Major Depression

Major Depression

Jamie Godard

Instructor: Charles Coull

Psy 350

June 7, 2016

Major Depression

I. Intro

                A. Depression is common with emotions of sadness, bereavement, and disappointment, but does not subside when they external cause of these feelings go away (Belmaker, 2008).

                B. Being that it affects one’s behavior, emotions, and cognition allows it to fall in the neuropsychological disorder (anpaonline.org).

                C. Usually depression can be recognized by a sadness/longing that will not go away often accompanied by a lack of energy and feeling of always being tired (Belmaker, 2008).

                D. I chose this particular disorder because I once and still suffer from depression, stemming from past childhood experiences and a mentally unhealthy marriage.

                E. From past experiences I can definitely say that the one most affected by this disorder is the one who suffers from it. the feeling of always being alone, uselessness, and no one else being able to understand can put an individual, in a dark place. It also affects those around the individual by pushing them away or causing the individual to feel that friends and family would be better off if they were not around.

II. Discussion

1. To diagnose major depression one would have to notice a distinct change in mood, sadness by an individual, irritability by the individual, and some psychophysiological changes (Belmaker, 2008).
2. Symptoms (Carey, 2013)

Feelings of sadness, emptiness or unhappiness

Angry outbursts and frustration over small matters

Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities (like sex)

Irregular sleeping habits (too much or lack of)

Lack of energy

Changes in appetite

Anxiety

Slowed thinking, speaking and body movement

Self blame and worthlessness

Troubles concentrating and making decisions

Thoughts of death or suicide

Unexplained physical problems

1. With treatment these feelings and problems can be reduced to a manageable state, but without treatment these symptoms will only get worse, maybe to the point where the individual actually hurts themselves. Untreated it could also affect one’s health and well-being, to the point normal tasks seem impossible.
2. Some of the risk factors of major depression are that it usually begins in 20’s and 30’s, and is usually more common in women than men (Mayoclinic.org). other factors:

Low self esteem

Traumatic or stressful events

Genetic disorder passed down