Depression

Depression has been called the most significant mental health risk for women, especially younger women of childbearing and childrearing age (Glied & Kofman, 1995). Depression can affect anyone, regardless of his or her race, age, or sex. Like many diseases, it is not just the victim that suffers. The lives of family and friends are also greatly affected by the depressed person's condition. Depression occurs most common in adults between the ages of 20 and 44 years of age and can interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to the victims, but also to their families and others who care about them.
             The symptoms of depression:.
             Sadness, anxious, or empty mood.
             Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex.
             Feeling of hopelessness.
             Feeling of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness.
             Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning awakening.
             Appetite and/ or weight loss or overeating and weight gain.
             Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down.
             Thoughts of death and suicide, or suicide attempts.
             Restlessness, irritability.
             Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
             Headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain .
             There are several types of depression. Most mental-health professionals talk about two main kinds- dysthymic disorder and major depression. Also called chronic depression, dysthymic disorder is a kind of general depression, not linked with any one event that just seems to go on forever. "Some people describe it as being a little more crabby, a little more gloomy than usual,"" says Dr. Longeway. "It comes on gradually."" It may be caused by brain chemicals, or it could have a genetic link. To be diagnosed as chronic depression, the symptoms have to last for a year (two years in adults) and happen more days than not. There cannot be more than two months in that year without symptoms. In 1994, an estimated 10 million persons suffered from dysthymia.