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Depression
Margarita Perez
2/19/15
Psychology 101
Carrington College On-Line

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In todays society, millions of people are affected everyday with

depression, in which it is very difficult for them to see a positive side. It has
been proven that with the right medication and treatment there is hope.
What is depression? Depression comes in so many forms and it affects every
individual different. This can be from major disorder, anxiety, and clinical
disorders. Depression is a serious medical illness and it is not something that
is just made up in a persons mind. When one begins to feel sad, loss, anger,
or frustrated for no reason, this can be some of the early signs of depression.
Depression impacts the brain that causes chemical changes and imbalances
in the brain.
Who is at risk? It has been said that one in every ten people will suffer
from some type of depression. As depression continues to affect millions of
Americans, it is also one of the most common serious brain diseases in the
United States. One fact of depression that hold true, is depression is highly
more common in women than it is in men. This may be due to female
hormones, but yet we need to take into account that men are less likely to
admit they may be depressed and seek medical care. Other factors of who
may be at risk is age. Major depression is most likely to affect adults
between the ages of 45 to 50. Race is yet another risk factor, which we see
in Blacks and Hispanic Americans. The CDC show studies that people that
have material status, education, economics issues, and family history are at
risk of becoming depressed.

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Depression is all too real, especially in childhood, which often goes

undiagnosed and untreated because it is passed off as normal behavior.
When children seem sad that is no indication that the child is depressed. If
the child sadness becomes persistent and begins to show disruptive
behavior, such as in schoolwork, everyday social activities, and change in
their sleeping pattern. This may indicate that the child may be experiencing
some type of depression. Other childhood sign and symptoms that one
should be aware of are:

Fatigue
Feeling of worthlessness
Thoughts of suicide

Keep in mind that a primary symptom of childhood depression revolves

around sadness. Not all depressed children have all the symptoms at one
time. In fact, most will experience these symptoms at different times. While
depression is a very serious illness, it is also treatable.
Although rare in children under 12 years of age, suicide happens and may
do so impulsively when they are upset and angry. Suicide attempts are more
likely in girls, but boys are more likely to actually kill themselves. This is seen
more in children with families who have a history in violence, physical or
sexual abuse and alcoholism.
Adolescent depression is a mental and an emotional disorder. However,
sign and symptoms tend to manifest in teens are different from adults. This
is due to the different social challenges teens often face with. For example

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adolescents are faced with peer pressure, changing hormones, and simply
awkwardness. There is no single known cause to adolescent depression. But
research has shown that adolescents do have structural differences in their
brain, as compared to an adult.
Depression (mental illness) is all too common in adulthood. One in five
will have had some form of depression by the time they reach the age 25.
Some behaviors seen in depressed young adults are over drinking alcohol,
including binge drinking, smoke more, and abuse illegal drugs. Which can
lead to high risk behaviors, such as sudden loud outburst, becoming angry
for no reason, and very violent. Certain types of depression can have long
term effects such as dropping out of school, getting fired or quitting a job,
and unable to stay in a healthy relationship. Also most often when one is
depressed, they have no idea they are ill. Same goes for others to realize
someone may be depressed. Which leads for a person to think that the
person may be just in a bad mood, angry, lazy, or just wanting to cause
trouble.
Causes of depression varies in the persons stage in life. While so many
factors come to play into the role play of depression and its sign and
symptoms and treatments. Mental health depression disorder is not only an
illness, but it causes interference in ones daily activities such as thinking,
sleeping and eating. Keeping physical health is essential as depression
causes many people to become lethargic and fall into bad habits, and other

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factors also involve personality changes causing stressful situations. Other

factors that may also increase depression, include the following:

Abuse / Medications
Conflict / Death or Loss
Genetics / Major Events
Personal problems / Substance abuse

