Depression (psychology).

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Depression (psychology).... What is it?Mental illness in which a person experiences deep,unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities. People also use the term depression to describe the temporary sadness, loneliness, or blues that everyone feels from time to time. In contrast to normal sadness, severe depression, also called major depression, can dramatically impair a person’s ability to function in social situations and at work. People with major depression often have feelings of despair, hopelessness, and worthlessness, as well as thoughts of committing suicide.... Does it take several other forms? Yes. -In bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic-depressive illness, a person’s mood swings back and forth between depression and mania. People with seasonal affective disorder typically suffer from depression only during autumn and winter, when there are fewer hours of daylight. -In dysthymia (pronounced dis-THI-mee-uh), people feel depressed, have low self-esteem, and concentrate poorly most of the time-often for a period of years-but their symptoms are milder than in major depression. Some people with dysthymia experience occasional episodes of major depression. Mental health professionals use the term clinical depression to refer to any of the above forms of depression. (Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes mood swings. In the manic phase, a person might feel ecstatic, self-important, and energetic. But when the person becomes depressed, the mood shifts to extreme sadness, negative thinking, and apathy. Studies indicate that the disease occurs in creative people, such as artists, writers, and musicians.)...Treatment? Depression typically cannot be shaken or willed away. An episode must therefore run its course until it weakens either on its own or with treatment. Depression can be treated effectively with antidepressant drugs, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Studies have shown that short-term psychotherapy can relieve mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant drugs. Unlike medication, psychotherapy produces no physiological side effects. In addition, depressed people treated with psychotherapy appear less likely to experience a relapse than those treated only with antidepressant medication. However, psychotherapy usually takes longer to produce benefits. For milder cases of depression, REGULAR AEROBIC EXERCISE may improve mood as effectively as psychotherapy or medication. In addition, some research indicates that DIETARY MODIFICATIONS can influence one’s mood by changing the level of serotonin in the brain. (Serotonin functions in the central nervous system and effects on human behavior-including mood, memory, and appetite control It is produced in the brain from the amino acid tryptophan, which is derived from foods high in protein, such as meat and dairy products.) GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR READING.