Nothing to Laugh About: Depression is a Serious Illness

It's quite normal for people to feel a bit down at one point or another. Unlike the ordinary blues we all go through once in a while, though, Depression is a serious mental illness that completely affects a person's outlook in life. The things you once enjoyed no longer give you as much satisfaction, and life seems bleak and hopeless, like there's no happiness left in your future.

Some people may mistakenly associate Depression (the illness) with the common adjective, "depressed". Someone who feels "depressed" isn't necessarily suffering from Clinical Depression, which has been characterized as a constant feeling of sadness and desperation. Unlike the usual "blues", Clinical Depression is a continuing problem, a vortex wherein the person believes that his life is nothing but doom and unending unhappiness. In some cases, a person with this mental illness finds himself in an apathetic state, and they feel like they're just going through the motions of life without meaning.

There are several symptoms of Depression, but this can vary from person to person. The severity of depression in every case is different. In nearly all of these depression cases, however, more than a few of these symptoms can be noted: sleeping problems (either oversleeps or suffers insomnia), mental and physical fatigue, irritability, aches all over the body, swings from restlessness to sluggishness, changes in weight and appetite, lack of interest in most activities and a general feeling of helplessness. In extreme cases, Depression can result in suicide.

Age and gender can be factor in Depression. A teenager suffering from Depression will not have the same symptoms as an older fellow sufferer. A teenager with Depression is often irritable and moody, and usually complains of unexplained headaches. Adults with depression, however, show more physical symptoms, such as poor health, fatigue and an increased risk of suicide.

Men and women also reflect this mental illness differently. Depression among women can be due to premenstrual syndrome or Post-Partum Depression. Depressed women are more likely to overeat and sleep excessively. Men suffering from Depression, however, can result in violent and aggressive behavior, in some cases, even substance abuse. Symptoms include fatigue and irritability.

By: KD Choi
Published: 04/20/08