Depression: A Mental Health Condition

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, depression is the leading cause of disability in America for people ages 15 to 44. Unfortunately, it is still widely misunderstood, which causes people to neglect themselves. There are so many different forms, the most major two being major depressive disorder and dysthymia. Symptoms can vary in the way they manifest themselves, and causes are still widely unknown. Luckily, there are many treatment options available. Understanding depression is the best way to combat it.

Depression according to the Mayo Clinic’s website, “is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” (Depression (major Depressive Disorder)) This psychological disorder will affect how a person thinks and behaves. This can lead a person to a variety of emotional and physical problems. When a person who suffers from this psychological disorder they may have a hard time doing the everyday thing that we take for granted. In the worst possible case the person who is suffering from depression may feel that their life is not worth living. (Depression (major Depressive Disorder)) The best way for someone with depression to get help is to see a doctor and be put on medication. Most people who are put on the medication see an improvement in their day to day

Depression affects every one of us, at some point in our lives. For some it’s a one off thing, helping them grow and acquire ways to become stronger with time. For others it becomes more serious as they sometimes flirt with the idea of suicide.

Many people around the world suffer from depression. "Depression is the most common mental health disorder after anxiety disorders"("Depression | Resources To Recover.") Depression is a terrible thing to have especially when it makes people have, Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and Postpartum Depression. "Major depressive disorder involves a consistently depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities for a period of at least two weeks"("Depression | Resources To Recover.").

Severe depression has many symptoms that affect the person mentally and physically. Depression in the mind of the many the people, begin to have “thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts. ”(National Institute of Mental Health). They also start to feel worthless and helpless. This is a disorder that can happened at any age from children to adults.

Depression has a variety of symptoms, including but not limited to sadness, loss of interest and lethargy, guilt, low self-esteem, insomnia, eating disorders (either food binging or poor appetite), reduced ability to concentrate and in some severe cases, suicidality (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

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

When depression is not treated, it can lead to a number of high-risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse. It also greatly increases

Depression affects nearly 25 percent of seniors over 55 years of age. This number is probably low, however, because it is estimated that 80 percent of seniors who suffer from depression do not even know they have it. Instead, they believe their troubles are simply part of the aging process.

There are three types of depression. They three types are major depression, dysthymic disorder or dysthymia and minor depression. Major depression is when it severe symptoms begin to affect your abilities to complete activities of daily living and your ability to enjoy work. Dysthymic disorder or dysthymia is when the depression last longer than 2 years but the symptoms do not always interfere like they do in major depression. Finally, “minor depression is similar to the first two but the symptoms are less severe and does not last as long. (NIHM, 2011)” Depression can occur from adolescents through latter years. Elderly people may experience depression, yet depression is not a normal part of the aging

Depression can be prevented in many different ways. According to webmd.com it can be prevented by getting enough sleep, eating well, exercise regularly, getting regular medical checkups, and see your provider if you don’t feel right.

Almost 20 million people in United States suffer from depression symptoms every year (Finger 1). Depression is mood disorder that affects how people feelings, thoughts, and their overall sense of well-being. People who suffer from depression typically experience intense feelings of sadness, anxiousness, guilt, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Suicide is the third cause of death for Americans under the age of twenty-one (Gomez and Duman 1). Majority of suicides have an underlying cause of untreated depression or inefficiently treated depression. In order to overcome depression, the person experiencing these challenges should start a recovery process that consist of receiving care from an outside source, gaining control over adverse thoughts, and increasing involvement in social activities. Although, the process of recovering from depression is a grueling, lengthy one, the most pivotal part is seeking care from a professional.

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.

To begin with, let us make clear what is depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is described as a serious mental disorder in which a person suffers long time of sadness, loneliness, and other negative feelings. Depression affects how you feel about yourself such as lack of energy and concentration, lose interest in work and hobbies, and have trouble of insomnia. Depression makes life more and more difficult and dispirited. More importantly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), major depression is the leading cause of mental disorder for people in the United States aged 15 to 44. Recent estimates show that about 10 to 15% of children and teens experience depression at

"These individuals will most commonly have symptoms, which start off gradually, but in others cases; the person's symptoms may appear suddenly. Furthermore, warning signs that should not be disregarded are any of the following, which has been proceeding for more then a duration of, a couple of weeks"(Lader). The person shows signs of, persistent emptiness or excessive irritability, loss of pleasure in ordinary activities (including sex), change in weight and sleep patterns, difficulties concentrating and remembering or making decisions, decreased energy, fatigue and feeling "slowed down", and chronic aches and pains that do not respond to treatment. In my opinion, if depression is not treated, it can last many months or years, wreak havoc with your life and can potentially lead to suicide. When dealing with depression, no one knows exactly what causes this illness, but there are a number of variables, either alone or in combination, that can lead to depression. Chemical imbalances are known for causing depression. "This is due to deficiencies in at least two brain chemicals, Serotonin and Norepinephrine, which are associated with depression" (Canadian Mental Health) Even though each case is complex, there appear to be common situations that act as triggers for the event. I have first hand knowledge on the subject, because I worked with adolescents, who are diagnosed with depressions. As well, I volunteered at a group home, where some of the