FREE ESSAY ON DEPRESSION: THE SADNESS DISEASE

DEPRESSION: THE SADNESS DISEASE

Depression: The Sadness Disease
In our never-ending quest for happiness in our life, is some of the joy taken away? Have
our thoughts for what we always want turned astray? Why has the quest for happiness left
us more vulnerable and sad? Are we a society of melancholy people who are all looking for
happiness and disappointed with what we find, leaving us in a state of depression and
unstableness, and turning us into not only a society of dismal people, but people who are
left spiritless and melancholic? 
In today's society, depression is referred to as the common cold of the mental health
problems. (Bourne and Russo 24). More than five percent of Americans have depression,
which equates to an astonishing 15 million people. It is said that 1 out of every six
people have had a major depressive episode in their life. It is estimated that it costs
the nation a sum of 43 billion dollars a year in medication, lost school days, lost
workdays, and professional care for depression. Tens of thousands of people out of the 15
million attempts to commit suicide because of depression and about 16,000 of those people
succeed (Bourne and Russo 24).
Depression, loosely defined, is a disorder marked by a state of deep and pervasive
sadness, dejection and hopelessness, accompanied by feeling of fatigue apathy, and low
self-worth (Bourne and Russo 1998 p. A-24). Though that seems like a very comprehensive
definition, it is characterized by many different symptoms to combine to one effect on
the psyche. Depression itself is not only widespread but also associated with many other
psychological conditions, with many physical diseases, and most certainly, with social
and external factors (Schwartz and Schwartz p. 1). 
There are several major causes of depression that may occur in people. The first causes
are the biological causes that are thought to be (1) heredity in which the individuals
inherit directly as well as genetic transmission of vulnerability, and (2) physiological
disturbances, which currently focus on the body's neurochemical, endocrine, and limbic
systems. Psychological causes are thought to include (1) family origin, which focuses on
the general area of personality and its development, and (2) social, influences, which
covers such things as poverty, segregation, and sexism. Stress is another factor in
depression. Stress can result from physical illness, the inability to cope with certain
life events, such as separation and loss, and from significant changes, such as marriage,
and childbirth (Schwartz and Schwartz .3). 
Certain people are more susceptible to depression than others. These people are the ones
more likely to become depressed out of their nature than others are. Ranking in higher
susceptibility, some of those people include women, men, the Baby Boom generation,
elderly, teens, and children. The likelihood of women getting depression is twice as high
as men. Most women have had traumatic childhood experiences that do not surface until
later on in life, thus leaving them vulnerable to depression. Men are likely to get
depressed because it is said that men are supposed to rise above feelings of emotion
(Bourne and Russo 28), men often hide their sadness and that often leads to depression
because they are ashamed of it. The circumstances that can add to this are those of
abusing alcohol and drugs as a means of escape (Bourne and Russo 38). 
Baby Boomers may have been a reaction to the emotional disruptions of growing up in
1950's and 60's America with its unprecedented rates of divorce and relocation, leading
to losses of family, friends, and community. The Baby Boom generation also came of age
during a time of record economic expansion, which created great expectations of wealth
and success. But their enormous numbers also meant unprecedented competition for schools,
jobs, and housing, leaving many of their dreams unfulfilled. When people feel a gap
between what they expect and what they get, these unfulfilled expectations cause
disappointment, frustration, and loss of self-esteem and sometimes depression. 
Depression in older people is often a reaction to physical deterioration and the loss of
friends, family, and rewarding activities. There are things that signal depression in the
elderly: unexplained crying is often a clue and so are combinations of vague physical
symptoms: for example, like headache, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and upset
stomach. Once other illnesses have been ruled out, depression is a real possibility. 
Suicide is now the second leading cause of death after accidents, from age 15 to 19.
Adolescence is a difficult period where teens experience major hormonal change. They have
higher highs and lower lows. They're loosening family ties, but not yet established as
individuals. This combination can lead to deeply emotional reactions to major losses.
Depression is not common in young children, but abuse, losses, and having a seriously
depressed parent increase the risk. Their symptoms tend to be behavioral. One must notice
unusual irritability, aggressive outbursts, and problems at school (Strange 48).
Many symptoms are included in the diagnosis of depression. There are major indicators
people should be aware of to let people know that they might have the possibility of
having depression. Some of those symptoms are as follows: (1) the depressed mood - more
than 90 percent of depressed people appear to be depressed. They look sad, their mouths
are often turned down at the corners, their eyes may appear red and swollen from crying
and they may lack a sense of humor. They will frequently show little interest or
enjoyment for activities that normally enjoyable and may sometimes express fears of total
loss of feeling (Strange 259). (2) Anhedonia - this is the lack of pleasure. Nothing the
depressed person does can make them happy, for example, eating, going out, seeing friends
and engaging in sports. They derive little pleasure from anything, and have no desire to
participate in anything that was once pleasurable to them. (3) Pessimistic thoughts - the
person experiences pessimistic thoughts about the present, future, and past. They include
the feeling of worthlessness, failure, and lack of self-confidence. They may feel very
hopeless which can often lead to suicide. (4) Anxiety - Patients may experience the
psychological manifestations of anxiety. From 60 to 70 percent of depressed patients
report feelings of anxiety and sometimes extreme worrying. For example, a nonpsychiatric
physician who hears a patient complains of anxiety often prescribes a tranquilizer such
as Valium, which maybe ineffective and coutnerindicated for depression (Schwartz and
Schwartz 20). (5) Sleep disorders - Seventy to 80 percent of all persons with depression
have some form of insomnia. The most frequent type is one in which the individual, who is
usually exhausted and has no trouble falling asleep, wakes up after several hours and is
unable to get back to sleep. (6) Appetite changes - People look at food as a way of
making them ill. The depressed person eats very little and may refuse food or just
nibble, even when favorite dishes are presented to them. Shopping for food, preparing it
and even eating is expending energy that they do not have. (7) Changes in motor activity
- depressed persons often speak very slowly. They can be difficult to interview because
it may take them longer to answer a question, and if they do respond it may only be in a
monosyllable. Alternatively some patients exhibit agitation with restlessness and an
inability to relax (Strange 260). (8) Thoughts of death and suicide - many depressed
persons think about death. They think of ending their lives as a way to escape the way
they feel inside. They will make statements expressing how they would sometimes like to
get away from everything and that they have nothing to live for. Only a percent of
depressed persons attempt suicide, but the risk of suicide in all depressives cannot be
overstressed. Many, if not most, of those who attempt suicide speak their intentions
before they do it (Schwartz and Schwartz 21). 
Many different treatments can be used to handle depression. There are a wide range of
treatments that include medications, therapy, and hospitalization to name a few. All
antidepressant medications are equally effective. They elevate mood in 60 to 80 percent
of people who use them as directed. Anti-depressant drugs must be prescribed by a doctor
and used with a series of treatments (Schwartz and Schwartz 146). The first
antidepressants, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, were discovered accidentally during
the 1960s by researchers who were trying to develop new drugs to treat tuberculosis.
Since then, many other types of antidepressants have been developed. The newer drugs are
safer and for most people, have fewer side effects. MAO inhibitors didn't help TB, but
they elevated mood. It usually takes two to four weeks to feel any benefit (Strange 123).

