Vanessa Araly Rodriguez

Casey Flores

ENG 1201

March 20, 2023

Literature Review

Depression is quite different from feeling sad or unhappy for a certain period, due to a

difficult day or an unfavorable circumstance. Depression is a mental illness, a condition of

prolonged episodes of sadness that mark your day-to-day life, and that is attributed to various

experiences or circumstances in our environment, which affects physically and mentally to those

who suffer from it. However, how can depression affect the personal relationships of those who

suffer from it, and how does this disease affect the daily life of each of these people?

Nowadays, depression is an illness that can affect anyone regardless of race, age, or

social status. In fact, a study by health scientists warns of elevated levels of depression and

suicidal thoughts in recent years. This is due to different circumstances depending on each case,

there is no determined cause as to why it has increased in recent years, but studies reveal that it is

related to dramatic life events, such as the death of a loved one, family problems, school,

economic, drugs, alcohol or the diagnosis of a serious illness, this based on the diagnoses of the

National Center for Biotechnology Information.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8.1% of Americans over

the age of 20 suffered depression in a two-week period, however, each case experiences this

disorder differently, it can be a minor problem in the presence of other circumstances until it

affects the relationship with other people around them. Some symptoms of depression may be

related to irritability, sadness, emotional emptiness, anxiety, aggressiveness, insomnia, excessive

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sleeping, lack of concentration, lack of appetite, loss of interest in things that used to be enjoyed,

fatigue, constant pain, among others.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the second most common

cause of disability and one of the most frequent illnesses in the world, affecting approximately

3.8% of the population. About 280 million people in the world suffer from depression.

Depression can become a serious health problem if not treated in time and can lead to suicide.

More than 700,000 people die each year from suicide, and it is the fourth leading cause of death

among people aged 15-29.

Depression affects all aspects of life, such as sleeping, eating, education, work,

concentration, productivity, and personal relationships. However, how does depression affect

relationships? According to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent

Psychology, they analyzed that symptoms of depression can affect behavior and the ability to

solve problems and conflicts in future romantic relationships.

According to Very well mind's scientifically and medically proven article specifies that

depression often makes people more irritable, and more difficult to deal with, and this can lead to

social isolation. This behavior affects other social interactions, such as romantic relationships,

with friends, family, classmates, and co-workers. It evaluates that people who manifested some

type of depression in their adolescence were more likely to maintain unhealthy romantic

relationships in adulthood. That is why the importance of adequate treatment for the prevention

of these future possibilities.

This disease has several types of depression, based on the different circumstances and

experiences of each person. Cleveland Clinic mentions that depression is one of the most

treatable mental illnesses today. 80% to 90% of people seek treatment and end up responding

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positively to treatment. These treatments include psychotherapy, which consists of talking to a

mental health specialist, who evaluates the patient's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, which

helps to specify the cause and how to solve it. Psychotherapy can last for months until the patient

recovers, or even years depending on each case. Medication and antidepressants can help to

change the brain chemistry that causes depression, however not all of them help in the same way,

that is why the evaluation of a professional. There are other alternatives that can help to

overcome this disease, but it is always important to see a health professional to prevent risky

situations in the future.

Mayo Clinic mentions that it is important to help and support a person who has

depression so that this person does not feel alone, it is important to learn about depression to

know how to act, among this is to talk to the person about what afflicts them, listen without

judging, offer assistance and help of any kind, be understanding, patient and make the person

feel that is not alone, including them in plans and help them to see life forward.

In many cases, depression often goes unnoticed in many families and social circles,

believing that sufferers may be exaggerating or just having a difficult day. Similarly, speculation

is created that sadness and depression are the same thing when the difference between the two is

abysmal. Some people think that talking about depression encourages people to commit suicide

or feel worse, when in fact, this can help the person feel understood and listened to.

There are still many other things to investigate, how to delve into the diverse types of

depression, treatments, causes, prevention, personal relationships and social circles, isolation,

help, among many other things.

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Works Cited

“Depression and Relationships.” Ashley Addiction Treatment, 14 Mar. 2023,

https://www.ashleytreatment.org/rehab-blog/depression-and-relationships/. Accessed 20

March 2023.

“Depression: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 1 Jan. 2023,

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9290-depression. Accessed 20 March 2023.

“Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for

Medical Education and Research, 13 Dec. 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/depression/in-depth/depression/art-20045943. Accessed 20 March 2023.

“Depression.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 13 Sept. 2021,

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression. Accessed 20 March 2023.

DiMaria, Lauren. “Depressed Teens May Have Less Secure Relationships.” Verywell Mind,

Verywell Mind, 27 May 2022, https://www.verywellmind.com/depression-in-relationships-

1067559#citation-1. Accessed 20 March 2023.

Hidaka, Brandon H. “Depression as a Disease of Modernity: Explanations for Increasing

Prevalence.” Journal of Affective Disorders, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov.

2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3330161/. Accessed 20 March 2023

“Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety.” Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 Sept. 2022,

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/depression-anxiety.html. Accessed 20

March 2023.

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