Consequences of depression: avoid risks and learn from it

The importance of knowing the consequences to treat depression as soon as possible

Depression is a common mental health disorder; specifically, we are talking about a mood disorder. According to the Global Health Data Exchange (God) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an estimated 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depression.

And it is that we are already talking about the world’s leading cause of disability, a disorder that affects more women than men and that, in the worst-case scenario, can even lead to suicide. Fortunately, there are specific treatments for this disorder, both psychologically and pharmacologically. Asking for help is essential in these cases.

In this article we are going to talk about the consequences of depression, not so much focusing on its symptoms, but rather on the consequences of not treating a depressive disorder (that is, of not asking for professional help) being necessary to avoid risks and learn from it. We also reflect on the impact of this disorder at a social level, and the negative stigma that is still associated with this type of problem, with its obvious consequences at a psychological level.

The consequences of a depression not treated correctly

The consequences of untreated depression mainly include an exacerbation or intensification of symptoms and/or a cornification of the disorder. In addition to the added risks of ending up developing feelings of intense hopelessness (believing that nothing is going to change) to ideas of death or suicide and suicide attempts. That is why it is so important to address depression when the first symptoms appear, that is, to seek immediate social and psychological help.

Beyond what has been mentioned, we know that among the consequences of untreated depression, there are symptoms at four large levels or areas: the psychological, social, physical, and cognitive areas. In reality, what usually happens, as we said, is that the initial symptoms of depression are exacerbated.

Psychological consequences

Thus, on a psychological level, for example, the following symptoms can be intensified

1. Feelings of sadness (intensification of initial symptoms).
2. Empty feeling.
3. You want to cry
4. Lack of interest or enjoyment in activities that were previously enjoyed (anhedonia).
5. Apathy (“not feeling like doing anything”).
6. Demotivation
7. Feeling of loneliness.

Social consequences

At the social level the same thing happens; symptoms intensify and a risk of isolation may appear. The person does not feel like going out, but neither does he ask for help or relate to anyone (the ties weaken until they disappear), which becomes a vicious circle.

Physical consequences

On the other hand, on a physical level the symptoms can also worsen; in this sense, the usual physical symptoms in depression are:

1. Sleep disturbances (frequent awakenings, insomnia …).
2. Increase or loss of appetite.
3. Tummy aches.
4. Muscle tension and pain.
5. And, ultimately, various psychosomatic symptoms

Cognitive consequences

• Finally, at a cognitive level, the consequences of untreated depression can aggravate problems such as existing difficulties when concentrating or when remembering, memorizing and learning.
• According to research such as that of Galimberti et al. (2020), cognitive problems here (that is, thinking) may be influenced by various factors, including the age at which depression appears or its duration.

Other consequences of depression that you should know

It is evident that depression entails a series of symptoms and that these, if not treated, can become chronic and/or worsen. And give all these consequences that are quite harmful to the person who suffers from them.

1. Not leaving home, an important consequence of depression

• Depressed people often find it difficult to leave the house, as they feel weak, discouraged and down. But what are the consequences of not leaving home in the long term? There are various studies, for example at the University of Colorado, which have shown that sunlight helps us to regulate our biological rhythms (circadian rhythm) and, consequently, also those of sleep.
• And it is that exposure only to electric lighting could increase the risk of suffering from sleep disorders, but also anxiety, depression, obesity and vitamin D deficiency. For these reasons, experts recommend spending at least 45 minutes a day outdoors (preferably in the morning), as well as being in contact with nature.
• On the other hand, on a social level, the fact of not leaving home also has consequences. And it could impact our social skills. In addition, the use (and excess) of social networks and the Internet, which is often linked to this isolation when we go through a depression, puts our relationships with others at risk, as well as preventing us from enjoying the small pleasures of life, more beyond the screens

2. The stigma associated with mental health problems

• But beyond this, we also find the consequences of suffering a mental disorder on a social level. For example, we know that, unfortunately, there is still a perceived and public stigma attached to having a mental health problem.
• We see it with this example; sometimes people speak of a depressed person and not of a person with depression. Conversely, if a person has cancer (or another organic disease), they are said to have cancer. In this way, the person with a mental health problem is reduced to her depression, and ceases to be “someone WITH depression.” And this can do a lot of damage on a psychological level.

3. The belief that “nothing is going to change”

• Another of the consequences of depression is the distorted and erroneous belief that “nothing is going to change.” And we relate this to two important concepts in psychology: hopelessness and learned helplessness.
• When we speak of hopelessness, we speak, as its name suggests, of “not having hope” for the future. Believing that things will never get better, that we will always continue in that cesspool. And when we talk about learned helplessness, we mean believing that nothing depends on us, and whatever we do, nothing will change.
• For this reason, we stop acting and sink into passivity. And these factors continue to feed into another of the vice circles typical of depression (“I believe that nothing I do will change my situation, and therefore, I do nothing”, so nothing changes).
• Depression and the importance of asking for help when you need it
• Whether you have just been diagnosed with depression or have been living with this disorder for a long time, rest assured that your problem can be treated and that you can get out of it. But for that, you have to let yourself help, and share what is happening to you, even though we know how complicated it is. Perhaps you can start by sharing it with someone close to you.
• It is also important to ask for help from a mental health specialist, a psychologist or a psychiatrist who accompanies you on the path of depression to achieve improvement, so that they know how to guide you and offer you the best treatment according to your case, and avoid the consequences mentioned before. Remember that you are not alone and that you deserve to ask for help, as well as feel accompanied on this path. You will see how you do not regret it if you do. You deserve to be well!