Who's more depressed? Men or Women?

We are all humans, we are all created equally, we have our differences,particularly our gender. Both men and women suffer from depression. All of us suffer from depression of many kinds, but in the end it is all depression. But let us determine how are depression affects both men and women.

According to an article written by Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Melinda Smith, M.A. titled "Depression in Men",(http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_men_male.htm), Men can experience depression in different ways to women. You may develop the standard symptoms of depression and become sad and withdrawn, losing interest in friends and activities you used to enjoy. Or you may become irritable and aggressive, compulsively working, drinking more than normal, and engaging in high risk activities. Unfortunately, men are far less adept at recognizing their symptoms than women. A man is more likely to deny his feelings, hide them from himself and others, or try to mask them with other behaviors. The three most common signs of depression in men are:

• Physical pain. Sometimes depression in men shows up as physical symptoms—such as backache, frequent headaches, sleep problems, sexual dysfunction, or digestive disorders—that don’t respond to normal treatment.
• Anger. This could range from irritability, sensitivity to criticism, or a loss of your sense of humor to road rage, a short temper, or even violence. Some men become abusive, controlling, verbally or physically abusive to wives, children, or other loved ones.  
• Reckless behavior. A man suffering from depression may start exhibiting escapist or risky behavior. This could mean pursuing dangerous sports, driving recklessly, or engaging in unsafe sex. You might drink too much, abuse drugs, or gamble compulsively.

Although the signs and symptoms of depression are the same for both men and women, women tend to experience certain symptoms more often than men. For example, seasonal affective disorder-(SAD) depression in the winter months due to lower levels of sunlight- is more common in women. Also, women are more likely to experience the symptoms of atypical depression. Depression in women is very common. In fact, women are twice as likely to develop clinical depression as men. Up to one in four women is likely to have an episode of major depression at some point in life. 

Some experts believe that the increased chance of depression in women may be related to changes in hormone levels that occur throughout a woman's life. These changes are evident during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as after giving birth or experiencing a miscarriage.In addition, the hormone fluctuations that occur with each month's menstrual cycle probably contribute to premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD - a severe syndrome marked especially by depression, anxiety, and mood swings that occurs the week before menstruation and interferes with normal functioning of daily life.

PMS, what is it?and how does it contribute to depression to women? Premenstrual (pree-MEN-struhl) syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms linked to the menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms occur 1 to 2 weeks before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding) starts. The symptoms usually go away after you start bleeding. PMS can affect menstruating women of any age and the effect is different for each woman. For some people, PMS is just a monthly bother. For others, it may be so severe that it makes it hard to even get through the day. PMS goes away when your monthly periods stop, such as when you get pregnant or go through menopause. Symptoms may vary from month to month or during different times in your life.

According to Marcy Holmes article, titled "PMS" (http://www.womentowomen.com/pms/understandingpmsandpmdd.aspx), PMS includes both physical and emotional symptoms:
Emotional:

• Mood swings
• Sadness
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Irrational thoughts
• Altered sleep patterns

Physical:

• Fatigue
• Fluid retention
• Breast tenderness
• Bowel changes
• Headaches
• Food cravings

I suffer from PMS every month, and I'll have to say,PMS is a b!tch! I suffer all of these symptoms every month. Worst part of PMS is feeling like a character from mortal combat is pummeling your ovaries, which really hurts so bad. I tend to get easily irritated and I  don't want to talk to people that much when its the time of the month. I don't drink coke but there are times that I get this sudden weird cravings like chugging a 1.5 liter of coke when I'm PMS-ing. 

For me, I think that all depressions are all the same, maybe its just different in how we see them,and its up to you to decide on whether who is more depressed, men or women?

Teen Depression

I, myself have experienced what it feels like to depressed, especially when I remember my dad. I have tendencies of over-thinking what my life would be like if he was still around, and stuffs like that. It normally happens to me every time his death anniversary is approaching. I've been experiencing it for the last 8 years and counting. In my condition now, I will have to say that I often feel depress,I mean who wouldn't?! I live in the school's dormitory and far away from my relatives, while my mom's in abroad. My only consolation, my friends. Depression can be very tricky especially for teenagers.

I read a lot of articles regarding teen depressions, one of those article is titled "Everything hurts- inside the teen depression epidemic" written by Liz Kearny (http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/everything-hurts-inside-the-teen-depression-epidemic-29141820.html), according to her post, in 2030 the World Health Organization (WHO) predicted that depression will be the number one global health problem.

