Depression DEPRESSEDGAL27

What is it?

- Depression is categorized as a mood disorder - A mood disorder is defined as a psychological disorder characterized by emotional extremes - Causes a persistent feeling of sadness- One of the most common disorders in the US 

Statistics 

- 6.7% of American adults exhibited symptoms of a major depressive episode in 2014- 3-5% of adults suffer from major depressive disorder at any given time - 1 in 50 children and 2 in 25 teens show symptoms of major depression 

Percentage of Students in AISD Who Missed School Because They Felt Too

Sad or Depressed to Attend

Types of Depression Include  

- Major Depressive Disorder - Catatonic Depression- Seasonal Affective Disorder - Dysthymic Disorder - Bipolar Depression - Clinical Depression 

Major Depressive Disorder 

This disorder occurs when symptoms of depression last two weeks or more and are not caused by drugs or a medical condition 

Causes of Depression 

Biological differences: there can be physical problems in the brains of depressed people

Brain chemistry: There may be an imbalance of the amount of neurotransmitter exposure 

Hormones: There may be a chemical imbalance in the brain 

Inherited traits: Depression can be genetic 

Risk Factors 

Certain personality traits Traumatic or stressful events Childhood trauma Blood relatives with a history of

depression Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or

transgender in an unsupportive situation

History of other mental health disorders

Abuse of alcohol or illegal drugs Serious or chronic illness Certain medications

Symptoms 

Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness

Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration Loss of interest or pleasure Sleep disturbances Tiredness and lack of energy Changes in appetite  Anxiety, agitation or restlessness Slowed thinking, speaking or body

movements Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Trouble thinking Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death Unexplained physical problems

Treatments 

Talk to a psychologist about psychological counseling (psychotherapy) 

Talk to a psychiatrist about getting prescribed an antidepressant 

Not-so-Fun Facts 

Depressed people are more prone to colds than non-depressed people

Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men 

Exposure to abuse and violence make people more vulnerable to depression 

There is a relationship between depression and physical health

Many creative poets and writers have experienced depression

Even positive events can lead to depression  

Famous People with Depression 

Kristen Bell Lady Gaga The Rock  Sarah Silverman  Cara Delevingne Demi Lovato  Sheryl Crow J.K. Rowling

To see a movie about depression

Cyberbully Starring Emily Osment  About a young girl who is

betrayed by a friend  She is bullied at school  She attempts to kill herself after

showing many symptoms of depression 

Feelings Many people feel as though they are trapped in their own minds. 

Hopelessness

Many people feel hopeless when they are depressed

They find it hard to think logically about the future 

They often lack motivation They feel alone in the world  

Sadness

People with depression can feel sad for no known reason

They might find themselves crying and not know why 

Anxiety often intertwines with depression, but not always 

Lost of Interest

Many people have trouble with daily activities 

Things that used to be enjoyable are now pleasureless

Things like school and work no longer are interesting

Some people have trouble thinking straight and concentrating 

Physical Exhaustion 

Cramps and pains may be felt Headaches are common Physical exhaustion can

sometimes be worse than the mental exhaustion 

It can feel like trying to breathe with a weight on our chest 

Separation 

A lot of people feel like they are watching the world spin from behind a glass wall

Other people say they feel like they are ghosts watching normal people walk around and "living" "normal" lives

Others say it is like a dark hole that surrounds your entire life 

Internal Struggles 

Depression can be said to be like a heartbreak 

Many people say they feel numb Others say that it's like the death

eaters of Harry Potter have sucked all the happiness out of you 

Some people lose themselves in the struggle of it

A Quote from It's Kind of a Funny Story." 

“I didn't want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that's really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you're so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.” ― Ned Vizzini

A Quote from The Bean Trees

“There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, 'There now, hang on, you'll get over it.' Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.” ― Barbara Kingsolver

Sources 

Depression. (2016, August). Retrieved December 09, 2016, from https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression  Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved December 09, 2016,  from http://www.mayoclinic.org/ Myers, D. G. (2007). Psychology. New York: Worth.