Essay Introduction
The topic I chose for my disease project is depression. The reason I chose to do my project on this subject is that it hits close to home; I was diagnosed with depression at the age of 14 and was then sent to talk to a therapist. Another reason I chose this topic is that there are lots of people in my life who live with depression on a daily basis, and I wanted to get to know more about the disease, the way it works, where it begins, and its different types. Depression was originally called melancholia. The first reported case of depression appeared in ancient Mesopotamian texts during the second millennium B.C.
Research Paper on Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest; this affects how you feel, think, and behave, leading to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Depression occurs in the amygdala, which is part of the limbic system, a group of structures deep within the brain that’s associated with emotions.
Argumentative Essay Examples on Depression
This part of the brain activates when a person recalls emotionally charged memories; activity is higher when a person is sad or clinically depressed and continues even after you recover from depression. Studies show that around 2 million Americans over the age of 65 suffer from some form of depression, and approximately 20% of teenagers have experienced depression before they reach adulthood.
Thesis Statement for Depression
Some symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness, Emptiness, hopelessness, frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thought, suicide attempts or suicide. The majority of people with depression have a loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities such as sex, hobbies, or sports.
Different Types of Depression
There are multiple types of depression; major depression would include melancholia, a term used to describe a severe form of depression; psychotic depression, a type that makes you lose touch with reality and can make you experience hallucinations and delusions. Postpartum depression typically begins within the first two or three days after delivering your baby and can last up to two weeks or more. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is another type of depression; people with this usually suffer periods of depression and periods of mania. Unlike depression, mania symptoms can include feeling great, having lots of energy, difficulty focusing on tasks, and feeling frustrated and irritable.
Dysthymic disorder is similar to those with major depression but is less severe, but with cases of dysthymia, symptoms tend to last longer. To be diagnosed with this, people have to have this milder form of depression for more than two years. Seasonal affective disorder (Sad) is a mood disorder that has a seasonal pattern. Although it is unclear what the causes of this disorder it is thought to be related to the variation in light exposure in different seasons and is usually diagnosed after the person has experienced the same symptoms during winter for a couple of years. Sad is more likely found in cold climate countries in the northern hemisphere with shorter days and longer periods of darkness.
Ideas on What Causes Depression
Although it is not known what actually causes depression, there are many things that are often linked to its development. For example, in life events, research suggests that prolonged difficulties such as long-term unemployment, living in an uncaring or abusive relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness, and prolonged work stress are more likely to cause depression. Depression can also run in families, putting some people at genetic risk. Personalities can also play a part in getting depression, particularly if they have a tendency to worry a lot, have low self-esteem, are perfectionists, and negative people that can’t take criticism. Having a serious medical condition that is painful and stresses you out can also be something that leads to depression. Drug and alcohol use can lead to and result from depression; many people with depression may also have a drug and alcohol problem.
Treatment Options for Depression: Strategies and Solutions
Treatment for depression varies from person to person. Psychological treatments for depression can help change your thinking patterns and improve your coping skills so you can be better equipped to deal with life’s stresses and conflicts. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a psychological treatment that recognizes the way we think and act. This treatment is one of the most effective when dealing with depression and has been the most useful for a wide range of ages, including children, adolescents, adults, and older people. It involves working with a professional to identify thought and behavioral patterns that are causing you to be depressed or interfering with the ability to make it better.
Behavior therapy focuses on encouraging activities that are rewarding, aiming to reverse the patterns of avoidance, withdrawal, and inactivity that make depression worse. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is generally delivered thru groups and involves a type of meditation called mindfulness meditation. This type of therapy can help stop your mind from wandering off into past and future thoughts and avoid unpleasant thoughts or feelings. The main medical treatment for depression is antidepressant medication. If someone is experiencing moderate to severe depression, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants along with psychological treatments.
People with a severe form of depression may be generally treated with different medications, whether it is alone or in combination. The medications would include mood stabilizers, antipsychotic drugs, and antidepressants. Electroconvulsive therapy is a procedure used to treat certain psychiatric conditions. This method can relieve the most severe forms of depression, but because of its intrusive nature and possible memory loss, it should only be used as a last resort. A couple of things you can do yourself to help with depression are maintaining a healthy lifestyle, learning more about your condition, joining a support group of people going through similar situations, and relaxation training.
Conclusion
Depression is a disease that a big part of the world deals with, and if ever asked, I can point someone in the right direction towards finding better and reliable information on what’s going on in the situation they are in and getting the help they would need.
