Saturday, November 22, 2008

Types and Causes Of Depression

By Jackson Katz

Depression is a complicated illness. Depression can linger and grow for months or even years before being detected. Researches know that depression will afflict 15 million people in the USA annually. 2/3 of these people, according to estimates, won't seek treatment. Often the sufferers don't even know they're sick.

It is normal in this day in age to fall prey to the stress that rules our lives. The road blocks in life have become more severe. Hand to mouth survival is common. The competition to keep a job has been enhanced by the crisis in our economy. Stress can give birth to depression.

Countless types of depression exist. These include medical depression, clinical depression and manic depression. Severe depression refers to the most advanced form of the illness.

Depression can result from a variety of causes. One school of thought holds that it's due to chemical imbalances or simple biology. DNA also carries depression. If your mother and great grandmother suffered depression it's possible you will too.

Different types of depression are given birth by other similar factors. Substance abuse can lead to depression. Alcohol or drugs both show links to depression. In many cases the loss of a loved one has shown an enhanced possibility of depression.

Mental depression historically has a stigma associated with it. It was considered a personal fault before it was recognized as a disease. There was very little treatment offered. Negative effects persist through all the stages of depression. Early detection, then, is necessary to fight depression.

Treatment becomes critical when it has developed into severe depression. When depression has reached this level then the thought of suicide is usually apparent. The calls for help have gone unnoticed and the avenues for hope from the patients perspective feel as though they are slipping away.

Depression is typically treated with a combination of both medications and therapy. For some, support groups are very effective as it helps to have others who are understanding and compassionate to share your thoughts and concerns with. Natural herbs are also frequently used as well to treat the disease. People who suffer from any type of depression have options. If you or someone you love are experiencing symptoms of lingering depression please consult a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment. - 16004

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