FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES

EDUC1009

English for Academic Study

Semester: May 2022

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................2
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION.......................................................2
TYPES OF DEPRESSION..........................................................3
Dysthymia.................................................................................3
Major Depression......................................................................3
Chronic Depression...................................................................3
Bipolar Depression....................................................................3
Seasonal Affective Disorder (Sad)............................................4
Prenatal Depression...................................................................4
Postnatal Depression.................................................................4
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION................................................4
CAN EXPERIENCE AT ANY AGE..........................................5
TREATMENT.............................................................................6
CONCLUSION............................................................................6
REFERENCE...............................................................................6
INTRODUCTION

The term "depression" can refer to both a depressing, hopeless state of mind as well as a

psychological condition. Anyone can have deprived moods at any time, but they eventually pass.

A persistently depressed mood that interferes with daily life is a sign of depression. I’m going to

do a critical analysis on an article about Depression. Debjit Bhowmik1, K.P. Sampath Kumar,

Shweta Srivastava, Shravan Paswan, and Amit Sankar Dutta are its five authors. The article also

discusses the signs, causes, treatments, and medications for depression.

When depression is mild, it can be simply defined as feeling down. Although it doesn't prevent

you from living a regular life, it makes everything more difficult and seem less important.

Depression can be deadly at its worst since it can make you feel desperate to the point that you

want a suicide. Many people find it challenging to understand the suffering and loneliness

associated with the psychiatric condition of depression. Anyone can experience different types of

depression at any age. It can be caused by a variety of factors and identified with certain

symptoms. Most people who experience depression, which is a common but serious disorder,

require treatment in order to recover. Many people who suffer from depression never get help.

However, the vast majority of people can improve with treatment, even those with the most

severe depression.

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

Depression can result from a variety of situations and experiences in life, especially those that

involve danger or loss. When faced with a continuous threat over which we have no control, such

as a life-threatening illness, prejudice, financial difficulties, domestic violence, exploitation,

bullying, or homelessness, it is usual, natural, and understandable to feel depressed and

despairing. Some forms of depression run in families where there is a history of bipolar disorder

and can inherit by generations (Bhowmik, Kumar, Srivastava, Paswan, Dutta, 2012).

Childhood experiences like physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect,

seeing violence against a mother, substance misuse in the home, severe mental health issues,

parental divorce, and imprisonment of family members are all causes of depression (Michel,

2020).

Additionally, social injustice and inequality can cage families; other elements like high rents,

high property prices, and low pay can also trap families in tough situations and contribute to

despair.

Numerous parents and, by extension, their families are impacted by the difficulties of isolation,

lack of freedom, and economic disparity. These issues have been more pronounced during

"Frugality." These elements may have a serious detrimental impact on parents' mental health and

increase their risk of developing depression.

There are some physical health issues that can contribute to depression-like hormonal issues,

particularly thyroid and parathyroid issues diseases that impact the brain and neurological system

Low blood sugar, sleep issues, and menstrual cycle or menopause-related symptoms.

According to a significant body of research on the experiences of people from minority ethnic

backgrounds, those who have faced discrimination are more prone than others to suffer from

depression. How well we fit into the roles that society has established contributes to our sense of

self. These are some of the main causes of depression.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION
Dysthymia
Dysthymia is a moderate form of depression as a result of the absence of other depressive

symptoms. Since this is a milder kind of depression, you can successfully manage your pain and

symptoms. Although dysthymia was once thought to be less severe than major depression, its

effects which include severe functional impairment, an increase in morbidity from physical

illness, and an increased risk of suicide are now widely acknowledged to be catastrophic.

Major Depression

To diagnose major depression you need to observe five and nine depressive symptoms. When

someone is experiencing major depression, their negative mood becomes overwhelming and they

lose interest in activities, even those that are often enjoyable. This type of depression has

symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, changes in food or weight, fatigue, and a sense of

worthlessness. Major depression affects nearly twice as many women as males, and hormonal

changes associated with puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and menopause may

increase the risk. Additional risk factors for major depression in women who are physiologically

predisposed to it include increasing stress at home or at work, juggling a profession and family,

and providing care for an elderly parent. The risk will also rise if a child is raised by one person.

Chronic Depression

Periods of sadness that persist longer than two weeks, and for some people, longer than two

years, are referred to as chronic depression. Additionally, compared to people with situational

sadness, those with chronic depression have more intense and frequent symptoms. Chronic

depression can make life appear hopeless. It can be difficult to remember the joy and laughter

that are inherent to being human when everything around you is dark. However, it is possible to

beat persistent depression.

