Running Head: MODULE TWO ASSIGNMENT 1

Module Two Assignment

Bryttni D Pugh

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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Module Two Assignment

Depression is a common mood disorder associated with the brain and an altered mental

state, especially ones emotions. There are several types of depression, including major

depression, seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression, but they share a variety of

symptoms: continual feelings of sadness and worthlessness, crying, uninterested or unamused

with activities, fatigue or lack thereof, lack of energy, lack or change of appetite and weight,

unfocused, and thoughts of death or suicide (What is Depression?, 2015). Women are more

prone to experience and treat long-lasting or severe depression than men, but any age is prone to

the mood disorder; oftentimes, adolescents and adults start to develop the disorder. Other than

forming depression at a young age, risk factors that increase ones chances for depression consist

of a family or personal history of past depression, drug and/or alcohol consumption, pessimism,

low self-esteem, anxiety, stress, certain medication intake, cancer, heart disease, suicide, and

other types of disorders (Depression (major depressive disorder), 2015). Although depression is

not solely inherited or caused by environmental factors, ones genetics and lifestyle aid in its

growth (Lohoff, 2011).

According to the National Institute of Mental Health; medication and psychotherapy are

the most frequently used forms of treatment; however, electroconvulsive therapy is another form

of treatment for those who find medications and psychotherapy ineffective. Medications,

specifically antidepressants, help to regulate ones mood by targeting certain neurotransmitters

like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They should be taken for a minimum of four to six

weeks, but continual usage is recommended in order to prevent future depression. Psychotherapy

or talk therapy can help treat temperate depression by reconstructing pessimistic thoughts and

behaviors into optimistic ones in cognitive-behavioral therapy, or by analyzing and solving the
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causes and factors of ones depression (i.e. relationships) in interpersonal therapy. People with

severe forms of depression may need to be treated with both antidepressants and psychotherapy.

Electroconvulsive or shock therapy, is another option for patients with severe depression.

Electrical impulses are administered to the patient multiple times throughout the week for one

hour per session. The shocks are not felt because the person takes a muscle relaxer and is put to

sleep. He or she may have memory loss and confusion as a result; but, after one year of therapy,

most patients showed no adverse cognitive effects (Depression, 2011).

Stress and addiction are social determinants of health that may cause and/or affect

depression. According to Merriam-Websters dictionary, stress is a state of mental tension and

worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc. (2015). Stress can lead up to depression due

to poor coping skills. Even though stress can be both positive and negative, one can still become

overwhelmed in whatever situation. The physical or mental pressure can be recurrent and lead to

the symptoms of depression, including melancholy, lack of productivity, insomnia or

oversleeping, and inability to return to ones normal lifestyle. Managing stress and finding stress

relievers are the best options to avoid a downward spiral into depression. Perhaps hanging out

with friends, sleeping, exercising, or participating in a sport will help one to lessen or overcome

his or her stress. College students are often stressed out due to workload and lack of sleep, and

they will experience poor academic performance. Fortunately, resources are provided at school

in order to reduce college stress. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers meditation

techniques, anxiety management handouts, and stress management tips on their website. For

personal interactions, friends and advisors may be more than happy to assist the student

overcome stress.
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Addiction is a powerful urge for something or to do something like drugs and alcohol;

drug addiction is a considered a disease. Alcohol is a depressant and is not uncommon for

depressive people to abuse. People may use alcohol, or other drugs, as an escape from his or her

depression, but the drinks he or she consumes only makes the disorder worse. According to the

Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, one in three adults who struggle with alcohol or drug abuse also

suffers from depression (Depression and Addiction: Dual Diagnosis, 2015). These cases are

called dual diagnoses but can involve other mental disorders and addictions. College students

who drink or do drugs are not surprising to hear about; however, using or abusing drugs due to

depression may not be common knowledge to everyone. The National Institute of Mental Health

states that college students who have depression are more likely to smoke and will drink to

get drunk and experience problems related to alcohol abuse (Depression and College Students,

2012). The University of North Carolina provides students with counseling centers and a

Collegiate Recovery Community, so a student can receive help for alcohol addiction and poor

academic performance. The staff at the university will also help a student overcome suicidal

thoughts and actions in their counseling center. Depression can lead to suicide, and six percent of

college students in 2011 considered committing suicide (Depression and College Students,

2012).

People may perceive others with depression as weak because they are sad on a regular

basis; even the ones with the condition view themselves as weak. Commercials can perpetuate

this stigma because the medications advertised are always the solution to people with

depression. They make them seem weak for assuming that depressive people can only rely on

medication to help them out. Individuals may feel worse if others view them as weak; they may

be picked on or bullied for not being strong enough. Not only could people across the nation use
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the phrase Im depressed as a way to justify their bad mood or weakness, but they could use it

to justify the weakness stereotype of women. Perhaps this could lead a woman into depression

because she may be picked on for it or be a victim of sexism. People have also stigmatized

depression according to appearance, but one cannot always tell who is suffering from depression.

Robin Williams, for example, committed suicide as a result of his severe depression. Few to

none knew about his condition; the pubic was shocked and media constantly talked about the

incident because it was hard to believe that a happy and comical man would be suffering from

severe depression. Society believes that ones mood should match his or her appearance. For

instance, the clique known as the goths are viewed as depressed. People might associate black

clothing and heavy metal music to depression. The individuals within the clique or individuals

who wear black or like certain music could be misjudged by others. On a larger scale, the United

States suicide rates could increase because the depression could overtake the person, especially

a person who masks his or her condition with a smile; additionally, people who may not have

had depression may be at risk for developing it. Society should seek justice, a bioethical

principle that states that people should be treated fairly and equally, for the ones suffering from

depression.
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References

(2015). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stress

Depression. (2011). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml#part_145399

Depression and Addiction: Dual Diagnosis. (2015). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from

http://www.dualdiagnosis.org/depression-and-addiction/

Depression and College Students. (2012). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-college-

students/index.shtml

Depression (major depressive disorder). (2015). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/risk-factors/con-

20032977

Lohoff, F. (2011, December 1). Overview of the Genetics of Major Depressive Disorder.

Retrieved March 22, 2015, from

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3077049/

What is Depression? (2015). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from

http://drc.stanford.edu/depression.html