http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3191892/posts
The difference between depression and normal sadness
FOX News ^ | August 12, 2014 | Karen Rowan
Posted on 8/12/2014 6:58:09 AM by BenLurkin
“Depression is one of the most tragically misunderstood words in the English language,” writes Stephen Ilardi, an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas, in a blog post on the Psychology Today website. “When people refer to depression in everyday conversation, they usually have something far less serious in mind,” than what the disorder actually entails. “In fact, the term typically serves as a synonym for mere sadness.”
Here are some facts about depression:
•Although major depression can strike people of any age, the median age at onset is 32.5, according to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
•Depression is more common in women than in men, according to Washington University.
•Men with depression are more likely than depressed women to abuse alcohol and other substances... Depressed men may also try to mask their sadness by turning to other outlets, such as watching TV, playing sports and working excessively, or engaging in risky behaviors....
•Men’s symptoms of depression may be harder for other people to recognize, and the illness is missed more frequently in men, Goldstein said.
•Men with depression are more likely than women with the condition to commit suicide, Goldstein said. Men with depression may go longer without being diagnosed or treated, and so men may develop a more devastating mental health problem.
Somebody want to ask that genius why the wrong word has always been used to describe the condition? And why didn’t he go ahead and define it instead of running his mouth all around what it might do instead of what it actually is? In my experience “depression” has always been a code word for something closer to borderline nuts and it leads, invariably, to people being treated differently than they would if the actual condition was spelled out.
Reminds me of WC Fields when he said “When I drink I’m funny. If I don’t drink, I’m not funny”. And we know a lot of comedy is fueled by likker, etc.