Depression Has Been Known as a "Result

¶ … 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 of depression varies with the individual and with the form of the illness.

Untreated, it can last weeks, months, or even years." (p.1) According to The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), as many as one in five individuals may suffer a significant depressive illness, although most will not seek treatment.1 During any year, one in ten people experience the sluggishness of mind, body, and spirit we know as depression. 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 appear so confused, frightened, and unbalanced that observers speak of a "nervous breakdown." However it begins, depression causes serious changes in a person's feelings and outlook.

A person with major depression feels sad nearly every day and may cry often. People, work, and activities that used to bring them pleasure no longer do. Symptoms of depression can vary by age. In younger children, depression may include physical complaints, such as stomachaches and headaches, as well as irritability, social withdrawal, and changes in eating habits. They may feel unenthusiastic about school and other activities. In adolescents, common symptoms include sad mood, sleep disturbances, and lack of energy.

Elderly people with depression usually complain of physical rather than emotional problems, which sometimes leads doctors to misdiagnose 1. http://www.nami.org/ 2. http://encarta.msn.com the illness. If left untreated, an episode of major depression typically lasts eight or nine months. About 85% of people who experience one bout of depression will experience future episodes.1 Some depressions seem to come out of the blue, even when things are going well. Others seem to have an obvious cause including a marital conflict, financial difficulty, or some personal failure.

Most psychologists believe depression results from an interaction between stressful life events and a person's biological and psychological vulnerabilities. Depression runs in families. (O'Connor, p.27) Genes may influence depression by causing abnormal activity in the brain. Studies have shown that certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters play an important role in regulating moods and emotions. Neurotransmitters involved in depression include norepinephrine, dopamine, and.