This a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian: laura.astorian@cobbk12.org

1. DEPRESSION
The Common Cold of Mental Illness

2. Depression
◦ Mood disorder
◦ Lasting sadness for over two weeks
◦ Interferes with daily behavior
◦ Can improve with therapy

3. Types
◦ Major depression- symptoms interfere with life
◦ Persistent depressive disorder- depression lasting over 2 years
◦ Psychotic depression- depression with delusions
◦ Postpartum depression- depression after giving birth
◦ Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- depression in the winter

4. Causes
◦ Genetic
◦ Biological
◦ Environmental
◦ Psychological

5. Biological
◦ Smaller hippocampus
◦ Fewer serotonin receptors
◦ Serotonin allows communications in brain
◦ Excess of stress hormone cortisol

6. Genetic
◦ Depression runs in families
◦ Twin studies
◦ Identical twins more likely to both suffer from depression
◦ Multiple genes influence depression
◦ Parents with depression are likely to have kids with depression

7. Psychological and Environmental
◦ Trauma
◦ Death of friend or family member
◦ Stressful situation
◦ Loss of job
◦ Grief
◦ Changes in life

8. Symptoms
◦ Changes in sleep patterns
◦ Loss of interest in activities
◦ Weight increase or decrease
◦ Loss of energy
◦ Hopelessness
◦ Suicidal thoughts

9. Treatment
◦ Medication
◦ Alternative treatments
◦ Psychotherapy
◦ Electroconvulsive therapy

10. Medication
◦ Called antidepressants
◦ Work on neurotransmitters
◦ Serotonin
◦ Norepinephrine
◦ Dopamine
◦ SSRI- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor- Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro
◦ SNRI- Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor- Effexor, Cymbalta

11. Alternative Treatments
◦ St. John’s Wart
◦ Used in history as herbal remedy for depression
◦ Still used in Europe
◦ Same effect as placebo
◦ May interfere with other medication

12. Psychotherapy
◦ Also known as talk therapy
◦ Cognitive Behavior Therapy
◦ Restructures negative thoughts
◦ Interpersonal therapy
◦ Helps with troubles relationships that can lead to depression
◦ Not enough for major depression

13. Electroconvulsive therapy
◦ Only used when nothing else works
◦ Shock therapy
◦ Helps reset brain
◦ Patient under anesthesia during procedure

14. I Wake Up Every Day Feeling Like This

16. I Feel
◦ Hopeless
◦ Nothing will get better
◦ Everything is so hard
◦ I can’ handle this

19. I Feel
◦ I am a terrible person
◦ I am ugly
◦ I am unloved by anyone
◦ I make other people’s lives miserable
◦ Nobody likes me

21. I Feel
◦ Nobody would miss me if I was gone
◦ I just want the pain to end
◦ I don’t deserve to be alive
◦ I want to kill myself