Depression and depressive illnesses are classified as mood disorders in the medical field, including everything from Major Depression to Dysthymia. They have a number of symptoms that affect people socially, occupationally, educationally, interpersonally, etc. How does one become depressed? Basically, here’s how it works: the nerves in our brain don’t touch each other, but rather pass messages from one to the next through chemicals called neurotransmitters. We need just the right amount of this chemical between the nerves to pass the exact same message to the next nerve. If there isn’t enough of that chemical, the message doesn’t get passed along correctly and in this case, depression or a depressive illness can result. When it comes to depressive disorders the chemicals most frequently out of balance are serotonin and norepinephrine.
A person living with depression oftentimes experiences completely different thoughts before and after a depressive episode. This can be a result of a chemical imbalance and can lead to the person not understanding the options available to help them relieve their suffering. Many people who suffer from depression report feeling as though they’ve lost the ability to imagine a happy future, or remember a happy past. Often they don’t realize they’re suffering from a treatable illness, and seeking help may not even enter their mind. Emotions and even physical pain can become unbearable. They don’t want to die, but it’s the only way they feel their pain will end. It is a truly irrational choice. Suffering from depression is involuntary, just like cancer or diabetes, but it is a treatable illness that can be managed.
Young People and Older Adults Struggle with Depression, Too
- As many as one in eight adolescents have major depression.
- One in 33 children will struggle with depression.
- Untreated depression is the greatest risk factor for youth suicide.
- Those at the greatest risk for suicide are young men aged 15 to 24.
- Elderly men are more likely than women to have suicidal thoughts.
Depression Often Occurs with Other Health Conditions
- One quarter of cancer patients develops depression.
- One third of heart attack survivors will struggle with depression.
- Half of patients with Parkinson’s disease experiences depression.
- Fifty to 75 percent of eating disorder patients will have episodes of depression.
- More than one quarter of people with substance use disorders experience depression.
Men and Women Experience Depression Differently
- Women are more likely to struggle with depression after a divorce than men.
- More women are diagnosed with depression than men.
- Between 10 and 15 percent of women experience postpartum depression.
- Depression in women increases the risk of broken bones.
- Women may develop depression during the premenstrual period and during perimenopause.
Depression is a Worldwide Issue
- Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of disability.
- More than 300 million people of all ages around the world live with depression.
- Nearly 800,000 people die of suicide around the world each year.
- Less than half of people struggling with depression get treatment.
- In some countries, less than 10 percent get treatment.
via Save.org, bridgestorecovery.com