Depression Awareness, by Joe S.

Depression is something everybody deals with. No matter where you are, depression could be affecting someone you know. Depression is serious mental health condition that is characterized by continuous feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest. In America, depression affects more than 21 million people. This pervasive condition is the root cause of many more serious mental health disorders. The mental disorders that are linked to depression are: anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and bipolar conditions. This means that depression is more serious than most people think. We all feel sadness from time to time, however, how can you tell if you are experiencing depression?

The usual signs of depression are: sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest. However, less known signs are: anger, irritability, frustration, and feelings of guilt or worthlessness, tiredness, appetite fluctuations, sleep issues, difficulty with focus, and even physical pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please reach out. It’s important to know that people care and that sharing is important for mental health treatment.

When a person is experiencing depression, a clinician will look at the usual symptoms, as stated above, but a neurologist will look at the chemical dopamine. Dopamine in the brain is what is called a neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter is a technically a chemical messenger that transmits a signal across a synapse to a target cell. What this means is that your brain sends an electric signal to another point called the synapse. This chemical is released which pulses the brain in one of two ways. The neurological response can either be excitatory or inhibitory. That is to say, it can either calm your brain or excite your brain. This chemical is connected in the brain via two pathways. The two pathways are called the Ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the Substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). These two pathways take the dopamine chemical all across the brain. When you experience depression the signaling for this chemical in the brain is reduced. At this point it is up to a clinician about how to proceed in treatment.

When a mental illness is treated the usual options include medication with therapy. The person is usually prescribed anti-depressants and mood-stabilizer drugs. The therapy that is enacted is cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.

Depression is one of the most serious mental conditions that a person can experience. Besides what was mentioned, other points of contention can be further expanded on with different types of therapy and the major link to suicide-ideation and suicide itself. In conclusion, depression is a serious debilitating disorder but there are many options for treatment. If you need to seek help, do not hesitate to call 988, the nation suicide hotline.