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Clinical Depression Research Paper

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My research topic will be on clinical depression. I, personally, became interested in this topic because I have been dealing with moderate depression the past few years. I am aware that my mother suffers from depression and my maternal grandmother suffered from it, as well, before her passing. So, I have to think, does depression run in my family? But for as long as I can remember, I have always had the symptoms (sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, etc.) but thought nothing about it. Growing up, I dealt with my minor depression and symptoms the best I could whether it was by taking on extracurricular activities, being active in my school’s organizations, playing sports, or being around friends and family. It wasn’t until I graduated high school …show more content…

I spoke with a therapist who really helped me. And she thought it would be best for me to be discharged out of the military. I thought, at that time, that being a civilian again would help me to cope and lessen my depressive symptoms. I was lucky to get a job 3 months after my discharge and started attending college. I felt I was on the right track and didn’t continue my medical attention there after. But in June of this year, I sought help again. This time I was fully committed. My depression, at the time, became so severe that I lost a total of 20lbs in a month. I was no longer going to the gym, I lost interest in doing things I loved, and I was even stressing out about taking care of my dogs. The stress, anxiety and sadness stemmed from problems I was dealing with regarding my relationship with my mother and the divorce with my spouse. Everyday, before I returned to see a therapist, felt as if I was falling deeper into a hole of hopelessness. All that I have been though, gives me every reason to write about depression for my research …show more content…

In those moments of tragedy, loss, struggle, stress, etc., it is normal to feel and become depressed. But when those feelings start to intensify and last more than a couple days to weeks and prevents you from going about your regular activities, then, your feeling is beyond that of just sadness. It could possibly be clinical depression. When asked, most individuals assume depression is when someone is so sad to the point of taking their own life, but depression is more than just that assumption. Depression is defined as a “mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity which reflects a sad and/or irritable mood exceeding normal sadness of grief.” The signs and symptoms are not only characterized by negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also specific changes in the bodily functions. In spite of clear research evidence and clinical guidelines regarding therapy, depression is often undertreated and misunderstood. If this illness is not treated correctly, it can cause severe damage towards a person and their friends and

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