Health Articles

General Information Pertaining to Depression On average, according to the American Psychological Association, eight to ten percent of Americans greater than eighteen years of age suffer from some form of depression every year.

Generally, this dysphoric mood is accredited to a basic sensation of sorrow or melancholy; but that is an exceptionally oblivious sweeping statement of depression symptoms. Depression is categorized by professionals in the psychology field as a sickness that disturbs the bodily, psychological, and emotional state of happiness of beings, and it is not something that is simply made up as most would attempt to get you to believe. While there are times when an external factor can contribute to its strength and grasp on your life, depression at its strongest point is a chemical malfunction in the cerebral portion of the brain that causes neurons to become unable to receive the endorphins of the brain, leading to a loss of feeling of the happiness that you should feel. There is no known cure to completely rid the human body of depression, however there are several medications that can be used to fight the side effects and the symptoms that you may feel when afflicted.

Indications and Symptoms of Depression There are many factors that could lead a psychiatrist to diagnose depression in his or patient, and a few of the most common of these include:

• Decreased capacity to concentrate, particularly on everyday jobs and happenings that would usually interest the suffering.
• Reduced vitality and drive.
• Tiny or no sensation of value to humanity as a whole.
• Lack of hope for the future.
• Complications with efficacious sleep patterns, as well as inability to sleep such as insomnia.
• Depression reduces your overall energy level but it makes you restless and unable to sit still.
• Sex becomes uninteresting, and you lose enjoyment in things that you once found appealing.
• The appetite becomes very unstable, generally excessive weight loss and weight gain can occur.
• Physical pains in the cranial region and the abdomen (from intense worrying).
• Lachrymose episodes.
• Thoughts of suicide are often onset by the feeling of worthlessness caused by depression.

There are a great deal of depression symptoms that can effectively impair the way you are able to perform daily tasks in your life, however there are also treatments that can assist you in dealing with the side effects.

If unsure and you find yourself suffering from symptoms that sound similar to depression, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor to see what treatments are available to you.

Are we enjoying our Depression? Do we really want to come out of it? Do we really want to feel Happiness?

I think so many people are enjoying their depressive state. I often wondered that when we feel sad or depressed and someone preaches us to stay happy, we immediately reject his suggestion. We strongly believe that how could anybody understand our state of mind and feelings: How much we are going through, how many worries we have, how many pains we are going through, how much people have hurt us, and so on. And without understanding the depth of so many issues and problems, how can anyone even dare to advice. Keeping these thoughts in mind, instead of listening to someone who wants to help us, we turn an intentional deaf ear to that person. When a person is in the state of depression due to any reason(s), his condition is like pool of still water. When any suggestion is given to that person, it is like throwing a pebble in the still water and it creates disturbance. People do not like it at all.

Gradually a person starts to find so much comfort in his depressive state of mind that he starts enjoying that state of mind. He fears that if he becomes normal and stays happy then no one will pay his any attention. A depressive person enjoys gaining attention and sympathy of others and the will is so strong that he would fight to the tooth and nail to be in that illusive environment. He would give so many excuses for not doing anything positive in life and surprisingly try to convince his preacher why his state cannot be and should not be changed. We enjoy this state in its own way: crying, thinking about negativity, more thinking about past especially referring to ill circumstances and hurt feeling that someone might have given and so on all the time. This causes lack of sleep, anxiety, over-eating, body aches and physical pains, phobia of meeting people, getting out in the light, emotional convergence and ultimately multiple physical & psychological disorders and diseases.

We continue with our belief and self convinced thought that nobody understand us and just block everything without even realizing that this state of mind is not only killing us or gradually passing the doses to people around us as well. This is a very dangerous phenomenon. It can eat away whole family. Having understood this, I think now time has come to wake up. We need to identify and recognize such people who are in a state of depression. They do not even know what are they going through and urgently need help. We need to extend this help to the maximum possible. I believe if in our life time, we are able to take even one person out of this deadly state of depression and give back his smiles back to him, it will be like a life time achievement. If we sense that other person is not feeling emotionally well and may not agree to take our help, but we still have to help him in our own ways by giving time and sharing his problems and then making him realize his state of mind. Tell the negative effects of depression, guide them through to channelise their energy into positivity and creation, bring them out of their clutter and show them the magic of simplicity, involve them into different forms of art, listen to soothing tunes of music, bring them closer to nature and teach them to breathe deeply and enjoy the rhythm of their own breadth. It will do wonders.