"Adolescence is a very vulnerable time," says Dr Tony Bates, a clinical psychologist who founded the organisation Headstrong, the National Center for Youth Mental Health."We don't want to over-read normal behavior " he says, "because a lot of the signs of depression – like sleeping too much, withdrawing from the world, losing interest in things, not eating or over-eating, loss of energy – well, I've raised three teens and you see all of that going on at certain times. We don't want to interpret what might just be a difficult time for someone as more than that.

Here are some signs and symptoms of teen depression:

• You constantly feel irritable, sad, or angry.
• Nothing seems fun anymore, and you just don’t see the point of trying.
• You feel bad about yourself—worthless, guilty, or just "wrong" in some way
• You sleep too much or not enough.
• You have frequent, unexplained headaches or other physical problems.
• Anything and everything makes you cry.
• You've gained or lost weight without consciously trying to.
• You just can’t concentrate. Your grades may be plummeting because of it.
• You feel helpless and hopeless .
• You’re thinking about death or suicide. (If this is true, talk to someone right away!)

According to an article written by Melinda Smith, M.A., Suzanne Barston, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D titled "Teen Depression- A Guide for Teenagers" (http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm), the difference between teenage and adult depression:

Depression in teens can look very different from depression in adults. The following symptoms of depression are more common in teenagers than in their adult counterparts:

• Irritable or angry mood – As noted above, irritability, rather than sadness, is often the predominant mood in depressed teens. A depressed teenager may be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.
• Unexplained aches and pains – Depressed teens frequently complain about physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches. If a thorough physical exam does not reveal a medical cause, these aches and pains may indicate depression.
• Extreme sensitivity to criticism – Depressed teens are plagued by feelings of worthlessness, making them extremely vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure. This is a particular problem for “over-achievers.”
• Withdrawing from some, but not all people – While adults tend to isolate themselves when depressed, teenagers usually keep up at least some friendships. However, teens with depression may socialize less than before, pull away from their parents, or start hanging out with a different crowd.

The negative effects of teenage depression go far beyond a melancholy mood. Many rebellious and unhealthy behaviors or attitudes in teenagers are actually indications of depression. The following are some of the ways in which teens "act in" or "act out" in an attempt to cope with their emotional pain:

• Problems at school. Depression can cause low energy and concentration difficulties. At school, this may lead to poor attendance, a drop in grades, or frustration with schoolwork in a formerly good student.
• Running away. Many depressed teens run away from home or talk about running away. Such attempts are usually a cry for help.
• Drug and alcohol abuse.Teens may use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to 
• “self-medicate” their depression. Unfortunately, substance abuse only makes things worse.
• Low self-esteem. Depression can trigger and intensify feelings of ugliness, shame, failure, and unworthiness.
• Internet addiction. Teens may go online to escape their problems, but excessive computer use only increases their isolation, making them more depressed.
• Reckless behavior. Depressed teens may engage in dangerous or high-risk behaviors, such as reckless driving, out-of-control drinking, and unsafe sex.
• Violence. Some depressed teens—usually boys who are the victims of bullying—become violent. As in the case of the Columbine and Newtown school massacres, self-hatred and a wish to die can erupt into violence and homicidal rage.

Parents play a very big role when a family has a depressed teen. They should be very vigilant about it. They should be able to talk about it with their children and be open minded about it, because teen depression can make or break a teenager.

What is Depression?

I easily feel sad once something bad happened to me, its normal, whether emotionally, mentally or physically or sometimes I  wake up and I suddenly feel sad with no reasons.Its normal to feel sad but did you know that once you can't cope with that sadness it can easily lead to a whole new level which is depression. There are a lot of people who suffers depression and most of them are not aware that they are already experiencing it, but what can be the causes of depression?

Depression is an emotion that defines a feeling of things not going your way, when you experience pain associated with disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness and rage. According to the dictionary, depression is  condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life. Depression can be caused by a lot of factors. One of these factors can immediately trigger depression. Personal experience can be one of the major factor that can cause depression to a person. Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Some depressions tend to run in families.

