Chris Healey

English 2010
Weatbrook
7/24/2016

Effects of Depression
What is the first thing you think when you hear the word Depression? Most think
about that strange kid down the block whos a little anti-social, or that one girl in your
math class who has those scars on her wrists and legs. Depression is so much more than
all of that. By definition, depression is a serious medical condition in which a person
feels very sad, hopeless, and is often unable to live life in a normal way (MerriamWebster). Depression is not just something in your head; it has real effects on other every
aspect of life. Dismissal of depression as a real illness will continue to do more damage
overall than good. I believe that depression needs to be destigmatized in American
society. This condition must reach the same level of normality as diabetes or asthma.
Depression is a word is commonly heard, but I would argue that it is an illness
that is poorly understood by society in general. This mental disorder falls under the
category of mood disorders. There are multiple symptoms when found in combination
define Major depressive disorder also known as MDD in the medical community. Some
of the symptoms that fall under MDD include; loss of interest or pleasure in activities that
were once enjoyed also feelings of overwhelming sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, guilt
and diminished sex drive. Appetite changes with significant weight loss or gain can
become a serious health issue. Sleep is usually affected, either excessive sleep or the

opposite with sleep difficulty or deprivation. At the extreme there are recurrent thoughts
of death or dying, with or without a specific suicide plan. These symptoms can be so
severe that they interfere with a persons ability to function in day-to-day life.
Approximately seven percent or fourteen point eight million of the United States
population is suffering from depression (Hotline Information). While there does not
appear to be a single cause for depression, there are a number of environmental, genetic
and even physical reasons that some person would develop depression while another does
not. MDD occurs twice as frequently in adult females as adult males (Weissman MM).
Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms is our greatest why to contribute to this
issue. When we are able recognize signs of depression in our loved ones, we can obtain
the necessary help needed for them. If these victims of depression were always left to
deal by themselves without treatment the outcome would be horrific. One of the leading
causes of disability in the United States is depression. The number of people diagnosed
with depression increases by approximately twenty percent each year (Depression
Statistics), and that number is on the rise. So what, This is someone elses issue? We can
no longer be allowed to think this way, its on all of us. People who have the ability to act
have the responsibility to do so.
Depression affects every aspect of that persons life and the cost is so much more
than the cost of treatment. Depression is not something just in ones head. There are many
signs and symptoms leading up to the identification of this specific problem. For
example, victims of depression can display extended periods of hopelessness or sadness
that result in a significant loss in quality of life. Issues like this that have such a strong
effect on mood cause a lot of social problems. These issues include diminished function

in daily life, education, work, mental relationships, social life and family relationships
(DepressionInterview). People like this have a very hard time in completing even the
most simple of tasks. Especially in some of the older generations people seem to think
that this is something that can be a quick fix. Depression has been observed to not only
pose burdens on the affected individuals but their families, caregivers and communities.
In reality these people need to be recognized and gotten help as soon as possible.
Depression can lead to so many dark roads in a person life such as drug and
alcohol addiction. One in three people with a major depressive disorder engage in
substance abuse (Substance Use Disorders). Drugs and alcohol are often the first thing
people turn to with undiagnosed depression; its pretty easy to see why. Depression is a
gateway to alcohol and drugs because people are trying to escape the negative feelings
they have. Thirty three percent of people with depression-related substance abuse attempt
to commit suicide (Substance Abuse and Suicide). Often, in more cases than not, they can
not escape those feelings without treatment. These people need help and we have an
obligation to ensure they receive help.
Depression affects so much more than our private lives. It affects our social and
professional lives just as much. Depressive disorders make even something as simple as
maintaining job very difficult. With the very few percentage that can maintain a job have
a very low chance of promotion. This makes life just that much harder when things seem
to be crumbling around you. Studies show that the rate of depression are higher in those
people never married or previously married when compared with individuals currently
married (Weissman MM). Starting new relationships is almost impossible due to
depression. Analyses show that first onset of depression is usually seen in early

adulthood, studies very between ages twenty-four and thirty-four (Andrade L). Younger
people diagnosed with depression are much less likely to have developed the necessary
social skills to succeed in todays society.
It is proposed that major depression will be responsible for the largest burden of
disease of any illness by 2020 (Murry CJL). People who have been diagnosed with
depression are more likely to have a greater amount of health issues. Depression can
causes issues with appetite such as overeating or under eating. This can lead to weight
and obesity related issues such as type 2 diabetes or failure to eat nutritious meals. Failing
to eat the right foods or and food at all can lead to a medical issue called malnutrition.
Depression and stress are so closely related. Stress hormones speed up the heart rate and
make blood vessels tighten, putting your body in a prolonged state of emergency. Over
time, this can lead to heart disease. People diagnosed with depression are two to five
times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke within the next year (Hotline
Information). Depression has such a large effect on the immune system that you are much
more susceptible to infection and disease.
Seeking treatment for depression is the best way to improve your physical and
mental health. Therapy from a licensed therapist can be a great way to seek help. Talking
is one of the oldest and best ways to overcome depression. Therapists help you work
through your issues by focusing on key concerns in your life. They also help you
pinpointing relationship issues by teaching healthier ways of coping. Talking is a great
way to combat depression but not always the best route. Sometimes depression can be
due to a chemical imbalance in your body that is uncontrollable without the use of
medication. Others find help from a combination of psychotherapy and medication. That

is when psychotherapists are necessary; they specialized on chemicals in your brain. By

the use of medication they alter the chemicals in your body in attempt to alter your mood.
In conclusion, depression is a very common illness but should never be mistaken
as simple. MDD can affect all aspects of a persons life including mental, physical,
professional and social. Society needs to work to be more involved in the recovery of
those suffering from depression; they need to know that they are not alone. It is clear that
MDD has no single cause but it has an incredible amount of power on the mind and body.
Depression can be survived, but seeking treatment is the most effective way to help
yourself and those you care about. By labeling and stigmatizing victims of MDD we only
hurt ourselves and deny ourselves the opportunity to progress.

Work cited
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depressive episodes: results from the International Consortium of Psychiatric
Epidemiology (ICPE) Surveys. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 12:3-21, 2003
"DepressionInterview."Personalinterview.3July2016
"Depression Statistics: Unhappiness by the Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]."
Depression Statistics: Unhappiness by the Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]. N.p., n.d. Web.
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"Hotline Information." Depression Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 24 July 2016.
Murry CJL Lopez Ad(eds): The Global Burden of Disease: A Comprehensive
Assessment of Mortality and Disability for Disease, Injuries and risk factors in 1990 and
projected to 2020. Geneva World Health Organization, 1996.
"Substance Abuse and Suicide." Addiction Treatment Elements Drug Rehab
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