The

Realities of
Depression
Yassah Reed and
Kyra Ashe

What is depression?
Depressions is a mood disorder that affects the way one thinks, feel, and behaves. It
can seriously affect someone's day-to-day life. The are lots of different types of
depression like:
Clinical depression/Major depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder
Perinatal depression
Psychotic depression
Seasonal affective disorder
Our focus will be on the two most common type of depression: Clinical depression or
Major depressive disorder

Persistent sadness/empty feeling.

Feeling of hopelessness.
Fatigue/ lethargy.
Lack of interest or pleasure in doing activities.
Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and
making decision.
Sleeping difficulty.
Appetite or weight change.
Thoughts of suicide or death.
Restlessness and irritability.

In ancient Mesopotamia it was called

Melancholia but it was treated as a physical
or spiritual illness.

Fig1 .1 History of treatment of Depression

Source:http://www.macalester.edu/academics/psychology/whathap/
ubnrp/depression05c/history.html

Depression has only recently been seen as a

mental illness

History Of Depression
During the B.C time period, depression was thought to be associated with
demonic possession. Meaning you would see a priest about your problems
instead of a doctor.
Exorcism techniques such as; beatings, restraints, and starvation was used to
drive them demons out of the infected person. (practices made babylonian,
chinese and egyptian civilizations)
Early Roman and greek doctors thought differently, they believed that
depression was a biological and psychological disease.
They believed using baths, special diets, massages, gymnastics, music and a
concoction of poppy seeds and donkey milk to relieve depression symptoms.
In 1621, Robert Burton published a book about what caused depression,
(poverty, fear, and solitude)
Some of the remedies recommended for depression were marriage, traveling,
distraction, baths, and exercise.

Sigmund
Freud

Psychotherapist
One of the first to try treat specifically
depression
Tried to treat depression through
psychotherapy
Freud believed depression, and mental
illness in general, was caused by conflic
between ones Id, Ego, and Super-ego.
The psychodynamics was the most
respected field of psychology is the earl
1900s.
Fig 2 Picture of Sigmund Freud

How Depression is Treated

Now
Treatment involves:
Antidepressants
Psychotherapy
Electric Shock Treatment
Interpersonal Therapy
FIg 2 Electroschock GIF
Source:http://www.last.fm/group/Kill+it+before+it+lays+eggs/foru
m/1269307/_/2199331/12

Antidepressants
Antidepressants are prescribed
the most for depression along
with therapy. Some of the most
common antidepressants are:

Cymbalta
Pristiq
Viibryd
Zoloft
Prozac
Desyrel
Lexapro
Paxil
Fig 3 Photo of Prozac Bottle
Source: http://www.sterlingmedicaladvice.com/tag/prozac/

Depression Statistics

20% of people with major

depressive disorder become
psychotic
10%-15% of women develop
postpartum depression

350 million people suffer from

depression
Women are more likely to be
diagnosed with depression than
men

Fig. 4 Bar Graph showing the percentage of teens

with depression
Source: healthline.com Depression and Mental
Health by the Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and You

Causes of
depression

No one know what exactly causes

depression. There are various
things that could cause of
depression including:
Abuse
Genetics
Some medications
Death/Loss
Substance abuse

Fig 5 Depressed Brain vs Normal Brain

Source:http://www.yourlocalhealthchoice.com/depressionuntangling-stranglehold/

Chemical Imbalances

Stereotypes about depression

Happy people cant be depressed

Talking about depression is a downer
People who are depressed arent mentally strong
Depression isnt a real illness
Depression and sadness are the same
Antidepressants are all you need to make you feel
better.

Black Girls Dont Get Depressed

Fig 6 Photo of Samantha Irby

Source:http://www.chicagonow.com/riding-the-waves/2013/12/a-very-meaty-interview-withsamantha-irby-if-i-didnt-know-how-to-make-this-shit-funny-i-wouldve-walked-out-into-the-middle-ofrush-hour-traffic-years-ago/

IF YOU'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND FEMALE, NOT ONLY ARE YOU EXPECTED TO BE RESILIENT ENOUGH TO JUST TAKE
THE HITS AND KEEP GOING, BUT IF YOU CAN'T, YOU'RE A BLACK BITCH WITH AN ATTITUDE.
DEPRESSION WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO WHITE PEOPLE ON TELEVISION, NOT A THING THAT COULD TAKE
DOWN A STRONG BLACK WOMAN. IT SEEMED LIKE JUST ANOTHER WAY I WAS DESPERATELY TRYING TO BE WHITE.

