Clinical depression is a mental disorder that affects a large portion of the world’s population. This disorder is commonly misunderstood and often considered to be a weakness or a “fake” disease. Depression is very real; those who are affected with it struggle on a daily basis to control their thoughts and mood to simply live life in a normal way. The disorder is difficult to understand for those who haven’t experienced it, and we are here to help explain what you didn’t know about depression. Even those who have already been diagnosed with this condition might learn a thing or two! Read on to discover everything you didn’t know about this common disorder. Don’t forget to come back for our part two article to see the top eight things you didn’t know about depression!
Number Fifteen: It Causes Physical Illness. Many people categorize depression to be an emotional plague. However, it is likely to cause physical symptoms as well. While experiencing the haunting thoughts brought on by the onset of depression, many patients will also experience headaches, chronic muscle pain, nausea, heartburn, and fatigue.
Number Fourteen: It Also Causes Weight Problems. In addition to the physical symptoms it may cause, depression can also have a significant impact on a person’s weight. Many depressed persons have been known to forfeit the will to eat as a result of their condition, leading to significant weight loss and eating disorders. In the opposite way, many people are so affected by this condition that they turn to food for comfort and experience weight gain.
Number Thirteen: It Affects Children. Depression is commonly known to affect mostly mature adults, with an average age of 25-44 years for affected persons. However, this does not limit to the possibility of other age groups developing the disorder. Many children, as early as preschool age, have been known to experience depression, and college-age young adults are increasingly at risk for its development.
Number Twelve: Many People Have It. This condition affects a large portion of Americans, but allow us to put the numbers in perspective for you. It is estimated that 17 million Americans are battling a form of depression today and that roughly 75% of the population is seeking the aid of some form of antidepressant.
Number Eleven: Most People Will Experience it at Some Point. With those statistics in perspective, it has been theorized that a mere 5% of all people will never experience a battle with depression over their lifetime. These people are the lucky ones, and are nicknamed to be “sunny people”. Almost everyone will experience symptoms at some point in their life whether they realize it or not, but do not seek help because the symptoms do not last for the majority of their lives.
Number Ten: It Manifests in Many Different Ways. The term “depression” has become all-inclusive for multiple forms of the disorder. However, there are many forms in which it occurs, each with a diverse array of effects to the human brain. Among the various types are general and major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder or manic depression, psychotic depression, and even seasonal affective disorder.
Number Nine: Your Personality Is More Informative Than You Think. Oddly enough, research has proven that a person’s personality traits can be a significant indicator of the onset of the disorder. Simply put, people with a certain personality are more likely to develop this condition. We know depression to be a chemical imbalance that takes place within the brain, though people who are more introverted or shy, transgender, creative, or even simply young have an increased risk for development. Don’t forget to come back for our part two article to see the top eight things you didn’t know about depression!