Ms. Kasey Lewis-English (Major Depression, 2016)
02/28/19
Expository Paper-Topic Major Depression
Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life’s struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But when feelings of intense sadness including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless last for days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression may be something more than sadness. It may be very well be Major Depression a treatable condition.
According to the website Everyday Health the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), depression is the leading cause of disability among Americans between the ages of 15 and 44. Further statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health show the 6.7% of the U.S. populations (16.2 million adults) have been affected by Major Depression in any calendar year. And at least in the U.S., more women are diagnosed with depression than men, with the median age of onset being 32 for both genders this is mentioned in the website Bridge to Recovery. (Major Depression, 2016) (Everyday Health, 2013) (Bridges of Recovery, 2019)
Most people when asked what depression is think that it’s when someone is so sad that they feel worthless and constantly think about taking their own lives. What they don’t know is that it’s much more than that. The definition of depression is a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity which reflects a sad and/or irritable mood exceeding normal sadness or grief. The signs and symptoms are not only characterized by negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also specific changes in bodily functi...
