Social Development Research

Social Development Research
Depression is a mental illness that causes strong feelings of sadness or despair and affects a person’s moods and thoughts. It is a sickness that will happen without a motive. Each year in the United States depression affects an estimated 17 million people (Gordon,2010). Depression is a disease in which a life can be destroyed. Depression is tricky to detect in any age group. Men, women, and teens can become victims of this dreaded disease of the mind. Depression is complicated to detect in one owns self because a person‘s thoughts may be cloudy and any critical thinking can be lost. This disease called depression can be fatal, just like cancer or diabetes. Depression is a serious matter. To learn more about depression is a weapon against the disease. Emotions are hard to detect. Emotions do not bleed red like a deep cut. Feeling sad hurts just like a bleeding wound but it is sometimes undetectable. Depression is a silent killer like diabetes. Some warning signs of depression are withdrawal symptoms, frequent crying, anger, extreme sensitivity, and lack of enjoyment, thoughts of suicide or death. If any of these symptoms are detectable or obvious in someone, they might be depressed if the symptoms are long lasting or and severe. Helping a person with depression can save their life. A depressed individual might not think clearly and constant obsess about death. They may dress as if they are going to a funeral in all black, or strike out in anger and aggression. An individual might start hurting themselves like cutting or anorexia so they might see the pain instead of just feeling it. Listening to depressing music like breaking up songs or songs about killing or death might add fuel to the fire. Egging or daring depressed person who might be speaking of suicide is the wrong thing to do. Acting or thinking they would never be brave enough to take their own lives can push a depressed individual to break. A persons tongue is sharp like a sword, according to scripture.
Depression is often considered a female disorder; however men are just as likely to suffer. Women are twice more likely to encounter an episode of dangerous depression compared to men, which has lead to the belief that depression is only for women. Men do get depressed but are less likely to seek treatment due to many contributing factors. Men have associated depression to be only for women, teens, or the elderly. Many men believe they will be labeled weak if associated with such a disease. It is important to educate men on this disease, because if left untreated it can lead to death.
Men can get the blues, is an article that shows insight on symptoms to watch out for on a male, advice on how to treat the disease, as well as why many men try to hide it. The article points out doctors are failing to give correct diagnosis to men who suffer from depression. Many doctors are mainly looking for the disease on women. It also mentions symptoms are different from those we see in women. Men may not complain about being depressed, instead they are more likely to attempt suicide. If prompted to write a research paper on this topic, I would use this article. The article shows insight on why men are not being diagnosed correctly. It also talks about symptoms to look out for, and treatment. The article acknowledges that more and more men are suffering silently from this disease without getting appropriate help from doctors. Men are also more successful at hiding the disease and ending their life. Women suffer from depression as do men. Women describe feeling sad, unhappy, and down in the dumps. While most of us have felt depressed at one point or another, it usually lasts for short period. True clinical depression, also known as major depression, is a mood disorder in which feelings of sorrow, loss, anger, or disappointment affects ones everyday life at an extended period of time. It can fall into several levels, mild, moderate, or severe. Treatment will vary depending on the level one is classified by ones doctor. It is reported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that one in four women will experience severe depression at some point in her life. It is also known as the number one cause of disability in women and though married women experience depression more than single women, the number increases among young mothers who stay at home full time with small children. Women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse are at a much greater risk. Although there is no single cause for depression, research scientist have found hormonal factors such as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, per menopause, and menopause. Other risk factors include medical illness such as a stroke, cancer or heart attack to name a few, family history of depression, chemical imbalance, or changes in the brain chemistry.
Keep in mind having symptoms of depression does not mean a woman is clinically depressed. In some cases feeling sad and helpless because of the loss of a loved one is not unusual. That is why if you are experiencing symptoms of depression you should consult with your healthcare provider. This article touched base and included statistics so I found it very informative and I would definitely use this article if I had to write a research paper.
Helping a person with depression can be simple as emotional support. Depressed people often think nobody cares for them, or they are just not worthy of anybody’s time or patience. Often giving time to a depressed person and lots of patience is the remedy for helping a person with depression. Hearing a person’s problems who is depressed without criticizing, or giving out bad advice without realizing it, can be beneficial to a depressed person. Helping out to build positive self -esteem in a depressed individual with generous comments, or offering friendship can be a positive reinforcement like exercise and good diets help to fight against depression. If the depression doesn’t get better after relentless effort from these efforts, seek medical advice from professionals. Sometimes medication is necessary to restore chemicals in the brain. Depression is a real disease a brain gets when sadness is overwhelming. Sadness is a part of the human factor, and everyone experiences sadness. One can identify this overwhelming emotion in a depressed individual and find the courage to help out by being supportive without criticism. Be a friend to someone with depression or overwhelming sadness.

References

Gordon, S. (2001). Depression. Psychcentral. Retrieved from http://psychentral.com/library/mens_blues.htm
Schoenstadt, A. (2009). Depression. Medtv. Retrieved from http:// http://depression.emedtv.com/depression/depression-in-women-p2.html
Yahoo.(2010).Yahoo Health. Retrieved from http://health.yahoo.net/galecontent/depression-1