What Are the Dangers of Depression?

Depression can affect anyone at any age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 8.8 percent to 21.3 percent of all people in the U.S. will develop depression sometime in their life. Depression is a neurochemical imbalance. Even though many people try, it is quite difficult to overcome depression through sheer force of will. Without treatment, serious dangers can arise.

Definition

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states that a major depressive episode includes symptoms that have interfered with the ability to function nearly every day for two weeks. The symptoms include loss of interest in activities, fatigue, agitation, and difficulty thinking or concentrating. Other symptoms include weight loss or gain, too much or too little sleep, and a change in appetite. At its worst, depression results in thoughts of death or attempts to commit suicide.

Dangers

• The ultimate danger is that depression can result in death. But before it reaches that extreme, depression causes many emotional and behavioral consequences. One danger is that depression will make it impossible to function at work, resulting in loss of a job and income. People with depression withdraw from life, often severing all communication with friends and family. Physical health goes downhill under the stress and anxiety that goes hand-in-hand with depression. Another danger is that depression frequently co-exists with a medical illness that adds yet more stress to well-being. These illnesses may include heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes. A serious danger is that people with depression are at a higher risk of alcohol or drug abuse. As mentioned at the start, thoughts about death may be acted upon, resulting in suicide.

Treatment

• A danger that may be overlooked is lack of treatment: In fact, it can be fatal. According to Mental Health America, 15 percent of those with depression who do not seek treatment will take their own lives. Depression is the result of an imbalance of biochemicals in the brain. This means that medication is needed to restore the proper balance. Psychotherapy should also be considered to learn how to recognize why the depression started and to learn how to reduce the risk of future depression with better coping techniques.

Medication

• In spite of the importance of medical treatment, another danger related to depression is the side effect of antidepressant medications. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. cause fewer side effects than other classes of antidepressants, but they may result in increased thoughts of suicide. Other side effects associated with SSRIs include headaches, nausea and diarrhea (although diarrhea should go away as the body adjusts to the medicine) insomnia, restlessness or agitation.

Self Care

• People who are depressed truly don't have the energy or the motivation to take care of their body, their environment, or any major aspect of their life. The biggest risk presented by such lethargy is that they do not tend to health needs. This means they may not eat well, they may not eat at all, or they may eat too much. Physical illnesses may go unattended and that has a negative effect in the long-term.