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Facts About Depression
By admin | May 5, 2008
Everyone feels deep sadness from time to time-in response to a death in the family, for example, or an inexplicable tragedy, or losing a job. This is a common and normal reaction to a life situation, and is called reactive depression. With the passage of time, the depression lifts, the mood lightens, and life goes on. Clinical depression, on the other hand, is persistent depression that is out of proportion to a person’s life situation or, in many cases, occurs for no apparent reason.
A person who is depressed is under enormous emotional stress. He or she may experience extreme feelings of sadness, dejection, despair, worthlessness, hopelessness, and emptiness. Early signs of depression include a lack of motivation and an inability to concentrate. A person who is entering a depressed state may exhibit mood swings and may even have crying fits for no obvious reason. If the episode continues, symptoms can include loss of appetite, erratic sleeping patterns, and a complete loss of interest in normal daily activities, even ones that were previously a source of great pleasure. A seriously depressed person may become completely withdrawn from life and eventually may even refuse-or be unable-to get out of bed. Severely depressed people often have feelings of complete worthlessness and/ or guilt over some imagined situation. Thoughts of death and suicide may be uppermost in their minds.
Depression is the most common of the serious psychiatric illnesses. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of all people suffer an episode of depression at some time in their lives. Most often, it is relatively mild and short-lived. More women than men are diagnosed with depression. About one in six women will seek help for depression at some time in their lives, while only one in nine men will do so. However, this disparity may reflect the fact that, in general, women are more willing than men to admit to feelings of hopelessness and depression.
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