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¶ … depression has been known as a "result when individuals forfeit their personal power." (Depression: A Multimedia Sourcebook, p.1) It also has been described in ancient times as "... [an] affliction [that] laid its cause to supernatural intervention, primarily religious in nature. (Ainsworth, p. 48) In the Hindu depression was noted as a struggle between good and evil in which evil would win and "victimize individual humans." (Ainsworth, p.48) In texts from Babylonia and Egypt, gods punished transgressions in the hearts of people and placed on them the depressive curse. The early Hebrew texts allude to the belief that depression in humans reflects the displeasure of Yahweh.
But according to up-to-the-date research, we know that depression is an "innocuous-sounding word... that refers to a potentially disabling illness that affects many but is understood by few." (Ainsworth p.1) Professor Patricia Ainsworth, a leading psychologist on depression, further explains that sufferers often do not realize the nature of their despair until they are so devastated that they can no longer help themselves. She continues:
The reason is simple. Depression is a sneak thief, slipping into a life gradually and robbing it of meaning, one loss at a time. The losses are imperceptible at first, but eventually weigh so heavily that the person's life becomes empty.
Once begun, the course...
And it is noted that depression is one of the most
1. http://www.nami.org/
Common mental illnesses. At least 8% of adults in the United States experience serious depression at some point during their lives, and estimates range as high as 17%.2 The illness affects people of both sexes and does not differentiate between race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing. However, women are two to three times more likely than men to suffer from depression. (Ainsworth p.27) Experts disagree on the reason for this difference. Some cite differences in hormones, and others point to the stress caused by society's expectations of women.
Although it may appear anytime from childhood to old age, depression usually begins during a person's 20s or 30s. The illness may come on slowly and then deepen gradually over months or years. On the other hand, it may erupt suddenly in a few weeks or days. A person who develops severe depression may…
A variety of medical conditions can cause depression. These include dietary
1. http://www.nami.org / deficiencies in vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Degenerative neurological disorders may also be to blame such as Alzheimer's disease and strokes or through certain viral infections, such as hepatitis and mononucleosis.1
Depression typically cannot be shaken or willed away. (Becker, p. 187) An episode must therefore run its course until
Depression and Internet Usage Internet Paradox: A Social Technology That Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well-Being? With the advent of the World Wide Web, a network of computers previously relegated to the world of science, engineering, and business opened to U.S. And international households. By 1998, approximately 40% of all households owned at least one computer and one third of these homes had access to the Internet. Many sociologists, communication theorists, technologists, and
Depression in the Elderly Although many of the elderly citizens in the United States in the future will enjoy better health than in years past, many will still suffer from various age-related healthcare and mental health problems as they grow older that may contribute to the development of depressive disorders. In fact, older people in particular have a number of factors working against them that appear to contribute to the incidence
Depression, Diabetes and Obesity This is a case study on a 58-year-old male, Mr. H.Y. who worked at a supermarket and is now retired. He has a supportive wife who works full time and children who are all independent .He has a history of smoking, but quit 10 years ago and drinks alcohol twice a week. He is obese and a known case of diabetes for one year. He has gained
Caffeine dependency/addiction may contribute to "insomnia, digestive disorders, gastric irritation, headaches, as well as exacerbated PMS symptoms and emotional irritability," (Hunt, 1999) each potential components of depression. To counter the need for a caffeine "fix," gradually introduction decaf as substitute, albeit decaf also has between 2 and 33 milligrams (mg.) caffeine per 8-ounce serving. Full-strength coffee has 145 to 272 mg.. A person may also substitute herbal drinks or drink peppermint
Even in persons with full-blown depression, such alterations of negative life patterns can be helpful. Although "depression can be treated in a variety of ways," either with antidepressant medications or counseling, "most people benefit from a combination of the two. Some studies have shown that antidepressant drug therapy combined with psychotherapy appears to have better results than either therapy alone. ("Major Depression," 2006, Medline Plus Encyclopedia) The most common medications
The failure is rooted in the changing perception of the world and the individual's incomplete sense of place: the new generations in new societies like Australia or America lack a "shared cultural heritage or strong sense of identity" (Eckersley, S16). Likewise, the spirituality that was of use to people in the medieval age is not of the same use in the modern world. People in America, for example, have ignored