10 Things Everyone Should Know About Depression

Guest Post by Beth Martel
The word depression is subject to a lot of confusion whenever it is used within a public setting. It can easily be correlated with feeling blue, disgruntled, sad or demoralized, however, that is not the only connotation to it. When used within any medical institution or by a healthcare provider, it mostly refers to psychological disorders or conditions.

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Mostly known as clinical depression, there is an entire list of characteristics and factors that are still unknown to the larger population because of which the need to create awareness is of the utmost essence. Listed down below are just 10 of the many components that one must be aware of regarding Clinical depression.

1. It is very common
An estimated of around 20 million individuals suffer from depression on an annual basis only in America alone out of which 50% of those are patients that have been diagnosed with severe clinical depression.

2. It is considered to be a psychical illness
Psychological illnesses are as physical as they could get, consisting of a wide range of physical symptoms including loss of appetite, headaches, chronic inflammation and even changing sleep patterns. Mental illness such as depression or anxiety both have symptoms that affect a person’s body just as much as the mind.

3. Proper Treatment is available
Through the use of several different types of psychological therapies and well as prescribed medication, mental disorders or conditions can be effectively treated. However, treatment must always be provided by medical practitioners whom of which are highly qualified.

4. Advanced ways of treatments are also being discovered
Many different new methods of treatments are being discovered via scientific research, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy which also involves verbal communication as a form of treating the patient at a gradual level.

5. Suicidal risks increase with severity
Clinical depression has lead to being fatal if the proper treatment Is not provided to those suffering from it. Due to its severe psychological symptoms, it can eventually result in suicide. One of the most prominent examples is of Robin Williams—and actor and comedian—who succumbed to his psychological disorder leaving the world shocked by his suicide.

6. Depression is not a taboo
As unfortunate as it may sound, stereotypes have also been made regarding mental disorders that give out negativity. Mental illness due to the stereotypes has been associated with violence and aggression which give out an entirely incorrect perception about those suffering from these disorders.

7. It may be genetic
There have been speculations regarding clinical depression have some correlation with genes. However even with the inheritance of specific genes that predisposes certain individuals to psychological disorders partially only plays the role of being responsible for the diagnoses.

8. Those suffering from it must be treated with care
Clinical depression or just about any other psychological disorder must not be looked at like flaws or any default in individuals. As mentioned earlier, such illnesses are treatable and hence do not make up the person. The utmost care must be taken while dealing with a person diagnosed with depression.

Constant assurance should be provided to them, and any aggravating factors must be avoided during conversations.

9. It does not happen in a vacuum
Depression or any other psychologically labeled illness occurs due to an intricate and a complicated web of the biological system which includes the nervous system, endocrine and even the respiratory.

10. Depression must be approached via a holistic point of view
Psychological disorders must always be looked on with a broad view rather than specified into a limited category. Whether the causes are being researched, the symptoms or the after effects. For example, it was discovered through a Norwegian study that patients with significant depression are at a much higher risk of dying by developing other serious illnesses such as heart diseases.

Globally billions of individuals are affected by depression and other psychological disorders or conditions because of which one must always be careful while dealing with those that suffer from it.