So stop enjoying the state of depression. Come out of it or at least allow others to help you come out of it. Make the world a better place by living and letting others live. Spread the smile all around you and it will automatically reach around the world.

Depression is broken down into many categories in these troubled times by doctors and researchers, but the sad truth is that regular old rainy day depression can hit anyone at just about anytime. Nothing can ruin a good day faster than some bad news that throws you for a loop. Anger and frustration can also trigger bouts of anxiety and depression and one of the best ways to battle this type of malaise is through some form of spiritual encouragement.

Spiritual encouragement does not have to be religious, though that is perhaps the most common kind. We as human beings seem to get great comfort in traditional establishments and institutions such as churches and denominations. Whatever brings you closer to spiritual enlightenment and gives you spiritual encouragement is alright. Remember that faith and spirituality is a deeply personal and emotional thing and no one has the right to tell you where to go to find your solace.

Many people find spiritual encouragement during a religious service attended by many people of like thinking such as Sunday Mass for Catholics, or Temple for those of the Jewish faith. And it does not have to be a happy occasion. Sometimes we find spiritual encouragement and enlightenment during a funeral service. Being together with loved ones usually helps but sometimes it is the tenderness and surprising kindness of total strangers that is the most impactful. We see the best characteristics of people when they are peacefully trying to comfort someone else or when they are praising their God or when they are praying together for a common good.

Sometimes we don’t believe in ourselves and especially in this hyper-competitive world that we live in we donS always get the type of encouragement that we need in order to protect our fragile egos. Even when we do a great job or have a unique talent, which we all do have, we can end up doubting ourselves and that can be one of the most frustrating, confusing, and depressing things we can do. Spiritual encouragement could be just the right solution for someone with low self esteem.

Buddhists swear that chanting can and will transform your life in incredible and positive ways. “Nam myoho renge kyo” is the preferred chant for millions of devotees around the world and one of the strongest forms of spiritual encouragement known to man. But if you ask a Buddhist they will tell you that Buddhism is not a religion, but a philosophy and a way of life. My Buddhist friends are all very positive individuals with very successful lives in general and they all say that chanting for many years has been the key to their success in all aspects of life.

Whether it is chanting, we need to have the quiet time to for reflection and give ourselves a chance to block out the constant chattering dialogue of the mind. When you are able to do this on a consistent basis you will feel closer to your own spirituality than you have ever been.

Depression these days has reached to an alarming level. Reasons could be many; it could be the economic recession, the busy lifestyle, the materialism that is prevalent these days and the distance from one’s own self. Whatever is the underlying reason depression is a serious mental issue that can be really hazardous to your quality of health and life. A depressed person is marked by a low level of self confidence and fails to see the bright side of the picture. Loss of sleep, loss of concentration, short attention span, loss of appetite, low motivational level and short temper are the behaviors that are attributed to depression. Thus, the depressed person is not alone to suffer from the situation the others close to him also bear it.

Though there is no distinction how depression in men and women can be different yet the way they feel and exhibit in their behavior is different. Studies suggest that the ratio of depression is relatively higher in women as compared to men however; men are likely to be suffering more for depression. The reason could be the stigma attached to the male expressing their pain and problems. We assume that men are the stronger creatures so they should not have emotions. Crying for a man is as socially unacceptable as for a woman it is acceptable as a norm. This is the basic reason for men when they clam up and the issues later resurface in the form of symptoms we attribute to depression. Men tend to seek refuge in activities that help them forget about the worrisome situation like eating a lot, excessive intake of alcohol and smoking while some start taking addictives.

Though it could be alarming in some situations yet the best thing is that one can help himself in combating the stress and strain by involving in some very simple yet highly effective activities:

Take part in life: Do not watch life pass by; become a part of it. Watching others doing what you want to do is also one of the things that make one depressed especially when you feel you are not capable of doing it. Believe it or not all you need is to have a will and you will find the way.

Take part in sports: Taking part in active sports is likely to neutralize the stress and anxiety that piles up on due course of daily activities. It helps you energize for the new starts and improves the quality of your life.

Do you love your job? From where does most of the stress come from? Are you doing something that you actually do not love doing? Do you like your work? If yes, what are the things at work that make you depressed; can you try to change those? If no, what you love doing?

Remember, it is never too late. A change in perspective is likely to change the way things are; it is likely to change your life!