Therapy is used as an alternative to medication. There are two main types of therapy for
depression. The first is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is the most popular and
commonly used therapy for the effective treatment of depression. Hundreds of research
studies have been conducted to date which verify its safety and effectiveness in use to
help treat people who suffer from this disorder. In cognitive-behavioral therapy,
emphasis is placed on discussing these thoughts and the behaviors associated with
depression. While emotions are certainly a focus of some of the time throughout therapy,
it is thought within this theoretical framework that thoughts and behaviors are more
likely to change emotions than trying to attempt a post-mortem analysis of why a person
is feeling the way they are (Strange 261). Because of this approach, cognitive-behavioral
therapy is short-term, usually conducted under two dozen sessions, and works best for
people experiencing a fair amount of distress relating to their depression.
Individuals who can approach a problem from a unique perspective and those who are more
cognitively oriented are also likely to do better with this approach. The second is
interpersonal therapy, which is another short-term therapy utilized in the treatment of
depression. The focus of this treatment approach is usually on an individual's social
relationships and specifically on how to improve them. It is thought that good, stable
social support is imperative to a person's overall well being and health within this
framework. When relationships falter, a person directly suffers from the negativity and
unhealthiness of that relationship. Therapy seeks to improve a person's relationship
skills, working on communication more effectively, expressing emotions appropriately,
being properly assertive in social and occupational situations (Clarkin et al. 209). It
is usually conducted, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, on an individual basis but can
also be used within a group therapy framework. 
Hospitalization of an individual is necessary when that person has attempted suicide or
has serious suicidal ideation or plan for doing so. Such suicidal intentions must be
carefully and fully assessed during an initial meeting with the client. The individual
must be imminent danger of harming themselves or another. Daily, routine daily
functioning will likely be negatively affected by the presence of a clear and severe
major depression (Schwartz and Schwartz 211). Most individuals who suffer from major
depression, however, are only mildly suicidal and most also often lack the energy or will
at least initially to carry out any suicidal plan. 
Hospitalization is usually relatively short, until the patient becomes fully stabilized
and the therapeutic effects of an appropriate antidepressant medication can be realized
usually 3 to 4 weeks. A partial hospitalization program should also be considered
(Clarkin et al. 209). Depression is something that can be overcome with the help and
support from family, extended family and friends. The likelihood of depression has
skyrocketed over the years, so it is imperative that one should know the warning signs of
depression. It takes self-help on the part of the person with depression and the caring
of others for that person to reach out and acknowledge that he or she might have
depression. With the support of family and friends, the person suffering with depression
will be able to function wholly as a person again. They will finally be able to enjoy
life again. 
Bibliography
Bourne, L. E,. Jr., & Russo, N. F.Psychology Behavior in Context. New York: W. W. Norton
& Company, Inc. (1998)
Clarkin, J. F., Hurt, S. W., and Reznikoff, M. Psychological Assessment, Psychiatric
Diagnosis, Treatment Planning. New York: Brunner/Mazel, Inc. (1991)
Schwartz, A., Schwartz, R. M. Depression: Theories and Treatments. New York: Columbia
University Press (1993)
Strange, P. G. Brain Biochemistry and Brain Disorders. New York: Oxford University Press.
(1992)
Bibliography
Bibliography
Bourne, L. E,. Jr., & Russo, N. F.Psychology Behavior in Context. New York: W. W. Norton
& Company, Inc. (1998)
Clarkin, J. F., Hurt, S. W., and Reznikoff, M. Psychological Assessment, Psychiatric
Diagnosis, Treatment Planning. New York: Brunner/Mazel, Inc. (1991)
Schwartz, A., Schwartz, R. M. Depression: Theories and Treatments. New York: Columbia
University Press (1993)
Strange, P. G. Brain Biochemistry and Brain Disorders.