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What is Depression?
Depression is a condition that affects over 19 million American adults
and over 5 million children and teens each year. Depression doesn't discriminate
and affects people of all races, ages and groups. For reasons not yet
known, women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men. There
are several types of depression including the most common, which are:
Bipolar Depression
Bipolar Depression
Clinical Depression
Post Partum
and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
If you, your spouse, your children or a friend have experienced episodes
of depression, there is more than a 60% chance that it will recur within
the next 3 years. If left untreated, the disease can become chronic and
may increase in severity with each episode.
What is the cause of depression?
Depression is the
result of a complicated process of various genetic, psychological and
environmental factors.
BIOCHEMISTRY
One important factor is biochemistry and the balance of naturally occurring
chemicals in the brain. People who suffer from depression often experience
a reduction in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. When
two of these neurotransmitters, called serotonin and Norepinephrine, are
unbalanced, it can lead to symptoms of depression or anxiety disorders.
Modern brain imaging technologies have revealed that neural circuits responsible
for the regulation of moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior fail
to function properly in people with depression. Imaging studies also indicate
that critical neurotransmitters-chemicals used by nerve cells to communicate-are
out of balance. It is the reduction in serotonin and Norepinephrine which
often results in decreased mood and motivation, as well as changes in
appetite and sex drive.
GENETICS
Genetics can also be a key factor in diagnosing depression. Depression,
like many other illnesses, tends to run in families. A child with one
parent with depression has a 10% to 13% increased chance of developing
the condition; in identical twins, the statistic is even greater. If one
twin has it, the other one has a 70% chance of developing the illness
sometime in his or her life. Further scientific research has indicated
that brain chemicals are under heavy genetic control.
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS
Some studies suggest adverse life events such as divorce, serious illness,
or multiple misfortunes may cause depression. Everyday stress also has
unseen negative impacts on our bodies and does, in fact, contribute to
a wide range of diseases, including heart disease, the common cold, and
depression. Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or poverty
can lead to chemical imbalances making people who are already susceptible
to depression more vulnerable to the illness.
What are the Symptoms
& Signs of Depression?
Each person is unique, and not everyone who is depressed experiences every
symptom. Some people may encounter just a few symptoms, while others may
feel many. The severity of the symptoms depends upon the person, and the
symptoms may vary over time. One symptom may occur during the initial
stages of the depression, disappear, and then return later. In general,
however, a person or child with depression may experience any of the following:
ADULTS
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood, difficulty thinking,
concentrating, and making decisions, Change in appetite; weight loss or
weight gain, sleeping more or less than usual, observably slowed or agitated
physical and/or spoken responses (feeling slowed down or restless), feelings
of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness, Lacking energy or feeling tired
all the time, thoughts of killing oneself, loss of interest or pleasure
in hobbies or activities that were once enjoyed, including sex.
CHILDREN AND TEENS
Frequent complaints of vague physical ailments (headaches, stomachaches,
fatigue), sudden drop in school performance, lack of interest in play,
excessive concern with failure, frequent irritability, crying, lack of
social interaction, boredom, attempts to run away from home, reckless
behavior, drug use.
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