Loss is one of a reality of our lives which we all need to face in our life time one day or the other, it happens to all of us and the experience act as a social, reactive trigger for depression. The problem with all of us is that we all are emotional individual beings and we do tend to find and attach our selves with the permanence to our surroundings, the surroundings of our relationships, work, and even material possessions that at the same time do tend to lend a structure to our lives.

We are aware that all these things are temporary but still we tend to get attached and most of the time we cling to the illusion of permanence. And so when something happens to shatter that illusion we can be very badly affected. What that compound the problem is that one should be able to cope with the existing phase of ones life but due to the human nature one can’t thus resulting in depression.

Thus depression results from our own self and from our own demands of attachments toward our surroundings. Loss which one may face results towards ones attachment, we tend to be strong enough to handle the situation in best strong emotional way so as to win the phase of our life toward depression though it may not sound appropriate for the situation of loss but still one may give a try so as to sane oneself from the feel and torture of the depression which one may usually face as a result.

Hereunder are given some of the loss events, which have the tendency to trigger the reactive session of depression. You may find some of them of normal intensity, but if these are not treated or overcome on time, they can be very severe:

• Losing your partner, either by death or divorce.
• Losing your faith steadily.
• Lacking health and mobility due to some reasons.
• Losing your favorite pet.
• Losing your material wealth.
• Losing once home or community, or settling in an area where everyone is strange to you.
• Losing a best friend, either by argument, geography or death.
• Another event that can trigger your depression is to lose your parents.

The impact of loss is not limited to just loss; there are other factors that might associate with the pain of loss itself. For instance, a sudden loss of your partner, especially if you loss your husband, this will bring forth all your hidden insecurities of being unlovable. Or if you lost your mother and suddenly you realize that you have an awful relationship with your mother in the past. Sometimes the loss it self is not so significant, but these powerful emotions can cause more severe depression.

Depression continues to be a serious issue in the modern world. It is not unusual to feel blue or down every once and awhile, but to have those feeling be ongoing is not normal. People with depression feel like they will never feel good again and just want the feeling to go away. It can take over your life and affect your work, your family, and the things that you once loved to do.

The symptoms of depression will vary from person to person. There are a wide array of symptoms and issues that can point to depression. It is important to know that you might not meet all the required red flags and still have a form of depression. The longer you deal with these feelings and the more of them you have the more important it is to seek out help.

Here are the basic symptoms of depression:
• Feeling hopeless – this can cause a severely bleak outlook, or feeling like things will never get better or improve.

• Loss of interest – activities that you once found enjoyable no longer hold your interest. You don’t have the desire or energy to do anything you once loved.

• Weight change – this can be severe weight loss or weight gain. Medically it would equate a change of five percent in a month.

• Issues with sleep – if you are sleeping too much or not getting enough sleep this is another indicator or depression.

• Irritability – if you find yourself being irritated more than normal with events, this can be a clue of depression. Everything gets on your nerves.

• Low energy – feeling drained or sluggish, more than normal. Small tasks take a long time to complete because your energy is so low.

• Self-loathing – hating yourself and being very hard on yourself. Taking things out on yourself physically.

• Concentration issues – not being able to focus on get detailed tasks completed.

• Body pain – unexplained aches and pains in your body.

• Thoughts of death – if you have thought about ending your life this is a big warning sign and you should definitely reach out for help.

Depression is a leading cause of suicide. If you or someone you know has been dealing with depression and continually talks of ending their life, this is something to take very seriously. There are many places that can help you or your loved one get help and get better.

The symptoms of depression can happen to anyone at any stage of life. It is important to be open to getting help and getting better. When deep in depression it is hard to reach out and get better, but it is possible to get better.

A depression questionnaire is the same thing as a depression test or depression quiz. For any psychological test to be reliable it needs to meet the Standards for Education and Psychological Testing. These standards are developed by three (3) different groups that include the American Psychological Association (APA), American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME). What does it mean when a test meets the Standards? It means that they are “valid”, “reliable” and “scored and administered” using standardized methods.

Validity basically means that the test measures what it is supposed to measure. Also, it means that the concept for which the test was developed, and the measurements put in place, are well founded and supported by evidence that justifies the interpretation of the scores.

Reliability means that the results of the test will be consistent. For example, each time a test is administered to any one individual the results should be almost the same. Assuming that the structure and quality of the test is consistent, when the test is given at two different points in time, it will yield similar results. While often confused, validity and reliability are not the same. Validity ensures that the test measures what it has been designed to measure. Conversely, reliability means that the results that are measured are consistent. So, unfortunately, you can have consistency in a test without validity – a test that provides consistent results but is not measuring what is designed to be measuring. This is why both validity and reliability are so important.

