By Conner BRown and Julia Box
van Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night. 1889. Oil on Canvas. Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
Depression is a medical illness that causes a constant feeling of sadness and lack of interest. Feeling sad, or what we may call "depressed," is normal and happens to everyone. The sensation usually passes and we go on with our lives.
However, people with "clinical depression" experience this emotion for a prolonged period of time and it eventually interferes with their life. A person may lose interest in activities that were once pleasurable, experience total lost of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions, and may contemplate, attempt, or commit suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, aches, pains or digestive problems may also occur.
Life style factors that may lead to depression include irregular sleep, poor diet and lack of exercise. There are a number of options for treating depression including drug therapy. Besides medical treatment, lifestyle strategies such as wake therapy, light therapy, eating a healthy diet, meditation, exercise and smoke cessation can also be used to treat depression.
Nordqvist, Christian. "What is depression? What causes depression?" Medical News Today. http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933.ph. Updated November 6th, 2013. Accessed March 9th, 2014.
However, people with "clinical depression" experience this emotion for a prolonged period of time and it eventually interferes with their life. A person may lose interest in activities that were once pleasurable, experience total lost of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions, and may contemplate, attempt, or commit suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, aches, pains or digestive problems may also occur.
Life style factors that may lead to depression include irregular sleep, poor diet and lack of exercise. There are a number of options for treating depression including drug therapy. Besides medical treatment, lifestyle strategies such as wake therapy, light therapy, eating a healthy diet, meditation, exercise and smoke cessation can also be used to treat depression.
Nordqvist, Christian. "What is depression? What causes depression?" Medical News Today. http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933.ph. Updated November 6th, 2013. Accessed March 9th, 2014.