Depressive is a mental illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Depression is not the same as a passing blue mood nor is a sign of personal weakness.
TYPES OF DEPRESSION
Depressive manifest itself in different forms, but there are three common types of depression. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity and persistence.
1. Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.
2. Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression. It involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia may also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.
3. Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression).
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND MANIA
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.
DEPRESSION
* Persistent sadness, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is involved in the onset of depression.
* Hereditary
* Environmental e.g. possibly stresses at home, work, or school
* Drug use and abuse
* Poor nutrition
* Psychological predisposition associated with one or more of the above combinations.
DEPRESSION IN WOMEN
* Women experience depression about twice as often as men.
* Many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women, particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause and menopause.
* Many women also face additional stresses such as responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood and caring for children and for aging parents.
DEPRESSION IN MEN
* Men are less likely to suffer from depression than women.
* 3 to 4 million men in the United States are affected by the illness.
* Men are less likely to admit to depression, and doctors are less likely to suspect it.
* The rate of suicide in men is four times that of women, though more women attempt it. In fact, after age 70, the rate of men's suicide rises, reaching a peak after age 85.
* Depression can also affect the physical health in men differently from women.
* Although depression is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in both men and women, only men suffer a high death rate.
* Men's depression is often masked by alcohol or drugs, or by the socially acceptable habit of working excessively long hours.
* Depression typically shows up in men not as feeling hopeless and helpless, but as being irritable, angry, and discouraged; hence, depression may be difficult to recognize as such in men.
* Even if a man realizes that he is depressed, he may be less willing than a woman to seek help.
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