Understanding Depression Essay examples

These are loss of self-esteem, loss of a spouse or loved one, or purpose in life. Everyday a person is exposed to various negative effects, although not everybody gets depressed. The explanation for this could be presence of support. This assumption is supported by Merry (2007) and Patel (2007) that major depressive disorder is predominantly developed in the absence of support (quoted in Arean and Ayalon 2010). Another explanation can be presence of other factors affecting on major depression development: socioeconomic, genetic and biological

Major depressive disorder is known to have significant potential morbidity and mortality, and contributes to suicide, incidences and adverse outcomes of medical illness, disruption in interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, and loss of work time. With appropriate treatment, most of the patients with major depressive disorder can achieve a significant improvement in symptoms.

“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

Whether we are becoming a more depressed population or simply changing the standards by which we diagnose is an area of some controversy. What is certain is that the medical system is now processing and treating—with ever-changing cocktails of psychotherapy, support groups, and pharmaceuticals—20% more Americans every year than the year before. Depression—together with its aftermath—is a staggering epidemic sweeping the country, ravaging countless lives in its

Depression affects everyone differently, although a number of the signs should be uniform and recognizable. Depression can affect anyone; men, women, teenagers, even young children. Depression usually affects adults in their 20’s and 30’s and is more common in women. According to adaa.org, depression affects 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of our population. Often people are unclear as to the difference between depression and being depressed as a reaction to their everyday life experiences.

A number of large-scale studies indicate that depression rates have increased worldwide over the past several decades. Furthermore, younger generations are experiencing depression at an earlier age than did previous generations. Social scientists have proposed many explanations, including changes in family structure, urbanization, and reduced cultural and religious influences.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) nearly 19 million U.S. adults have a depressive illness. WHO predicts that by 2020, it will be a leading cause of disability worldwide. 1

More people suffer from depression than you might think. People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities get clinical depression. An estimated 35 to 40 million Americas living today will suffer from major depression at some time during their lives. (4) This is about 13 to 20 percent of all Americans. (1) About half of these individuals will experience recurring depression. (3) Despite being what authorities call "the nation's leading mental health problem" (6), depression is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, and therefore not treated. (4) Often as a result, about 25 percent of these people attempt suicide to end their

Studies show that depression affects more women than it does men. This could simply be because women have their monthly hormonal changes and are more vulnerable, or it could be because society puts more pressure and limitations on women than they do men. The same percentages of men have depression than women, but because women are more open and honest about their feelings they are more likely to seek professional help when they feel it is necessary (R.Nagel, 2002). With men, society makes them feel as if they have to be strong, and encourages them not discuss their feelings. If they reach out for help, they don’t meet the criteria that society says they should and they will be perceived as “weak” and “emotional” when that’s really not the

In North America alone, untold millions suffer the crippling symptoms of depression, an illness reaching epidemic proportions. Many of these people are unaware of their illness or have a suspicion but are afraid to learn the truth. Even among those seeking treatment, many will never be properly diagnosed or treated, but will continue to suffer the consequences.

Many people feel apprehensive and miserable every now and then, but when does it take over their whole lives? Losing a loved one, doing poorly in school or work, being bullied and other hardships might lead a person to feel sad, lonely, scared, nervous and/or anxious. Some people experience this on an everyday basis, sometimes even or no reason at all. Those people might have an anxiety disorder, depression, or both. It is highly likely for someone with an anxiety disorder to also be suffering from depression, or the other way around. 50% of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

In the past year, sixteen million adults in the United States reported at least one major depressive episode. Depression has become one of the most prominent mental illnesses in our country. However, technology is improving tremendously, making it easier to detect and treat these illnesses without the use of medication.

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 the most common of all psychological disorders, affecting 100 million people worldwide. The depression ranges from mild feelings of uneasiness, sadness, and apathy to intense suicidal despair. (Kasschau) If left untreated, it could lead the

The term depression is widely misused in today’s society. All human beings experience periods in life where they are sad for a relatively short period of time, which is considered normal. Those who experience sadness for extended periods may be suffering from depression. Two terms used to reference the classifications of depression, are Major Depressive Disorder, and Dysthymia. Individual diagnosis of these classifications is dependent on the length of time, and severity of symptoms experienced by the individual. The causes for these depressive states can be due to genetics or the insufficient production of neurotransmitters, which provide the brain with the data necessary to regulate one's psychological well being. Two examples