. Adelayo said. “The major difference is there isn’t a lot of dysfunction with the blues. People with depression cannot function normally.”
To the myth that depression is more common during the holidays, Dr. Adelayo said the holidays may be a factor in the depression, but it’s not the cause. In fact, more people are diagnosed with depression during the summer months than during winter.
Additionally, theAnnenberg Public Policy Center’s researchshows this is true ofsuiciderates as well. The months of November and December of 2015 had the lowest number of suicides per day for the year.
So, to understand whether it’s a major depressive episode or “just the blues,” it helps to understand more about depression.
What is depression?
Again, dysfunction plays a huge role into whether someone is battling depression or a bout of the blues. With the blues, you may be able to go about your day-to-day activities, but with depression, it’s very difficult.
But, depression has another distinguishing factor.
“It’s most important to know that depression is a medical condition,” Dr. Adelayo said. “It's not something caused by the person and is not something that can be treated simply by being strong.”
As with other medical conditions, you can expect to find common symptoms which affect biological, psychological and social aspects of a person’s life.
Biological symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Poor sleep
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of concentration
Psychological symptoms:
- An overwhelming sadness or emptiness
- Feeling Hopeless or helpless
- Guilt
- Increased anxiety
Social symptoms:
- Not doing well at work
- Not finding joy in your hobbies
- Not wanting to spend time with friends or family
So, how is depression diagnosed? A doctor or therapist will talk to the patient, asking a range of questions to see if the patient lists any of the symptoms. If the patient lists four or more and the person is not functioning well in major aspects of their lives, the doctor or therapist will likely diagnose depression.
Because depression affects so many aspects of a person’s life, pinpointing one precise cause can be difficult, explains Dr. Adelayo.
“It can be biological where the person has low brain chemicals such as serotonin, Norepinephrine or Dopamine,” Dr. Adelayo said. “It can be environmentally driven, psychological or social. It can be truly anything, and someone with a family history or predisposition is more vulnerable.”
When to worry
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, you should be concerned. Dr. Adelayo suggests if your fatigue is more than usual, you’re losing interest in things, making mistakes at work and want to isolate yourself, you should see a health professional to discuss it. Symptoms can be mild to severe.
If you are worried about a friend or loved one, take note of some of their actions. Are they not fulfilling life’s expectations—like skipping out of work or classes frequently? Are they making unusual statements or saying things out of the ordinary? Does something just seem off? If you can answer yes to any of these, your friend or loved one may need some help.
Dr. Adelayo points out there is a very simple thing you can do to help a friend who may be suffering from depression.
“The easiest and most profound thing to do is to talk to them,” Dr. Adelayo said. “When I talk to my patients, the first thing I ask is ‘Have your friends mentioned anything?’”
Remember, it doesn’t take much, but being authentic goes a long way.
Treatment options
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with depression, not all is lost. There are plenty of treatment options available, depending on how the depression presents itself.
If biological symptoms are present, Dr. Adelayo says a medication may be in order, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Social symptoms can be helped by a decreased workload or cut back on the number of classes you are taking. For psychological symptoms, Dr. Adelayo says therapy or counseling can be a big help.
Dr. Adelayo also stresses that anything that causes dysfunction and major depressive episodes need to be treated. Her final piece of advice goes for any time of year, but it certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly during holidays.
“Continue to make human connections. Nothing beats a human connection,” Dr. Adelayo said. “Reach out. Especially during the holidays. We all know who our vulnerable friends are. Reach out and spend time with them, so they know that people care.”
