6 Reasons Why Depression Is a Serious Illness

Depression is a serious mental health issue. It is not something that you can simply tell yourself to get over, nor is it something to be ignored. The truth is, depression is a serious illness and it should be treated as such. It is no different than any physical illness. No one in their right mind would tell someone to get over cancer, yet many people display this attitude about depression on a daily basis. Below are six reasons why depression is a serious illness that should be dealt with by psychologists in Brisbane City or other mental health professionals as soon as possible.

Depression Causes You to Lose Interest in the Things You Love

Depression can be a vicious cycle. It causes you to lose interest in the things that once brought you a great deal of joy. The resulting lack of participation in things you once loved can make you feel even more depressed. That in turn causes you to be even more disengaged with the things around you. Before you know it, you can be so deep in your depression that you feel like there is scarcely a way out. Unfortunately, this can go on for some time until something happens to break the cycle. In a best-case scenario, that something comes in the form of qualified mental health professionals that you can work with in order to successfully deal with your depression. Finding a therapist for depression will work best in order to successfully deal with your depression.

You Tend to Isolate Yourself

When you’re depressed, you don’t usually feel like talking to anyone. You may even distance yourself from those closest to you. This not only wreaks havoc on your personal relationships but also puts you in a situation where you’re completely alone with your thoughts. Anyone who has ever suffered from a significant bout of depression will tell you that this is the last thing you want to do. Being alone with your thoughts can make the situation much worse, which only serves to make you want to isolate yourself even more.

It Affects Your Performance at Work

Even the most dedicated individuals might find it hard to stay focused when they’re extremely depressed. For some, work provides a welcome respite where they can stop thinking about things and focus on something else for a number of hours. However, it’s important to remember that even when you’re trying your best to stay in the moment and do your best, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to maintain that level of performance when you’re so depressed that you’re struggling just to get out of bed. Sooner or later, that depression is likely to have a negative impact on your performance at work.

Depression Can Cause Physical Symptoms

Depression is not just a mental health issue. It can cause very real physical symptoms like severe pain, heart palpitations, and digestive issues. In addition, depression that is severe or chronic in nature can do a real number on your physical health by routinely increasing the levels of adrenaline and cortisol released into the bloodstream. This in turn stresses the cardiovascular system by raising blood pressure and increasing heart rate. Over time, this can lead to a number of issues with your cardiovascular health, making it more likely for you to experience a stroke, heart attack, and other issues related to heart health. It also wreaks havoc on your immune system, making it easier for you to get sick.

It Can Lead to Issues With Addiction

When you’re depressed, you simply want those feelings to go away. It doesn’t matter if you smoke, drink, or take drugs, you’re likely to do more of it when you’re depressed. Even if you don’t currently do any of those things, it’s more likely that you will be open to doing them when you’re feeling depressed. This is especially true if you think that doing so can reduce those feelings. To make matters even worse, you’re more likely to do it again if you find that any of these habits make you feel better, even for a short period of time. The problem is that none of these things help in the long-term. In fact, they’re likely to make your depression worse in the long run. Furthermore, they all come with the potential to cause physical and mental health issues of their own

Suicide Is a Real Concern

In a worst-case scenario, depression can sometimes cause people to feel like there is simply no way out. For those who feel like they don’t have anywhere to turn, the unfortunate truth is that they sometimes decide to commit suicide. Some do it because they can’t take the pain associated with constant and severe depression any longer. This is a tragic outcome and one that can potentially be avoided with the right help.

Please remember that even on your worst days, there is a way out of your depression. You don’t have to isolate yourself, turn to drugs and alcohol or think of committing suicide. There is real help available. By speaking with qualified mental health professionals, you can find a way out of the darkness associated with depression and begin to reclaim control of your life. In fact, you owe it to yourself and the people you love. Please don’t hesitate. Decide to talk to someone today.