Understanding Depression (Understanding Health and Sickness)

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Summary: UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION
Review: Have you ever suffered from depression? Or do you have a friend who is depressed? Surely you want to know how to help. Now you have the chance to read a book that is a solid resource for those who suffer from depression personally, and for those who want to understand and help them. People have always been thinking that depression is simply a transient feeling of moodiness. In her book Understanding Depression, Patricia Ainsworth examines depression from a different perspective. According to Ainsworth, depression is more than a mental illness. It is a total body illness, affecting both the cognitive ability of the human brain and the functioning of the body. Furthermore, when people are depressed, they suffer from alterations in behaviour, appetite, and sexuality (10). Many of those people cannot help themselves. The only relief is death. In order to prevent this cruel end, Ainsworth explains the nature and symptoms of depression in the different groups, children and elderly. By looking at the symptoms of depression, the question that arises is what are the causes for this illness. Exploring different theories for the causes of depression, Ainsworth begins from the ancient Greek philosophies and reaches to the ideas of the 20th century. Through this process, people get acquainted with different theories about depression, such as Freud's way of seeing mental illnesses as the cause of depression or the theory of the behaviorists who believe that depression is a result of a failure of the humans to deal with, adapt to, and react to the environment (51). By giving numerous examples and explanations like these, Ainsworth successfully proves that depression involves alterations in the brain and has to be treated aggressively. If not, the illness worsens, thus aggravating the person's mounting sense of being overwhelmed. The result could be suicide, mainly because of the inability of this human being to handle depression alone. One of the most important steps of treating depression, according to Ainsworth, is how the depressed people are perceived by the others. Often, people think of depression as something that comes and goes. On the contrary of the common misconception, Ainsworth claims that once it appears, depression brings not only alterations in behavior, but also changes in the chemical structures of the human cells which cannot disappear without external medication and professional psychological treatment. In this way Understanding Depression teaches us how to treat depression, either through the an approach as a physician and psychologist, or simply as a friend who wants to help the person beside him or her. Despite the misconception that depression is simply a transient feeling, there are other misconceptions which Ainsworth calls the "myths of depression"(105). The most popular myth is that depression is a sign of a weakness of character. Unfortunately, myths like this can only contribute the risk associated with the potentially lethal illness. Ainsworth argues against the common misconception that women, as the "weaker" part of humanity, are more likely to fall victims to depression than are men. On the contrary, she proves that everyone has an "equal opportunity" to suffer this disorder inspite of the sex, age, or religion. Ainsworth agrees that there is a difference in experiencing depression. When men are depressed, they tend to look outside themselves in order to master their environment. Depressed women, on the other hand, are prone to search within themselves for the source of their unhappiness(28). Despite the fact that depression can be suffered in a different way by men and women, an equal opportunity for both sexes exists. Depression do exempts no one and the potential outcome, suicide, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Every 17.3 minutes someone commits suicide in the United States. According to National Institute of Mental Health Statistics, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Americans and accounts for more than 30000 deaths every year (11). In order to prevent death, Ainsworth gives answers to questions such as how can I help myself, or how can I help someone who is depressed. While the cure could be different, the first step for treating depression is the same for all people. This step is understanding depression. It is the only way of treating the illness effectively, or as Ainsworth writes: "One of the keys of regaining control of your life and your emotions is to gain a factual understanding of what has happened to you and to your body. Once you understand the beast, you have a much better chance of outmanoeuvring it"(116). Ainsworth's book is a part of the successful struggle against the beast called depression. This is a book concerning a large audience, appealing to the humanity as a whole and to the problems that could happen to all of us despite the fact that we are men or women, children or adults, black or white. Understanding Depression is one of the best ways of exploring the tragedy of depression. It is a tragedy because it has taken away the lives of millions young people and will continue to annihilate the existence of many more if not stopped. Ainsworth's book is an unique source for depression to be destroyed and extricated from one's life because of the author's use of examples from reality and personal touch with depression. These examples are explained in understandable terms appealing to the whole humanity that does not want to give up its humanness to depression. All people are obliged to do something to stop this nightmare that ruins the lives of nearly 15 to 30 percent of the depressed people every day (115). Ainsworth's Understanding Depression is an excellent step to know the enemy, in order to sever its roots and help new lives be built, without the moodiness, hopelessness and emptiness that have darkened our human existence victimized by the beast called depression.

Works Cited Ainsworth, Patricia. Understanding Depression. Jackson, University Press of Mississippi. 2000. ISBN 1-57806-169-5.

Rating:
Summary: Compassionate and informative
Review: The book starts out with a quote: "I treated depression throughout my career and never really understood what it was I was treating until I suffered from depression myself."... by a psychiatrist.

I've battled severe depression for years and from experience, I've learned that talking about it to others can backfire because many see it as a mere weakness. Words like, "snap out of it" can be extremely painful. Isolation becomes inevitable which just makes the sufferer worse. Well, Patricia Ainsworth does understand this disease and reading her book was comforting...something we desperately need.

Additionally, she informs the reader on updated information from the causes of depression, to what's happening in the brain. Treatment is also discussed and all of the writing is reader-friendly. Included is a Glossary, Index, and two Appendices which lists further resources (web sites/books) and a section on medication which are extremely helpful. I recommend this book to anyone who is depressed with unanswered questions and ESPECIALLY for those who have a loved one with this painful disease. I thank you, Patricia.