Healthy and Wellness

Depression is a state in which a person feels very sad and blue, unhappy as well as miserable and also is down in the dumps. It is common to feel this way sometimes for short periods of time, and when one thinks about what depression is, one is generally thinking about a mood disorder wherein lies feelings of being sad, lost, angry as well as frustrated, which interferes with our everyday life routine for prolonged periods of time.

Rank In Terms Of Severity Of Depression

Also, when considering what depression is, one will generally rank it in terms of its severity, which can range from mild to moderate to severe. This degree of severity is best assessed by a doctor and it will influence the treatment method used. Some of the common symptoms of depression are having trouble going to sleep, or excessive sleeping, a noticeable change in appetite that is often accompanied by putting on weight or sometimes even losing weight, and feeling fatigued as well as lacking in energy.

What depression is has been studied in depth, and it has led to conclusions that the affected person will feel worthless, have self-hate as well as feel guilty and will also find it very hard to concentrate. He or she may also feel agitated, restless as well as irritable and there is also inactivity as well as withdrawal from normal routine activities. The person also feels hopeless and helpless and there are constant thoughts regarding death and suicide.

There is also low self-esteem and there are also sudden bursts of anger as well as not being able to derive any pleasure from activities that generally should make a person feel happy such as having sex. In the case of children, what depression is may not be quite as close to classic symptoms found in adults. Nevertheless, you should watch the child or children for any changes in their performance at school, in their sleep patterns, as well as in their behavior.

What depression is can be categorized into major depression, dysthymia, and atypical depression. And, there is also postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder as well as seasonal affective disorder. It may also occur along with mania in which case there will be noticeable mood cycles that alternate between depression and mania. Depression is also more common to women than to men, more so in their teen years.

The common causes of depression are that it runs in families and includes heredity, learned behavior as well as genetic predisposition, and is quite stressful as well as causes unhappiness. You may also find that depression sets in due to a disappointment at home, school or at work, death of a relative or friend, prolonged pain or due to some major illness, hypothyroidism, cancer or hepatitis, drugs including high blood pressure medications, alcohol or drug abuse, chronic stress and many other similar conditions.

It is important to understand that depression does not mean having a moment wherein you feel sad or low. Instead, depression is characterized by prolonged periods of sadness that last more than 2 weeks. Accompanying this sadness is the loss of self-esteem and the feeling of emptiness. Depending upon just how severe these things are, doctors actually classify it into various types of depression.

The Different Types Of Depression

One of the first types of depression is bipolar disorder or manic depression. This form of depression is characterized by sudden mood changes. As such, a person who has bipolar disorder can have an elevated mood at one moment and then feel very low the next moment.

The second of these many types of depression is called Cyclothemia. This is very similar to bipolar disorder in that a person will occasionally suffer from severe changes in mood. These mood changes are most often felt around the time that changes in the season occur, especially during the winter and fall season.

Another one of the types of depression is postpartum depression. This is often experienced by new mothers. It includes a prolonged period of sadness caused by all of the physical stress that she undergoes during and after giving birth to a child.

Then there is clinical or major depression. This is one of the types of depression that is not considered to be an illness but rather a disorder because of its symptoms. Thankfully this is one of the types of depression that can actually be treated well once it is diagnosed. These treatments are effective with 80% of patients irregardless of the level of your depression. This does not mean that this type of depression is only a momentary time of sadness, as it does consist of a prolonged feeling of sadness and lack of interest. There is also a loss of appetite and significant loss of weight with this form of depression as well. Nevertheless, with a proper combination of counseling and medication a person who is suffering from clinical depression can return to their normal life. Your doctor will be able to discuss the many ways in which this form of depression can be treated.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are quite a number of different types of depression. While these types of depression all have some things in common, they all need to be properly diagnosed in order that they can be treated correctly. Only then will a person be able to resume their normal lifestyle.

There are times in most people s lives when they feel down and are unable to overcome the feelings. Depression can occur for a variety of reasons and is difficult to cope with for the person and those around them. Most of the time, depression is a minor issue and is very short lived. It may occur because of increased stress or negative events in an individual s life. Sometimes a person can work through the depression with the help of a friend or family and sometimes they will need a course of antidepressant medication. This type of depression, usually, only lasts for a few days or a few weeks.

