Demisexual
Someone is demisexual when they only feel sexual attraction to people they have an emotional bond with. This means that there is little to no sexual attraction without the emotional aspect of the relationship. This emotional bond does not have to be romantic; demisexual people can develop sexual attraction through the platonic bonds of friendship as well. People who are demisexual can also identify with other sexualities, such as hetero, bi, or homosexual.
Demisexuality is not necessarily the same as waiting until a romantic connection develops to initiate sexual contact with someone. The difference is that demisexual people normally don’t feel sexual attraction at all without the emotional component, and the romantic connection for them is not optional. For this reason, demisexuality is closely related to asexuality and often considered a “midway” point between asexuality and allosexuality (experiencing sexual attraction to others).
Depressants
Depressants are a category of drug that reduce excitement and arousal. They do this by releasing a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that slows down central nervous system activity. This slows the rate at which messages are sent between the brain and the body, resulting in feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and reduced inhibitions. Some examples of depressants include alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates.
Normally, depressants, specifically benzodiazepines, are prescribed in small amounts to treat insomnia or anxiety disorders. When consumed in large quantities, depressants can cause nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and slowed breathing. Depressants become even more dangerous when mixed with other drugs, which could increase the risk of overdose and even death. It is important to know the recommended dosage before consuming depressants to reduce the risk of negative side effects.
Depression
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and low mood, which can result in thoughts of self-harm or suicide when untreated. These feelings are not caused by grieving upsetting events in one’s life, but rather a result of changes in brain chemistry. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S., with around 7% of adults and 4.4% of children having some form of depression.
Depression can cause more than just sadness; it can affect thought patterns, interpersonal relationships, and interest in daily activities. The disorder also negatively affects the ability to perform daily tasks, like getting out of bed, brushing teeth, sleeping, eating, etc. Given the wide variety of symptoms, depression is quite treatable. Treatment may include talk therapy and medication, or even guided lifestyle changes, which can mitigate the symptoms of the disorder while not necessarily treating it.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis is the method by which a disease or condition is recognized from a group of symptoms. The word itself comes from the Greek word “gnosis”, which means knowledge. Diagnoses are given out by medical professionals to determine the severity, mitigations, and possible treatment of a disease. They are also useful for distinguishing different conditions with similar symptoms from each other using information unique to each patient, such as method of acquisition, genetic factors, and medical history.