Depression

From Conservapedia

The term depression can also refer to a period of economic downturn, such as the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Depression is a mental illness ^[1] that affects approxiamtely 10% of people. The feeling of depression is something that many poeple experience from time to time ^[2] and can even help individuals to recognise and deal with problems in their lives. In clinical depression or Bipolar disorder, the feeling of depression is worse, goes on for longer and makes it difficult or impossible to deal with the normal things of life. Although depression can be triggered by life events, sufferers also often describe feeling sad for no reason at all.^[3] Symptoms include some or all of the following:

Contents 1 Emotional 2 Thinking 3 Physical 4 Behaviour 5 References 6 External Links

Emotional

• Feelings of unhappiness that don't go away
• Wanting to burst into tears for no reason
• Loss of interest in things
• Being unable to enjoy things
• Feeling restless and agitated
• Loss of self-confidence
• Feeling useless, inadequate and hopeless
• Feelings of guilt
• Feeling more irritable than usual
• Thoughts of suicide ^[4].

Approximately 90% of people that are successful at suicide have some form of mental health or substance misuse problem at the time of their death.^[5]

Thinking

• Inability to think positively or hopefully
• Great difficulty in making even simple decisions
• Poor or lack of concentration

Physical

• Significant, unintentional loss of appetite and weight
• Difficulty in getting to sleep
• Waking earlier than usual
• Sleeping too much
• Feeling exhausted
• Constipation
• Loss of libido

Behaviour

• Difficulty in starting or completing things, even everyday chores
• Crying a lot or feeling the need to cry, but not being able to
• Social isolation/withdrawal

References

1. ↑ "Depression is a mental illness that can affect mood, cognition, and physiological functioning. Each year about 21 million American adults (nearly 10% of the population) suffer from depression or a related illness. Robins, L.N. & Regier, D.A. (1990). Psychiatric Disorders in America: The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. New York: The Free Press.
2. ↑ http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-publication.shtml#pub3
3. ↑ http://health.yahoo.com/experts/depression/5/sadness-amp-depression-what-is-the-difference/
4. ↑ American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
5. ↑ SAVE - The Link Between Depression and Suicide

External Links

National Institute of Mental Health

Royal College of Psychiatrists]