Depression

Depression is said to be the most common of psychological problems. There are, on average, over 17 million people in America who suffer from depression at one point every year. It can happen to anyone and is not something to be taken lightly.

Some common symptoms of depression include; a change in sleeping patterns or loss of energy. Some people can't get to sleep when they need to or they wake up throughout the night. Others sleep all the time and still have no energy. They lose the ability to concentrate and can't make decisions on their own.

Most people suffering from depression can feel irritated at someone for no real reason or feel sad for a few weeks at a time. Depression also often makes a person feel worthless or guilty. They often stop doing the things that they used to enjoy, such as, going out with friends. If these symptoms get worse it can lead a person to contemplate suicide.

Depression can interfere with everyday life and can also affect physical health as well as mental. The loss of energy that a person feels can hinder their ability to work. A person suffering from depression a lot of times would rather stay in bed all day. They don't necessarily sleep the whole time, but the act of getting up is too much.

Most depression sufferers go through periods of rapid weight gain or loss. It is different from person to person, but most often they will either eat more than usual or else they can "lose the will" to eat.

It's important to know that depression is not "all in your head." There are certain chemicals in the brain called "neurotransmitters". Depression is said to occur when these chemicals are not being transmitted properly and causes an "imbalance."

There is no one cause for depression and often times a person can be depressed and have no idea why.
Depression can run in your family and be passed down by each generation. It can also be caused by some form of stress; such as, financial instability, losing a loved one, getting married or even starting a new job. If a person has a low self-esteem or is a pessimist, they could be more susceptible to depression. Depression can also become a problem if a person has had recent physical health problems. Things, such as, surgery, heart problems or cancer can be very stressful and cause a person to become very depressed. This can hinder a person trying to recover. Suffering from depression can weaken a persons immune system and can actually make their illness worse and more painful.

When a person suffers from depression they run the risk of suffering from other psychological disorders as well. Things, such as, eating disorders and anxiety problems are common, however they can also suffer from schizophrenia. Often times a drug addiction or other type of addiction can appear as a way for a person to "escape" the feelings of depression.

Though anyone can suffer from depression, it seems to depend on the gender and age of the person. Women, because of the hormonal changes they face, seem to be twice as likely to suffer from depression in their life than a man. Though a man is more likely to not seek the help that they need for treatment. Men also tend to become more angry and aggressive than women and are more likely to "hide behind" an addiction than women are. Suicide is also said to be about four times more likely in men than in women.

The older a person gets, the more changes they experience. Older people are more likely to get sick and recover more slowly than a younger person. An older person is not as active as they were in there younger years and, therefore, can't do some of the things they like to do anymore. The loss of loved ones may become unbearable. After the kids have grown up and moved out, they have to adjust to an "empty nest." It is common to mistake depression as "normal signs of aging" and more often than not, elderly people go without treatment.

There are many different forms of depression including; major depression, dysthymic depression, unspecified depression and bipolar depression.

Major depression is said to be the most serious of all types of depression. Some sufferers have thoughts of suicide or a history of hospitalization, but those are not deciding factors in determining whether or not a person suffers from major depression. With this type of depression the symptoms are more numerous and usually are more severe than with other types. Major depression can be caused by traumatic stress. Usually it is a result of one life changing moment or else a lifetime filled with stress and pain.

With treatment, a major depression sufferer can recover. It is common for someone who suffers from a bout of depression to experience it again and again throughout their lives (this is called "recurring depression." However, because major depression is caused by stress, once it is treated it often doesn't come back.

Dysthymic depression is a lower form of depression. However the person tends to feel depressed for long periods of time. A dysthymic depression sufferer is likely to develop major depression at one point or another within their life. This type of depression may be less intense when it comes to the severity of the symptoms, but they can still interfere with everyday life and it is harder to treat. Most people with a dysthymic disorder feel the depression all the time, but have learned to deal with the symptoms long enough to function in their life. With treatment the symptoms of this depression can be reduced enough to live a relatively normal life.

Another type of depression is called "unspecified depression". People who suffer from any depression that is severe, but not as bad as a major depression or is long term, but not as long as dysthymic depression are put into this category. It is treatable and symptoms depend on the person who suffers from it.

Bipolar Disorder is really a mood disorder and is often classified separately from depression. People with this disorder tend to suffer from repeating "manic episodes." According to research, bipolar disorder is strongly linked to genetics. Symptoms for bipolar disorder may begin to occur anywhere between early adolescence to early adulthood and stays through out a persons life. Treatment is available for this disorder, but because it can be diagnosed incorrectly, many go without proper treatment. Most of the people diagnosed properly, deny that they have a problem and still go without treatment. Without treatment a person can suffer from "chronic mood swings" which can affect their life in many of the same ways that depression can.

Every form of depression has a treatment, but many people deny that they have a problem. It's very important to know that depression can't go untreated. People should also know that it's not safe to diagnose yourself. If a person believes that they are suffering from depression, then they should see a doctor and have them decide what treatment will be best for them. The doctor will also be able to determine whether or not there is some underlying problem (health wise) and be able to treat the physical illness as well. However, if treatment is not sought out, the symptoms can worsen and may take over a persons entire life.