有声英文阅读-性命“忧”关

Down with Depressio

1. Everyone has a bad day once in a while. Problems at work, arguments with family members, or even changes in the weather can all bring us down and leave us feeling unhappy for a day or two. But if this mood lasts for more than a few days, a person may be suffering from depression, and will need to seek the advice of a physician.

2. Depression is a mood disorder¹ classified by its own peculiar² symptoms. These include a pervasive³ feeling of sadness, disruption of sleep patterns including both insomnia⁴ and hypersomnia, disturbances⁵ in appetite and weight, listlessness, lack of interest (leading to withdrawal⁶ from friends and social events), diminished ability in memory and concentration, low self-esteem and feelings of guilt⁷, and finally, thoughts of suicide－the most serious symptom of all.

3. The causes of depression are unique to each individual and very complex. Tendencies toward depression can run in families, pointing to a genetic⁸ link in many cases. The roots of a depressive episode may lie in one's childhood environment, or in a traumatic event in later life. It is generally believed, however, that neurochemical imbalances and disruptions in the brain are above all responsible for triggering depressive symptoms. The good news is that there are several effective treatments available to fight depression, and that most sufferers begin feeling better within several weeks of beginning therapy.

Before undergoing treatment for depression, a person must first meet certain criteria⁹: He or she must exhibit five or more major symptoms almost daily for a minimum of two weeks, and at least one of these symptoms must be a marked lack of interest or pleasure in activities, or a depressed¹⁰ mood. If symptoms are evident and show no sign of decreasing, a doctor will decide how to treat the problem.

Several antidepressant drugs, including Prozac, work well in battling depression. The goal of drug therapy is to treat the illness and handle its symptoms so the afflicted¹¹ person will feel well enough to resume a normal daily routine. Although antidepressants are much safer than their predecessors¹² introduced in the late 1950s, about 30 percent of patients are immune to their effects. Even for those who are not, it usually takes two to four weeks before the symptoms begin subsiding¹³.

Nonpharmacological treatments include psychotherapy and electroshock therapy. The purpose of psychotherapy is to reduce and treat symptoms through patients discussing their emotions and depression with a qualified¹⁴ professional. It may also be used to help both the sufferer and his or her family members learn how to cope with depression. Electroshock therapy, which consists of running an electric current through a patient while under anesthetic¹⁵, is administered only to those victims who are suicidal and require immediate¹⁶ treatment, or to those with severe refractory¹⁷ depression.

性命“忧”关

1. 每个人都会偶尔的遇上倒霉的事。工作中的问题、家庭成员的争执、甚至天气的变化都能让我们沮丧一阵子，难过一两天。但是如果这种情绪持续了好些天，那么这个人就有可能是患了忧郁症，需要向大夫求助。

2. 忧郁症是情绪上的失调，可以根据其独有的症状加以辨别。症状包括长时间的情绪低落、睡眠不规律（包括失眠及睡眠过度）、食欲不振及体重减轻、无精打采、缺乏兴趣（导致疏远朋友、回避社会活动）、记忆力衰退、无法集中注意力、缺乏自信和负罪感，最终则会出现自杀的念头──这是忧郁症最严重的症状。

3. 忧郁症的肇因因人而异，而且十分复杂。忧郁症的倾向会世代相传，在许多情况下与基因有关。其根源可能是由于幼年环境，或是在晚年经历了痛苦而难忘的事件。然而，尤其是神经化学的失衡和脑神经分裂被公认为引发忧郁症的原因。好消息是现在已有数种有效的治疗方法问世，而且大部分患者在最初数周的治疗后即会有所好转。  

在接受忧郁症的治疗之前，病人首先必须符合一定的条件：至少连续在两周内每日出现五种以上主要症状，并且至少其中一种明显症状就是，表现为对各种活动缺乏兴趣、兴致，情绪低 落。如果症状明显，且毫无改善迹象，医生就会视情况治疗。

好几种抗忧郁的药物， 如“百忧解”，对治疗忧郁症效果显著。药物治疗的目标是针对疾病缓解症状，使受折磨的人能感觉舒适，重新正常生活。虽然现今抗忧郁的药物比五十年代末推荐使用的更可靠，但对约百分之三十的患者还是没有疗效。即使是没有抗药性的患者，也得花上二至四星期，症状才会开始消退。

非药物治疗则包括心理疗法及电疗法。心理疗法的目的是通过合格的专业心理医生同患者探讨其情绪及忧郁的问题来减轻、改善患者症状。同时这也能指导患者及其家人学 习如何对待忧郁症。电疗法是将电流通过在麻醉状态下的患者，实施的对象仅限於有自杀之虞、需要立即治疗者，或是严重到难以医治的忧郁症患者。

1 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

2 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

3 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

4 insomnia   

n.失眠，失眠症

参考例句：

• Worries and tenseness can lead to insomnia.忧虑和紧张会导致失眠。
• He is suffering from insomnia.他患失眠症。

5 disturbances   

n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍

参考例句：

• The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
• Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

8 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

9 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

10 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

11 afflicted   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

12 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 subsiding   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• The flooded river was subsiding rapidly. 泛滥的河水正在迅速退落。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gradually the tension was subsiding, gradually the governor was relenting. 风潮渐渐地平息了。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

14 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

15 anesthetic   

n.麻醉剂，麻药；adj.麻醉的，失去知觉的

参考例句：

• He was given a general anesthetic.他被全身麻醉。
• He was still under the influence of the anesthetic.他仍处在麻醉状态。

16 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

17 refractory   

adj.倔强的，难驾驭的

参考例句：

• He is a very refractory child.他是一个很倔强的孩子。
• Silicate minerals are characteristically refractory and difficult to break down.硅酸盐矿物的特点是耐熔和难以分离。