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What is Depression?
Depression is a condition that affects over 19 million American adults and over 5 million children and teens each year. Depression doesn't discriminate and affects people of all races, ages and groups. For reasons not yet known, women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men. There are several types of depression including the most common, which are:

Bipolar Depression
Bipolar Depression
Clinical Depression
Post Partum
and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
If you, your spouse, your children or a friend have experienced episodes of depression, there is more than a 60% chance that it will recur within the next 3 years. If left untreated, the disease can become chronic and may increase in severity with each episode.
What is the cause of depression?

Depression is the result of a complicated process of various genetic, psychological and environmental factors.
BIOCHEMISTRY
One important factor is biochemistry and the balance of naturally occurring chemicals in the brain. People who suffer from depression often experience a reduction in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. When two of these neurotransmitters, called serotonin and Norepinephrine, are unbalanced, it can lead to symptoms of depression or anxiety disorders. Modern brain imaging technologies have revealed that neural circuits responsible for the regulation of moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior fail to function properly in people with depression. Imaging studies also indicate that critical neurotransmitters-chemicals used by nerve cells to communicate-are out of balance. It is the reduction in serotonin and Norepinephrine which often results in decreased mood and motivation, as well as changes in appetite and sex drive.
GENETICS
Genetics can also be a key factor in diagnosing depression. Depression, like many other illnesses, tends to run in families. A child with one parent with depression has a 10% to 13% increased chance of developing the condition; in identical twins, the statistic is even greater. If one twin has it, the other one has a 70% chance of developing the illness sometime in his or her life. Further scientific research has indicated that brain chemicals are under heavy genetic control.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Some studies suggest adverse life events such as divorce, serious illness, or multiple misfortunes may cause depression. Everyday stress also has unseen negative impacts on our bodies and does, in fact, contribute to a wide range of diseases, including heart disease, the common cold, and depression. Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or poverty can lead to chemical imbalances making people who are already susceptible to depression more vulnerable to the illness.

What are the Symptoms & Signs of Depression?
Each person is unique, and not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people may encounter just a few symptoms, while others may feel many. The severity of the symptoms depends upon the person, and the symptoms may vary over time. One symptom may occur during the initial stages of the depression, disappear, and then return later. In general, however, a person or child with depression may experience any of the following:
ADULTS
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood, difficulty thinking, concentrating, and making decisions, Change in appetite; weight loss or weight gain, sleeping more or less than usual, observably slowed or agitated physical and/or spoken responses (feeling slowed down or restless), feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness, Lacking energy or feeling tired all the time, thoughts of killing oneself, loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities that were once enjoyed, including sex.
CHILDREN AND TEENS
Frequent complaints of vague physical ailments (headaches, stomachaches, fatigue), sudden drop in school performance, lack of interest in play, excessive concern with failure, frequent irritability, crying, lack of social interaction, boredom, attempts to run away from home, reckless behavior, drug use.

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