The tests must also be scored and administered employing a standard methodology. Research has determined that, if a test is scored and administered in a standard way, the results are more effective and predictable than if they use a non-standard format.

A depression questionnaire or depression test is basically a mood measuring device that gives an indication of emotional and cognitive functioning. Depression tests are developed and designed to evaluate an individual’s mood, characteristics, affect and demeanor. Most are also used to track behavior changes over a specific period of time. In most cases, the tests are self administered and they ask you to evaluate your mood or characteristic over the last two weeks or more. Also depression tests that are self administered usually have pre-defined optional responses so there are not free form answers. For example, a test will have the individual choose “a”, “b”, or “c”, or “true” or “false”.

A question that is commonly asked is whether the results from a depression test are used to diagnose depression. The answer? In part, yes, the depression questionnaire is used as one reference point to determine if a client is depressed or not. However, it is important to note that there are many other factors that we look at to make a diagnosis. To diagnose depression we need to do a full evaluation by looking at a variety of factors.

Symptomotology is one of the components that are considered. For instance, what symptoms does the client have? How long have they been present? How severe are the symptoms? Has the client experienced these symptoms before? How are they currently functioning emotionally and cognitively? Have they recently experienced any traumatic events? Also, is the client currently using drugs or alcohol? If so, how often do they use?

The mental health history of the client is considered as well – have they been diagnosed with depression before? What about the family history? Has any of the client’s family members been diagnosed with depression?

It is also important to rule out any other medical conditions that might cause or contribute to the depressed feelings. Is the client suffering with another condition such as Lyme’s disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a hypothyroid condition, and any nutritional deficiencies? All of these things, and many others, need to be carefully considered before making a formal depression diagnosis.

A depression questionnaire and depression tests are available on-line. However, if want reliable results it is important to take one that is professionally developed (ie. not by a Webmaster!). This will ensure that the depression test meets the Standards for Education and Psychological Testing. What this ultimately means is that it will be valid – testing for signs of depression like it is supposed to, and that the results you get will be reliable and statistically relevant.

It would be horrible to take a depression questionnaire that generates incorrect results. It can tell you that you’re depressed when you really aren’t or tell you that you aren’t depressed when you really are. In either case, you will be misled and will not proceed in a matter that would be in your best interest. If you take a depression test that meets the aforementioned criterion, you can rely on the results and determine the best course of action.

Are you wondering what the difference is between bipolar and bipolar depression disorder? If you are, then you are reading the right article. It provides very helpful facts about both of these conditions to help you make the right decision and get help.

You might start disliking yourself without any reason when you suffer from bipolar depression disorder. It is similar to basic bipolar disorder in that regard, as well as with respect to the sleeping problems that start to occur. However, it is critical that you do not confuse one for another because they are not the same.

Your mind becomes the home of all kinds of negative thoughts, which often include suicidal thoughts, when the disease you are suffering from is bipolar depression disorder. It is easy for you at this point to think it is actually bipolar type of disorder manifesting itself, but then the mania never quite comes.

When you have a kind of bipolar-disorder in which you rarely experience the manic phase of the condition, you may not be suffering from bipolar disorder at all. Experienced psychologists and psychiatrists will likely diagnose you instead for bipolar depression disorder, and put you on a different kind of medication.

You may not want to jump to conclusions about the type of illness you suffer from when you find yourself depressed so all the time. It is a common enough condition with all kinds of manifestations and treatments too. But you do want to keep your eye out for the bipolar depression disorder form of it. I hear it can be quite misleading.

Depression is a force to be reckoned with. It will rob you of the best years of your life. More than 6 million men suffer with depression in America, and if you add in the number of women who also suffer, that number more than doubles. These numbers are alarming and growing every day. Right now approximately 17 percent of Americans suffer from some form of depression. In this article, you will learn what is depression, what causes depression, and how you can easily beat depression without a trip to the pharmacist.

What is Depression

Depression is a serious medical condition, that believe it or not, most people will just ignore. I’d like to believe that the reason for ignoring this condition is to avoid those dangerous antidepressants. It will not just go away and you do not have to take those antidepressants either. Depression is a disease and is nothing to be ashamed of. If gone untreated, it will rob you of your life, you will find a loss of energy, a lack of appetite, and a whole host of issues you might not even realize are related. You might find yourself avoiding social activities and normal get-togethers with friends and colleagues. This is a time you’ll need them most, instead of feeling too embarrassed to face them or let them know how down you’re feeling. Depression comes in several forms, mild, moderate and severe with bouts of anxiety and even panic attacks. All of these issues can be controlled by you, without the doctor visits. A little research, a little exercise, make a few changes in your diet and add a few supplements and you will be astonished by what you can accomplish. Now just think what you can do about your depression if you really get serious.

