ROWIL Final Essay

Name: Ellyn Hu
Core: 1
Date: February 18, 2016

Depression
We all feel gloomy and sulk in the shadows once in awhile, its only normal.
But its when the shadows envelop us and take us over, when its not normal
anymore. Depression today is described as living in a black hole, as if the person
experiencing it is void of life. Someone with depression may feel empty, apathetic
and self-hate. Today, more than 20 million people in the US suffer from depression in
a year. It causes one to lose interest in friends, activities and former enjoyments and
deprives one of joy and energy. But where does it come from? Why do we get it?
How does it truly feel? Many people view depression as a weakness, that if you are
experiencing depression, you are in some way incapable or unstable. This
misconception has been spreading like a virus, and only a breakdown and further
understanding of depression itself can bring about enlightenment.
Depression can be the result of many causes that arise in life, either internal
or external. One of the major root factors of depression is loneliness and lack of
social support. Studies show that a family history of depression also may provide for
an impacter, and scientists have determined that 40% of those who suffer
depression can trace the source to a genetic link (Healthline). Genetics aside,
depression can also be caused by environmental factors, from early childhood
trauma or abuse to recent stressful experiences. Relationship problems, financial
strain, as well as substance abuse can lead to one suffering depression as well.
Interestingly though, the causes of depression arent limited to negative ones; even
positive events such as graduation or marriage can lead to it (60 Facts). The many
causes of depression range from isolation to genetics to the ups and downs of life, it
is constantly on the prowl.
Once depression has taken root, a person can be diagnosed and possibly
treated if their signs and symptoms are noticed. Signs can be determined through
four ways: changes in mood, cognition, physical appearances or behavior. Someone
experiencing depression might feel hopeless and helpless and be more irritable,
short-tempered, or aggressive than usual. They might feel self-loathing and
worthless and harshly criticize themselves. Depression might make someone

discover that previously easy tasks are now difficult and have a hard time
concentrating. They might not be able to control negative thoughts. If you are
experiencing depression, you might lose interest in friends, activities and things you
used to enjoy. Sadly, depression doesnt just cause changes mentally, but physically
as well. Significant appetite or weight changes are symptoms of depression.
According to WebMD, someone suffering depression may experience a change of
more than 5% body weight in a month. Depression may also cause unexplained
aches and pains, such as headaches, back pain and aching muscles. There are
many symptoms of depression that vary from person to person, but the more you
have, the stronger they are and the longer theyve lasted, then the more likely you
are experiencing depression.
Many researchers have delved into the symptoms and causes of depression
but have left something unexplained. This something isnt something you can
simply conduct surveys and surf the web and know what its like. What is
depression? That is the question being asked. What is depression like? That is the
question thats supposed to be asked. It is important to understand that depression
isnt something that you can choose to feel or not. You cant just be happy, its not
that easy. First off, depression is different in everyone, so there is not universal
explanation for depression. However, there are some common joints between those
who experience depression. Sometimes someone struggling with depression will feel
that nothing is real or not feel anything at all. Its as if they are living inside of a
dream, or nightmare, and everything feels distant and surreal. After a while, they
might forget how to feel emotions all together. Depression makes it hard for one to
grasp the future. My friend suggested that as I was managing a bit better now,
perhaps we could get coffee next week. I said no. Not because I dont like coffee, or
didnt want to be with my friend, but just because I couldnt get my head around the
idea of this afternoon, let alone next week (Pooky Knightsmith) If someone is
depressed, it is commonly misconceived that they will never feel happy. This is
false, as someone struggling with depression may sometimes have minutes, hours
or even days when they feel normal again. However, the expectation for them to be
always sad and depressed leaves them feeling confused and guilty during these
respites (Lifehack). Depression can cause fissures to form between friends and
families as the sufferers put up faades and walls that distance themselves from
others. Most of the times, people dont bother to look past the happy face, as they
want the person experiencing depression to be happy and therefore believe them
when they say they are. It is in these hard times that true friends arise and
important bondages are formed. Depression is a very hard condition to understand,

