Running Head: MODULE TWO ASSIGNMENT

Module Two Assignment

Bryttni D Pugh
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

MODULE TWO ASSIGNMENT

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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-collegestudents/index.shtml
Depression (major depressive disorder). (2015). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/risk-factors/con20032977
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