Depression is awful disease that affects almost twelve million Americans. Depression can be a crippling disease. It can cause withdrawal, anger, confusion, other diseases, or even death. Suicide caused by depression is the third biggest killer among teenagers. Every forty five minutes a teenager takes his or her life. These are all staggering statistics about a disease that some researchers say may be predisposed.
Picture a person(Wendy). Now all of her life Wendy has been "shy". Then her grandmother dies. After the death of her grandmother Wendy starts withdrawing from everyday life, and considers taking her life. These are common symptoms of depression. Being depressed can happen to anyone. Most people have mild depression after the death of a loved one, or a very traumatic depression. Every one in five people will have a case of depression in their lifetime. Depression isn't just a brief blue mood or a passing sadness that lifts in a few hours or even a few days. People who have depression -- or, in more formal clinical terms, major depressive disorder -- experience at least five of the following symptoms, which must include the first or second, nearly every day, all day, for at least two weeks:
Persistent depressed mood, including feelings of sadness or emptiness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed, including sex
Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Loss of appetite accompanied by weight loss or overeating accompanied by weight gain
Decreased energy, fatigue, and feeling "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
Thoughts of suicide or death (not just fear of dying) or suicide attempts
Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain, that do not respond to medical tre
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