Depression - 7 Facts You Should Know
Most people experience periods of low mood or depression at some part of their lives.
While situational depression is usually a minor condition, a disturbingly increasing number of people experience severe or chronic depression.
A greater awareness of this especially difficult disease might help you prevent it in yourself or help someone close to you who suffers from it.
1.
It is estimated that each year around 7% of all men and about 14% of all women living in the United States suffer from severe depression.
These severe depression cases include bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, and major depressive disorder.
Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men.
This seems to be continuous across race and socio-economic lines.
2.
It is believed that the fastest growing age group for depression is pre-schoolers.
An estimated 4% are categorized as clinically depressed.
This may be related to the increase in depression among adults.
The child of a depressed adult is three to six times more likely to suffer from depression than the child of someone who is not depressed.
3.
About half of all persons treated for eating disorders also suffer from serious depression.
Obesity is often accompanied by low self-esteem, a low sense of self worth, and feelings of guilt.
In addition, such persons often eat excessive quantities of food high in sugars and fats in order to raise short their mood levels.
Unfortunately, such eating habits tend to have the opposite effect over the long term and contribute further to obesity.
4.
Low levels of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin can greatly increase the chances of suffering from depression.
Unfortunately, there's not yet any way to measure serotonin levels.
However, it is possible to increase levels with drugs, natural compounds such as tryptophan and a healthy diet rich in amino acids.
Having a diet that encourages higher serotonin may be able to prevent depression from occurring.
5.
Drinking alcohol or using brain altering drugs can worsen Bipolar Disorder (manic-depressive disorder).
Unfortunately, alcoholism often accompanies the condition.
This is not a condition to take lightly, since as many as one in five suffers eventually end their own lives.
6.
The most common symptoms of depression include: Persistent sadness, anxiety, feelings of emptiness, guilt, worthlessness, low energy, poor memory, difficulty making decisions, problem sleeping patterns, appetite change and thoughts of death or suicide.
7.
The condition often "co-occurs" with other conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer's disease and hormonal disorders.
This can be a "chicken-and-egg" situation, though.
Clinical depression is not considered a normal side effect of any of those conditions, however.
While situational depression is usually a minor condition, a disturbingly increasing number of people experience severe or chronic depression.
A greater awareness of this especially difficult disease might help you prevent it in yourself or help someone close to you who suffers from it.
1.
It is estimated that each year around 7% of all men and about 14% of all women living in the United States suffer from severe depression.
These severe depression cases include bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, and major depressive disorder.
Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men.
This seems to be continuous across race and socio-economic lines.
2.
It is believed that the fastest growing age group for depression is pre-schoolers.
An estimated 4% are categorized as clinically depressed.
This may be related to the increase in depression among adults.
The child of a depressed adult is three to six times more likely to suffer from depression than the child of someone who is not depressed.
3.
About half of all persons treated for eating disorders also suffer from serious depression.
Obesity is often accompanied by low self-esteem, a low sense of self worth, and feelings of guilt.
In addition, such persons often eat excessive quantities of food high in sugars and fats in order to raise short their mood levels.
Unfortunately, such eating habits tend to have the opposite effect over the long term and contribute further to obesity.
4.
Low levels of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin can greatly increase the chances of suffering from depression.
Unfortunately, there's not yet any way to measure serotonin levels.
However, it is possible to increase levels with drugs, natural compounds such as tryptophan and a healthy diet rich in amino acids.
Having a diet that encourages higher serotonin may be able to prevent depression from occurring.
5.
Drinking alcohol or using brain altering drugs can worsen Bipolar Disorder (manic-depressive disorder).
Unfortunately, alcoholism often accompanies the condition.
This is not a condition to take lightly, since as many as one in five suffers eventually end their own lives.
6.
The most common symptoms of depression include: Persistent sadness, anxiety, feelings of emptiness, guilt, worthlessness, low energy, poor memory, difficulty making decisions, problem sleeping patterns, appetite change and thoughts of death or suicide.
7.
The condition often "co-occurs" with other conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer's disease and hormonal disorders.
This can be a "chicken-and-egg" situation, though.
Clinical depression is not considered a normal side effect of any of those conditions, however.
