How To Prevent Depression Also known as the “common cold” of mental disorders, depression affects nearly 121 million people worldwide and almost 80% of them don’t even receive specific treatment. Some researchers even believe that in approximately 20 years, depression will be more widespread than dental caries. Apart from the devastating psychological effects, depression also increases the risk of: heart disease, stroke, obesity and sleep disorders. Among your friends and family members, there is at least one person who suffered or still suffers from a different form of depression. So who is this silent predator which literally drains us of energy and brings only pain and suffering in our lives? A quick look into our past One thing’s …show more content…
One promising explanation comes from evolutionism. When it comes to explaining the causes of mental disorders, most researchers agree on the fact that each disorder served an adaptive purpose in the past. Depression is usually triggered by a traumatic event and that’s why the researchers launched the assumption that this mental disorder was actually a mechanism which kept the individual safe during tough times. In order to understand this, we have to go back to prehistoric times. If an individual suffered a loss or an injury, retreating and hiding seemed to be the best options. In those times, being vulnerable was equal to being the prey, which is why staying hidden until you heal was the perfect strategy. Apparently, the same mechanisms are responsible for the occurrence of depression. A person who feels depressed after a traumatic event will gradually retreat from social life. Since we no longer live in caves, this strategy doesn’t serve an adaptive purpose anymore. So how do we keep depression away? If you ever find yourself in a depressive episode, I strongly advise you to consult a specialist. You might be tempted to perceive the whole experience as a temporary phase that will eventually pass, but trust me, it can get a lot worse than you might imagine. As for keeping depression away, there are plenty of useful tips and tricks. Here’s 5 ways to prevent depression from taking over your
If you don’t want to take antidepressant medication, just make yourself happy from time to time. Remember that as long as you notice yourself being depressed, make yourself happy. Notice each person may experience depression in a different way.
“Recent data estimate the overall prevalence of depression at about 11.1% of the American population, or nearly 35 million individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). A predictive models suggest that up to 50% of the population will experience at least one episode of depression during their lives” (Life Extension, 2014). Depression has negatively affected the lives of many individuals throughout the world. Look around you there may even be someone close to you that is demonstrating signs of its stifling affects. Depression does not discriminate with its suffocating
Many people believe that while mental illness exists in the world today, depression is not included and is rather just another form of long-term moodiness. Because of this perspective that societies share, depression has become a bigger problem than it needs to be.
When you ask someone about depression here's something to remember. People can seem fine but depression is like a thief in the night robbing you of hope, joy and the will to live. It's always lying on the surface waiting to rise up and take control. A false illusion of comfort because it's so familiar. You never defeat it, there is no ultimate victory to be sung.
Things as simple as poor hygiene, poor psychical health, and overly dependent behavior can be a cause of depression (Mental Health, 1995-2014). More severe conditions can involve, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, anxiety and phobias, and need for care (Mental Health, 1995-2014). The first time someone may feel depressed could occur at any age from childhood to old age, the onset may be either acute or long term. People who have been depressed for only a few months are more likely to overcome it. Others who have dealt with depression for most of their life with never get over it. 40 percent of people who have a conic illness of depression overcome it (Mental Health, 1995-2014). There are things a person can do to help with a depression illness. Psychotherapy is one option. Psychotherapy is treatment of mental or emotional illness by talking about problems rather than by using medicine or drugs (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Things like vitamins or dietary supplements are all ineffective for helping with depression. Although almost two-thirds of individuals with major depressive disorder responds to current therapies, at least one-third relapse back into depression 18 months post treatment
Depression is the leading cause of emotional and physical problems. So what do people do to treat this disorder? Anti-depressants are most commonly used amongst patients suffering from depression. “Second only to antibiotics, anti-depressants are the most commonly prescribed class of medication.” This is concerning because patients become dependent on these medications. In many cases, SSRIs can have an opposite effect on patients, resulting in thoughts of suicide and other physical symptoms. Safer alternative treatments include treating depression through therapy without use of medication. “Depression is much more than just sadness.” Some patients describe depression as living in a dark empty space, dealing with the lack of energy,
Depression is defined as, “a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide” (Merriam Webster). A close friend of mine battles depression and would describe it is, “a debilitating mood that makes it hard to get out of the bed in the morning, a desire to sleep all the time, inability to experience joy, and apathy towards life.” Due to its prevalent occurrence among several people groups throughout history, depression is known as the “common cold of mental illnesses” and has been called “the most widespread, serious,
Depression has numerous causes and effects which affect not only the person but the people around them. Depression doesn’t have a specific cause; in most cases it’s different for everyone. It is a common, treatable mental illness that can be experienced at any time in life. It is often described with feeling sad, unhappy, miserable, or “down in the dumps”. Most people have these feelings on occasion. There are several types of depression. These different types of depression describe slight, but often important, diagnostic differences. True clinical depression interferes with mood disorder in everyday life for weeks, months, or even years. Most people think depression affects only one
Before we can go any further, we must know what depression is and what causes it. Depression is an emotion that is felt along with a strong
One of the scariest emotional experiences a person can ever suffer during their lifetime is to experience a form of depression. Over one in five Americans can expect to get some form of depression in their lifetime. Over one in twenty Americans have a depressive disorder every year. Depression is one of the most common and most serious mental health problems facing people today. However, depression is often not taken seriously because of the large use of antidepressant drugs and the large number of sufferers. Depression is a serious illness and should be taken as so. Contrary to the popular misconceptions about depression today, it is a serious and deadly disorder.1
Depression is a broad term for a mental illness that can occur at any stage in life under different criteria that must be met as stated in the DSM5. Researchers in the mental health and medical fields have found many different links to depression. Unfortunately, the exact cause of depression cannot be described in terms of “one size fits all.” Although types of depression can be long lasting or short-lived, there are a variety of ways to effectively manage depressive episodes.
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.
A depressive disorder is not just a passing blue mood but rather persistent feelings of doubt, loneliness, worthlessness and a lack of desire or urge to engage in pleasurable and fun activities. It is an illness that involves our body, mood, feelings and thoughts; it interferes with daily life and activity, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her; It is not a sign of weakness or a condition that can be wished away in an instant. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves back together" and get better, they will need time, treatment and help. Without treatment, it can last for weeks, months, or years. Depression is serious illness, and most people who experience it need appropriate treatment to get better.
Depression is a medical illness that affects our mind and body . According to the CDC Health Department , they exposed that 9% of Americans felt depressed at least one time every two weeks [01]. This is a serious
Depression is more than just a feeling of sadness; it can easily gain control of an individual’s life if these feelings continue.