Depression In America

Affecting over 15 million Americans and 350 million people worldwide, depression is the leading cause of disability. It also happens to be the number one cause of suicide, making a person 5 times more likely to do so, adding up to a rate of 35,000 suicides annually. There are many factors that contribute to the onset of depression, such as age, gender, genetics, lifestyle or life events, adverse reactions to medication, and so on. Depression is usually accompanied by other forms of mental or emotional distress, with anxiety disorders and addictive behavior in particular, but also includes borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and even eating disorders.
There is a handful of different kinds of depression, but

they all have the same underlying symptoms, with the main one being loss of pleasure in once enjoyable activities. The different classifications of the illness depend on things such as a change in hormones, the frequency of episodes, and the severity of episodes. Although there are different methods of treatment for each kind, only 35% of people diagnosed actually seek professional help. Usually, the diagnosis process includes a mental health assessment, and possibly even tests to rule out diseases, such as anemia or hypothyroidism, that could be the cause.
The most common type of depression to date is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or clinical depression.

14.8 million adults in America are affected, along with 1 in 33 children and 1 in 8 adolescents. Women happen to be twice as susceptible to depression than men, and the average age of onset is 32 years old. There are many symptoms to MDD that can be experienced physically, emotionally, through behavior, and negative thoughts. There is a general feeling of sadness, emptiness, or guilt that may or may not have reason behind it, anger or irritability, self-criticism, impaired memory/concentration, indecisiveness, suicidal thoughts or actions, chronic fatigue, loss of interest and motivation, changes in sleeping habits, significant weight changes, substance abuse, and unexplained aches and pains. These symptoms tend to negatively affect the schooling/work and even personal relationships of those affected. Most sufferers see it as something they can treat by themselves or that it is just a personal weakness as opposed to the serious condition that it is, therefore, almost two-thirds of them do not seek treatment. Treatments can include therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), behavior therapy, and psychotherapy, as well as antidepressant medications, and electroconvulsive

therapy.
After MDD, the second most common form of depression is dysthymic disorder, otherwise known as Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). Dysthymia is a less severe version of depression in which one is typically pessimistic. This condition is chronic, meaning the symptoms are more regular, but not as severe. Treatments for this condition include self-care such as diet and exercise, antidepressant medications, and psychotherapy.
With over 5.6 million U.S.

adults affected, bipolar disorder (BPD) is the third most common type of depression. BPD, formerly called manic depression, does not favor men or women, it affects both genders equally. To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, one must show the presence of manic or hypomanic episodes mixed with episodes of major depression. Mania is an extreme feeling of euphoria, accompanied with delusions and in some cases, aggressive behavior. Hypomania is a less severe case and not as long-lasting as mania. There are more methods of therapy for this condition because it is a more complex version of depression. These methods are support groups, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, family therapy, psychotherapy, antipsychotic or antidepressant medications, and

hospitalization.
Postpartum Depression (PPD) affects an estimated 10-20% of new mothers, making it the fourth most common type of depression. It is often confused with “baby blues”, which is characterized by mood swings the week after giving birth due to hormones trying to rebalance. “Baby blues” should last no longer than 6 weeks. If it does, it is then considered postpartum depression. PPD can last up to a year from the time of delivery, and has all the same symptoms as MDD. There is no definite cause for this condition, but there are factors that contribute to the onset, being hormonal changes, extreme lifestyle changes, and the stress of having a newborn. Treatments include support groups, cognitive behavioral