Depression: Reality or Falsehood

In today's society there are a lot of people that are or should be listed as depressed in one category or another. Normal functioning people associate depression as a crutch to blame for the actions of the person that has the affliction. Normal people do not understand the severity of the affliction and how it can destroy one's life if they let it.

According to the Medical and Health Encyclopedia 1987 the term "Depressive reaction" states that most people have blue moods in their lives, this usually comes from a significant event in their lives such as the death of a family member or loved one. Depressive reaction on the other hand is persistent feelings of worthlessness and pessimism unrelated to events that may have a normal person feeling depressed. The symptoms of depressive reactive are such that they have an inability to cope with some situations and that is gradually magnified into the inability to cope with anything. Threats of suicide should be taken seriously and a medical and/or psychiatric doctor should see the person. Other signs are fatigue, loss of appetite and insomnia. General depression in regards to sleep generally causes a person to want to sleep all the time, or a good portion of the time.

The term "Schizophrenic reaction", the book states that Schizophrenia is the most destructive of psychotic reactions. Simple schizophrenia which I believe a lot of the people diagnosed with depression may actually have, is described in the book as a gradual loss of concern and contact with other people and lessening of motivation to perform activities of everyday life. It also states there may be some personality deterioration, but delusions and hallucinations
are rare.