In an article written by Angela Carter titled, "What's The Difference Between Being Sad and Being Depressed?" (http://coastalhealthinfoservice.com/2011/04/12/whats-the-difference-between-being-sad-and-being-depressed/)  she stated that "If you have a loss of interest in life, in your daily activities, job, relationships or socializing for more than about two to three weeks and your mood is out of character, then a visit to the doctor would be in order. Some of the main symptoms of depression are:

• Tiredness/lethargy or inability to sleep (insomnia)
•  Loss of interest in social activities and sexual relations
•  Contemplating death and/or suicide
•  Lack of self-worth and inappropriate guilt
•  Significant weight changes
•  Lack of focus

Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder, often accompany depression. PTSD can occur after a person experiences a terrifying event or ordeal, such as a violent assault, a natural disaster, an accident, terrorism or military combat. People experiencing PTSD are especially prone to having co-existing depression.Alcohol and other substance abuse or dependence may also co-exist with depression. Research shows that mood disorders and substance abuse commonly occur together. 

Depression comes in many shapes and forms. The different types of depression have unique symptoms, causes, and effects. Knowing what type of depression you have can help you manage your symptoms and get the most effective treatment.

Major depression is characterized by the inability to enjoy life and experience pleasure. The symptoms are constant, ranging from moderate to severe. Left untreated, major depression typically lasts for about six months. Some people experience just a single depressive episode in their lifetime, but more commonly, major depression is a recurring disorder. However, there are many things you can do to support your mood and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Dysthmia is a type of chronic “low-grade” depression. More days than not, you feel mildly or moderately depressed, although you may have brief periods of normal mood. The symptoms of dysthymia are not as strong as the symptoms of major depression, but they last a long time (at least two years). These chronic symptoms make it very difficult to live life to the fullest or to remember better times. Some people also experience major depressive episodes on top of dysthymia, a condition known as “double depression.” If you suffer from dysthymia, you may feel like you’ve always been depressed. Or you may think that your continuous low mood is “just the way you are.” However, dysthymia can be treated, even if your symptoms have gone unrecognized or untreated for years.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is characterized by cycling mood changes. Episodes of depression alternate with manic episodes, which can include impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, rapid speech, and little to no sleep. Typically, the switch from one mood extreme to the other is gradual, with each manic or depressive episode lasting for at least several weeks. When depressed, a person with bipolar disorder exhibits the usual symptoms of major depression. However, the treatments for bipolar depression are very different. In fact, antidepressants can make bipolar depression worse.

There have been reports that people suffering from depression are often discriminated. According to an article titled "Most Depression Patients Report Discrimination" written by Sarah Glynn (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251703.php),  there was a team of scientists from  King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry headed by Professor Graham Thornicroft who surveyed 1082 people in 35 different countries who were receiving treatment for their depressive symptoms. The subjects were asked to answer detailed questions regarding their history of discrimination. Results indicated that:

• 34% of volunteers had been avoided by other people because of their mental health issues
• 37% expected discrimination, which stopped them from forming a close relationship with another person
• 25% did not apply for work at one point because they were anticipating discrimination

According to Professor Graham Thornicroft: "Previous work in this area has tended to focus on public attitudes towards stigma based on questions about hypothetical situations, but ours is the first study to investigate the actual experiences of discrimination in a large, global sample of people with depression.  Our findings show that discrimination related to depression is widespread, and almost certainly acts as a barrier to an active social life and having a fair chance to get and keep a job for people with depression." 

Also included in the article, according to Dr. Anthony Jorm at the University of Melbourne in Australia,"Further research could provide much needed input into the design of anti-discrimination interventions - such as public education about human rights and the effect of discrimination on the person with depression; action from health services to help overcome anticipated discrimination as a barrier to help seeking; and the incorporation into treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy of techniques to address anticipated discrimination and symptoms."

According to another article written by Rheyanne Weaver titled "Depression and Discrimination: Where There’s One, the Other Often Follows" (http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-discrimnation-stigma-bias-1030127), a clinical psychologist named Viola Drancoli quoted that  "friends and family members of people with depression might exhibit discriminatory behavior with them because they may feel drained from being around someone who expresses sadness, pessimism, irritability, and a lack of motivation." She also quoted  that “The social isolation often starts a vicious cycle in which the (client’s) negative outlook on life is reaffirmed, they feel let down by family and friends, and symptoms may worsen,” Drancoli said. “This is especially dangerous for individuals who have suicidal ideations and need support and monitoring.”

We have no right to discriminate those people who suffers depression, I don't understand why people should do that. People suffering from depression has been through a lot and the society should just accept and understand them for who they are. Depression can be really serious once not treated properly. For me, in order to avoid depression, I always keep myself busy and I always ensure that I'm being surrounded by people who makes me happy. Being optimistic can also help avoid being depressed. Always think positive, think that there is always a brighter side to everything that will happen, that's one way to  cope with depression.