Depression is not something you can just "snap out of." It's caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals, along with other factors. Like any serious medical condition, depression needs to be treated.
Who Gets Depression?
Although depression can make you feel alone, 16% of Americans will have it during their lifetime. While depression can affect anyone, its effect may vary depending on your age and gender.
Women are almost twice as likely to become depressed as men. The higher risk may be due partly to hormonal changes brought on by puberty, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy.
While men have a lower risk for depression, they are more likely to go undiagnosed and less likely to seek help. They may show the typical symptoms of depression, but are more likely to be angry and hostile. They are also more likely to mask their condition with alcohol or drug abuse. Men with depression are also four times more likely to kill themselves than women.
The elderly are also at risk for depression. Many older people lose loved ones and have to adjust to living alone. Physical ailments may mean they are unable to be as active as they once were. Relatives or loved ones may attribute the signs of depression as just another sign of aging, and many older people do not receive treatment because they are reluctant to talk about their symptoms.
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