According to the Faces of Abnormal Psychology Interactive website, fifteen to twenty Americans will experience major depression at some point during their lives. Approximately one half of people who experience major depression have only one episode. Researchers estimate that 3% of children and 12% of adolescents will suffer from depression in the future. Women are almost twice as likely as men to experience depression. In their lifetime, 24% of women and 15% of men will suffer from depression. One in four women and one in almost every six men will warrant the diagnosis of major depression in their lifetime. This can be explained by the hormonal changes during a woman’s lifespan. However, this research remains tentative and controversial. Individuals with depression are often diagnosed with other co-occurring disorders including substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. Lastly, researchers estimate that up to 80% of suicide deaths in the U.S. involve individuals that suffer from major depression.
Major depression can affect all aspects of an individual’s life. It can affect a person’s body, thoughts, and mood. The disorder may affect a person’s appetite and sleep intake, as well as the way they feel about themselves. The symptoms of major depression can be broken down into four categories. First, depression affects a person’s thinking and can create difficulties in regard to memory and decision making. This may make it difficult for someone to concentrate, causing their thoughts to acquire a negative tone. Changes in feelings can lead to a lack of motivation and mood stabilization. This may cause the person to become irritable, sad, and to no longer enjoy activities that once were pleasurable. Changes in behavior may mean that they are apathetic and withdrawn from the people around them. Some individuals experience excessive crying, and lose interest in sex. Others neglect their personal hygiene and have difficulty getting themselves out of bed. Some express psychomotor agitation in which they seem unable to sit still. Lastly, changes in physical well being means that someone may feel run down and suffer more aches and pains. Individuals that experience physical symptoms are more vulnerable to opportunistic viruses.
There is strong evidence that psychological factors, including events in a person’s life, their cognitive style, and their culture, strongly influence the probability of becoming depressed. Depression is a common and normal reaction to negative events in a person’s life. Some 65% of people with a non-melancholic depression report a negative event, such as breakup or financial problems, within the preceding six months.  Characteristics- Psychiatrist Aaron Beck argued that people with depression have negative views of themselves, of their world, and of the future. He believes these negative views cause a cascade of erroneous thinking. People with depression also tend to believe that they assert very little control over both the positive and negative events in their lives. This sense of helplessness may contribute significantly to their depression.
A number of different strategies have been developed for the treatment of depression. These include medically based approaches as well as various forms of psychotherapy. The class of medications most commonly prescribed for depression is SSRIs, which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Some of the more common SSRIs include Zoloft, Prozac, and Celexa. These drugs operate by inhibiting the process of reuptake within particular synapses. When reuptake is inhibited, the neurotransmitter serotonin remains in the synapse for longer which leads to enhanced mood. A second medical method for treating depression, particularly in extreme cases, is called ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy. In ECT, a small electrical current is passed through the brain of an anesthetized patient for about one second. This current activates the brain and induces a seizure. This seizure will usually last from 30 to 60 seconds. When the patient wakes up approximately 15 minutes later, he or she may feel some short-term soreness. However, the patient often feels a reduced sense of despair. Another form of psychotherapy that has been proven to be effective in individuals with depression is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT can help a person identify their triggers, and challenge their negative core beliefs to promote positive thinking.  
References
Faces of Abnormal Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/psychology/faces/lowSpeed.html

I do not have to tell you how much anxiety can hold you back in life. I am sure one can think of many opportunities they have missed out on due to anxiety. There are things you want to do and goals you want to achieve, yet anxiety paralyzes you from taking action. Maybe you want to start taking classes or go on a road trip with your family or friends, but you are too anxious to do so. I am here to tell you that whatever you want to improve in your life is possible. Whether this be your relationships, your career, your health, or any number of goals.
Suffering from anxiety is like having a heavy set of chains dragging you down. This prevents you from achieving your goals with the energy and motivation you need to succeed. One of my favorite quotes is “Live and let live”. When you overcome your anxiety, you can start living your own life, the life you have always been meant to live. This allows your relationships, your social life, and even your work to improve. Overcoming anxiety can improve your overall health, and can even lead to you becoming a better parent. 

The fact is that unless they have suffered themselves, it is hard for people to relate to what you are going through. I want whoever is reading this to know that I understand that it feels like you are trapped in your anxious thoughts and symptoms. I understand the urge to want to stay at home within your comfort zone, what it is like to feel anxious and trapped when you are out surrounded by strangers. More importantly, I want you to know that there is a way out. When anxiety enters your world, your life can be turned upside down. Things you once took in stride now fill you with fear. Whether it is talking to people, driving, or even sometimes walking down the street. I know what it feels like to have your mind become full of intrusive thoughts and feeling your body panic as a result. 

You are probably thinking to yourself, “Anxiety has become such a large part of my life, it is  hard to imagine living without it”. However, breaking free from this cruel prison is not impossible. You can talk to people without feeling nervous. You can drive on busy highways and maybe even enjoy it. You can live your life without constantly worrying about your health. You can have a calm and relaxed body, free from the symptoms of anxiety. You can overcome life’s challenges and obstacles, and feel more confident than ever before. You can enjoy the feeling of breaking free from your anxiety. You can live and let live, learn to be in the present moment without always dreading some imaginary future crisis. You can visit new places and feel comfortable in your own skin. I know you have tried so hard to overcome your anxiety in the past and it is hard to believe that any of this is possible. However, learning new ways of managing and coping with your anxiety can set you free. 

Three steps to making anxiety work for you:
Step 1: Acknowledge your anxiety.
Seeing and labeling your anxiety can help you to move from a reactive, fearful place to a more thoughtful and deliberate one.

Step 2: Own your anxiety.
Connect with the life values and positive motivations underlying your anxiety. “I’m anxious about _____, because I deeply care about ____.“
Step 3: Use your anxiety.
Channel the energy of your anxiety into pursuing those life values, values-based goals, and deepening your connections.