Managing depression, ways one can deal with depression. Lets start with
dont blame yourself. Easier said than done, yet this is the simplest and
most important thing one can do to beat depression. Understanding
depression can lead to a fast and healthy recovery. One also needs to
understand that having the stigma of depression will only keep them believe
that they are inadequate, which can get in the way of recovery. Learning to
manage the symptoms of depression requires a proactive approach, control,
and patience with oneself. Taking small steps is the key to build from. Feeling
better will take time, one can get there by making positive choices for
themselves each day.
Depression comes with so many signs and symptoms, one thing we do
know is that depression is having high and low mood swings, mostly a
continuous low mood. If depression is left untreated clinical and or major
depression may get worse and take longer to heal. Being able to recognize
the symptoms of depression is not so easy which, is the biggest hurdle in
seeking medical treatment. Factors that cause depression: lets look at some
of these symptoms a depressed person my experience. Symptoms of
depression may include the following:

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Difficulty concentrating and remembering

Hopeless / worthless / guilt
Insomnia / excessive sleepiness
Over eating / loss of appetite
Empty feeling / sadness
Thoughts and attempts of suicide

Most of us may know that emotional symptoms are related to depression,

but what a lot of us dont know that depression can also cause physical
symptoms, too. In fact what they do feel is PAIN. Physical symptoms
include the following:

Headaches / back pain

Joint pain /chest pain with heart problems
Digestive problems / dizziness

There are so many depressed people who never get help, because they
are not aware of their physical symptoms are related to depression.
Sometimes doctors do miss this, too. Depression seems to be related to an
imbalance of certain chemicals in your brain. Some of these same chemicals
play an important role in how one may feel pain.
Treating depression can be done in the form of using oral medications
(anti-depressants). Most important is to recognize which type of depression a
patient may have to properly treat.
Antidepressant drugs improve depression symptoms by increasing certain
brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Also it has been believed that
these brain chemicals can regulate brain circuits that affect emotions.

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NeuroStar TMS Therapy is a form of drug free treatment for depression.

The FDA has cleared and announced the NeuroStar is safe and effective
treatment for patients who have severe depression and have not benefited
from prior antidepressant medications. NeurStar therapy works by
stimulating areas of the brain that are underactive. Many depressed patients
often feel there is no hope. Good news, there is hope if depression can be
diagnosis early and treated, then the healing begins. Hope comes from the
many ways depression can be treated.
With emotion, man would be nothing but a biological computer, love,
sorrow, fear, apprehension, anger, satisfaction, and discontent provide the
meaning of human existence. (Arnold M Ludwig---1980).
In conclusion, millions do suffer from several different forms of
depression. Many do look for hope, whether it be antidepressants, therapy of
some form, and even spiritually. Depression is all to real at any age. What is
important to the patient and or family member is to become knowledgeable,
be supportive, and help to manage depression. These individual with
depression will show significant improvement.

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References

Facts About Depression: Who's at Risk?

By Chris Iliades, MD | Medically reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD
Retrieved: 2/13/15
URL: http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/facts-about-depressionwhos-at-risk.aspx

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Depression Health Center

Retrieved: 2/13/15
URL: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-children

Adolescent Depression
Written by Brian Krans | Published on August 2, 2012
Medically Reviewed by George Krucik, MD
Retrieved: 2/13/15
URL: http://www.healthline.com/health/adolescent-depression#Overview1

Patient information: Depression in adults (Beyond the Basics)

Author: Jeffrey M Lyness, MD Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Rochester
Medical Center

Retrieved: 2/13/15

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URL: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/depression-in-adults-beyond-the-

basics
Signs Of Depression
Written by the Healthline Editorial Team | Published on January 28, 2013
Medically Reviewed by George T. Krucik, MD, MBA on January 28, 2013
Retrieved: 2/13/15
URL: http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/recognizing-

symptoms#Overview1

NeuroStar TMS Therapy

Retrieved: 2/13/14
http://neurostar.com/?gclid=CP_UzvXP08MCFYKUfgodWZMALg

Deprssion
Author: Arnold M Ludwig---1980
http://altered-states.net/barry/newsletter155/

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