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Seasonal affective disorder thesis statement
Seasonal affective disorder thesis statement
Seasonal affective disorder thesis statement
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Is the season over yet?
Seasons have been around for many years and affect many people in every way. Can seasons really change the moods of several individuals? Seasons are something that no human has effect over and are not something that anyone can change with the click of a button. The world was ordered around having seasons at specific times, but who knew it could affect lives every day. Mary Pinkowish states that, “Ten million Americans suffer from winter depression,” and that is just one season out of the four. Seasonal Affect Disorder is a real disorder that affects many people who should be carefully diagnosed, should know the symptoms and signs, and should know how to treat it.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (also called S.A.D) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. Most people with Seasonal Affective Disorder have symptoms that start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping energy and making someone feel moody. Less often, Seasonal Affective Disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer. Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder includes light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications. Being diagnosed should be taken more seriously and carefully looked at so that people can get the appropriate resources that they need. People also need to be identified correctly when getting the right help. There are many factors that may increase one’s risk of seasonal affective disorder. Being female is one of them. Seasonal Affective Disorder is diagnosed more often in women than in men, but men may have symptoms that are more severe. Living far from the equator is another risk. Seasonal Affective Disorder appears to be more common among people who live far north or ...
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...egin treatment before symptoms would normally start in the fall or winter, and then continue treatment past the time symptoms would normally go away. If someone can get control of their symptoms before they get worse, then they may be able to head off serious changes in mood, appetite and energy levels.
More information needs to be researched about the Seasonal Affective Disorder because people need to be carefully diagnosed, carefully looked at with symptoms and signs, and be treated in the most proper and helpful way there is. Seasons have been around for many years and people can not just change their lives based off of something that will always be around. This disorder is mostly found in areas farthest away from the Equator, but anyone could be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder and all precautions need to be considered when dealing with this disorder.
From mild to severe knowing of conditions and their specific symptoms is the most straightforward way to diagnose the problem areas. The types of depression cover major, melancholia, psychotic, antenatal and postnatal, bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder, dysthymic disorder, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Major depression involves low mood and/or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities (“Types of depression”). Melancholia, a severe form of depression where many of the physical symptoms of depression are present. One of the major changes is that the person starts to move more slowly. They are also more likely to have a depressed mood that is characterised by complete loss of pleasure in everything, or almost everything (“Types of depression”). Psychotic depression, can lose touch with reality and experience psychosis. This can involve hallucinations or delusions such as believing they are bad or evil, or that they 're being watched or followed. They can also be paranoid, feeling as though everyone is against them or that they are the cause of illness or bad events occurring around them (“Types of depression”). Antenatal and postnatal depression affects women during pregnancy and in the year following childbirth. The causes of depression at this time can be complex and are often the result of a combination of factors (“Types of depression”). Bipolar disorder used to be
The climate may influence each individual plus your health and wellbeing straightforwardly via batches in temperature. This kind of creates may possibly prompt more persuasive heat waves amid the particular delayed early spring though giving a smaller amount good chilled spells amid the particular winter. Distinct parts of the particular people, one example is, those that have cardiovascular system concerns, asthma
It's wintertime, and you are gathered for the holidays with all of your family and friends. Everything seems like it should be perfect, yet you are feeling very distressed, lethargic and disconnected from everything and everyone around you. "Perhaps it is just the winter blues," you tell yourself as you delve into the holiday feast, aiming straight for the sugary fruitcake before collapsing from exhaustion. However, the depression and other symptoms that you feel continue to persist from the beginning of winter until the springtime, for years upon end without ceasing. Although you may be tempted to believe that you, like many millions of other Americans, are afflicted with a case of the winter blues, you are most likely suffering from a more severe form of seasonal depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This form of depression has been described as a form of a unipolar or bipolar mood disorder which, unlike other forms of depression, follows a strictly seasonal pattern. (5).
“Women are two times more likely to develop depressive symptoms then men”(Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors in Women’s Health, 1990), and women who are among the child-bearing years tend to be more at risk. However this is not to say that men are not affected by depression. It is usually, because of negative social influences, such as economic instability, and/or the inability to handle stress in their lives.
Clinical depression is very common. Over nine million Americans are diagnosed with clinical depression at some point in their lives. Many more people suffer from clinical depression because they do not seek treatment. They may feel that depression is a personal weakness, or try to cope with their symptoms alone. On the other hand, some people are comfortable with admitting their symptoms and seeking help. Such a discrepancy may account for the differences in reported cases of depression between men and women, which indicate that more than twice the numbers of women than men are clinically depressed. According to the numbers of reported cases of depression, 25% of women and 10% of men will have one or more episodes of clinical depression during their lifetimes.
Depression is the most common mental health disorder; it affects over 17 million American adults each year. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by at least four symptoms such as changes in sleep, appetite, weight, and psychomotor activity; decreased energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt; difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, thoughts or attempts. “Women are approximately two times more likely than men to suffer from major depression” (Research Agenda for Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors in Women’s Health, 1996) and it has been called the most significant mental health risk for women. Women are more likely to suffer from depression during marriage than if single, unlike men who are more likely to suffer depression when single than married, and increases with the number of children in the house (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p.317). There are many contributing factors to depression in women including but not limited to: hormonal, genetic, infertility, menopause, family responsibilities, gender roles, sexual abuse, work related issues, and financial problems. (National Institute of Mental Health, June 1999). Depression in women is mentally and physically painful but has treatment options available.
