Depression - Powerpoint presentation

Running head: COURSE PROJECT - DEPRESSION 1

COURSE PROJECT - DEPRESSION 3

Course Project - Depression

Course Project - Depression

My topic of choice for the course project has been depression. Depression is a topic that hits home because I have battled with it in my past, and I have also had family plagued by the same issues. It is a wide issue throughout the United States and even though there are many medications and therapy solutions, there are many people that still suffer from depression on a daily basis.

Although there have been many studies on depression in human beings, it is not yet known the exact cause. Many different factors may be involved, such as biological differences, inherited traits, hormones and brain chemistry to name a few. There is some evidence that one etiology of depression is inherited according to the Mayo Clinic, as depression is more common in individuals who're biological family members also suffer from some type of depression. Another suspect of depression is a person's environment. It is believed that there is a possible link between depression patients and their physical environment. Such situations would include highly stressful situations such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job or other financial difficulties that have an impact on individuals. According to the US Surgeon General, other factors that have an impact on developing depression include having been neglected as a child, sexual and physical abuse either as a child or in adulthood and other types of maltreatment that affects the development of adult emotional health.

The research that I conducted on depression was not shedding any light on specific damage to cells, organs or tissues; however, they are still affected adversely by the symptoms of depression. Some symptoms of depression include, but are not limited to, loss of appetite or overeating, tiredness and lack of energy, and sleep disturbances. If we take a closer look at the effects of our tissues, cells and organs by under eating or overeating, we will see signs of weight loss or gain. Overeating, for example, can negative affect a person's joints and organs. This can eventually lead to complications in the body such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke or gallbladder disease, all potentially deadly.

Another symptom or sign of depression is a lack of sleep, tiredness or sleep disturbances. These symptoms again can lead to issues such as impaired brain activity and cognitive dysfunction. With impaired brain activity and cognitive dysfunction, your central nervous system is disrupted. Your central nervous system is the information highway of your body. Without sleep, your brain is unable to rest, which leaves the brain exhausted and it is unable to perform well.

The biggest issue with organ damage caused by depression is heart disease. Depression has been linked to an increased risk to conditions such as heart disease. Individuals with depression can experience changes in their nervous system and hormonal balance, which can make their chances higher for a heart rhythm disturbance, or arrhythmia, to occur. Also, people with depression may have uncommonly sticky platelets that can accelerate atherosclerosis in patients with heart disease.

Depression can be controlled with multiple therapies and medications. Another tool to lowering a person's chances of being affected by depression would be a healthy, balanced diet companied by regular exercise. It is incredibly important for anyone suffering from any level of depression to seek help to ward off any of these other effects that can accompany depression.

References

Biegler, P. (2011). The ethical treatment of depression autonomy through psychotherapy. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Depression Physical Effects: Weight Gain, Fatigue, Pain, Insomnia. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2015.

Langille, D., Asbridge, M., Kisely, S., & Wilson, K. (n.d.). Risk of depression and multiple sexual risk-taking behaviours in adolescents in Nova Scotia, Canada. Sexual Health Sex. Heal., 254-254.

Wasserman, D. (2011). Depression (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.