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Depression

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Synopsis: Depression

Depression is a debilitating mental illness marked by mood disturbances. In human

examinations of the condition, depression was found to account for a considerable fraction of

those affected. According to the most recent World Health Organization estimates from 2019,

there are millions of people suffering from depression globally, an increase of around 18% in the

last decade and a lifetime prevalence of 15%. These statistics being presented are the reason

why depression is of special interest to me. It is essential to make people aware of depression

or other mental health illnesses in order to eliminate stigmatization. Depression awareness also

teaches people that they are never alone and that there are lots of resources readily accessible

to help them deal with this illness.

Dat Tan Nguyen, E Pamela Wright, Christine Deddig, Tam Thi Pham, Joske Bunders: Low
Self-Esteem and Its Association With Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in
Vietnamese Secondary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Reviewed by Leandro
D. Valiengo, Cyrus SH Ho.

According to the authors, this article/study happened so as to determine the frequency of

negative self-esteem involving a combination of social and demographic factors linked to worry,

depression, academic stress, and suicidal thoughts among Vietnamese high school students.

Adolescence is among the most significant stages of human growth. Physical growth, social,

and psychological development, as well as aspects of self, characterize it. Self-esteem has

been demonstrated to have a significant impact on life outcomes such as wellness and social

implications during adolescence and maturity. Low self-esteem has been connected to

depression, substance misuse, antisocial conduct, and suicide. One of the study's objectives

was to determine how self-esteem influences mental health problems. Anxiety, depression, and

suicide were all linked to low self-esteem. (Dat, Pamela, Christine, Tam, Joske 2019)
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Eric W. de Fleer, Johanna E. Vriesekolk, Christina M. van der Feltz-Cornelis: Poor Illness

Perceptions Are a Risk Factor for Depressive and Anxious Symptomatology in

Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Reviewed by Barbara Olivan

Blazquez, Alexander Neumeister, Fe Federica Sancassini.

In the article, the authors conducted this study to see if people with chronic pain, such as

fibromyalgia, are more prone to anxiety and depression. As a result, it's important to identify

potential risks for the formation of anxiety and depression. The researchers aimed to see if

depressive and anxious symptoms in fibromyalgia patients were connected to severe pain,

behavioral problems, and negative illness beliefs. According to the findings of the study, some

patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome who think that this condition has a severe impact on their

overall well-being and have remarkable levels of depression run a risk of being depressed in the

future. Patients who believe their treatment is failing and are experiencing progressively severe

anxiety symptoms are much more likely to stop taking it. It has been proven that negative

disease beliefs are a substantial risk factor for depression and anxiety symptoms. (Eric,

Johanna, Christina 2019)

Andree Hartanto, Frosch Y. X. Quek, Germaine Y. Q. Tng & Jose C. Yong (2021): Does

Social Media Use Increase Depressive Symptoms? A Reverse Causation Perspective.

Reviewed by Christopher J. Ferguson.

In this article, the authors stated how experts studying the occurrence of depressive symptoms

in today's society defined the use of social media as a major possible contributor to depression.

The fact that billions of people use at least one social media site on a regular basis

demonstrates how pervasive social networking is in our lives nowadays. According to trend

analysis on a proportional and interconnection basis, depression rates seem to be on the rise in

line with increased social media activity. Despite the fact that the connection between both

social network use and depression is debatable, research has demonstrated that it is ubiquitous
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and hazardous to one's mental health. Several studies have found that social networking can be

harmful to users by exposing them to negativity. (Andree, Frosch, Germaine, Jose 2021)

How these findings affect reinforce and change the way I think concerning depression

Self- esteem

Living with low self-esteem has taught me that it can have an impact on many aspects of my

life, including career choices and relationships. It may also contribute to a cycle of negative

self-talk, which may exacerbate other depression symptoms. We all have moments when we

lack confidence and feel bad about ourselves; however, when low self-esteem becomes a

chronic issue, it can harm my mental health and daily life. I feel better about myself and my life

in general when I have high self-esteem. It helps my ability to deal with life's ups and downs. If I

have low self-esteem, I'll tend to have a negative outlook on myself and my life. Living with low

self-esteem can be extremely damaging to my mental health.

Social media

When it comes to social media usage, there are both positive and negative aspects to consider.

Communication with loved ones, meeting new friends, having access to a variety of knowledge,

learning new things, and even boosting one's job are all advantages. Social media has the

potential to be a double-edged sword. Excessive usage of social media has been linked to an

elevated risk of depression and anxiety as I have seen in several studies. Insecurities about my

life and appearance, fear of missing out, self-absorption, and other bad experiences can all be

brought on by social networking. I need to be aware of how social media influences my mood

and other aspects of my life, as well as my reasons for using it.

Medical conditions
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I have realized that not only does physical disease induce depression, but that depression can

also make you sick. Many physical changes associated with depression, such as insomnia or a

lack of deep sleep, are known to damage the immune system. This can exacerbate pre-existing

conditions. Physical changes brought on by depression or chronic disease might provoke or

worsen depression. If depression or other disorders are not addressed, all of these changes can

form a vicious cycle that is difficult to overcome. Depression is frequently linked to a number of

significant illnesses or ailments like heart attack, neurological disorders, autoimmune illnesses,

just to mention a few.

Conclusion

Depression is one of the most prevalent disorders seen in basic care, but it goes undiagnosed,

untreated, and unnoticed far too often. Depression has a higher likelihood of morbidity and

death when left untreated. The majority of individuals with depression complain of low mood or

vague unexplained symptoms rather than depression. I'd welcome it if doctors were vigilant in

their efforts to effectively screen patients for depression. Depression is a serious illness, but it is

also one that can be treated. Counseling, self-help techniques such as regular exercise and

adequate sleep, alternative medicine techniques such as counseling, hypnosis, acupuncture,

antidepressant medication, and brain stimulation therapy are all used to treat depression. I

would strongly advise anyone experiencing depression symptoms to seek treatment.

References

● Hartanto, A., Quek, F. Y. X., Tng, G. Y. Q., & Yong, J. C. (2021). Does Social Media Use

Increase Depressive Symptoms? A Reverse Causation Perspective. Frontiers in

Psychiatry, 12. [Link]

● Nguyen, D. T., Wright, E. P., Dedding, C., Pham, T. T., & Bunders, J. (2019). Low

Self-Esteem and Its Association With Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in

Vietnamese Secondary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in

Psychiatry, 10(698). [Link]

● ‌de Heer, E. W., Vriezekolk, J. E., & van der Feltz-Cornelis, C. M. (2017). Poor Illness

Perceptions Are a Risk Factor for Depressive and Anxious Symptomatology in

Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8.

[Link]

● Adolescent health and development. (n.d.). [Link].

[Link]