Many people ask themselves what is depression?; “Clinical depression is more than just feeling blue from time to time. It is a serious condition that a affects a person’s mind, body and spirit; it impacts every aspect of one’s life” (What is Depression?). A depressive disorder affects the way someone eats, sleeps, the way they feel about themselves and what they think of other people/things. This mental illness has been recorded throughout history and has been portrayed in literature the past few hundreds of years. Psychologists look at the first discoveries of depression and how it affected people throughout society. Throughout history people of all social classes, ethnic backgrounds etc. have experienced this “whole-body” illness. People with this illness suffer from different mental and physical symptoms everyday. Depression is a serious mental condition that needs to be recognized as soon as diagnosed.
What comes to mind when someone ponders depression? Depression is a “whole-body” illness that affects every aspect of someone’s life. This kind of depressive disorder is not the same as feeling blue and it’s not a sign of personal weakness that can be wished away. Someone suffering from this disorder cannot “pull themselves together” in a matter of time (Franklin). Many psychologists have studied parts of the brain that depression attacks. While 19th century depression was thought to be hereditary, Sigmund Freud, early 20th century psychologist and scientist, linked the development of depression to guilt and conflict. This medical illness is linked to the biochemistry in the brain. The Prefrontal Cortex is most affected by depression; it’s responsible for feelings of pleasure and positive reinforcement. However, this “emotional control centre” is completely inactive during the depressive stage (Dubuc).
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