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... are often thought to have a connection with depression, when in actuality troubles sleeping is associated with the aging process or a medical condition rather than with depression. Contributing factors include the loss of a spouse or close friends, chronic pain and illness, difficulty with mobility, frustration with memory loss, difficulty adapting to changing circumstances such as moving from a home to a retirement facility, or changes within the family. Depression can also be a sign of a medical problem. When there is a loss of a spouse, researchers found that the living partner is most likely to feeling guilty for a number of reasons.
It is common to feel guilty simply for being alive when someone else has died. Because relationships are never perfect, you were bound to have had some disagreements with your spouse or close friend. Feeling guilty for those arguments, or believe you should have been a "better" husband, wife or friend is normal in this stage. Guilt can easily change to a form of depression. When guilt from loosing a spouse turns into depression many times the depression that will be overcome when the guilt has disappeared or lessened. After the loss of a friend or spouse, the living person may become preoccupied with the person who died, and may think about the loved one constantly, re-create the circumstances of the death over and over in his / her mind, also having dreams or nightmares about the person.
This can be a form of depression and is more likely to turn into a mental illness than to be easily over come. During the time of grieving for a lost loved one, it is not only a time of guilt, but also of stress. According to T. H. Holmes and R. H.
Rate's Social Readjustment Scale, death of a spouse causes more stress in a person's life than any other event. (Psych book) Depression goes hand in hand with stress. 95 percent of those polled believe that stress is a major part of depression (my survey). During this time of loss, experts say, If you " re not depressed at this time it is thought that you then have issues with the deceased person or with death itself that need to be worked out. The aging process impacts the neurological function of older adults. Other illnesses prevalent in the elderly may also impact the brain's balance of chemicals that control mood. Parkinson's, stroke, Alzheimer's, thyroid dysfunction and brain tumors are some examples. When having one of these impairments depression is often inevitable.
These factors may point out to the elderly that death is coming. When approaching death a person reacts in stages. The first is denial and isolation; the dying person will deny the whole thing and isolate themselves from the people who are telling them they are dying. Anger is the next stage. They will be mad at the world and the person or thing they thought did this to them. Third is bargaining.
Often the dying person will bargain with God, saying, "I will do anything if you let me live. " The Forth and the longest lasting stage is depression. As death draws near the person recognizes that death can not be prevented, feelings of futility, exhaustion and deep depression may set in. This person realizes that he or she will be separated from friends, loved ones, and familiar routines of life, and this causes profound sadness. The fifth and finally stage, which often isn't reached, is acceptance. As people grow old, often times they can no longer take care of themselves for various reasons. Families often decide to put them in a nursing homes.
Many times family do this because they don't have the time, resources or skills to meet the needs of the elderly person. Changing one's environment like this can cause great depression. The elderly are in a new place where almost everything is on an unfamiliar schedule causing them to feel their freedom has been lost. The seniors placed in the nursing homes feel they lose control of their lives, no longer doing anything on their own terms.
The lack of control over their lives and the lack of familiar surroundings frequently cause severe depression. Most people who are depressed do not seek psychiatric help. Family physicians regularly check for signs of depression during any comprehensive physical examination. In elderly people, because of their spells with depression, drug interactions, and serious physical illnesses, it is especially important to get an accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, one study reported that only 25 % of family physicians accurately diagnose depression. Clinicians need better tools to diagnoses People may be unable to detect or admit to their own depression.
In one study, although 21 % of patients who visited their family physicians were depressed, only one percent described their problem as depression. (1998, Bower, B. ). Depression can be diagnosed by interpreting its symptoms. Experts say when four or more of the following symptoms last for more the two weeks treatment should sought: &# 61623; Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood; &# 61623; Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex; &# 61623; Decreased energy or fatigue; &# 61623; Feeling of hopelessness, pessimism; &# 61623; Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts; &# 61623; Chronic aches and pains that don't respond to treatment. (1992, Worsnop, R. L. ) Depression is one of the most treatable mental illnesses. The American Psychiatric Association reports that between 80 and 90 percent of all depressed people respond to treatment and nearly all depressed people who receive treatment experience at least some relief from their symptoms.
historically treatment for depression included electroshock therapy, psychotherapy, and medications. In the 1930 's electroshock therapy was a preferred method of treatment. This approach became less popular because it was thought to be to extreme. The first drug found to help depression was lithium.
In 1949 Australian psychiatrist John Cade, found that a naturally occurring chemical element, lithium, was an effective treatment for depression. In 1956, American psychiatrist Nathan Kline discovered a drug being used in the treatment of tuberculosis, isoniazid, could boost the mood of depressed patients. In 1972 yet another drug was found to help depression. Fluoxetine, the generic name for the antidepressant Prozac.
Scientist at Eli Lilly and Co discovered it. Today, the treatment most commonly used is medication coupled with psychotherapy. The effectiveness of drugs for the treatment of depression depends on general health, weight, metabolism, and other characteristics unique to that patient. The psychotherapy is added to help the patient after the drug is taken. During a session with a therapist, the patient will talk about how the medication it effecting them also their general feelings toward life (1992, Worsnop, R.
L. ). In Conclusion, depression is a very widespread problem that affects most of the population. Depression is something everyone has at some point in their lives, weather it lasts for a day or a lifetime. It effects all people in different ways. Treatments to help people with depression included Electroshock therapy, medication, and therapy.
After some people get treatment they may never get depression again but many will. Bibliography: Reference list Allen, J. (1998, September, 4). Online and bummed out. Newsweek, p. 84. A. M.
P. (1997, November). Depressions Dirty laundry. Psychology Today, p. 18. Benton, W. (1974). Depression. The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, pp. 475 - 476.
Berger, G. (1981). Mental Illness. New York: Franklin watts. Bower, B. (1998, February). Depression gets doleful diagnoses.
Science News, p. 100. Brown, A. (1996, December, 19). Mood Disorders in children and Adolescents [World Wide Web]. p. 1 - 3 Available: web advocacy / nasa /childhood.
html Coon, D. (1995). Introduction to Psychology, Exploration and Application Seventh Edition. St Paul, MN: Harcourt Brace Jovanovic h Kasschau, R. A. (1995).
Understanding Psychology. New York: Glencoe Division of a macmillan pp. 233 +. Macdonald, S. (1991, January, 15). Depression respect as a real disease. Lansing State Journal, np. Quittner, J. (1998, September, 12).
Bummed like me. Time, p. 84. Worsnop, R. L. (1992, October). Depression. CQ Researcher, pp. 858 - 879.
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Research essay sample on Form Of Depression Electroshock Therapy
