Depression Cause And Effect

I wrote a paper for English on depression, we had to write a cause and effect essay and I figured this would be the best topic anyways here it is!
Feeling sad, or down from time to time is a normal part of life. Depression is more than just feeling sad, it is prolonged sadness that doesn't go away. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life. Hobbies, and friends don't interest you anymore. Some may describe depression as living in a black hole. Not everyone with depression feels sad though, some just feel empty, or angry. Depression varies between people but there are some common signs and symptoms to look out for. Some of the symptoms of depression include: Feeling hopeless, loss of interest, anger, sadness, concentration problems, and sleep changes. These are just a few symptoms of depression, there are many more signs and symptoms that may indicate you are suffering from clinical depression.
It is estimated that 17.5 million Americans have some form of depression. 9.2 million have major or clinical depression. By the year 2020, the World Health Organization estimates that depression will be the number two cause of 'lost years of healthy life." In 1996 suicide was the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.
The causes of depression are not well understood, but are said to be multi-factorial. Studies show that in some cases depression is inherited. Although inheritance is an important factor in depression, it does not account for all cases. Illness is another cause of depression, the stress caused by having a chronic illness can cause major depression. In addition to that some illnesses, such as Addison's disease, can cause depression symptoms. Depression can be caused by a loss of a loved one. The extreme stress caused by a loss, is said to be a cause of major depression. One of the most common causes of depression today is bullying. Many kids and teens are bullied everyday, because of the way they dress, there race, there size, and many other reason.
Nearly 22 percent of the population suffers from depression. 15 percent of depressed people will commit suicide. Between 15 and 25 children every year commit suicide because they are being bullied. Depression can effect a person in many ways, it effects a persons sleeping, and eating patterns. It effects the way they live there life day to day. Depression does not only effect a person emotionally, it can effect a person physically too. It can cause headaches, fatigue, and physical pain through out a persons body. Depression does not only effect the individual with the condition, it can effect the people around them. Depression can lead to anger, self harm, suicide, and much more, and all this can effect the people around them.
There are many ways to treat depression. Medications and psychological counseling help most people suffering from depression. In some cases your regular doctor can prescribe medications to help, but in most cases you need to see a psychiatrist. Many people with benifit seeing a psychologist. There are many different types of depression medications. SSRIs, such as Zoloft are used often, SNRIs are another commonly used drug, such as Cymbalta. Other types of medications include: NDRIs, Atypical antidepressants, Tricyclic antidepressants,and MAOIs. Other froms of medications that are sometimes used may include stimulants, mood-stabilizing medications, anti-anxiety medications or antipsychotic medication. When taking any antidepressent you have a chance of increased suicidal thoughts. If you ever have these thoughts it is very impartant to let a adult know, or go to the local emergency room. Another way to treat depression is by Electroconvulsive therapy. In ECT, electrical currents are passed through the brain. This procedure is thought to affect levels of neurotransmitters in your brain. Some people are leery about ECT and its side effects, but it typically offers immediate relief of even severe depression when other treatments don't work. Other treatments for depression include: Vagus nerve stimulation, Transcranial magnetic stimulation, and Lifestyle changes. In some cases the depression is so severe that a hospital stay is needed. hospitalization may be necessary if you aren't able to care for yourself properly or when you're in immediate danger of harming yourself or someone else. Getting psychiatric treatment at a hospital can help keep you calm and safe until you improve. Partial hospitalization or day treatment programs also are helpful for some people. These programs provide the support and counseling you need while you get symptoms under control.