Bipolar Depression

Extreme mood fluctuations with emotional highs and lows are signs of bipolar disorder, also

previously known as manic depression, a mental health illness. A lot of people act irrationally

during manic periods, such as buying things they cannot afford. The client relapses into a

depressive phase after this manic phase. The client goes through a depressive phase during which

time she exhibits a number of depressive symptoms in a stressful environment. When you

experience depression, you could feel down or hopeless and stop enjoying or being interested in

most things.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (Sad)

A kind of depression that has a seasonal pattern to its onset and remission is known as seasonal

affective disorder (SAD). Because the symptoms of SAD are typically more pronounced and

severe during the winter, the condition is occasionally referred to as "winter depression." Shorter

days and less sunlight are considered to trigger a chemical shift in the brain that may contribute

to SAD. A hormone associated with sleep called melatonin has also been connected to SAD.

When it is dark, the body produces more melatonin.

Prenatal Depression

A significant condition that can affect daily living is depression. Prenatal depression is the term

used to describe depression in pregnant women. Throughout their pregnancies, the majority of

women have emotional ups and downs, which is entirely normal. However, when feeling down

or depressed for a few days starts to happen frequently and the sorrow, anxiety, and other bad

feelings interfere with daily life, it may be depression. Every mother experiences prenatal

depression differently or you can even have different symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.

It's crucial to realize that you should always get help if you feel overpowered by your emotions,
unable to function in your daily life, or just talk to a trusted loved one or healthcare professional

about how you're feeling.

Postnatal Depression

Less frequent types of depression exist as well, such as postnatal depression, which develops

after having a child. In some cases, women may occasionally have thoughts of separating from

their families or worry that their partners would do so. Between the baby blues and puerperal

psychosis lies postpartum depression. One in six new mothers may be affected, however other

experts think it impacts many more. The signs may appear at first as baby blues and

subsequently worsen, or they may take longer to appear. When your infant is 4 to 6 months old,

it might be the most visible. In Ireland, postnatal depression affects about 15% of new moms.

You will heal more quickly if it is identified, diagnosed, and treated sooner. If left untreated,

postnatal depression may continue for years, not just three months. Frequently, a friend or

member of your family will detect an issue before you do. Additionally, they might consider

hurting themselves, their partner, or their unborn child. You should immediately seek

professional assistance in circumstances like this (Bruce, 2021).

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

The main contributing factor to the onset of depression is the inability to cope with these

challenging life situations. According to the learned helplessness theory, people are more likely

to experience depression when they believe that their attempts to avoid unpleasant circumstances

will fail. They may give up trying to change their environment if they realize that their desired

results are unpredictable (Abramson et al., 1978). This is particularly true if the person blames

these incidents on shortcomings and thinks that bad things always happen in bad conditions. The
symptoms of depression vary from person to person since depression has varied effects on each

individual. Depression often leads to an unhappy mood and loss of interest and enjoyment in

normal daily life hobbies and activities. It also results in a gain or decrease in considerable

weight and exhaustion or a lack of energy almost every day. And sleeping difficulties either

sleeping too much or not getting sleep. Furthermore lack of self-worth, excessive guilt, or

inappropriate behavior like a hallucination. Difficulties communicating, making judgments, or

thinking clearly and recurrent suicidal idea or thoughts of death with a precise plan of action, a

decline in sexual desire, aches and pains in the body without a clear physical reason, sluggish

movement, or restlessness and agitations, utilizing more than typical amounts of cigarettes,

alcohol, or other drugs are also symptoms of depression. All of these symptoms are thought to be

indicative of depression (Goldman, 2022).

CAN EXPERIENCE AT ANY AGE

Experience of depression in children, teens, and adults differs from each age group. Sadness,

impatience, hopelessness, and concern are some of the signs of depression in younger children.

