The issue that I will research is the extent to which people experience depression. The reason why I have decided on this topic is because I have many loved ones who have suffered from this condition, and who don't understand any aspect of the illness. After defining the illness, as well as researching symptoms and behavior, I would like to further my knowledge by researching the causes of depression. I would like to know if external forces in life cause this illness, or if it's caused by biological or internal factors that cannot be controlled. Next I will explain the types and severities of depression, according to behavior. Lastly, I will research the ways in which one can prevent depression by the use of self-help, psychiatry, and pharmaceuticals. .
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What is Depression?.
Depression is a mental illness that affects millions of people every year. This illness is characterized by an inescapable feeling of sadness, despair, loneliness, and lost of interest in anything that was once pleasurable (Longe, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine 1). The feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and guilt can become so severe that they can take over every aspect of a person's life and in turn, cause them to lose all feeling of happiness. Depression is due to a combination of internal and external factors that affect people's life. The internal factors include reproductive elements and biological changes that occur in the brain. The external factors include many reactions to life problems such as minor failures, disappointments, and disruptions. (Gotlib. Hammen, Psychosocial Aspects of Depression 3). These feelings may last from a few minutes, to many years, which depends on the severity of the condition. Certain behaviors reflect how severe the depression is, and how it should be treated. Like other illnesses, there are low, moderate, and high severities. Moderate and high levels are the most common, and lower levels of the illness are the least.
