Depression
...imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can't make yourself well by trying to "snap out of it." Although it can run in families, you can't catch it from someone else. The direct causes of the illness are unclear, however it is known that body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness or substance abuse.
There are many symptoms of identifying depression. Depression systems include; prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells, significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns, irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety, and/or recurring thoughts of death or suicide. If you experience five or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks, you need to talk with your doctor about getting evaluated for depression. You can diagnose yourself, or anyone else, only a health professional has the authority to do so.
There is not one specific age, race, or social classes that are at a higher rate to get diagnosed with depression. Though it does occur in all different ages, it tends to hit more at 25-44 year olds. And while you think you're the only one going through this illness, know that you are not alone, approximately 20 million Americans deal with depression everyday.
While many people deal with depression, the majority of them are women. Women are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression. One in four women will experience some sort of depression in their life. With all the changes women go through such as menstruation, pregnancy, and miscarriage all can contribute or trigger depression. Although men are less likely to suffer from depression than women, three to four million men in the United States are affected by the illness. As men like...
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