Listening to Depression

Paper Summary:

This paper examines studies and theories about what might cause depression, including evidence suggesting that insufficient exercise can lead to depression and the theory of "learned helplessness". The paper points out the complexity involved in understanding depression, as it can be both a normal process as well as a mental illness and has both physiological and psychological causes. Additionally, the paper discusses some of the treatment options available for alleviating depression.

From the Paper:

"The statistics and facts are well known to many. Here are a few: depression is an illness, in the same way that diabetes or heart disease is, it affects the entire body not just the mind, one in five people will suffer from in it during their lifetime, it's the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse and other addictions, at least half the people suffering from depression do not get proper treatment, untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide. Depression affects family members, co-workers - every aspect of your life. Probably even more revealing and real are the non-clinical symptoms of how depression may feel. The list is fascinating - here is a sampling: you don't feel hopeful or happy about anything in your life; you're crying a lot, either at nothing, or something that normally would be insignificant; smiling feels stiff and awkward - it's like your smiling muscles are frozen; you're agitated jumpy and anxious much of the time; incessantly and uncontrollably into your mind comes the memory of every failure, every bad or uncomfortable experience, interview or date, like a torrent of negativity; your place is a mess; you've really let yourself go; you watch TV constantly; you've lost interest in sex or even physical affection - hugging someone doesn't feel any different from leaning against a wall."

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