Sometimes a person has a more severe episode of depression. Major depression is becoming more and more of an issue in our world. Major depression can be caused by other medical conditions, chemical imbalances, or traumatic life events. Most of the time there is no single cause of major depression and there is still much that is not understood about the disorder. What is known is that a person suffering will need to seek medical treatment for major depression. Without medical treatment for major depression the person will be unable to overcome the depression and will suffer more severe consequences of that depression possibly even committing suicide.

Health Care Professionals Who Offer Treatment For Major Depression

There are many health care professionals who offer treatment for major depression. A lot of the time a person who is suffering major depression will talk to their family doctor first. The family doctor is a good place to start because they know more about the individual s background, family life, and other health issues. The family physician can prescribe anti-depressant medications and can make referrals to other health care professionals as needed.

Licensed counselors are people who are educated and trained to offer counseling to individuals who are having trouble dealing with life events. The counselor can offer limited support that, in the case of treating major depression, can be used in addition to the care received by a medical doctor. Counselors are not able to prescribe medications and may only have limited training.

Psychologist are health care professional that have received lengthy training in mental health areas and are well equipped to treat major depression with counseling and other interventions. Psychologists are not initially trained to prescribe medications but there are some who have received additional training and can. The psychologist will, most of the time, work with a psychiatrists to provide a full spectrum of mental health care.

The psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has trained in the area of mental health. These doctors can provide the full spectrum of care in treating major depression. They can prescribe medications, offer counseling and can use other medical interventions including in-patient care in treatment for major depression. Being under the care of a psychiatrist who has a team of other health professionals working with him is the most comprehensive approach to receiving treatment for major depression.

A perennial joke among women is that the wheel of medical research seems to grind slowly with women’s sexual health problems but goes from zero to 100 miles per hour in seconds when it comes to men’s sexual problems. In decades past, men did not usually admit that they were suffering from depression. This was a “woman’s illness,” and it wasn’t manly to be depressed. Thankfully, all this has changed and men can now feel comfortable in being treated for depression.

There is a connection between levels of testosterone, the primary men’s hormone, and depression. On this, the medical researchers agree. But the debate remains as to whether low levels of testosterone causes depression in men, or if depression causes low levels of testosterone. Men who suffer from depression find this to be a moot point; they would just like to be effectively treated for depression with appropriate medication.

How are Testosterone and Depression Connected?

Men with depression usually have a low libido, or sexual drive. This can result in both loss of interest in sex and erectile dysfunction. To make matters worse, antidepressant medications can also cause erectile dysfunction. During an episode of depression, levels of testosterone decrease both as a symptom of depression and as a result of antidepressant medication. This puts men with depression in a quandary. Should they use antidepressant medication long enough (about a year) to put their depression into full, sustained remission and cope with the side effect of lowered testosterone and low libido? Women with depression can “fake it” sexually. Men cannot.

In depressed men, signs of low testosterone include gradual breast enlargement (gynecomastia), a raise in voice pitch, shrinking of the testicles, loss of pubic hair, thinning of the bones, loss of energy and loss of muscle mass. Unfortunately, some depressed men resort to testosterone-based anabolic steroids to prevent these effects. This is an extremely dangerous and illegal practice. It is vitally important that men discuss depression and testosterone with their physician. Some antidepressant medications have less sexual side effects than others.

In addition to antidepressant medication, men suffering from depression should see mental health therapy to help them cope with this condition. By helping depressed men raise their self-esteem, therapists can help these men to understand that sexual performance is not nearly as important in relationships with women as genuine affection and non-sexual demonstrations of intimacy. In other words, sex is not what sustains a loving, committed relationship. Women have always known this, but men have difficulty with this concept of a different sort of intimacy.

The link between depression and testosterone is well documented in the medical literature. The testosterone patch is just now receiving the attention of physicians as a possible resolution to this problem.

Teen depression affects young people when they are supposed to be learning, playing and living life to the fullest. Teen depression often puts a gloomy cloud over these years when life should be interesting and fun. Teen depression can be alleviated so this condition does not have to ruin these wonderful years. Teen depression can cause many problems at a time when teenagers face many challenges. The teenage years are a time when young people go through many hormonal changes which can be confusing and disruptive. Teen depression hits young adults when they are experiencing changes in their education as well.

