Depression
Project 1
Selah Stoermer
English 1302
Professor Hammett
Depression Essay
March 1, 2026
Depression
What if the strong feeling of sadness you have been feeling is more than just a bad day? Depression is a serious mental health disorder that can affect anyone, no matter the age. It is more than just about feeling sad for a short period; it’s a condition that changes how individuals feel and think. Individuals with depression often experience feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep, and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed. These symptoms can affect one's ability to function in their daily life, including work, relationships, and overall well-being. When left untreated, this disorder could negatively impact quality of life as a whole and make even simple daily tasks feel overwhelming. Depression is such a common thing; however, it is often misunderstood. Many people assume that depression is just simply sadness and that individuals can just get rid of it easily, when it truthfully is a complex mental health condition. This misconception can prevent individuals from seeking the care they need. Because of this misunderstanding, some people might feel embarrassed or even ashamed to talk about their mental struggles. Depression is a multilayered disorder characterized by symptoms, influenced by a multitude of environmental and biological causes, and is treated through a wide range of therapeutic and medical interventions.
Therapy is a crucial approach for treating depression and reducing the affect of the social epidemic. Studies show that therapy plays a major role in reducing depression symptoms compared to cases in which no therapy has been used. Therapy gives space to help deal with instances by teaching coping strategies, skills needed to regulate emotions, and guidance from professionals that combat depression symptoms in healthy ways. In therapy sessions, individuals are able to openly talk about all of their thoughts, experiences, and emotions in a safe and comforting environment where they will not be judged. This judgement free zone allows for the individual to better understand what the root causes of their depression are. Research explains that “psychological therapies can significantly improve depressive symptoms in individuals whose depression did not respond to previous treatments” (Kessler, 2018). When accessible and in an affordable price range, therapy can reduce suffering for long periods of time while also preventing the symptoms from getting worse. Many individuals who go therapy on a regular basis have reported improvements in their mood. Therapy can also provide skills that individuals can continue using even after they end their therapy sessions. This goes to show that professional treatments are necessary to help prevent and decrease the depression epidemic. Medical interventions such as antidepressant medications are most effective when treating depression. Research shows that antidepressants are even more effective than placebo when treating depression. Antidepressant medications show statistics of higher remission rates than placebo tends to show. These medications help by influencing certain chemicals in the brain that are connected to different things such as emotions and mood. Therapy does help with emotional patterns, but medications help stabilize chemical imbalances that cause depressive symptoms.
Some might argue that individuals should not rely on professional treatment to heal depression, instead individuals should try lifestyle changes. For example, some people might believe that getting more exercise, eating only healthy foods, or even spending more time with loved ones could completely resolve depression. While making lifestyle changes as such can be helpful, research shows that therapy and medications notably outdo placebo for long-term outcomes. Improving a lifestyle can help better mental health, however, research has constantly shown that depression that goes medically untreated will worsen overtime and can eventually lead to suicide. Studies reviewing cognitive behavioral therapy note that structured psychological treatments are “consistently associated with meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms across adult populations” (Lopez, 2019). Symptoms continue to grow, making recovery even more difficult over time when professional help is ignored. Evidence based treatment is provided in medications and therapy that is structured. Professional help as such cannot be replaced by simple self help. Self help strategies can provide comfort for a short period of time, however, they do not address the deeper biological and psychological causes of depression that do need to be looked into. Therefore, while lifestyle changes can help in recovery, they alone cannot effectively replace the care given by professionals and medications.
Depression is a serious social epidemic that affects individuals of all ages in a multitude of ways. It impacts more than just the individual experiencing depression, but also the people around them such as friends and family. Research has shown that professional help like therapy and antidepressant medications can seriously reduce depression symptoms and improve the overall quality of day-to-day life. Combining the two, medications and therapy, can lead to better lasting results. These statements go to show that professional treatments are not just seen to be helpful, but they are actually necessary for individuals who are unfortunately trapped in depression. To be able to even begin to address this social epidemic, increased access to mental health care has to become a higher priority. Making therapy more affordable, providing wider coverage of insurance on antidepressant medications, and increasing knowledge about treatments options can help individuals get much needed support. Self-help may provide some relief, however, therapy and medications are more reliable when it comes to recovery and improved life quality.
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References
Curfman, G. (2023). Efficacy and Safety of Antidepressants in Patients With Comorbid Depression and Medical Diseases. Retrieved February 16, 2026, from JAMA Network website: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2809163?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Kessler, D. (2018). Are psychological therapies effective in treating depression that did not get better with previous treatment? Retrieved February 22, 2026, from Cochrane website: https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD010558_are-psychological-therapies-effective-treating-de pression-did-not-get-better-previous-treatment
Lopez. (2019). The process and delivery of CBT for depression in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Retrieved February 16, 2026, from National Library of Medicine website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31179960/