Depression: The Warning Signs

     Sometimes it's hard to tell whether someone we know is going through a difficult time or if they have depression, because the signs aren't always obvious. That is why today I decided that it would be good to talk about the common signs of depression that are displayed in both males and females. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one common sign of depression is the loss of interest in activities that once was important to the individual. This is often because the feeling of hopelessness overpowers the need for enjoyable activities. Changes in appetite and weight are another possible sign of depression, because it indicates that the person's health is no longer a priority. In fact, eating disorders are a form of self-harm that some individuals unfortunately suffer from when experiencing chronic depression. Not only does depression take a major toll on one's mental health, but it can actually cause persistent physical symptoms to the rest of the body. Constant headaches, stomach aches, difficulty breathing, indigestion, and fatigue are just some examples of what comes with depression. All these physical symptoms are very real and do affect the individual suffering from depression.
 
     If someone you know is showing signs or symptoms of depression, it is important to not allow yourself to be a bystander. Observing what someone is going through from a distance or just wondering whether or not they are okay does not make any difference whatsoever, if it is never acted upon. If someone you know may have depression, it never hurts to be up front with your questions, because it's likely that they need help in their current situation. Simply starting a conversation about how they feel can allow for the individual to finally open up to someone that really cares about their well being and overall health. So if you are concerned about someone's mental health, please at least start a conversation.
 


National Mental Health Association Hotline
800-273-TALK (8255)
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week


"Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs." Depression Symptoms & Warning Signs: How to Recognize Depression Symptoms and Get Effective Help. Help Guide, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-signs-and-symptoms.htm>.
    

Food for Thought

     We are always told that we are what we eat, which got me wondering: how much does our diet play on our mental health? Can regularly eating certain foods make someone more susceptible to depression? SO I did what any curious individual would do, and I researched it. 

      After researching, I realised that I came across a relatively simple concept that makes perfect sense, and it is that: There is a direct link between someone's mood and blood sugar balance. Since all carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose, and the brain runs on glucose it would make sense that more naturally sweetened foods should be eaten as supposed to artificially sweetened. The reasoning behind that is simply that is that the more uneven your blood sugar supply is, the more uneven your mood. Therefore the foods that have a better overall nutritional value are going to have better effects on your mood than junk foods.

    

     

     This doesn't mean to skip on all the sweets, but to take the junk foods into consideration before they enter your body. I mean what's more important: giving into food cravings or fighting them and having a better mental (and physical) health because of that? Well that decision is completely up to you, but I hope this blog post has helped you understand that some foods may be the culprit to your ups and downs throughout the day. Eat more fruits and veggies!


"Healthy Diet: Eating with Mental Health in Mind." Mental Health America. Mental Health America, n.d.        Web. 25 April 2016. <http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/healthy-diet-eating-mental-health-mind>. 

Depression

     When searching for the cause of depression, I realised that something like depression isn't just caused by one factor. Depression is rooted in so many different sources that it's hard to pin point the main source, however in most cases depression is usually linked to feelings of hopeless and suffering that cannot be escaped. And those feelings (which are caused by so many different factors) are what generally lead to depression. These feelings can be caused by a major traumatic event, a death or loss of a loved one, abuse, some medicines, illness, and even genetics. According to Stanford Medicine, if someone has a parent or sibling with major depression, that person has a "2 or 3 times greater risk of developing depression compared with the average person." This just goes to show that one does not inherit depression directly from a parent, but rather certain gene combinations can predispose to a particular illness, like depression.

     This topic has really interested me, since it is something that is relatively common amongst teenagers and I have known people myself that have or are experiencing depression themselves. Hopefully, through this research, I will be able to more fully understand what some people I know go through on a daily basis, that can make their daily tasks so difficult. What I've taken from this so far is that you never know what people are going through, so there isn't a point on making them feel even worse than they might already. I'm hoping that after someone reads this blog, they will strive for the spread of kindness as opposed to hate.

Choosing the Topic

     When first given the freedom to choose any topic that interested us for this research project, psychology was the first topic that came to my mind. Psychology is a Greek word meaning "breath, spirit, and soul." It studies the behavior and mind of humanity. However, with such a broad topic (and so many branches of psychology that I wasn't even aware of before my research), I realized that I would need to narrow down the topic.

     Depression specifically was a topic that intrigued me, since "one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life" (according to the American Psychiatric Association). Depression can be disruptive and debilitating prior to its' diagnosis. Jobs, friendships, family, school, etc. become affected. What fascinated me most about this mental illness, that affects so many, is that it, however, can be treated.

     I formatted my question in a way that would not only allow me to learn about the reasons and causes behind depression, but how to cope with it. My question is: "What are some psychological reasons behind depression and how can a more positive outlook be achieved?"


    
The source I used (the American Psychiatric Association) did pass the CRRAPP test. It was a credible site with accessible information.

  
Parekh, Ranna. "What Is Depression?" American Psychiatric Association. N.p., Mar. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. <https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression>.