DEPRESSION

Joan Harris EDU214

Are you sad? Do you feel hopeless and worthless in life? Do you feel like there is nothing to live for? Do you have

thoughts of suicide?

Depression is a medical illness that causes a person to feel sad, hopelessness, loss of interest in life and thoughts of suicide. Depression is not necessary something you get over in time. Depression can be ongoing and there are various types of depression. The most common types of depression are as follows:
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD) DYSTHYMIC PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMS) BIPOLAR DISORDER (MANIA) MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER ATYPICAL DEPRESSION

TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IS VARIED. OFTEN ANTIDEPRESSANTS ARE USED BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM. PSYCHOTHERAPY IS ALSO A MECHANSIM THAT IS USED TO TREAT DEPRESSION.

DEPRESSION CAUSES MAJOR CHANGES IN THE BRAIN. BELOW IS A PICTURE OF A BRAIN OF A PERSON WHO IS DEPRESSED IN COMPARISON TO A PERSON WHO IS NOT DEPRESSED.

More than 15 million Americans suffer from depression. Women are twice as much likely to suffer from depression than men. Most people who suffer from depression fail to get help for their depression. This is due to genetic, biological and social factors.