Why the stereotypes exists

On TV black women are
always portrayed as
being strong,
resilient, and
enduring.
In many movies African
America the woman are
not allowed to show
weakness.
Fig 7 Photo of Viola Davis
Source:https://speakerpedia.com/speakers/viola-davis

Fig 8 Photo of Madea

Source
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/madea-goesto-jail

The Effects Stereotypes has

on People with Depression
Since people do not know the
signs of depression they attribute it
to their personality.
People begin to believe the person
is lazy, rude, mean or all of the
above
Which affects the way people treat
them and sometimes people with
depression start to think that about
themselves and not seek help
This can further their feelings of
loneliness and sadness.
Fig 9 The Effects Depression Can Have on People
Source: www.healingpsychotherapyga.com

How We Can Stop

Stigmas
We can stop the stigma by
recognizing the signs
If a friends of loved one displays
the signs of depression ask them
or talk to them to see how they
are feeling
The first step to seeing the signs
is knowing them
If you know someone you know
has depression try to be
sympathetic and realize they
can't just stop being depressed
it's a diseases.
Fig 10 What You See, What I Feel
Source http://www.emmieleey.com/2015/01/what-depression-feels-like.html

How the media affect how I view

depression
Over the course of this semester, Ive asked many of my peers and family members how they the
media affects their views of depression.
This is an opion question, therefore there isnt a right or wrong answer.
Some have said, it doesnt affect how they view depression.
Others feel that the media does affect how it is being viewed

Fig. 11 Someones view on their

depression
Source: overexamined.life

Peer
Interview
Part 1

Peer
Interview
Part 2

Celebrities Raising Awareness

Demi Lovato
Spoke openly about her struggles with her eating disorder
and depression.
Kid Cudi
Recently, admitted into rehab for a drug problem and talks
about depression in his music.
Frank Ocean
Made a song called Super Rich Kids about how people do
not think about rich children being depressed because they
have money.

Super Rich Kids

Fig. 3&4 Logo for a depression campaign

Source: blurtitout.org about

Blurt is a foundation that promotes health

awareness about depression. They refer to
themselves as that silent nod. Meaning
that they are here to communicate with
people dealing with depression. They are
also helping them by communicating with
school, medical facilities, and companies
so that they can spread awareness and a
better understanding.

How do you think the

media or personal
experiences has affected
YOUR views on
depression?

Why Does Matter?

Fig. 12 Channing Tatum

Source: huffingtonpost.com 33 celebs who have
dealt with depression

Why we
chose to
do this
topic.(K)

Fig. 13 Johnny Depp

Source: huffingtonpost.com 33 celebs who have dealt with
depression

We chose this topic to help raise awareness.

A lot of people suffer from depression and its important to talk about it.
Openly talking about depression allows for more people to come forward
and seek help.
By seeking help, they feel less alone.
Depression can happen anyone, and we just want to show people that
they arent the only ones battling this..
Fig. 14 Robin Williams
Source: huffingtonpost.com 33 celebs who have dealt with
depression

What you should take away .

The message behind this project was to
pose a question about how you think the
media may have altered your views on
depression
We wanted to show a deeper
understanding of depression and the
history behind it
We wanted to show people who you
recognize from tv, who also have dealt with
it.
We also wanted to break the stereotypes
behind it and help you all gain a better
understanding.

Fig.15 Girl in corner

Source: youtube depression

Fig. 16 Girl under cloud

Source: tinybhudda.com we are not
our feelings

Works Cited

Illness Accept Treatment. 10th ed. N.p.: Vida, 2011. Print.

Simpson, Amy. Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church's Mission. N.p.: IVP, 2013. Print.

Torrey, E. Fuller. Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Patients, and Providers. New York: Collins,
2006. Print.

"NIMH Help for Mental Illnesses." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine,
n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

Wilensky, Amy S. Passing for Normal: A Memoir of Compulsion. New York: Broadway, 1999. Print.

Brody, Jane E. "After a Suicide Attempt, the Risk of Another Try." NY Times 8 Nov. 2016, D5 sec.: n. pag.
Print.