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the U.S. that affects, men, women, teens and even the elderly. Most of the time depression goes unrecognized or even untreated. It may be normal for people to experience feelings of sadness or anger for short periods of time. Usually this may last a few days due to temporary circumstances that may happen in an individual’s life, but if these feelings occur for an extended period of time, it may be a sign of major depression. Bipolar disorder may be confused with major depression. An individual having recurring depression and mania for an extended period differentiates bipolar disorder. As a healthcare professional, it is important to educate individuals and their families who have a mental health illness so that they can pay attention to important cues so that they can be addressed properly. This case study refers to a female patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-V) is a publication/diagnostic tool, used by healthcare professionals to diagnose mental disorders (Psychiatry Online, n.d) Bipolar disorder may be confused with major depression. Bipolar disorder is differentiated by an individual having reoccurring depression and mania for an extended period of time. These episodic mood shifts can lead to excessively elevated or irritable mood. Many believe that this disorder can lightly stem from a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors (WebMD, 2014). According to statistics, the average onset for bipolar disorder is in the mid-to late 20s, but over the years the average age has been decreasing. The prevalence of bipolar is approximately 2.6% in the population at large with 82.9% of these cases cl...
Depression is defined as "a state of despondency marked by feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness" (Coon, 2001). Some people can mix up depression with just having the blues because of a couple of bad days or even weeks. It is already said that depression affects about one sixth of the population or more (Doris, Ebmeier, Shajahan, 1999). Depression can happen in any age range from birth to death. The cause of depression is still obscure and becoming clear that a number of diverse factors are likely to be implicated, both genetic and environmental. Some causes are leading stressful lives, genetic factors, a previous depressive episode, and the personality trait neuroticism (Doris, et al., 1999).
...ty. However, it has been found effective for short term treatment. Light therapy involves sitting in front or beneath a light box that simulates the sunlight, which is missing during the darker winter months.
It can help us understand the impact the environment had on past cultures. For example, it helps archeologist determine the path of nomadic people and the way they adapted or reacted to the seasons during their seasonal rounds. Seasonality can also aid archeologist in understanding when human remains were buried or when certain artifacts were desecrated lending a wider insight into the past. In conclusion, the seasons come and the seasons go, but the archeological evidence humans, animals, and plants live behind gives clues to the past.
The World Health Organization estimates that there are over 350 million people in world who struggle with depression. It is also the leading cause of disability worldwide. Similar to anxiety, depression effects people of all races, ages, and genders however it has been shown that women are more likely to be effected than men. Depression is growing problem. Specifically in America, approximately 17% of adults will suffer through a season of depression at some time in their lives. This rate has been increasing since 1915 and the trend shows that it will continue to do
The body seems to be slower. Motivation to do anything takes a hit. In fact, in a survey taken in Maryland, over 90% of the people surveyed reported that they noticed a change in mood, behavior, and energy levels with the change of seasons.... ... middle of paper ...
The biggest difference between summer and winter is the climate. One of the main attractions of summer is the warm weather. I like being outside on a bright sunny day, and letting the sun warm my body. I also like that we get an occasional thunder storm. The excitement fills the air when I see the thunder clouds rolling in. The sound of thunder, and the lighting shows that come from the storms are fascinating. On the other hand winter i...
“Besides taking a hit on our ability to spend time outside, both in extreme and everyday cases, weather can have a real impact on our health and well-being” (Gregoire). The impact of weather upon a person goes beyond their choice of apparel or their plans for the day; it can directly affect a person’s mood, for better or for worse. Do the dark, gray skies on a rainy day actually cause someone to feel gloomy? Would someone be more prone to smiling if they were feeling the warmth of the sun against their skin? If the general public was surveyed, the majority of people would say that weather has little to no impact on a person’s mood (Grohol). However, with more in depth research and a wider spectrum of people studied, it has been found that there is a strong correlation between weather and one’s mood. Similar to the weather, peoples’ moods are constantly changing. A person’s mood can be affected in various ways, but one of the most common is by the weather. The affects can be severe; ranging from chronic depression to excessive happiness. Although these two phenomena appear to be unrelated, the fact that they are simultaneously changing in relation to each other is an indication that they are indeed associated.
The most common of them being Major Depressive Disorder. It is characterized as an ever constant low mood and sadness and lack of interest in doing daily activities. Major Depression can occur just once during a lifetime or can occur over an extended period of time. Its symptoms include loss of energy, self-loathing, changes in weight etc. These symptoms can range from anywhere between mild and severe. (Smith & Seagal, 2016). Persistent depressive disorder or Dysthymia is a chronic depressive mood that lasts for at least two years followed by a few days where everything seems to be back to normal. This type of depression is characterized by time duration of the symptoms i.e. symptoms must last for at least two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder. (Depression, 2015). Another type of depression is Perinatal Depression. This type of depression usually occurs a few weeks before the delivery of the baby and a few weeks after the delivery of the baby. It symptoms include extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion which would hinder a new mother from taking care of her baby and herself (Depression, 2015). Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is another type of depression. This occurs when there is a change in the season from spring or summer months to the winter months. This type of depression usually resolves itself once the winter months are over and when there is an increase in