Depression :: essays research papers

Depression     Everybody has "the blues" or "feels down" from time to time. Its normalto feel sad for short periods, especially if roughlything bad had happened in ourlives. But those of us who suffer from depression have such(prenominal) more than "theblues", and our skin sensess can last for a long time.     There atomic number 18 many an(prenominal) sufferers of this illness at any one time, 5% ofCanadians are depressed, and 10-20% will suffer from it at one point in theirlives.     But family and friends whove never experience true depression can havetrouble understanding what its like. Many people find it difficult to think ofdepression as an illness because their are no obvious physical symptoms. Butdepression is an illness, which is caused by chemical changes in the brain. Fewpeople think that a physical illness is the sufferers fault-and no one shouldthink depression is, either. &n bsp   Like any other illness, depression has certain symptoms. Once these havebeen recognized, you can take measures to treat them. Some are feeling sad,worried or depressed feeling as if your life is dreary and unlikely to improvehad crying spells become irritated over modest things that didnt used tobother you find you no longer enjoy hobbies and activities that once made youhappy feel a overlook of self-confidence or feeling like a failure lost yourappetite, or are eating more than usual have had trouble sleeping, or beensleeping too much had trouble concentrating and making decisions and thoughtabout death and/or suicide.     Knowing the causes for depression can help depressed people, friends,family understand how painful it is and why its non possible to "snap out ofit". Its still not completely clear why depression happens to some of us andnot to others, but their are some triggers stressful events or a loss, physicalillness, hormone levels, and use of certain medications, drugs, or alcohol.     Most of us think sadness when we think of depression, but at that place areother physical, emotional, and mental effects, too. Many depressed people feelhelpless, and as if this is the way that they are going to feel forever. Theyhave a lack of energy and a lack of interest in life. Its hard for them to everimagine feeling happy or excited again. Some may attract and be less sociable.They may also become short-tempered and difficult to please. No one can doanything right. The world of depression is a unfrequented place to be.     Physical problems can also occur. Some may have trouble getting to sleepor wake up a sess during the night.