Over the years, it has been evident that many scholars, researchers, and mental health professionals in the psychology field are heavily relying on college/university students when studying mental health conditions. More specifically, a prominent mental condition that has dramatically risen over the years in its prevalence is what most people encounter at least once in their lifetime but the extreme aspects of this disorder causes excruciating emotional pain and is highly debilitating. This disorder is depression. Depression is a disorder on a spectrum and the more extreme the illness is, the higher level of damaging effects it has, incapacitating an individual. Moreover the diagnosis, impact, and effect of depression vary from person to person. Almost everyone feels melancholic and depressed at one point in time due to external factors that they are faced with, but a clinical diagnosis is made when the ‘depressed’ state of mind takes control of one’s life and becomes detrimental to their health. For example, it can take a toll on one’s health and intervene with one’s lifestyle limiting their ability to do several things such as working, interacting with individuals, finding the energy to do things and so forth. According to the DSM IV model, an individual who suffers from major depressive disorder must have symptoms of depression such that they either have a depressed mood or a loss of interest/lack of pleasure in daily activities consistently for at least a period of 2 weeks. This requirement excludes depressed moods caused by substance use such as drugs, alcohol and medications.…
In “Depressingly Easy,” Kelly Lambert argues that modern rates of depression are directly linked to a lack of hard work. Lambert began questioning the reason behind the increase in depression when reading a book to her daughter about Laura Ingalls Wilder. Compared to the time of Laura Ingalls, advancements in technology have decreased the amount of hard work needed by individuals. However, Lambert argues that work provides necessary “effort-driven rewards” for the brain (3). Lambert describes these rewards as a neurological response that stimulates the release of “feel good” neurochemicals upon completing a complex task. The nucleus accumbens, the pleasure center of the brain, controls this response as well as the brain’s motor system and emotion…
Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person conducts him/herself, and the way he/she think. Depression may include anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, manic depressions. People with a depressive illness cannot merely pull themselves together ' and get better. About 5% of the population will have some form of a mental illness at some point in their lives. Half of these people will also have a substance abuse…
Depression is a mental illness caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Scans on patients with clinical depression showed that they had less brain volume in several regions, including the frontal lobe, basal ganglia and hippocampus than normal, non-depressed patients. Depression can affect the way a person sleeps, eats, and functions on a daily basis. People with depression often have feeling of hopelessness, lack of energy, and they take no pleasure in things that normal people enjoy. A depressed person usually lacks motivation to do nearly anything, even the basic everyday must-do’s. Major depression is a disease that affects 5 percent of the global population (Depression’s Chemical Imbalance Explained | Psych Central News). Some people may only experience depression during and after a traumatic event, but most depressed people have to deal with the illness for a lifetime. Depression is a mental illness because it is a disease that attacks and affects the brain.…
Depression affects almost fifteen million individuals in a given year. Depression often results in emotional and physical destruction of oneself which leads to thoughts of suicide and heart attacks for many individuals. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of despondency and despair for months or even years. A disorder such as depression causes millions to feel unworthy and question their life and purpose in the world. Many ask themselves questions such as, what is the point of even trying if I’m going to fail? The loss of interest in daily activities and the emotional pain of being in a state of gloom for months can be extremely detrimental to ones well-being, physically and mentally. Environmental and sociocultural…
Depression is the most common mental disorder, not only for adults, but for children and teenagers as well. The DSM-IV classifies depression as a mood disorder. It states that an individual has suffered a “major depressive episode” if certain symptoms persist for at least two weeks, including a loss of enjoyment in previously pleasurable activities, a sad or irritable mood, a significant change in weight or appetite, problems sleeping or concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness. These symptoms of depression fall into four categories: mood, cognitive, behavioral, and physical. Depression affects how individuals feel, think, behave, and how their bodies work. People with depression may experience symptoms in any or all of the categories, depending on personal characteristics and the severity of the depression. Although depression is usually first noticed during the teen or early adult years, a person can have an episode of depression at any age. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is estimated to be 2% in children and 6% in adolescents and up to 25% of adults age >60 experience MDD, dysthymic disorder, or “minor” depression. Although diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder is similar among all patients, its symptoms and course may be atypical in children, adolescents, and older adults. Awareness of these varying clinical manifestations can facilitate early recognition and treatment. Although diagnosis and treatment of depression is similar regardless of a patient’s age, younger and older patients may not exhibit typical depressive symptoms.…
When it comes to depression not all reactions are the same. Research has shown that teens are more likely to exhibit increased irritability, aggressiveness or destructive behavior more so than that found in younger children. Depression in adults is more of an encompassing sadness, and affects them in ways similar to those in children and teens, Many adults tend to handle depression better than. Although, studies cannot prove this. There are everyday circumstances that can influence behavior in children and contribute to depression. Things such as feeling like they don’t fit in or feeling worthless. These feelings can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, violence and even suicide. A hypothesis on depression shows that depression is thought to be caused by an influence of chemicals called neurotransmitters that send messages between nerve cells in the brain. If these mood-influencing chemicals get out of balance, depression or other…
