The exact cause for
major depressive disorder is not known but according to research, it is
believed that it is caused by chemical changes in the brain. It may be because
of a problem with certain genes or by stressful events that occur suddenly.
Depression also can be triggered in a person if it runs in the family.
Symptoms of Major
depressive disorder according to WebMD are, fatigue or loss of energy almost
every day, impaired concentration, insomnia or hypersomnia, significant weight
loss or gain, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide.
It
has been shown that people who have relatives that have or have had depression
have a high probability of having early-onset depression (before age 30). WebMD also states that almost twice as many
women than men have major depression. Hormonal changes for women during
puberty, pregnancy, menopause, etc. increase the risk. On the contrary, older
men with decreasing levels of the hormone testosterone have an increased risk
for major depressive disorder. Studies have also shown that most people with
depression have decreased activity in the left hemisphere and increased
activity in the right.
It
has to be very hard to live with a disorder such as major depressive disorder. To
feel sad and helpless every single day for weeks or months at a time has to be
very difficult because people who are going through this feel as if life is
worthless and has no meaning. They lose complete interest in what was once
interesting and motivating for them.
Very interesting, based on the research that shows people with major depression disorder have an increased amount of activity in the right hemisphere of the brain, might make left handed people more prominent to major depression, since their right side of the brain is more active and predominant for most of them.
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly, the right hemisphere is responsible for being better at perceiving emotions. Could it be possible that there might be too much activity in the right hemisphere and may have an impact on the instability of emotions.
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