Depression is a brain disorder that has no single cause. Depression is as a result of a reaction between genetic and other factors especially environmental when they come together. It is a sever mood disorder that is frequent and disabling and can affect people regardless of their age. Depression has detrimental effects to all people on their day to day activity and to the society it imposes an economic burden. The disorder is commonly characterised by reduced energy, depressive moods and a general feeling of fatigue which affect a person functioning with regard to the everyday life.
Since depression have been said to be a brain disorder, it have several effects on the body through the various body organs. Depression is known to change the chemistry of the brain and therefore there are changes that will take place in different part of your body. It is therefore worth noting that depression have a very wide array of problem especially physically that affect the immune system and also the heart. One of the organ and system that has been known to be affected by depression is the reproductive system especially in men. Depression causes partners to have decreased appetite for sex. In addition to that, depression is known to affect the immune system of an individual. This makes the body weak and as a result the body is not in a position to fight infections.
Depression makes it worse for people with a weak immune system since such people are not in a position to respond to vaccinations. A person who is depressed is easily attacked by infections and diseases and they are also prone to other conditions for instance stress hormone levels increases. Depression also affects the cardiac organ where it has been attributed to diseases affecting the heart. The renal organs are also affected by depression where it is known to cause renal complications for instance kidney diseases. More research indicates that depression interferes with the normal functioning of the body in that it may cause lack of sleep, decreased appetite and general fatigue (Aguirre, 2008).
Depression has detrimental effect of a person own life. Depression is one of the conditions that destabilises a person and at large his or her family. An individual who is depressed have hardships in carrying out his or her daily life activities for instance school work. Their relationship with other people is affected and to another extent, their eating habits and sleeping habits are interfered with. Depression make an individual have a low esteem towards him or her and in most cases have low moods. Individuals who are depressed usually don’t find pleasure in things that are enjoyable. People who are depressed are associated with several types of disorders for instance, sleeping disorder where they are known to either to oversleep or sleep too little.
In addition to that they are known to have eating disorders where they are characterised by eating too much to a situation where they become obsess or where they eat too little and become very skinny. Anxiety and irritability is another characteristic that can be associated with person suffering from depression where they get irritated by simple and small issues. Individuals who have been reported to be depressed have sited loss of energy and fatigue as one of the conditions they go through. These individuals are also known to have thought of suicide or death preoccupying them. Memory loss, difficulties in thinking, concentration challenge or even have problems in decision making are problem that people suffering from depression undergoes. Research also shows that depressed individuals have a feeling of hopelessness guilt and have lost their self-worth and feel sad which a persistent feeling it becomes (peacock, 2000)
Depression is one of the factors that have affected not only the individual with this condition but also the society. The cost that is imposed by depression in to the society is usually shared between different sectors for instance the health care sector and the other sectors. The health care sector uses its finances and time in treating the patients and giving them therapies. In addition to that, the other sectors incur cost in creating awareness to the people on way of preventing depression in and out of work and training them on stress management. Depression has social and economic costs to the society since a depressed person cannot work well in their places of work which is a cost to the society.
There are various forms of treatment that have been brought forward to treat depression and save the individual with this mental condition the agony. The patients with depression are given different treatment depending with the intensity of their condition. Some of the patients are required to take reuptake inhibitors from serotonin which goes to the brain and increases the neurochemical serotonin. This and other more drugs are one part of treatment for these patients. In addition to this treatment, the depression patients have been recommended to undergo changes in their lifestyles. Changes in lifestyle are powerful tools that are used to treat depression though they appear simple. Exercise for instance is one of the lifestyle practises with regard to change that does miracles (Berne, 2007).
Various studies that are well designed have identified exercise to be as good as psychotherapies and antidepressants which are used in the treatment of depression. Various well executed researches show that exercise helps in the production of various chemicals in the brain that are known to alleviate depression. In addition to that exercise help an individual to raise his or her self-esteem and confidence which have an impact that is positive on the individual who is depressed. Diet is the other treatment that has been identified as a cure for depression. Individuals who suffer from this condition have been advised to keep of caffeine and substance that have refined sugar in them. Person with depressed condition are also advised not to take alcohol and are also advised to ensure they have enough sleep to avoid being moody. There are many other forms of treatment that have been brought forward for the treatment of this condition (Roy, 2005)
In conclusion, it is worth noting that depression have detriment effect on individual and to the society as well. Apparently there is much effort that has been put to address the issue but much need to be done. More finances should be channelled into this area so that further research can be done on simpler way to save the depression patients. The society should be empowered through awareness programme to be equipped with knowledge of how to fight depression and how to treat person with depression. Since we have the interest of the future generation at heart, we should invest on practises that will reduce the chances of them getting depressed for instance advocating for all institutions sport is compulsory. In addition to that, parents have a duty to ensure they eat health.
References
Aguirre, B. A. (2008). Depression. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
Berne, E. C. (2007). Depression. Detroit: Greenhaven.
Roy, J. R. (2005). Depression. New York: Benchmark Books.
Peacock, J., & Casey, J. (2000). Depression. Mankato, Minn: LifeMatters.
