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What
Is Depression?
While sadness touches all of our lives at different times, the
illness of depression can have enormous depth and staying power.
Even the ancient Greeks noted how disabling it could be, and that it
was more than a passing bout of sadness or dejection, or feeling
down in the dumps. If you have ever suffered from depression or been
close to someone who has, you know that this illness cannot be
lifted at will or wished or joked away. A man in the grip of
depression can't solve his problems by showing a little more
backbone. Nor can a woman who is depressed simply shake off the
blues.
Being depressed has nothing to do with personal weakness.
Scientists' developing knowledge of brain chemistry and findings
from brain imaging studies reveal that changes in nerve pathways and
brain chemicals called neurotransmitters can affect your moods and
thoughts. These neurological changes may bubble up as symptoms of
depression — including
derailed sleep, suppressed appetite, agitation, exhaustion, or
apathy. In addition, genetic studies show that although no single
gene prompts depression, a combination of genetic variations may
heighten vulnerability to this disease.
Nerve pathways, chemistry, and genetics aren't the whole story,
though. Depression could be described as a lake fed by many streams.
Its tributaries include traumatic or stressful life events, such as
the death of a loved one, and psychological traits, such as a
pessimistic outlook or a tendency toward isolation. An episode of
depression may result from one particularly powerful experience or
from a confluence of several factors. According to the National
Institute of Mental Health, during a given year approximately 1 in
10 adults will suffer from some form of depression. Each episode
usually affects a chain of people. It can fray bonds between you and
your family and friends by spoiling intimacy, sapping emotional
resources, and stealing the joy of shared pleasures.
Thankfully, years of research and breakthroughs have made this
serious illness easier to treat. Early recognition of the signs of
depression is more common than in the past. Newer treatments, such
as drugs targeted at specific changes in brain chemistry, can cut
short otherwise crippling episodes. A variety of drugs and therapies
can also be combined to boost the likelihood of a full remission.
Just like a rash or
heart disease, depression can take many forms. Definitions of
depression and the therapies designed to ease this disease's grip
continue to evolve. These shifts will continue to percolate through
the field as more research flows in.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/understanding/what-is-depression.aspx
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