Depression is no longer rare or a joke—it’s a real condition that affects millions of people. Alongside cancer and heart attacks, depression has become one of the most common illnesses, and it comes with a variety of symptoms.
Since we often casually label most psychological problems, fatigue at work, and stress as “depression,” it’s important to clarify what depression truly is and what you can do about it.
What Is Depression?
Feeling a bit sad? Of course—we all go through periods of sadness or mild depression, like seasonal depression, for example.
If you work too much to the point of burnout, you’ll naturally feel exhausted. You may even feel like you’ve accomplished nothing in a society that is madly driven by consumerism, where standards rise in an inhuman way day by day.
But none of this is actually called depression. Some people manage to stop at burnout, exhaustion, or mild discouragement without progressing into illness.
The ICD-10 Classification System
According to the ICD-10 classification system, depression is an affective disorder, meaning it affects emotional states.
People suffering from depression often experience a severely low mood and clear disturbances. If this low mood persists for at least two weeks, it’s very likely you are dealing with depression.
Unlike feelings of sadness, grief, or indifference, depression does not fade away on its own.
This is the crucial difference that separates depression from other emotions.
Sadness and lethargy can resemble depression, but sadness usually has specific causes and limited symptoms. It can be interrupted by periods of rest or cheerful moments that ease the pain—unlike depression.
Sadness typically fades over time, especially if the causes of sadness lessen, and the feeling gradually disappears.
For example, everyone gets sad and then improves and calms down. Depression, on the other hand, is a chronic state. Its causes may not be clear, and it doesn’t go away by itself. Encouraging words usually have no effect.
Depression is a serious mental illness that requires professional help. In severe cases, individuals may struggle to perform their daily tasks independently.
From the outside, depression may seem harmless—a mix of sadness, indifference, and some physical fatigue. Well-meaning people often underestimate depression, thinking it can be controlled by willpower and self-discipline alone. But in most cases, it lies beyond the person’s control.
Half of the world’s annual suicide cases are attributed to depression. It’s also a major cause of poor work performance and early retirement.
Depression is divided into three levels:
Mild depression
Moderate depression
Severe depression
Severe depression involves general impairment in all areas of life. Getting out of bed can be difficult, and even meeting the body’s most basic physiological needs can feel overwhelming.
Symptoms of Depression
In the early stages of depression, certain signs and symptoms may appear. On their own, they don’t necessarily mean anything—but when combined in number and intensity, they determine whether a person is just a bit sad or actually depressed.
Time is an important factor: if at least two symptoms persist for no less than two weeks, this is an indicator of depression.
It’s also essential to distinguish between main and additional symptoms. There are several hallmark symptoms of depression:
Main Symptoms of Depression
Lethargy: A significant reduction in physical energy, even for the simplest daily tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning, showering, or shopping. Going to work can require an enormous amount of energy, often more than the person has. Many can’t keep up with their job, feeling constantly weak and exhausted.
Apathy: If you’re depressed, you won’t enjoy anything—even the activities you once loved. The spark of interest and fun with friends fades away. Eventually, you cancel the shared activities you used to do with family and friends, such as meeting or calling them. In fact, social interaction can become a heavy psychological burden for someone with depression.
Low Mood: Or more precisely, a gloomy mood. People with depression struggle to understand their own emotions, feeling empty inside. They often appear emotionally flat, viewing their situation as hopeless. No amount of encouragement or positivity from others changes their perception.
Additional Symptoms of Depression
Difficulty Concentrating: Depressed individuals have a very limited ability to focus. Their thoughts constantly wander, making it hard to absorb new information or remember it.
Feelings of Inadequacy: Self-esteem and confidence are typically very low. Doubt dominates their thoughts, and they feel wrong about everything they do.
Guilt: A common symptom is constant self-blame. They hold themselves responsible for things they don’t fully understand and often for situations unrelated to them. They feel worthless and wonder why their friends and family still care.
