Depression - Research Paper Example

It is evidently clear from the discussion that depression refers to a mood disorder whereby feelings of sadness, frustration, loss, or anger impede everyday life for a long period. It is among the most common and most debilitating mental ailments. Torpy outlines the different types of depression. To start with, an individual who frequently feels sad, loses interest in usual activities or has inexplicable crying spells may be suffering from major depression. This grave medical condition should be differentiated from ordinary temporary feelings of sadness following a loss, for instance, the death of a friend or relative. Other types of depression include dysthymia, a mild kind of depression whose symptoms last for a minimum of two years, and bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive disorder), which points to the occurrence of major depression episodes as well as incidents of unusually elevated mood referred to as mania while it is severe or hypomania while it is less severe. There is also Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a major kind of depression that occurs frequently in periods with low natural sunlight. It is characterized by depression onset during the winter months. Generally the depression subsides during summer and spring. Another type of depression is postpartum depression, which refers to the depression of a mother/father that takes place following the birth of their child (Torpy, 2010). Altshuler, Hendrich and Cohen (1998) explain that postpartum depression is much more severe than the ‘baby blues’ that numerous women go through after they give birth, when physical and hormonal changes in addition to the new role of care of an infant can be overwhelming. Approximately 10-15% of women exhibit signs of postpartum depression after delivery. Causes of depression Depression is results from of a blend of genetic, biological, psychological, chemical, environmental and social factors. In most cases, it is an indication that some physical, mental and emotional aspects of an individual’s life are out of proportion. Depression may also result from serious and chronic diseases such as cancer or heart disease. Other contributors of depression include major life stressors (e.g. loss of a job or the death of a loved one), other significant transitions, as well as factors that bring about a loss of self-esteem or self-identity. Since some causes of depression are not directly obvious at all times, the disorder calls for cautious evaluation and diagnosis by a qualified mental health care expert. At times, a person may have little or no control over the situations involved in depression. However, at other times, depression takes place when individuals are not able to perceive that they in fact have choices and that they can bring about a transformation in their lives (Abrahamson, Hornyak & Rehm, 2010). Symptoms Depression is usually identified when patients display straightforward psychiatric symptoms. However, many patients suffering from depression only have physical symptoms whose biologic cause cannot be found, and yet others display symptoms out of proportion to their medical states’ severity (Eisenberg, 1992). A person who is suffering from depression exhibits extreme despair or sadness that lasts for a minimum of two weeks, agitation or being slowed down, and difficulty concentrating or thinking. Such a person is also inclined to feel hopeless and helpless and to blame himself/herself for having these feelings. Moreover, depression hampers such daily life activities as working/concentrating on tasks, or even sleeping and eating – the person’s appetite changes with weight gain or weight loss. Other depression symptoms include increased or decreased sleeping, chronic pain, stomachaches or headaches, energy loss or fatigue. Some people may experience long periods of restlessness or anger. Additionally, individuals with depression may withdraw from friends and family, they may become exhausted and overwhelmed and cease ...Show more