Depression: It's More Than Just Being Sad.
explanatory Essay
848 words
This essay is about the different types of depression and how it can affect a person’s life. I accessed a couple different websites to do my research for this essay. The first one is “Depression Fact Sheet: Depression Statistics and Depression Causes”, which I used primarily to get the statistics on depression. This was co-written by two people who work in the field of psychology, Dr. Bob Murray, a widely published psychologist who is an expert in emotional health and optimal relationships; and Alicia Fortinberry, a psychotherapist, health writer and executive coach. The second is a very informative article in Medical News Today by Christian Nordqvist called “What is depression? What causes depression?” This is where I got most of the facts about the different forms of depression, as well as from my textbook, Psychology: A Journey by Dennis Coon and John O. Mitterer.
Depression is a serious problem which affects about 18.8 million Americans who are 18 years of age and older in any given year (Maury & Fortinberry, 2005). It is not only a state of being sad, it is also a disease that inhibits the ability to feel emotion. Depression not only involves the mind, it also involves the body and thoughts. This disease can be passed down genetically, by a chemical imbalance in the brain, or follows certain events, i.e. the death of a loved one, etc (Nordqvist, 2009). Everyone gets “the blues” at some point in their lives. It usually passes after some time. However, people who have depressive disorders aka “clinical depression” find that their state interferes with their daily lives (Nordqvist, 2009). Clinical depression affects both the person who is depressed and the people that care about them because their normal functioning is...
... middle of paper ...
...eling hopeless, restlessness, unexplained irritability, loss of interest in activities and/or hobbies once enjoyed, loss of libido, lower levels of energy, inability to make decisions, sleeping and eating patterns can change, increase of ache and pain complaints, and possible suicidal thoughts.
References
Coon, D., Mitterer, J. O., & VanDeventer, A. (2008). Psychology: a journey (3rd ed.). Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Murray, B., & Fortinberry, A. (2005, January 15). Depression Fact Sheet: Depression Statistics and Depression Causes. Depression Fact Sheet: Depression Statistics and Depression Causes. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html
Nordqvist, C. (2009, April 7). What is Depression? What causes depression?. Medical News Today. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933.php
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they accessed a couple of different websites to do their research for this essay. the first one is "depression fact sheet: depression statistics and depression causes" and the second is an informative article in medical news today.
- Explains that depression affects 18.8 million americans who are 18 years of age and older in any given year. it is a disease that inhibits the ability to feel emotion.
- Explains that before the 19th century, clinical depression was called "melancholia" by hippocrates, who is known as the "father of western medicine".
- Explains that there are many forms of clinical depression, including major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder.
- Explains that dysthymia is also known as chronic depression. the symptoms are not as severe as with major depression, but they might find it difficult to function well.
- Explains that seasonal affective disorder is a kind of depression that many people get during the fall and winter months, especially far north of the equator.
- Explains that there are many other forms of depression, but these are only some of the most common. if one recognizes that they have the symptoms, they might be cured.
- Cites coon, mitterer, and vandeventer as s of depression fact sheet: depression statistics and depression causes.
Related
- explanatory
- analytical
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- Explains that depression is a serious disorder that affects millions of people in the united states every year. it can be treated through anti-depressants, coping, cognitive-behavioral and psychotherapy.
- Explains that the three types of depression affect each individual in different ways and have different affects on a person's life.
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- Opines that the research covered in this paper is very good information because reading through some of this information may be good assistance because someone you know might be exhibiting some signs and symptoms and may not even know it.
- Cites ashworth, m. (2007). types of depression, psych central. retrieved on may 3, 2014.
- Cites murray, caroline. 12 surprising causes of depression. retrieved on 21 apr, 2014.
- Cites lickerman, a., the true causes of depression.
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- Opines that pet therapy is not for everyone and it does have its drawbacks. owning a pet is expensive with added costs of food and regular doctor appointments.
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In this essay, the author
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2191 wordsRead More