What is Depression
What is depression?
Depression is a condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life. Depression is often caused by life events, either being caused by a decease in the family, a recent break up and the list goes on. It is not necessarily a psychiatric disorder but more of a temporary disturbance that can affect an individual for extended periods of time.
Depression occurs in about 10% of American adults aged 18 and over each year which is approximately 19 million Americans every year. If you are dealing with depression, feel free to keep in tact with this blog page to get a better understanding of how you may be able to overcome your depression.
Here are some of the symptoms of depression:
Statistics:
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
Myths about Depression in Teenagers
Knowing the truth about depression is crucial, not knowing the straight facts and just assuming ideas and beliefs of depression can prevent people from doing the right thing. Here are some myths about depression and the true fact behind it. Source: University Health Systems
Myth: "It's normal for teenagers to be moody; teens don't suffer from "real" depression"
Truth: the myth behind depression is that it's all about being moody and having a few sad thoughts here and there. Depression can affect any one at any age, this include teenagers. Any change in personalty or in daily activities should be taken into consideration and not just brushed off.
Myth: "Telling an adult that a friend might be depressed is betraying a trust. If someone wants help, he or she will get it."
Truth: Depression affects your energy and self-esteem, in some cases it becomes an inability to seek help or look to an adult. As a friend, it will be your duty to share your concerns with an adult who will be able to help the situation.
Myth: "Talking about depression only makes it worse."
Truth: The first step in helping those depressed is talking about feelings and letting the frustrations out to those they can trust like their close family and friends.
Myth: "Depression is contagious"
Truth: Depression is not an illness or disease, it can not be transmitted. However, depression does run along in families and more than one member of a family can suffer from depression at any time in their life.
Myth: "Parents are always aware of their children's well-being."
Truth: Most of the people undergoing Depression keep their feelings behind close doors, and is often hard to pick out who is depressed and not. The best way for parents to for parents to know is maintaining an open communication with their child.
Depression is a condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life. Depression is often caused by life events, either being caused by a decease in the family, a recent break up and the list goes on. It is not necessarily a psychiatric disorder but more of a temporary disturbance that can affect an individual for extended periods of time.
Depression occurs in about 10% of American adults aged 18 and over each year which is approximately 19 million Americans every year. If you are dealing with depression, feel free to keep in tact with this blog page to get a better understanding of how you may be able to overcome your depression.
Here are some of the symptoms of depression:
- Experiencing insomnia or excessive sleep
- Fatigue or nauseous
- Overeating/binging often or loss of appetite
- Feeling worthless, guilty, not good enough
- Feeling anxious, heart racing
- Feel distant from others, loss interests in hobbies and social life
- Can't control your negative thoughts, no matter how hard you try
- Feeling hopeless and helpless
- Relying on alcohol or drugs to ease the pain
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
Statistics:
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
- People who have major depressive disorder are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 – 44.3.
- It can develop at any age but it mostly develops in women more than men.
- The median age for this order is age 32.5.
- For major depression, 3% to 5% of people suffer from it at any time.
- Major depression has a lifetime risk of 17%.
- People who have dysthymic depression (chronic, mild depression) have symptoms that last two years in adults and one year in children.
- This disorder affects 1.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in any given year.
- The median age for this disorder is age 31.1
- There are an estimated 121 million people in the world living with some type of depression.
- Americans share 30% - 36% of that count.
- 60% - 80% of depression can be treated with medication and psychotherapy.
- 80% of people are not being treated who have depression.
- The number of people who are diagnosed with depression increases 20% each year.
- People with depression health costs almost double to an average healthy person with the health costs associated with depression at $22,960 and $11,365 for a healthy person.
- 1 in 10 women show some sort of depression after having a baby.
- Depression was reported higher in African Americans and Hispanics at 4%.
Knowing the truth about depression is crucial, not knowing the straight facts and just assuming ideas and beliefs of depression can prevent people from doing the right thing. Here are some myths about depression and the true fact behind it. Source: University Health Systems
Myth: "It's normal for teenagers to be moody; teens don't suffer from "real" depression"
Truth: the myth behind depression is that it's all about being moody and having a few sad thoughts here and there. Depression can affect any one at any age, this include teenagers. Any change in personalty or in daily activities should be taken into consideration and not just brushed off.
Myth: "Telling an adult that a friend might be depressed is betraying a trust. If someone wants help, he or she will get it."
Truth: Depression affects your energy and self-esteem, in some cases it becomes an inability to seek help or look to an adult. As a friend, it will be your duty to share your concerns with an adult who will be able to help the situation.
Myth: "Talking about depression only makes it worse."
Truth: The first step in helping those depressed is talking about feelings and letting the frustrations out to those they can trust like their close family and friends.
Myth: "Depression is contagious"
Truth: Depression is not an illness or disease, it can not be transmitted. However, depression does run along in families and more than one member of a family can suffer from depression at any time in their life.
Myth: "Parents are always aware of their children's well-being."
Truth: Most of the people undergoing Depression keep their feelings behind close doors, and is often hard to pick out who is depressed and not. The best way for parents to for parents to know is maintaining an open communication with their child.
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