The document discusses the author's mother's experience with depression symptoms in 1999 which prompted the author to research depression. It then provides information on what depression is, types of depression, causes of depression including genetic, biochemical and environmental factors, common symptoms, and treatment options such as medication, therapy, exercise, nutrition, sleep, and social support.

1. PEDRO GUADIANA

2. I choose to research
Depression because
 In 1999, little by little, my mother had
these symptoms:
 She could not sleep.
 She felt very bad either standing, sitting and
lying.
 She did no eat and lost too much weight.
 She could not stand neither light nor
darkness.
 She could neither laugh nor cry.
 She stopped to do activities she liked.

3. I choose to research
Depression because
 She walked from here to there while her lips
and hands were trembling.
 Her responses did not make sense with our
questions. We asked her about some issues
and she responded others or, simply, said
“yes” or “no”.

4. I choose to research
Depression because
 We visited doctors and psychologists,
but we had no solutions
 …Until we knew doctor Rebecka Jones.
Thanks to her we knew what Depression
is. And…
 I realized there are many myths and
misinformation about this illness.

5. What depression is
Sadness
Loss
Anger
Furstration
 Depression is a disorder
of the brain and it is
more than just a
feeling.
 Is a mood disorder in
which feelings of
sadness, loss, anger, or
frustration interfere with
everyday life for a
longer period of time.
 Depression usually
starts between the ages
of 15 and 30, and is
much more common in
women (the double).

6. Types of Depression
 We can suffer major or minor depression
in our lives
MAYOR DEPRESSION
MINOR DEPRESSION
•Psychotic
•Bipolar
•Chronic or
Dysthymia
•Atypical
•Post partum
•Seasonal

7. Causes of Depression
 Genetic.
 Genes that we inherit from our parents
determine many things about us such as our
gender and the color of our eyes and hair. Our
genes also determine which illnesses we may
be vulnerable to at some point in our lives.
 Research on the heredity of depression within
families shows that some individuals are more
likely to develop the illness than others. If you
have a parent or sibling that has had major
depression, you may be 1.5 to 3 times more
likely to develop the condition than those who
do not have a close relative with the condition.

8. Causes of Depression
 Biochemical
 The neurotransmitters — chemical
messengers that help the brain and
other parts of the body communicate
— appear to be out of balance. These
chemicals help regulate many
physiological functions. Lower levels of
these neurotransmitters may play a
role in why some people are more
susceptible to depression.
 Untreated depression leads to the
atrophy of neurons in the pre-frontal
cortex, an area associated with
planning, reasoning and decision-making,
and socially appropriate
manner.

9. Causes of Depression
 Environmental/Psychological
 The brain is highly malleable and constantly changing in
response to its experiences. That’s in part why scientists
believe depression is a product of both our genes and our
environment. Traumatic life events, such as the loss of a
loved one, separation, distressing financial situations, or big
changes like a move can all potentially trigger symptoms of
depression. Also, include habits and other illness

10. Causes of Depression
 Environmental/Psychological
OUTSIDE
Macro cosmos
“I am I plus my
circumstance.”
José Ortega y
Gasset
INSIDE
Micro cosmos

11. Symptoms
Emotional
 Crying easily or for no reason
 Feeling guilty or worthless
 Feeling restless, irritated, and easily
annoyed
 Feeling sad, numb, or hopeless
 Thinking about death or suicide

12. Symptoms
Physical symptoms, most of them are extremes
 Changes in appetite (eating more than usual,
or eating less than usual)
 Unintended weight loss or gain
 Sleeping too much or insomnia
 Losing interest for sex or sexual anxiety
 Headaches, backaches, or digestive problems
 Feeling very tired all the time
 Having trouble paying attention, recalling
things, concentrating, and making decisions

13. Treatment
 Medicines
 Antidepressants. They help increase the number of
chemical messengers (serotonin, norepinephrine,
dopamine) in your brain.
 Antidepressants work differently for different people.
They also have different side effects. So, even if one
medicine bothers you or doesn't work for you,
another may help. You may notice improvement as
soon as 1 week after you start taking the medicine.
But you probably won't see the full effects for about
8 to 12 weeks. You may have side effects at first, but
they tend to decrease after a couple of weeks. Don't
stop taking the medicine without checking with your
doctor first.

14. Treatment
 Therapy
 Guiding patients through a number of structured
learning experiences. Patients are taught to monitor
and write down their negative thoughts and mental
images to recognize the association between their
thoughts, feelings, physiology, and behavior
 A brief check on mood and symptoms, agenda
setting, bridging from the previous session,
reviewing homework (self-help assignments that
patient does between sessions), discussing issues
on agenda, setting new homework, and summarizing
and getting feedback form the patient about the
session

15. Treatment
 Exercise. Regular exercise can
be as effective at treating
depression as medication. Not
only does exercise boost
serotonin, endorphins, and other
feel-good brain chemicals, it
triggers the growth of new brain
cells and connections, just like
antidepressants do. A half-hour
daily walk can make a big
difference. For maximum results,
aim for 30 to 60 minutes of
aerobic activity on most days.

16. Treatment
 Nutrition. Eating well is important for both
your physical and mental health. Eating small,
well-balanced meals throughout the day will
help you keep your energy up and minimize
mood swings. While you may be drawn to
sugary foods for the quick boost they provide,
complex carbohydrates are a better choice.
They'll get you going without the all-too-soon
sugar crash.

17. Treatment
 Sleep. Sleep has a strong effect on mood.
When you don't get enough sleep, your
depression symptoms will be worse. Sleep
deprivation exacerbates irritability,
moodiness, sadness, and fatigue. Make
sure you're getting enough sleep each
night. Very few people do well on less than
7 hours a night. Aim for somewhere
between 7 to 9 hours each night.

18. Treatment
 Social support. Strong social networks
reduce isolation, a key risk factor for
depression. Keep in regular contact with
friends and family, or consider joining a
class or group. Volunteering is a wonderful
way to get social support and help others
while also helping yourself. .