“Depression is a serious disease affecting about seventeen million Americans each year” (Perry et al. 1). Adults, adolescents and children are amongst the millions who suffer with this disease. Depression “affects more Americans than cancer, AIDS, or coronary heart disease”(Hyde and Forsyth, 2002 7). I plan to inform you about the causes signs and symptoms of depression, second, tell you how the causes and symptoms may vary between adults, adolescents and children, third, identify depression, fourth, make you aware of factors that can deepen depression, and finally list some ways to treat depression. Depression is a common known form of mental illness; it “is a serious medical condition that affects your mood, thoughts, behavior and health” (Hyde and Forsyth, 2002 30). It is not uncommon to have a bad day or even be in a bad mood, but when those bad days and bad moods become more frequent, it may be more serious than you think. Although, depression has many symptoms, the physical, psychological symptoms and behavior varies. “Physical signs of depression are sometimes called vegetative or somatic symptoms”
(Perry et al. 25). Physically, adults may experience more muscle aches, fatigue and some may complain of problems with insomnia. Psychologically adults may struggle with extreme guilt, separation and sadness. The behavior pattern with adults could change as well, if they begin to show a change
In the way they think or cognition. There are many different causes of depression. A person may become depressed from a sudden loss, trauma, burn out, aging, life events, alcohol, the abuse of various drugs, stress, illness and genetics may be a factor in some cases as well.
The level of depression varies based on its cause. Not all depressed people express feelings of sadness or isolation. Children and adolescents may not experience the same symptoms as adults. Physically, children and adolescents usually have higher energy levels than most adults, and may not experience problems with fatigue or muscle pain as often. Children and adolescents physical appearance change dramatically. Children and adolescents may lose interest in the way they dress, complain more of headaches and stomach aches, and may have an increase or lack in appetite. Children and adolescents may lose or gain weight at a rapid pace. “Girls who are depressed often develop eating problems such as obesity, anorexia, or bulimia” (Edwards, 2002 100). Psychologically, children and adolescents are still maturing.
Depressed children may run away from home or make suicidal statements such as “I wish
I had never been born” or “I hope I get run over by a car” (Edwards, 2002 101). A depressed
Adolescent is very self critical, tends to be harder on his or herself and has strong feelings of worthlessness. Because adolescents are more likely to be influenced than the average adult, a significant number of adolescents have a greater chance of becoming depressed. The stress of dealing with the pressures of peers, having the need to be accepted, doing well in school, and doing what’s expected at home, are some reasons why more and more adolescents suffer with depression now, than in the past. In many cases, when the situation becomes too much to handle, children and adolescents rebel, and their behavior starts to change. The behavior patterns in children and adolescents are similar. A depressed child or adolescent may experience poor sleep habits, a decline in school performance, show a lack of interest in friends or activities, display very aggressive behavior, lashes out at others, often angry, and may turn to alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with depression. There are many reasons a person becomes depressed. However, alcohol and drug abuse is a large reason for adolescent depression. Another huge factor of adolescent depression is divorce, death and loss of a