DEPRESSION

Depression

Depression

Introduction

Depression, is a mental health disorder, is defined as persistent feelings of sadness that interfere with daily functioning. Depression is a continuum of mood disorders that include major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder. It is related to disorder, biopolar disorder, includes extreme mood swings that cycle from depressive to maniac states. Depression can occur with either loss of appetite or increased eating patterns. It may also be associated with persistent aches and pains as well as headaches or digestive problems that are not alleviated by treatment. Depression may also be associated with suicidal thoughts or attempts at suicide. Depression, along with stress and anxiety, can lead to self-medication and negative coping mechanisms such as drug and alcohol abuse. In fact, depression and drug abuse are frequently comorbid conditions.

Thesis Statement

Depression has become very common in both males and females nowadays. However the ratio of depression is high among females than in males. It is found that depression increases in females during pregnancy.

Discussion

My personal experience in this area came from nursing care homes, and a particular case in my family, where my immediate cousin had been diagnosed from Schizophrenia, a mental instability which causes an individual to make way for not remembering events, times spent or even their own identity, I found that there is no single cause for depression; risk factors can include genetics specifically having a first-degree relative with depression, sex hormones, and life stress and trauma, such as sexual abuse, assault, domestic violence, and physical illness. Cognitive style can also be a risk factor for depression; ruminative thinking, defined as repetitively and passively focusing on the symptoms, causes, and consequences of distress, has also been identified as a risk factor for depression, and is more likely to occur in women. I specially went to trauma hospitals, to know individual stories, so I can conclude that, why depression occurs and I get to know that, poverty, income inequality, and discrimination are all associated with greater incidence of depression, and increase stress among people through a variety of channels. (Belle, 2003)

I have learnt that females outnumber males in major depressive disorders at a ratio of 2:1, especially during a woman's childbearing years. However, both prior to puberty and after menopause, rates of depressive disorders between males and females are similar. Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe, and not all women experience the same depressive symptoms. Symptoms can consist of persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and/or being “empty” as well as feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and being worthless. Women may also feel irritable and restless or may lose interest in their normal activities and hobbies. There can also be a loss of interest in sex as well as feelings of fatigue. Some women report difficulty in mental tasks, such as concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions.

Depression can occur with either loss of appetite or increased eating patterns. Women are at greater risk for depression at certain times in their lives, ...