Despite all the valid points made in these claims, it doesn’t change the fact that “An estimated 16 million American adults—almost 7% of the population—had at least 1 major depressive episode last year”(Numbers,n.d.) and that “People of all ages and all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can experience depression” (Numbers, n.d.). People all over the world experience depression in many different forms. For some it is a mental illness that cripples the body, for the mind is powerful and has supreme control over the body to the point that it will continue to function for three minutes after the heart fails; as is the case with a personal friend of mine who has battled with depression since the seventh grade and has had to take many visits to the hospital and bottles of medications and various treatments in order to treat and fight off his depression that often prompts him to self-injury and causes him to get physically ill for many days. For
What is depression? Depression is an illness that can take over a person’s life---it can take their happiness and their will to live. This illness can effect adults, teenagers, and even kids. “Depression is an equal opportunity disorder---- it can affect anyone of any group, any background, any race, any gender, and any age. It is the great leveler of all groups and can take the greatest and the smallest of us all and reduce us to the pain and nothingness that is depression (Nydegger 1)”. Depression is an emotion most people may feel they have experienced, but little do they know it’s just the basic emotions we feel. It is important to identify the symptoms of depression, the types of depression, who can get them and how they manifest, in other to be able to treatment them.
What is depression? Depression is the feelings of gloominess, sadness, dejection, being alone in the world, hopelessness, worthlessness, etc. Originally this was called Melancholia.
As viewed by psychiatrists, depression is an illness in which a person experiences a marked change in their mood and in the way they view themselves and the world. Sometimes, depression seems to happen because of a stressful event, sometimes it seems to happen for no reason at all.
Depression is an incredibly serious matter that affects many people around the world. It is fairly common for many people to experience depression in some sort of way after a tragic event, such as the death of a family member or the severing of a long-term relationship. In fact, some may argue that these feelings are indeed appropriate for the time being. However, for some individuals, these feelings of despair and stress can last for weeks at a time or longer. While some who are not dealing with depression may interpret the feelings and the mindset of those who are struggling with major depression as a case of “the blues”, depression is undoubtedly a serious condition when left to itself without any type of support or medication. Depression
Depression is a psychological disorder that is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. In the U.S., about 9.5% of our population has been diagnose with depression. This estimates to 19 million Americans. This topic was chosen because I have dealt with it first hand with those close to me and myself. Depression is a long-known health problem and can be supported by historical documents throughout out the centuries. This psychological disease began with the name “melancholia” and can be traced as far back in the ancient mesopotamian documents. This dates depression back to the second millennium B.C.. Depression was thought to be from demonic possessions and was only treatable by priests. Later on, Hippocrates had figured that depression was the effect of too much black bile being in the spleen. He used the bloodletting method to try and reduce the symptoms of depression. Cicero became more of a contrast to Hippocrates by discovering that depression was a mental illness. The treatment for this disorder shifted and patients with depression were given a whole new way of treatment. Doctors would say to do gymnastics, use massage therapy, go on a special diet, listen to music, and take baths. A mixture of poppy extract with donkey’s milk was also used in the treatment of depression. (Mental Health, 2008)
Depression is a serious disease that is characterized by feeling of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness. Typical symptoms of depression include loss of pleasure in everyday activities, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, weight loss or weight gain, and persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2011). Unfortunately, depression is a common problem in today’s world. In recent years, depression has been termed a major public health concern in the United States. This is partially due to the lack of recognition and treatment of depression in many people. An additional problem is that despite treatment, many people relapse and sink back into their depression. Depression is the leading cause of disability for both men and women (World Health Organization [WHO], 2012). According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disease burden for women (WHO, 2012). While depression is a serious disease, it is treatable.
It is estimated that in the United States about 19 million people or one in ten adults experience depression each year. Nearly two-thirds do not get help for the disease and or receive the treatment they need. They might be too embarrassed or ashamed to get help or they may not realize that they are depressed and need help. Others think that depression is just part of life and their feelings of sadness will pass in time. While most people experience depression at some time during their lives, depression that last more than a few weeks requires treatment (2).
Most people experience feelings of sadness or depression as normal responses to life’s struggles, such as loss or injured self-esteem. However, there are those that experience extreme sadness or despair and include feelings of being helpless, worthless, or hopeless. These individuals are likely suffering from clinical depression. Depression is a real illness that affects an estimated 17 million Americans with the potential of seriously impairing their ability to function in everyday situations. Depression can carry with it many damaging consequences to relationships, families, work productivity. There are varying types of depression that has varying sets of symptoms, including thoughts of death or suicide. Other symptoms include a depressed mood most of the day, fatigue or loss of energy daily, feelings of worthless or guilt, impaired concentration, insomnia or hypersomnia, marked diminished pleasure in activities, a sense of restlessness, and significant weight loss or gain. According to the DSM V, at least 5 of the symptoms must be present at the same time to be diagnosed as depression. Identifying the causes of depression is not easy task with any single answer. It’s believed that depression likely results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors. However, depression is a highly treatable illness using methods such as psychotherapy and medications. With the proper treatment plan, the recovery rate for depressed individuals is high.
The common usage of the word "depression" isn't usually in reference to a clinical disease. People most often use it to mean that they have "the blues" or they're just feeling "down." Unfortunately, the disease depression isn't so simple. It's not something that one can just `get over'. It's usually something that must be treated with therapy, and in some cases medication must also be used. There are many different types of the mental illness; clinical depression, bipolar disorder (otherwise known as manic depressive) and dysthymia.
Depression is a growing epidemic in society, with ten times more people suffering from major depression today than in 1945. Depression effects everyone, not only those who struggle with it themselves; it leaves lasting economic and social impacts, and is especially prevalent in the western world. There are many different types of depression and, as with all mental illnesses, no two cases are ever exactly the same. In most instances, depression is caused by a mixture of biological, genetic, and psychological elements.
Due to the consequences of depression, it can cause an individual to feel emotionally useless, hopeless, and shameful of themselves. To prevent these feelings that builds to depression one should try to maintain these symptoms before it become severe. People in society should not throw harsh words as well as changing their mind of viewing depressed people as shameless, and that they will not be able to function properly. Instead, these judgmental comments made for depressed people are keeping them from seeking medical help. Most of them think that they are better off to keep it in, and until they can no longer to bare with it no more, then bad reactions will occur. Indeed, people who have depression can still be successful in their career,
Depression affects everyone's life at sometime or another. Depression comes in a wide variety of forms, from mild unhappiness to a chemical imbalance in the mind. There are many different symptoms that reveal a person's problem with depression. If left untreated, depression may continue to develop into a serious illness or even death.