Pessimism: A deep sense of hopelessness takes over. They struggle to view the future positively, believing their current state will last forever. They see life only through a dark lens.
Suicidal Thoughts: Severe forms of depression often involve recurring suicidal thoughts. With such a bleak outlook and lack of hope, the idea of suicide can become persistent. They may see it as the only escape from their situation. The risk of suicide attempts is extremely high, and in severe cases, the intent is more serious.
Sleep Disorders: Depressed individuals struggle to sleep normally. They may barely sleep at all, and if they do, they often wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep.
Loss of Appetite: Depression often leads to reduced appetite, causing unintentional weight loss.
Secondary Symptoms of Depression
Numbness: Some people experience numbness, even during happy or positive events. They seem detached and indifferent. This is clearly visible in their facial expressions and body language, which they cannot control.
Loss of Sexual Desire: Interest in sex and romantic partners decreases significantly. Men may experience erectile dysfunction, while women may have unexplained pain during intercourse.
Indecisiveness: Even small decisions become difficult. Choosing food or clothes can feel overwhelming, significantly impacting their daily lives during their depressive episodes.
Chronic Insomnia: Persistent and long-term sleep difficulties are common.
Physical Symptoms of Depression
In addition, there are various physical symptoms that are often viewed separately because their psychological cause is not obvious. Medical examinations usually find no physical explanation. When linked to the main symptoms above, these signs point to depression:
Breathing problems, Diarrhea, Heart pain, Headaches, Neck pain, Digestive issues, Menstrual problems, Back pain, Swallowing difficulties, Dizziness, Nausea
When these symptoms occur alongside at least two main symptoms and some secondary symptoms, this is classified as bipolar disorder, previously known as manic-depressive disorder.
Self-Test for Depression
Do you suffer from depression?
Find out yourself: We’ve prepared a self-assessment test for you. Of course, such a test cannot replace professional medical or psychological diagnosis. But it can signal the need to seek help if you answer “yes” to most of the following:
I’ve cried a lot or felt very depressed over the past few weeks.
I can’t remember the last time I genuinely laughed.
I’ve withdrawn from friends and social contact.
I constantly feel inner tension and unrest.
I lack energy or strength to do anything.
Making decisions feels completely overwhelming.
I often have physical complaints like headaches or back pain.
It’s hard for me to brush my teeth or shower.
I can’t concentrate or form clear opinions.
My thoughts are constantly racing.
I feel guilty and worthless in everything.
Things I used to enjoy are no longer enjoyable.
I frequently have trouble sleeping.
My sexual desire has significantly decreased.
I eat much more or much less than before.
I feel empty inside.
Nothing makes sense to me anymore.
I’ve often thought about suicide.
I feel utterly hopeless.
I usually feel worse in the morning and slightly better in the evening.
Diseases : Certain illnesses such as tumors, thyroid disorders, or hormonal imbalances can lead to depression. It’s not only the effects of the illness on the mind but also the psychological impact of living with a chronic disease that contributes to depression.
People with cancer, severe cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes are at higher risk of developing depression.
Medications : Some medications can negatively affect mental health. This includes all kinds of medications for male disorders, heart medications, corticosteroids, certain neurological drugs, and even birth control pills, which can have a significant negative impact.
Stress : Chronic stress, severe trauma, or long-term unemployment can trigger depression. Personality traits like a strong performance focus, harsh self-criticism, and perfectionism also increase the risk.
Psychological and Social Factors : Negative thought patterns play a key role. Remembering childhood abuse or violence can have lasting negative effects. Later experiences that involve loss of control or harm can also lead people to blame themselves, paving the way for depression.
Depression often develops from a prolonged sense of powerlessness over life circumstances.
Living Conditions : Studies show that living conditions significantly affect psychological and social well-being. One-third of people with depression have experienced difficult and unfair living conditions. A critical event—such as the loss of a loved one or the birth of a child without sufficient financial or social support—can trigger depression.
Natural life changes may also feel overwhelming in such circumstances, such as puberty, job loss, or retirement.
