Outline
I. Introduction and Thesis Statement
According to the survey by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of depression amongst American population has been in the rise with an estimated population of over thirty million people. It is estimated that at least 11% of the American people. It is also estimated that at least 50% of the American population experience some form of depression at some stage of their lives ( Pratt & Brody, 2014 ). Depression is highly associated increased medical illness and decreased level of functioning. Depression as a mental disorder affects the mental wellness of a person while also affecting the social and physical well-being of individuals.
II. Overview of Depression
Depression as a disorder usually leads to a persistent feeling of sadness or even loss of interest. It mainly affects how people think, feel and behave and can also lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. It can change the daily activities of an individual and even bring in some evil thoughts such as suicidal.
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III. Major Symptoms of Depression
Even though research has shown that depression usually takes place in the early life of an individual, there are usually episodes where depression can occur almost daily in once life. Significant symptoms include the feeling of sadness, sleep disturbance, anxiety and irritability ( Brown & Harris, 2012 ).
IV. Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Chronic depression can have adverse effects on people who have bipolar disorder. This condition also known as manic depression can always result to change in the behavior of an individual and is usually associated with mood swings. Individuals with bipolar disorder can experience a shift in mental health to major depression.
V. Depression and Anxiety Disorders
People suffering from depression usually show mild signs of anxiety which include fidgeting and tapping of the feet. The activation of hormones can always lead to high levels of stress amongst people with depression. Too much anxiety can lead to change in the behavior of an individual, both the social and mental thus leading to much anxiety ( Rock et al., 2014 ). Many people with chronic depression can experience problems with concentration, confusion, and difficulty learning new things.
VI. Depression and Cognitive Functioning
The continuous presence of stress hormones in the body can change the operations of the nervous system. This can decrease the normal functioning of the brain cells in the hypothalamus, and this can lead to difficulty in solving problems. Due to this hormones, people with chronic depression may experience a continuous state of confusion and trouble learning new information.
VII. Depression and Personality
Personality is the pattern of thoughts, emotions, and behavior that characterize each situation. The presence of stress hormones in the body can alter the personality and behavior of an individual and lead to anger, aggression, and hostility.
VIII. Risk Factors
Depression can begin at the young age of between the 20s and 30s, with certain factors triggering the process. Illnesses, personality traits or traumatic events can all trigger depression.
IX. Prevention
While there is no exact cure for depression, specific measures such as stress control, visiting a therapist, reaching out to family and friends and living a positive life can always be useful in preventing depression ( Jonas et al., 2013 ). Seeing a doctor for counseling can be helpful for having an assessment for any mental problem.
X. Types of Depression
a. Atypical Depression
Mainly associated with increased mood swings and too much sleep
b. Situational Depression
Occurs when an individual has difficulty managing certain situations in life
c. Psychotic Depression
Mainly involve major psychotic symptoms such as hallucination and false beliefs.
XI. Conclusion
Depression has come out to be one of the major mental problems affecting Americans. The rising levels of depression have had major psychological and mental problems amongst Americans.
References
Pratt, L. A., & Brody, D. J. (2014). Depression and obesity in the US adult household population, 2005–2010. Women , 20 , 39.
Brown, G. W., & Harris, T. (2012). Social origins of depression: A study of psychiatric disorder in women . Routledge.
Rock, P. L., Roiser, J. P., Riedel, W. J., & Blackwell, A. D. (2014). Cognitive impairment in depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological medicine , 44 (10), 2029-2040.
Jonas, D. E., Cusack, K., Forneris, C. A., Wilkins, T. M., Sonis, J., Middleton, J. C., ... & Olmsted, K. R. (2013). Psychological and pharmacological treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Routledge.