"Adventures in Depression" by Allie Brosh is a moving essay that is eye opening showing that depression doesn't always have a reason making it even more crippling. This essay is on a blog called "Hyperbole and a Half" Through out there are several illustrations emphasizing the effects and showing how our brain can work against us. "Adventures in Depression" is a well written essay because of the truth that is shown through the illustrations, metaphors, and the sad but too real of an ending that is brings her to an even worse point in he life and she doesn’t realize it.…
“Depression is a psychiatric illness characterized by profound and persistent feelings of sadness, despair and/or worthlessness that interfere with daily functioning and personal relationships.” (12) Depression is a disorder that can affect people either slightly or dramatically, by affecting how they feel or think and how they see themselves and their lives. Depression can be cured by health practices such as Anti-depressants, Yoga and Acupuncture.…
It is possible to treat depression through the means of antidepressants, diet, exercise, and psychotherapy. Depression affects many people and is a widespread problem. It is not only a problem for the United States, but it is a problem throughout the entire world. Suicide rates are increasing and more strategies are being formulated to prevent the rate from continuing to rise, however the strategies are ineffective if there are no people to implement them. Depression rates are also steadily rising, As previously mentioned, the study conducted by the National Institutes of Health showed that around fifteen million U.S. adults older than eighteen (6.7 percent) had suffered from depression at least once within the previous year. The symptoms of depression such as sadness, difficulty sleeping, inability to concentrate, headaches, stomach aches, loss of appetite, restlessness, and others are common symptoms of depression that are easily dismissed as common behavior. Depression is a dangerous illness that can result in death, but all forms of depression are receptive to…
Depression is one of the most debilitating and common mental illnesses. Those who experience major depression carry the largest burden of disability among mental and behavioral disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression has a 6.7% 12-month prevalence among adults in the U.S, an estimated 15.7 million adults 18 or older, which is exceptionally significant. In addition, major depression accounts for 3.7% of all U.S. disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 8.3% of all U.S. years lived with disability (YLDs).[] The DSM-5 classifies major depression only when someone endorses five out of nine symptoms (depressed mood, anhedonia, changes in appetite: weight loss/gain, changes in sleep pattern: oversleeping…
Depression is not only a state of being sad, it is a disease that conquers the ability to feel emotion, whether good or bad, whatsoever. Depression not only involves the mind, it also involves the body and thoughts. In different cultures some complain of excessive headaches and extreme pain and this is identified as depression, moderate or otherwise. This disease can be passed down through genes or can follow external events or can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression affects twenty percent of all Americans, some without even knowing it, at sometime during their lives. Depression is not a disease that only influences males or children of the age three to eleven. Every human being is prone to depression. Although women are three times more likely to become depressed than men, men are five times more likely to commit suicide when depressed than women. Some think that women have a less pleasing social role and their hormones make them more susceptible to depression. Men are more subject to keep their emotions bottled up inside of them because of their role in society and that they do not have the society’s permission to express their feelings openly.…
What is depression? According to Wikipedia, is called “Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, clinical depression, or simply depression, is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive low mood, loss of interest in a person 's usual activities and diminished ability to experience pleasure. The diagnosis is made if a person has suffered one or more major depressive episodes. The onset is usually in early- to mid-adulthood. Diagnosis is based on the patient 's self-reported experiences and observed behavior. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians often test for physical conditions that may cause similar symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis. The course varies widely: it can be a once-in-a-lifetime event or have multiple recurrences; it can appear either gradually or suddenly; and can either last for a few months or be a life-long disorder.” (Wikipedia)…
“A lot of people don't realize that depression is an illness. I don't wish it on anyone, but if they would know how it feels, I swear they would think twice before they just shrug it “(Jonathan). Depression is a low state of mood and activity; it causes a negative effect on person’s emotions, behavior and physical wellness. In men, depression is a common illness, one in six men have experience it in their lifetime. As doctor says, if depression isn’t noticed early will become severe and hazard. In addition, women have some protection from depression, due to female brain chemistry and sex hormones. Nevertheless, depress children’s are the most affected, they frequently hide their feelings, so parents wouldn’t identified if their child is actually depressed.…
The first step to learn about depression is to understand the illness. Why do people get Depressed? There is no single cause for depression. According to teenshealth.org “Many things play a role in depression, including inherited traits from family members who may have had depression, or living in a difficult family or social environment. Depression also involves the balance of naturally occurring chemicals in the brain ,neurotransmitters, that affect the mood. There is no set level of intensity with this illness, but many different forms of it. The most common three are as follows: Manic Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Minor Disorders(athealth.com).Manic Depressive Disorder, or bipolar disease, is one of the strongest forms of depression. It is an illness that affects over 1.2 percent of the American population. Bipolar disease changes emotions, appetite and energy levels at rapid, random rates (athealth.com). Major Depressive Disorder, or clinical depression, is the most common, and least treated type of depression. A person with this disorder experiences significant weight loss or increase, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, insecurity and random depressive episodes involving thoughts of…