depression?

Question

Is depression a mental/emotional disorder?

Answer 1

Both. It is an emotional disorder in the sense that one is constantly feeling down (or depressed), and it is a mental disorder only if one is depressed continual for more than a month straight. I am taking a Psychology class in college right now and that is how it was described to the class. Everyone gets depressed at some point in their life, but when they cannot get out of the state of being depressed then and only then is it a mental disorder.

I hope this helps.

Peace Out

24 y.o. College Student

Answer 2

It can be both.where as emotional can lead to a mental disorder or vice versa. Here is some information on depression as well as the link webmd. on depression.

There is not just one cause of depression. It is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a multitude of factors. For some, depression occurs due to a loss of a loved one, a change in one's life, or after being diagnosed with a serious medical disease. For others, depression just happened, possibly due to their family history.

Factors involved in causing depression, include:

A history of depression in the family: It is believed that depression is passed genetically from generation to generation, although the exact way this occurs is not known.
Grief from the death or loss of a loved one.
Personal disputes, like conflict with a family member.
Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
Major events that occur in everyone's lives, such as moving, graduating, changing jobs, getting married or divorced, retiring, etc.
Serious illness: depressed feelings are a common reaction to many medical illnesses.
Certain medications
Substance abuse: close to 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major depression.
Other personal problems: these may come in the forms of social isolation due to other mental illnesses, or being cast out of a family or social circle.

Biology vs. Emotions

There is absolute proof that people suffering from depression have changes in their brains compared to people who do not suffer from depression. The hippocampus, a small part of the brain that is vital to the storage of memories, is smaller in people with a history of depression than in those who've never been depressed. A smaller hippocampus has fewer serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter -- a chemical messenger that allows communication between nerves in the brain and the body.

What scientists don't yet know is why the hippocampus is smaller. Investigators have found that cortisol (a stress hormone that is important to the normal function of the hippocampus) is produced in excess in depressed people. They believe that cortisol has a toxic or poisonous effect on the hippocampus. It's also possible that depressed people are simply born with a smaller hippocampus and are therefore inclined to suffer from depression.

Depression is a complex illness with many contributing factors. As doctors gain a better understanding of the cause(s) of the illness they will be able to make better "tailored" diagnoses and, in turn, prescribe more effective treatment plans.

Answer 3

It is a mental/emotional disorder but it can be caused by a chemical inbalance in the brain.

Answer 4

Yeah. It involves both. See a shrink. Personally no matter how badly **** goes wrong I just kill some ppl in a computer game and then get back on my feet. Whatever works for you though

Answer 5

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 6

Lots of info here.

Answer 7

i dont want names like that those are just things to go by if you know what i am trying to say

Answer 8

Yes, go talk with a doc :)

Answer 9

both, it is a chemical embalance in the brain.

see a therapist sweetie..i do! :)

Answer 10

Yes, but it's treatable.