There is help for the young people suffering from teen depression so these young people and their parents should not despair. There are many medical and educational professionals who have experience working with those with depression during their teenage years. These professionals often have extensive experience working with others who have suffered from depression. Adult depression has many of the same symptoms as teen depression so those who have worked with depressed adults should also have great insight into the problems with depression during the teenage years.

Teen Depression Is Often Confusing And Distressing

Teenagers go through many changes, and their parents are often very confused when their personalities and habits suddenly start to change. Children might be very cheerful before their teenage years, but then they might suddenly change to be apathetic and sad. Teenagers suffering from depression show other symptoms as well. Many teenagers suffering from depression change their eating habits, and they might gain or lose an inordinate amount of weight. The teenagers who are affected also withdraw from their friends and family at times.

Teen depression sometimes leads teenagers to alcohol or drug abuse which can be most distressful to their families. These teenagers also have trouble in school at times. Children who were enthusiastic about their school work and those who excelled at their work often become lazy and unproductive at school because of depression. There is not a single cause of depression in teenagers. There could be several factors that affect these young people. There is treatment that can help them. Psychotherapy is often helpful and this can be accomplished with the help of an excellent professional. There are also drug treatments that can make a significant difference for these young people. Several drugs are available, and each parent and their teenager should look carefully at those available for this condition.

Teenage depression can be very disruptive to the lives of young adults who are experiencing many challenges in their lives. Teenage depression affects a group of people who are going through many changes in their lives. There are many hormonal changes that take place during the teenage years as well as other types of challenges. Many of these teenagers experience different types of schools during their adolescent years. They leave the comforts of the home and comfortable classroom to enter larger schools with new curriculums. Many parents are shocked when their very obedient, pleasant children suddenly become irritable and depressed. They do not realize the cause of the changes in the personality of their children.

Other symptoms of teenage depression might also startle parents with adolescent children. Teenage depression might cause temper tantrums in children who were always pleasant. Teenage depression might cause adolescents to lose interests in any type of activity. A depressed adolescent might gain or lose weight suddenly. Teenagers suffering from depression might want to sleep excessively and lose interest in going to school. All teenagers might exhibit the symptoms of teenage depression for short time periods. If these symptoms persist, the teenager should consult with a physician to get the necessary help.

Teenage Depression Can Be Alleviated

Teenagers suffering from depression need to have assistance from medical experts. These experts will first examine the young adult to see if there are any physical problems that cause the symptoms of depression. Fatigue could be from depression or from a physical problem. This should be determined to ensure proper treatment. If the expert decides that the problem is teenage depression, they will take the appropriate steps for the good of the teenager. Once physical problems are ruled out, the physician will probably refer the teenager to a mental health expert.

The mental health expert will spend time with the young person to arrive at a treatment strategy. A teenager with depression will benefit from the treatments recommended to depressed adults with some modifications. Psychotherapy is often recommended to treat depression. Young adults with depression often benefit most from treatment with a psychotherapist who has experience with young people. Sometimes it is a good idea to include other family members in the therapy sessions. Medications are also available for those young adults with depression. There are several excellent medications that can provide great help to young people suffering from depression. Thoughtful treatment can be effective in helping teenagers cope.

It is natural to feel low sometimes. This is different from being depressed though. Usually depression is brought on by events that occur in a person’s life that are both difficult and painful. For this reason depression and mood swings can be distinguished from one another.

Of course, an external event does not have to trigger the symptoms of depression. This is what makes depression difficult for both patients and their families to understand. These families definitely tend to suffer right alongside of the one that they love. Since there is not any external catastrophe that can be identified as the cause for the symptoms of depression the patience of these loved ones is often stretched to the limit.

Thankfully, psychotherapy can be used to treat most types of depression, including unipoloar, bipolar and winter depression. In this therapy the doctor will try to help the patient to work through the events that have caused them to have these symptoms of depression or they may teach the patient how to completely avoid these things altogether.

The Symptoms Of Depressions

As was aforementioned, there are various forms of depression. Each of these different types of depression brings along with it its very own symptoms of depression. For instance, the symptoms of Unipolar Depression include feeling very low in the morning, waking up quite early, having insomniac tendencies and feeling depressed overall. Then there is Bipolar Affective Depression and the symptoms of depression here include delusional thoughts about their own capacities. Next, there is Winter Depression whose symptoms of depression include signs of depression that start in the fall or winter and then disappears in spring, meaning that this form of depression only lasts for up to 6 months. During this time there is a lack of physical energy.

