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Bre-Anna Terry
Mrs. Crist
English 4
September 28, 2016
Coping with depression
Despite what people may believe, Depression affects about 15.7 million people in the
US age 18 and older (Facts and Statistics). Depression is caused by many factors. For example,
some people have depression because the death or loss of a friend or loved one. People with
depression usually do not know what to do because it is more than a disease it is a part of the
person. There are many different strategies to help cope with depression. The most harmful
option for some people are antidepressants because they can make people more depressed or
even have thoughts of suicide. There are many different ways people cope with depression.
Depression is a disease that affects the brain and cannot be seen. What people need to
realize that depression is a common but serious disease (NIMH Depression). Depression is a
very serious disease that affects many people all over the world. For example, Globally, an
estimated 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression (Depression). There are many
different forms of this disease, some worse than others. Bipolar Disorder is the worst type of
depression, someone with bipolar disorder, which used to be called "manic depression," has
mood episodes that range from extremes of high energy with an "up" mood to low "depressive"
periods (Goldberg). Most people just keep their feelings bottled up so no one will know how

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they really feel. Bottling up feelings is not a healthy thing to do because it will end up hurting the
person in the end.
Many people have depression in America. There are many reasons why people may have
depression, but the main reason may be the death or loss of a friend or loved one. With the many
reasons for depression there are many different strategies to help someone cope with it. There are
a lot of good strategies to help cope, but there are also a lot of bad strategies. The bad strategies
may include drinking and smoking, however there are a lot more. Many people do not know the
good strategies or the difference between the two. Too often, we take the edge off emotional
pain with a quick fix, instead of getting to the root of the problem (Vann). Antidepressants are
an okay strategy to help cope; however, some medications will lead some people to having worse
feelings than when they did not take any medicine. Some antidepressants may make a person
want to commit suicide, but it depends on the person. On the one hand, antidepressants reduce
depression, which is a major cause of suicide. But and this is an important but there is also
consistent evidence that, in a very small proportion of adolescents and young adults,
antidepressants can trigger suicidal thoughts and suicide itself (Freedenthal).
Some bad strategies for coping with depression include the obvious, drinking and
smoking. However, there are many good ways to help cope with depression. Some really good
ways are to listen to music, be social, or include Omega 3 Fatty Acids in your diet (Kloppers).
Fish oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which play an important role in brain function.
People with depression may have low blood levels of brain chemicals called Eicosapentaenoic
acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA can be found in fish oil (HallFlavin). A few more things to help cope with depression are to exercise, eat healthy foods, and to

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be social. Exercise is a very good way to help with depression because when someone exercises
they release feel-good brain chemicals that may ease depression (neurotransmitters, endorphins
and endocannabinoids) (Staff). Eating healthy foods are also good for depression, although no
single nutrient or eating plan can cure depression, good overall nutrition is essential for your
mental well-being. Eating foods that are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, complex
carbohydrates, protein, and fatty acids is key to keeping your brain in good working order
(Helper). Being social is good for anyone but it is great for people with depression because if
they are around people they basically forget about why they are depressed if they communicate
with the people. People with depression need a good thing to help them not do something bad.
There may be many good strategies but the person has to choose the strategy.
Depression is a very serious disorder that no one asks for. Some people deal with it every
single day and nothing will help them not be depressed. Many people with depression find ways
to help cope with their depression. Some people go to a doctor and get antidepressants to help
them cope. However, some medicines make people feel worse than they did before. Some
antidepressants may even cause thoughts of suicide. There are many bad strategies that people
use to help cope with depression and it is not good for them. However, there are many good
strategies to help cope, if people just look for them.

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Work cited
Depression. World Health Organization. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
"Facts & Statistics." Home. ADAA, Aug. 2016. Web. 26 Sept. 2016.
Freedenthal, Stacey, PhD. "Do Antidepressants Cause Suicide?" Speaking of Suicide. N.p., 19
May 2015. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.
Goldberg, Joseph F., MD. "Types of Depression." Web MD. WebMD, 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 4
Oct. 2016.
Hall-Flavin, Daniel K., M.D. "Depression (major Depressive Disorder)." Fish Oil Supplements:
Can They Treat Depression? N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.
Helper, Linda. "Healthy Eating for Depression." Health Line. Ed. Natalie Butler. N.p., 25 Aug.
2016. Web. 4 Oct. 2016.
Kloppers, Mandy. "Fifteen Simple Ways to Overcome Depression and Sadness." Lifehack RSS.
N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.
"NIMH Depression." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine,
May 2016. Web. 28 Sept. 2016.

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Staff, By Mayo Clinic. "Depression (major Depressive Disorder)." Depression and Anxiety:
Exercise Eases Symptoms. Mayo Clinic, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
Vann, Madeline R., MPH. "The Worst Ways to Treat Depression." Everyday HEALTH. Ed.
Lindsey Marcellin. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2016.