Depression is a mood disorder characterized by overwhelming feelings of sadness, fear, and anger. It affects people of all ages, races, genders, and economic statuses. Both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to depression. There are several types of depression including major depression, chronic depression, and atypical depression. Treatment options include medication, therapy, and social support. Famous people like Princess Diana, Harrison Ford, and Joker have suffered from depression.

1. DEPRESSION Depression

2. WHAT IS DEPRESSION? Depression is a mood disorder marked by overwhelming feelings of sadness, fear, and anger. Depression patients are often at risk of suicide, more than 10% succeed. Everyone feels sad at times, but clinical depression is characterized by long term emotional impairment that inhibits one’s ability to live normally.

4. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION? Fatigue, loss of energy. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness. Lack of focus. Recurring thoughts about dying and killing oneself. Significant change In weight. Insomnia. This guy deserves to feel worthless.

5. Some say depression can make you stronger. However no one knows who these ‘some’ are.

6. WHO IS AFFECTED BY DEPRESSION? People of all ages, race, gender, economic status are vulnerable to depression. Children and teenagers can have depression, and can distort the way they view their own lives. The death of a teddy bear can have a serious impact on a child’s emotional health.

7. WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION? Both heredity and environmental events are believed to be factors in the onset of depression. Certain types of Depression recurs in multiple family members. People with family members without any history of depression can develop it. Examples of factors include: Alcohol, emotional events such as death/separation, sleeping problems, stress, and chemical imbalances in the brain.

8. Break-ups and sudden changes in life can cause depression.

9. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF DEPRESSION? 1. Major: Characterized by a person’s inability to function normally due to depressive symptoms. 2. Chronic: Also known as dysthymia, is characterized by two or more years of depressive symptoms. People who have dysthymia experience more than one depressive episode in their lifetimes. 3. Atypical: People who have atypical depression overeat, oversleep, are extremely fatigued, and very sensitive.

10. Sleep loss can cause depression. People with atypical depression are always fatigued.

11. Major Depression can harm social life. People suffering from chronic depression may have multiple episodes in their lifetime.

12. HOW DO YOU TREAT DEPRESSION? Medication such as SSRIs, which stand for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, which works by blocking the uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, can help patients with depression. SNRI’s, or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are often used also. Talk therapy, with professional psychiatrists and therapists, can help. People tend to do better when they are told the psychological reasons for their behavior. Taking medications carefully and correctly, while learning how to manage side effects, can be very effective. Talking to trusted friends or lovers can be beneficial to the patient.

13. Medication is effective in treating depression. Friendship is invaluable in eliminating some of the symptoms of depression.

14. WHO ARE SOME OF THE FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION Boris Yeltsin, the first Russian president, suffered from depression. Diana, Princess of Wales, suffered from depression. Harrison Ford, known for playing Han Solo and Indiana Jones in Star Wars and the Indiana Jones series, suffers from depression. J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, revealed that she used to be suicidally depressed. Jim Carrey, also known as God, suffers from depression. Joker, Batman’s archenemy, suffers from depression.

15. As the examples show, depression affects people of all classes, rich and poor, royal and common, man and woman, actor, writer, and princess, etc. Boris Yeltsin Princess Diana Harrison Ford

16. Jim Carrey is also known by the name God. Joker hides his seriousness with a fake smile, but he’s still depressed.

17. WHAT ARE SOME MOVIES ABOUT DEPRESSION? Wristcutters: A Love Story, a film about a strange station for people who committed suicide, deals with issues regarding depression. The movie was released in 2006, and stars Patrick Fugit. The movie has relatively positive reviews.

19. I HAVE DEPRESSION. DO I HAVE HOPE OF BEING NORMAL? YES! People who get treated for depression tend to get better and stay that way. People who suffer from depression can lead long, satisfying lives. They can perform normally, with controlled treatment and help.

20. SMILE! Showing an emotion (that may not represent your true feelings) can help you feel that way. Smiling when under stress can help you feel happier! If worst comes to worst, you can cut be like Joker and “put a smile on that face” (with a knife of course).

21. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE..

22. WORKS CITED Psychology, 8 th Edition by David Myers http :// depression.about.com/od/famous/Famous_People_With_Depression.htm http:// abcnews.go.com/Health/DepressionOverview/story?id=4356243 http:// www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=symptoms