21 CONSEQUENCES OF DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS - ARTE - 2024

The most frequent and common consequences of suffering from depression are general health problems, somatization, suicide, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, apathy, obsessions, isolation, irritability, insomnia or excessive sleep.

Depression is currently a priority public health problem and its symptoms and effects can be very harmful not only for all those who suffer from it but also for those around them. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) it affects 350 million people around the world.

We say that a person has depression when these feelings interfere in their daily life causing pain both in themselves and in the people around them closest to them. Because of this, people who suffer from it need treatment to improve.

What are the consequences of depression?

Once we have seen the main symptoms of depression, we are going to address the consequences it usually has for people who suffer from it. These will be adjusted to the degree of depression that one has as well as the temperament and personality of the person:

1- Organic problems

People who suffer from it in general may present digestive problems such as ulcers, liver problems, intestinal dysfunctions, carcinogenic manifestations, serious degenerative states, unfortunate infections, allergies, pressure oscillation, aggravation of existing problems and wear, among others.

2- Somatization

Somatization can also occur, which we understand by those bodily symptoms that appear that have their origin in psychological factors.

3- Suicide

Suicide occurs directly or indirectly. In the first case, the person will end her life consciously while in the second, due to the consequences of depression, her life will fade over time.

The consequences that we have shown previously are usually given in the most serious cases of depression, in any case, people who suffer from this degree are not deprived of presenting mental alterations such as the ones presented below:

4- Causes anguish

Being immersed in a true emotional void without the strength to get out of it without help, causes endless anguish in the person.

5- Produces behavioral disturbances

On the other hand, it can also alter the behavior of the person who suffers from it in a negative way, leading him to be more susceptible than normal or even to obsessions.

6- Cheeky reactions

Another consequence is reacting in a strange way to what happens in your day to day. Either in conversations with other people or even in normal situations.

7- It causes emotional, financial and social failures

This may be one of the best known since there are many examples of people who due to their great depression have bankrupted their company or have even had to break up with their partner and friends.

8- Severely compromises self-esteem

Self-esteem as a pillar of the well-being of a person in people who have depression is greatly affected, so with professional help it must be re-developed and created.

9- It can produce obsessions or madness

Depending on the person, he will become obsessed with different objects or actions and will even begin to see things that do not exist.

10- causes apathy

Apathy is capable of leaving the person suffering from it without any motivation to carry out activities.

11- Susceptibility

People with depression tend to take things more easily than others the wrong way. That is, they can be bothered more frequently than others that do not have it.

12- flee from reality

Because they are not happy with the life they have and they do not have self-esteem or any apparent or conscious motivation to live, they often escape from their reality.

13- It affects the mind and body

As we have been seeing during this article, depression is capable of dulling the mind and body of a person causing them to not work properly.

14- They don't fight

These people need a professional to help them fight and get out of depression with the most appropriate tools since by themselves it is very difficult for them to do so.

15- Drag to failure

It is a fact that if we suffer from depression we will go wrong in all aspects of our life, so it is necessary that as soon as possible the help of a professional is sought.

16- Tiredness

People with depression are extremely tired and unable to go about their daily activities without help. Although they appear to be physically strong, they are actually consumed.

17- loneliness

All these consequences will make the person feel very lonely or not want to enjoy the company of anyone. However, for her own physical integrity we must be with her at all times.

18- indifference of love

Obviously you will not be curious or want to want to be with another person since to be with a person you first have to be well emotionally and physically.

19- Bitterness

They are also characterized by presenting feelings of frustration and discouragement for everything they do.

20- Wear the body

The body, due to the accumulation of both physical and mental problems, will suffer a significant wear and tear that will lead the person to feel tired and not have the strength to face their day to day.

21- Generates bad mood and irritability

People who suffer from depression by not being happy with their life and not feeling well are often characterized by being extremely irritable and in a bad mood.

As with symptoms, its consequences also depend on the person, so not all those who suffer from it will present the same.

How can we prevent it in our daily life?

Once we have seen both its symptoms and its possible consequences, we must ask ourselves how we can prevent its appearance or how to control that it does not appear. Here are some tips to avoid its appearance on a daily basis:

Do new activities

A good way to generate positive emotions and to improve yourself is to constantly do new activities. This way you will avoid getting bored and you will be active and energetic.

Go out with friends

Staying at home is not always a good option since for some people it can be an ordeal to stay locked up and just work daily without interacting with anyone outside the work. Therefore, from time to time to relax and de-stress it is recommended that you go out with your friends.

Take care

An important point that helps prevent depression is taking care of and loving yourself. Therefore, paying attention to your physique and the way you dress and pampering yourself has nothing wrong as it will help you feel better about yourself.

Being with family

Another very useful way to prevent depression is to spend time with your loved ones, they love you and adore you and can help you in everything you need with their unconditional support.

Become aware of negative feelings

Although we do not like it, our day to day is full of events or situations that we have not liked very much. However, we have to admit that this is part of life and that not everything will always turn out the way we want. We have to be aware of the negative thoughts that they generate in us and try not to think about them.

Remember the good that happens to you every day

A good way to eliminate these negative thoughts is by remembering all the good things that have happened to us at the end of the day and analyzing how we have felt. This will help us to feel happy.

Sport

A good way to de-stress and calm ourselves as well as to generate positive emotions is to play sports.

What are your symptoms?

Not everyone who suffers from depression has the symptoms that we are going to see below, depending on the person, the duration and frequency may vary:

• A multitude of negative feelings such as sadness, anxiety or emptiness. Also hopelessness and pessimism as well as guilt, worthlessness and helplessness. Normally, by these symptoms we can identify that a person has depression since they are the most common and known.
• Irritability and restlessness. Another symptom may be that they are extremely irritable or restless in their day to day.
• Loss of interest in previously performed activities, including sexual intercourse. Due to the feelings that these people feel they do not want to carry out activities that they used to do with joy and motivation.
• Lack of energy and fatigue. Some people with depression do not do any activity because they lack the motivation to do it because they do not have energy or because just thinking about it causes them fatigue.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions. People with this disorder are unable to concentrate properly to perform any activity since they cannot think clearly due to their mental and emotional state.
• Insomnia, waking up too early, or sleeping too much. Sometimes they have no reason to get up early, so they prefer to sleep late into the day. Although also due to the discomfort they suffer, they may not even sleep or get up very early.
• Eating excessively or losing appetite. Depending on the person and their temperament and personality, they may or may not eat excessively. This can trigger other disorders such as eating in the most severe cases.
• Suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempts. In the most extreme cases we can find that people want to end their life since they do not see any meaning in it, which is why it is so important to be in the hands of a professional when you have depression.
• Finally, they can also present persistent aches and pains such as: headaches, colic or digestive problems. These may take time to go away or not even if you are taking medication.

References

1. Aguilar-Navarro, S., & Ávila-Funes, JA (2007). Depression: clinical characteristics and consequences in the elderly. Gac Méd Méx, 143 (2), 141-146.
2. Claro I. (S / F). Depression: symptoms, consequences and treatment.
3. Depression. National Institute of Mental Health.
4. Galli, E. (2013). Depression: A Medical Illness. Herediana Medical Journal, 5 (2).