What causes Depression

Depression usually comes from several sources that add up slowly. Your body is extremely resilient, but after a while these things will add up and cause your system to overload and then break down. Sometimes it can just be one major or traumatic event that sets you in motion. Depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals or neurotransmitters that carry brain signals to your nerves. Serotonin levels play a major role in depression and most people who suffer from depression have very low serotonin levels. Stress causes depression, now stress maybe next to impossible to avoid these days with our troubled economy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to manage stress. I think most people can use a little stress management in their lives. Some people can suffer with bouts of depression as a direct result from side effects of medication that they might be taking for another problem they may have all together. Depression can come from many sources, the trick is recognizing it early and taking action before it gets the better of you.

What to do now

First of all, a little exercising is a powerful way to make you feel better about yourself. Exercise releases endorphins and increases serotonin in the brain. This will make you feel better, sleep better and give you that “runners high” feeling. Simple carbohydrates and grains will also help your brain release serotonin. Tryptophan is also very good for helping to produce serotonin. Great sources of tryptophan are turkey, chicken, beef, brown rice, eggs, milk, cheese, fish, fruit, nuts and vegetables. Also, you should stay away from processed foods and excess sugar. You will also need to take natural supplements. The best ones are, and you should start with St. John’s Wort, Rhodiola Rosea, 5-HTP, L-Tyrosine, Fish Oil, Magnesium, Vitamin B, Passion Flower and Acai Berry. This is a great list to start out with. I would research these supplements one by one and see which ones you’d like to try first. They are all great and they will all help. Don’t let the power of depression defeat you.

Blue moods characterized by gloom, feelings of inadequacy, sadness, loss of interest in activities and pleasure, and lack of energy affects the health and wellbeing of about 19 million Americans. We call it depression. It follows people like a dark cloud into their homes, workplaces, schools, and relationships.

Depression is linked to our habitual mental states. The way we think about the world, others, self, and the conditions of life affects our mental balance. You might have heard that depression is a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Indeed, our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions continually alter our brain chemistry. Even air, water, electro-pollution, sugar, chemical-laden processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and a lack of protein absorption lead to chemical imbalances in the brain and the entire body.

Depression can also be caused by a loss, chronic illness, relationship problems, work stress, family crises, financial worries, even unexpected change. So many things in life can create the state of gloom! The good news is it can be corrected and managed. It can be healed, which is slightly different from treating it. Treating it likely involves the use of anti-depressant drugs. There is nothing wrong with that in severe cases, but there are steps you can take on your behalf to naturally shift your brain chemistry.
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Dealing with the source of depression is the key. Ideally we would use imbalances in the body or mind as messages to help us resolve underlying conflict within ourselves. When we ignore these messages, we ignore the calls to wake up further into life. In the case of depression, sometimes this call is nothing more than to get your body moving. This alone often dissipates the clouds.

Depression arrives in your life with a meaning. Our task is to ask, “What is the meaning or message?” Is it simply, “Get out and exercise,” or is it something deeper? To misunderstand the message can be excruciating, leading to feelings of futility and hopelessness. However, for those who listen and begin to understand, life expands, lightens, and develops more meaning. Delving into this deeper meaning is the path of healing.

Overcoming depression might require personal change, sometimes a lifestyle change, but in many cases a willingness to listen, hear, and then act on the body’s messages is all the change that is needed. Fear is usually what prevents people from taking this step. But with a little courage, a whole new bright world can open up.

There are many opportunities to help you become vital, strong, positive, hopeful, and joyous: journaling, exercise, meditation, visualization, being in nature, proper nutrition, the use of mood-lifting supplements and essential oils, letting go of the unrealistic expectations of others, fully becoming your authentic self, and altering your thoughts toward the positive.

Joyful people create their lives the way they want to live them. They feel a bit of power over their own life. They have a core of contentment. They shape their reality with their thoughts, hopes, and attitudes. Anyone with that dark cloudy gloom can experience hope and joy again. Harnessing the willingness to listen, hear, and act upon depression’s messages is an important step. To uncover a more authentic way of living is another step. Who among you can resist taking this journey?