BG4G -Christina Gonzalez's Topic

About 20% of teens will suffer from depression before they reach adulthood. Depression is not only a mental disease but affects the body, emotions, and moods as well. Over the course of a year, studies show that approximately 20.9 million American adults are diagnosed with depression. Depression is a serious medical disorder that could last for weeks, months, and even years. It is not the same as being “blue” or “down in the dumps” for a couple of hours or days.

	A continuous sad, anxious, or “empty” feeling
	Hopelessness or pessimism
	Helpless, worthless, and guilty
	Experiencing a decrease in energy, tiredness, being “slowed down”
	Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and being indecisive
	Excessive sleeping, insomnia, waking up early
	Weight gain, overeating, loss of appetite causing weight loss
	Suicide attempts or thoughts of suicide
	Irritability/restlessness
	Chronic pain, digestive disorders, or headaches that do not respond to normal medical treatment.

	Can be genetic and is passed down from generation to generation
	Usually occurs when there are changes in the brain structure or function of the brain
	Physical changes or medical illnesses that can trigger mental diseases in the body such as: Stroke Heart attack Cancer Parkinson’s disease Hormonal disorders
	Serious loss, a difficult relationship, financial problems, or any stressful change in the pattern of the normal lifestyle also can trigger depression

Depression occurs in women twice as much than in men. Both physical factors within women contribute to depression such as: menstrual cycle changes, miscarriage, pregnancy, pre-menopause, menopause, and postpartum period.

Depression is especially common in women after the birth of a baby where the mother is vulnerable. The new additional responsibility of a child can lead to postpartum depression. The reason why women are twice as likely to experience depression is because of extra stresses like home, work, single parenting, and taking care of children and aging parents play a role in leading to depression.

The first step to getting treatment for depression is to get mental and physical examination by a physician. The whole situation of the patient will be assessed and depending on the case antidepressants and/or psychotherapies may be prescribed. For people with milder cases of depressive disorder, psychotherapies alone may be sufficient.

There are many types of antidepressants. Depending on the patient’s situation, a variety or a combination of medications may be tried before finding the exact medicine. At times the dosage of antidepressants may be raised for the medicine to be effective. Antidepressants generally should be taken for three to four weeks for the complete therapeutic effect to occur. Patients may feel better while on the antidepressants but it is important to continue taking the medication because the body needs time to register the medicine and to gradually come off of it.

The side effects of the antidepressants are generally mild and at times temporary, these are not serious, such as:

Dry mouth
Constipation
Bladder problems
Sexual problems
Blurred Vision
Dizziness
Drowsiness (daytime)

Newer antidepressants may have different side effects:

Headache
Nausea
Nervousness and Insomnia
Agitation
Sexual problems

"The National Women's Health Information Center ." Illnesses and Disabilities: Depression. Apr. 2006. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. 6 July 2007 <http://www.4women.gov/wwd/conditions/depression.cfm?style=large>.

"National Institute of Mental Health." Depression. 13 Sept. 2006. National Institute of Health . 6 July 2007 <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm#ptdep1>.