someone might feel empty and unreal, they might withdraw from the present and
feel guilty for being simply happy. If you are a supportive friend, stick with the
person experiencing it and help lead them through the dark and light their way.
Depression occurs in young and elderly, females and males alike. While the
general symptoms are the same, there may be variations and specific signs to look
out for. When experience depression, they are more likely to complain about fatigue
and irritability and experience sleep problems. They are less likely than women to
show self-loathing and hopelessness; however they do experience more anger,
aggression, violence and engage in reckless behavior. Men, especially older men,
are at a higher risk for suicide. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to
experience feelings of guilt, hypersomnia, and overeat. Due part to hormonal
factors such as estrogen, women are twice as likely to experience depression than
men. Gender aside, different age groups also show different symptoms. Teens
suffering depression tend to be hostile and grumpy and easily lose their temper.
They might feel unexplained aches and pains. According to WebMD, if left
untreated, teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse,
self-loathing, and even irreversible tragedy such as homicide violence and suicide.
But with help, teen depression is highly treatable. Depression in older adults usually
go unnoticed as they complain for about the physical rather than the emotional
signs of depression. This can bring about poor health, a high mortality rate and
increased risk of suicide. There are many faces of depression that are worn by men
and women, children and adults, and properly recognizing and diagnosing them can
save lives.
If gone unnoticed, depression can develop and become severe to the point
where someone experiencing it will think that suicide is the only way to escape the
excruciating pain. Someone who is planning suicide might talk about killing or
harming themselves. They will act recklessly and express strong feelings of
hopelessness or being trapped and no way out. A prominent sign of suicide is when
someone is calling or visiting people to say goodbye. They are getting affairs in
order and tying up loose ends (WebMD). More importantly, if a sudden switch from
being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy is made with no apparent
reasons, you must act immediately. Once suicide has occurred, the dead will never
return. If any of these signs are shown by someone you know or someone, contact
for help at once. Suicide risk in depression is a race against time.
All hope is not lost, however, when it comes to treating depression. Different
treatments are helpful to different people, many people use a combination of the
treatments. For some people, therapy is the way to go to treat depression. During

sessions patients talk with therapists and work on key issues. In cognitive
behavioral therapy, the patients is helped to see how different behaviors play roles
in depression. Another common form of therapy is interpersonal therapy, which
focuses on relationships and their effects on patients. Both of these help pinpoint
and change unhealthy habits to set the patient off on the road of recovery. Patients
can also use medicine to treat their depression. There are many types of
antidepressant options available, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, as well as
other antidepressant medications (WebMD). These medications may sometimes be
paired with other prescriptions by doctors (i.e. Lithium, Seroquel, etc). The
effectiveness of these medications can also be either increased or decreased by
their dosage. These medications come with risks of increased suicidal thoughts and
therefore must be carefully considered before use. Other treatment methods
including electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation can be
used. In ECT, the patient is put to sleep and then put under a short, controlled
seizure. Scary as it may seem, according to WebMD, the patient receives anesthesia
and muscle relaxants and wont feel anything. In fact, about 70%-90% of receivers
of ECT show improvement. Side effects for ECT still exist, the most common being
memory loss. In short, there are many treatment methods available for depression,
but each come at its own cost. It is important to find the right fit for each person
experiencing depression and part the clouds of their dark days.
Today, millions around the world suffer from depression. It has many different
faces and varieties, with different symptoms, risks and treatments. It can arise from
conflicts with ones past, relationships or substances. Once it takes root, symptoms
such as changes in behavior, mood, physical appearance and comprehension can
help lead to diagnoses. Depression is different in every person, like that of
fingerprints, but for everyone, depression can cause the disappearance of emotions
and the inability to enjoy life. Treatments vary according to the person, from therapy
to medications, and are administered as according to the patient. Depression is like
an abyss of darkness, a storm of emptiness. Now that you know more about it, what
will you do to light the way and clear the clouds?