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Disabling Disorders: Depression And Its Effects On The Brain

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An estimated 19 million Americans are living today with depression. Depression is defined as a mood disorder, or a medical illness, that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression usually doesn’t change in response to great news, passing of the time, or in response to different circumstances. It affects how you feel, think and behave, and can lead to various physical and emotional problems. Depression can last weeks, months, even years if not treated. People may have trouble doing normal activities and sometimes their life feels as if it isn't worth living. This is a serious condition but very common. Depression is portrayed as one of the most disabling disorders in the world. Around one in five women and one…show more content…
Biological, psychological, social and medical factors all can be causes of the depression. Many factors can contribute to the onset of symptoms, such as grief, stress, substance abuse, medical illnesses, changes in hormone levels, and genetics. Studies show that depression may run in families and children are high at risk for depression if they have parents who are or were depressed. Medical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes or others bring on stress and because their energy and focus is on the illness, their bodies are taken over with depression. Sometimes this illness can develop without an obvious cause. Then there are those who experience a single event that triggers symptoms or have multiple events that causes the onset of symptoms to occur again. Any of these factors can lead to the many symptoms of depression and make changes in brain…show more content…
Tough times at work, loss of a loved one, financial issues, or feeling lonely after retiring are examples of problems that can cause people to be down and feel sad. Usually after this period of sadness, people adjust and recapture their emotional harmony. When an episode is occurring, symptoms happen most of the day and nearly every day. Signs of depression include: ongoing sadness, anxiety, feeling “empty”, decreased interest or pleasure in activities including sex, significant changes in appetite or weight, restlessness, sluggishness, fatigue or loss of energy, angry outburst, loss of interest in friends and family, trouble concentrating, trouble making decisions, withdrawal from people, substance abuse, attempting self harm or having thoughts of death or suicide, unexplained aches and pains, changes in sleep such as sleeping too little or too much, sexual problems, crying too often or too much. These are also common symptoms that everyone can expect to on occasion. However, depression symptoms normally last longer then two weeks and have multiple symptoms all at once. It is essential to look for clues of depression in your loved ones, coworkers, or yourself. Symptoms sometimes may seem to improve or go away, but if the person is very depressed it normally comes back. These signs should not be
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