The Messy World of Mental Health: Understanding Psychological Disorders
The importance of personalized approaches to mental health care that consider biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
Our brains and behaviors don’t always fit neatly into boxes.
Doctors have created categories of psychological disorders. These aren’t perfect, but they’re useful for treating mental health issues.
Depression: More Than Just Feeling Sad
Everyone feels down sometimes.
Depression is different. It’s like a heavy fog that doesn’t lift for weeks. People lose interest in things they enjoyed. They sleep too much, or too little. They have trouble making decisions.
Take Sara, for example. She loved to paint and hang out with friends. Now she barely gets out of bed. Her art supplies gather dust. When friends call, she doesn’t answer. She feels worthless. This isn’t a bad mood, it’s depression.
Depression can be triggered by life events, like losing a job or a loved one. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere. It’s partly genetic. If a parent had depression, you’re more likely to experience it.
