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BE

Professor JS

English 205

10 May 2023

The Reality of Depression

      The rates of major depression among American adults escalated from 3.33% to 7.06%

between 1991 and 2002 (Gale). Depression is a syndrome characterized by a collection of

symptoms that impair a person's ability to function normally. Depression began to appear in the

19th century to indicate a state of sadness (Paykel). Life experiences, such as developmental

traumas, illnesses, relationship problems, and losses, can all contribute to depression. Some

degree of detachment from reality is required to enjoy a successful and satisfying life.

Depression, according to classic psychoanalytic thought, is the result of internalized personal

loss (Gale). Sometimes people with depression don't recognize or accept that they have the

disorder. To completely comprehend the causes of depression, this paper will focus on its

detrimental impact on a person's mental and physical health, as well as how cognitive therapy

can treat and prevent depression.

       Depression can manifest in many forms with different combinations of symptoms.

Depression is described as an emotional state marked by feelings of lethargy, hopelessness, and

sadness, among other symptoms (Gale). When a person is suffering from a depressive disorder,

their body, mind, and thoughts are all negatively affected, which makes it difficult to think

clearly and make decisions about certain situations. Once a single episode of depression lasts two

weeks or more, a diagnosis can be made. On the other hand, chronic depression is characterized
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by recurring experiences of sadness that don't improve over time (Malhi). Depression in

adolescents is sometimes referred to as hidden depression because it manifests as aggressive

behavior rather than sadness (Gale). In cognitive bias, it is argued that depressed people engage

in self-destructive thought patterns in which they take blame and affect decision-making, dwell

on the negative, and consistently draw pessimistic conclusions (Kendra). However, some people

are predisposed to depression due to genetic factors. More than 60% of people who are treated

for depression have family members who have been depressed at some point, and there is a 15%

probability that a depressed individual's immediate biological relatives will experience

depression (Gale). However, women are more likely to present for therapy and admit to

depression because they’re more easily impacted by depression due to their tendency to

concentrate on bad things, a cognitive bias also known as conformational bias. After puberty,

women continue to experience significant hormonal changes, which may increase their lifetime

risk of developing depression (Gail). The fact that women suffer from depression at twice the

rate seen in men suggests that women may not feel empowered in today's world. (Wiginton)

reveals that despite being moderately depressed her whole life, she only sought professional help

during her final year of high school after experiencing crying spells, paranoia, and being

diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome.

Many people who suffer from clinical depression are unaware of their condition and choose not

to seek help, attributing their poor health to stress or physical conditions. In only a few short

weeks, eighty percent of people who get help report feeling better after trying psychotherapy,

medication, or a combination of the two (Gale). People with moderate depression benefit most

from psychotherapy alone; those whose depression is severe or who have experienced physical

symptoms may consider medication. About 24,000 people aged 65 and up tried suicide in 1995,
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with more than 6,000 successful (Stern), and up to 90% of the elderly who committed suicide

suffered from severe depression, which is often misdiagnosed because of stigma or ignorance.

(Simon) reflects on how she denied being depressed during her college years, choosing to focus

on surface-level issues instead of addressing the underlying emotional issues. (Simon) argued

that moving to a new environment can help, but he highlighted that it is different from healing.

In addition, (Simon) know that anywhere she go will be evidence that she have overcome these

challenges (Simon) also argued that people must be willing to acknowledge that they are in need

of help for treatment to be effective.

      With these goals in mind, we'll be working to improve the speed with which new cases of

depression may be identified and treated (Malhi). Traditional treatments for depression have

included two kinds of drugs: tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors

(MAOI), which work by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain

(Gail). Many patients found relief from both drugs, but they each had their own unique set of

negative effects. Compared to earlier antidepressants, modern one’s function by raising serotonin

levels. (Cotton) argues that chemical imbalances in the brain are to blame for depression and that

medication may be necessary in such cases. (Wiginton) However, while (Wiginton) was able to

cope without medicine throughout college, her anxiety and sadness only got worse as she began

her work as a newspaper photojournalist. Medication for (Wiginton) only helped with the

symptoms of her depression, but the side effects were unbearable. (Wiginton) tried meditating,

and that helped her. She started with the Headspace app and practiced meditation every day,

which led to a change in her new perspective and an increased awareness of her inner cognitive

processes. (Wiginton) was able to develop more mastery over her self-destructive habits and

experience inner calm through regular meditation. The rising body of evidence supporting the
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value of mindfulness techniques for preventing depression growth is emphasized by Wiginton's

personal narrative.  Helping people examine their thoughts and the way they interpret their

environment is one of the most effective ways to alleviate depression. Individuals can benefit

from a variety of methods of treatment, including cognitive behavior therapy, interpersonal and

family therapy, and behavioral therapy, which entails keeping track of their behaviors and

changing them through an arrangement of positive reinforcement. (Gale) The psychologist

delves the patient through an examination of negative thought patterns and the development of

more positive perspectives. Getting enough exercise is another helpful method of treating

depression. Certain chemicals in the brain are released during exercise that function like

antidepressants (Drive). Exercise is also useful because it protects you from the tensions of daily

life that could usually lead to sadness.

    While there are many potential triggers for depression because individuals sometimes lack the

ability to articulate their feelings due to their persistent state of despair.  There is ample evidence

that many people are able to overcome these difficulties. You will be trying to accelerate the

process of beating depression by getting help, learning to meditate, and taking care of your inner

mental and physical health with goals in mind. 

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Work Cited

Cotton, Dorothy. "Why does Depression Affect some People?: [Final Edition]." Kingston Whig -

Standard, Apr 16, 1996, pp. 10. ProQuest, http://libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu:8080/login

Drive, R. N., and Mariella Attard. "Exercise can Prevent Depression, Study Finds: We'Ve Heard

Physical Activity can Help Alleviate the Symptoms of Mental Health, but a New Study Finds it

can Help Prevent Depression, Across all Ages and Around the World."  ABC Premium News,

May 01, 2018. ProQuest, http://libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu:8080/login

Gale. “Depression.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2023.

link.gale.com/apps/OVIC. Accessed 23 Apr. 2023

Malhi, Gin S., and J. J. Mann. "Depression." The Lancet, vol. 392, no. 10161, 2018, pp. 2299-

2312. ProQuest, http://libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu:8080/login?

Paykel, Eugene S. “Basic Concepts of Depression.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 10,

no. 3, Apr. 2022, pp. 279–89, https://doi.org/10.31887/dcns.2008.10.3/espaykel.

Simon Rachel. “I Didn’t Know I Had Depression Until it Hit Me for the Second Time.” Teen

Vogue, 29 Nov. 2019.

Stern, Caryl. "Why Depression Is a Silent Killer." Parade, 28 Sept. 1997, pp. 4-5.

Wiginton, Keri. “Nothing Worked for My Depression - until I Tried Meditation.” Chicago

Tribune, 26 Feb. 2018, www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-depression-meditation-

20180226-story.html. Accessed 23 Apr. 2023.

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