Whereas, teenagers and adolescents may experience symptoms such as anxiety, rage, and social

isolation. Although not as common in younger children, changes in thinking and sleep patterns

are common indicators of depression in teenagers and adults. Older persons may have depressive

symptoms more frequently due to a greater number of medical illnesses, such as cancer, heart

disease, or stroke, or they may be taking drugs with depressant side effects. Vascular depression,

also known as arteriosclerotic depression or subcortical ischemic depression, is a condition that

certain elderly persons may experience. Depression frequently coexists with behavioral issues

and other mental health concerns in adolescents and teenagers, such as anxiety or hyperactivity

disorder (ADHD). A depressed child could put on a fake illness, refuse to go to school, cling to a

parent, or fear that a parent might pass away. Older kids could pout, have problems in class, act
negative and irritated, and feel misunderstood. It may be challenging to correctly identify a

young person with depression since these symptoms could be mistaken for natural mood swings

that youngsters experience as they progress through developmental stages. Children that are

depressed may struggle in school. The likelihood of childhood depression is now being taken

seriously by scientists and medical professionals. According to research, especially if it is left

untreated, childhood depression frequently lingers, reappears, and continues into adulthood.

Additionally, the existence of childhood depression frequently indicates the development of

more serious disorders in maturity. In grownups anger outbursts, impatience, frustration, or

feelings of loneliness, emptiness, or hopelessness, even over little issues, loss of enjoyment or

interest in the majority of regular activities, including sex, hobbies, sports, sleep disorders, such

as excessive or insufficient sleep (Bourin, 2020).

TREATMENT

It’s always better to take preventive methods rather than medications because antidepressants

cause side effects like headache, nausea, insomnia, nervousness, agitation, and sexual problems

Although dealing with depression can be very challenging, there are things you can do that may

be helpful. Even though it may be difficult to begin, many people find that simply sharing their

feelings with others makes them feel better. It could be enough for someone to simply listen to

you and demonstrate their concern. Peer support brings together individuals with shared

experiences so they can help one another. Take a short walk or do some light exercise. Visit a

movie, a baseball game, or a different occasion or pastime that you used to appreciate. Do what

you can as quickly as you can, prioritize some chores, and break up larger ones into smaller ones.

Spend as much time as you can with others and confide in a friend or family member you can

trust. Don't isolate yourself and ask for assistance from others Keep in mind that as your

depression responds to treatment, positive thinking will take the place of negative thinking. You
can monitor any changes in your mood by keeping a mood journal, and you might discover that

you have more positive days than you realize. Additionally, it can assist you in determining

whether events, locations, or individuals make you feel better or worse. These suggestions may

be helpful to some people, but keep in mind that different things will work for different people at

various times. Try not to put too much strain on yourself and only engage in activities that you

find comfortable. Try something else or come back to it later if something isn't working for you

right now (Bartha, Kitchen, Parker, & Thomson, 2013).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, depression is characterized by a consistently gloomy mood that interferes with

daily functioning. When depression is minor, it is simply being down in the dumps. Depression

can have many causes, including adverse childhood experiences, social injustice, poor parenting,

etc. There are numerous variations of depression, including major depression, dysthymia,

prenatal depression, etc. Children, teens, and adults all have different experiences with

depression. Among the symptoms of depression in young children are sadness, frustration,

hopelessness, and concern. Teenagers and adolescents, however, may display signs including

social isolation, aggression, and anxiety. Changes in thinking and sleeping habits are frequent

signs of depression in teenagers and adults, however, they are less frequent in younger children.

It is always preferable to use preventative measures as opposed to drugs for the treatment of

depression.

REFERENCE

Bhowmik, D., Dutta, A. S., Kumar, S., Paswan, S., Srivastava, S., (2012). Depression-symptoms,

causes, medications and therapies, The Pharma Innovation, 1(3), 32-45.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284651508
Michel, B. (2020). History of depression through the ages. Archives of Depression and Anxiet, 6,

010-018. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-5460.000045

Bourin M (2020) History of depression through the ages. Arch Depress Anxiety 6(1), 010-018.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/2455-5460.000045

Bruce, D. F., (2021). Types of Depression: Major, Chronic, Manic, and More Types. WebMD.

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-types

Goldman, L., (2022). Depression: What it is, symptoms, causes, treatment, and more. Medical

News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933

Bartha, C., Kitchen, K., Parker, C., & Thomson, C. (2022). Depression An information guide.

Centre For Addiction And Mental Health.

Bembnowska, M. & Jośko-Ochojska, J. (2015). What causes depression in adults?. Polish

Journal of Public Health,125(2). 116-120. https://doi.org/10.1515/pjph-2015-0037

National Institute of Mental Health. (2007). Depression. National Institute Of Health.

Morgan, A.J., Reavley, N.J., Jorm, A.F., Bassilios, B., Hopwood, M., Allen, N., & Purcell, R.

(2019). A guide to what works for depression (3rd ed.). Beyond Blue: Melbourne.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2021). depression. Encyclopedia

Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/depression-psychology