Depression is more than just sadness—it affects your energy, sleep, body, and even your brain. This video explains key symptoms, why diagnosis is challenging, how both environmental and genetic factors contribute to it, and which treatments and habits can help.
The full story
If you have depression, you may feel sad, empty, and numb —or irritable. You may also lose interest in activities you once loved or feel constantly tired. Other symptoms include lack of sleep or drastic changes in your weight. You might find it harder than usual to concentrate, feel worthless, and lose hope that things will ever change for the better.
Physiological effects
The impact is often physiological as well. As the immune system weakens, you are more susceptible to migraines or chronic pain. Prolonged depression even leaves its mark on the mind. Studies suggest that it can lead to structural changes in the brain, including the shrinking of the hippocampus, a region critical for memory and emotional regulation. This can reinforce negative thought patterns, trapping you in cycles of pessimism.
All of that can lead to withdrawal. Meeting people—once fun—can feel like an obligation. Some start to think that they are a burden to others, and isolate themselves. Over time, it can escalate into profound indifference or a perceived inability to take any action potentially stirring the darkest of thoughts.
Understanding depression
Your mental health is not a switch that flips between “well” and “unwell” — it exists on a spectrum. At one end, we have temporary dips in mood, a bad day, or moments of grief. On the other end, you feel so tired and hopeless–even basic things, like getting out of bed, feel impossible.
diagnostic complexity
Clinicians diagnose Major Depressive Disorder when symptoms persist for at least two weeks and significantly disrupt your daily life. But a diagnosis is far from straightforward.
Unlike a broken bone, depression and other mental health disorders lack clear biological markers—no scan or blood work can confirm them. Without clear markers, diagnosis depends on structured interviews—an inherently subjective process that can lead to misdiagnosis.
One study found that 70% of patients diagnosed in primary care settings were classified as depressed, whereas bipolar would have been more appropriate.But even experienced psychologists may sometimes fail to distinguish between major depression, forms of anxiety, or other mental disorders. This is because most mental health conditions overlap—a phenomenon known as comorbidity. And there is an even bigger mystery: the origins of depression itself.
Complex causes
For years, the dominant narrative was that depression stemmed from a serotonin imbalance. In response, pharmaceutical companies developed a range of antidepressants, known as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. However, recent studies challenge this explanation.
Depression, it turns out, is far more complex and doesn’t stem from a simple chemical imbalance, but rather from complex mechanisms that involve genes, neurotransmitters, and environmental factors.
trauma example
History provides striking examples of how depression arrives from different roots in different people.
Take Abraham Lincoln: at nine, he lost his mother. His older sister, who became a maternal figure, died in childbirth. Later, two of his own four children perished before reaching adulthood. His melancholy became so pronounced that friends worried for his life.
Today, Lincoln would have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder that was triggered by childhood trauma and tragic life events—even though his reaction to what had happened was only natural and deeply human.
Biology example
Then there are people like neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky. He was raised in a stable, supportive family, and yet still struggled with severe episodes of depression all his life. The cause of his suffering might be purely biological. Genetic studies estimate that depression is about 50% heritable.
who is affected
In any given 12-month period, around 5% of men and 10% of women experience major depressive disorder. Among children, prevalence is around 2.5%, but in adolescents, it may rise to about 3–10%, depending on the study, population, or sex. So, how to help?
treatment
Among the most effective interventions is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps individuals recognize and reframe destructive thought patterns. Medications can also offer relief. But their long-term benefits remain unclear. As health researcher Vinay Prasad wrote: “The trials last eight weeks; (then) people take them for years.”
Some say, the best cures are sports, socializing—or better yet, both. Although, if you have no energy to leave the bed, this may seem like wishful thinking.
share your experience
But tell us, what do you know about depression, and what has helped you navigate difficult times? Share your thoughts in the comments below— conversation, too, can be part of the cure.
Sources
- Prasad, V. (2025, March 4). Anti-depressants: the trials last 8 weeks; people take them for 8+ years: Troubles with the evidence base. drvinayprasad.com.
- Mooney, B. (2022, May 29) Bipolar Disorder Often Misdiagnosed as Major Depression, Leading to Improper Treatment. usmedicine.com
- Shaughnessy, A. F. (2022). Universal Depression Screening in Primary Care: 77% False Positives. American family physician, 105(3), 321-322.
- Roddy, D. W., Farrell, C., Doolin, K., Roman, E., Tozzi, L., Frodl, T., O’Keane, V., & O’Hanlon, E. (2019). The Hippocampus in Depression: More Than the Sum of Its Parts? Advanced Hippocampal Substructure Segmentation in Depression. Biological psychiatry, 85(6), 487-497
- Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R.E., Stockmann, T. et al. (2023) The Serotonin Theory of Depression: A Systematic Umbrella Review of The Evidence. Mol Psychiatry 28, 3243-3256.
Dig deeper!
- Learn about the effect of dancing on depression
- Learn about how depression affects brain areas
Classroom activity
Objective
Students will explore the complexity of depression by examining its symptoms, diagnosis challenges, possible causes, and treatment options. They will discuss the blurred lines between normal sadness and clinical depression and reflect on compassionate ways to support mental health. Duration: 60 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Sprouts Video: What Depression Feels Like
- Short case studies (e.g., Abraham Lincoln, Robert Sapolsky)
- Whiteboard or post-it notes for brainstorming
- Reflection journals or note cards
Steps:
1. Introduction and Video Viewing (10 minutes)
- Introduce the topic by explaining that depression is a complex condition without a single cause or cure, and that diagnosis is often subjective.
- Play Sprouts’ video.
- Ask students write quick notes:
- What fact or idea surprised you most?
- How would you describe the difference between sadness and depression?
2. Group Analysis: Breaking Down Depression (15 minutes)
- Divide students into four groups, each group focuses on a different aspect:
- Group 1: Symptoms and physical effects of depression
- Group 2: Challenges in diagnosis (no biomarkers, comorbidity)
- Group 3: Origins of depression (trauma, biology, or both?)
- Group 4: Treatments and strategies for recovery (therapy, medication, lifestyle changes)
- Each group discuss and prepare:
- What are the key challenges in understanding or treating this aspect?
- How might misunderstanding this aspect lead to stigma or mismanagement?
3. Group Presentations and Connections (15 minutes)
- Each group gives a short presentation summarizing their findings.
- How do symptoms, diagnosis challenges, and origins all intertwine?
- Why is it important to see depression as a spectrum rather than a binary condition?
4. Structured Discussion: Navigating Mental Health (15 minutes)
- Pose the following discussion questions;
- Question 1: Is it more helpful to view depression primarily as a medical condition or as a human response to life events—or both?
- Question 2: How can society better support people with depression, knowing how complex and personal it is?
- Give 3-5 minutes for students to gather points. Encourage students to reference the video, their discussions, or examples from history or personal knowledge.
5. Reflection and Sharing (5 minutes)
- Ask students to write briefly:
- What is one thing you learned that challenged a common myth or stereotype about depression?
- If someone close to you were struggling, what is one thing you could say or do differently after today?
- Ask for volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
Assessment
- Participation: Engagement in group work and discussions
- Understanding: Ability to explain depression’s symptoms, diagnosis challenges, and origins
- Critical Thinking: Making connections across the complexity of mental health
- Empathy: Sensitivity to the topic and respectful listening
Collaborators
- Script: Jonas Koblin and Ludovico Saint Amour di Chanaz, PhD
- Cartoon artist: Pascal Gaggelli
- Producer: Selina Bador
- Voice artist: Matt Abbott
- Coloring: Nalin
- Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
- Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda
- Publishing: Vijyada Songrienchai