It is also important to understand that some prescription drugs are also able to cause a person to have the symptoms of depression. These medicines are usually those that have a high element of cortisone, beta blockers and contraceptive pills.

Of course, there are other some common symptoms of depression. These include feeling quite low overall. This may be seen in a pronounced lack of interest in normal activities. A person may also experience the loss of appetite, which will result in the loss of weight. Of course, sometimes a person may have an increased appetite, which will result in weight gain. A depressed person will also be unable to sleep well, be unable to concentrate, be indecisive, have a lower sexual drive, lack energy, and have a tendency of obsessing with thoughts of death. These thoughts can also result in suicidal tendencies and attempts at suicide as well.

Some of the most typical signs of depression are those that show that a person has changed the way that they view themselves. For instance, they may tell you that they are lacking energy or they may point out all of their physical faults to you. Of course, a person who is suffering from depression may also change the way in which they feel or act as well.

What The Most Common Signs Of Depression Are

There are some general signs of depression that a person may show. One such sign is that the person is continually sad or feels empty or helpless. These feelings may seem as though there is no cause for them. Along with these feelings may come a loss of interest or pleasure in doing the ordinary everyday activities that they use to enjoy doing.

Another one of the signs of depression has to do with the person’s sleep pattern, which will more than likely increase whenever they are depressed. However, they will be more fatigued than usual, even though they are getting more sleep. They will also have a hard time concentrating and making decisions.

Of course, depression has psychological roots. As such, a person may experience feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness. They also may become more irritable than normal, which you can see because of their excessive crying. In the end this may make them feel completely hopeless. This may then lead them to have thoughts about death or suicide. These people may also attempt suicide.

If someone shows several of these signs of depression for 2 weeks or more, then they should really think about talking to their doctor.

More Information About The Signs Of Depression

While these signs of depression may come on gradually, you will still be able to tell that the depressed person is different from the way they use to be. As such, the depressed person may be a successful businessman who thinks that he is on the brink of bankruptcy or the devoted mother who wants to abandon her children. This is because a person who suffers from depression will avoid pleasure instead of seeking it.

Of course there are also some people who do not show the usual signs of depression. Instead these people may complain of physical discomfort, start drinking more than usual or become addicted to drugs. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on your loved ones if you think that they may be depressed.

Depression is the most common mental health condition for which sufferers seek treatment. Fortunately, it is also the most successfully treated mental health condition as well. Without medical treatment, depression feels like the end of the world. Severe depression may well be the end of the world since this is when most patients commit suicide.

Like all physical and emotional illnesses, depression can range from the presence of minor symptoms like feeling sad and “down” every day, to moderate symptoms involving feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and a lack of concentration, to severe depression that usually involves suicidal thoughts and plans. Another type of severe depression consists of psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and/or delusions. Regardless of the severity of the depression, medical and mental health treatment are essential.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Severe Depression?

Sometimes depression is so severe that the patient’s mind is too clouded to recognize that he or she is in a serious health crisis. Depression in all forms involve feelings of perpetual sadness, shame and guilt, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, disturbances in sleep and appetite, inability to concentrate or focus, chronic fatigue, and inability to take pleasure in normal activities.

Since depression is a disorder of chemical imbalances in the brain, how severe these symptoms become depend upon each individual. In severe depression, all of these symptoms are greatly increased, sometimes to the point where the sufferer cannot get out of bed and function in life roles. It may take a friend or family member to notice the severity of the depression. If thoughts of suicide are present, this is a medical emergency; the sufferer should be taken to the ER immediately.

How is Severe Depression Treated?

As distressing and sometimes life-threatening severe depression can be, the good news is that this condition responds extremely well to anti-depressant medication and therapy. Medications to treat severe depression are called “SSRIs” (Selected Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These drugs bring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters back into the correct balance. Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Effexor are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.

With severe depression that involves suicidal ideation and/or psychotic symptoms, more serious treatments are considered. The patient should be hospitalized to prevent suicide, and given antipsychotic medication such as Resperdol. Antipsychotics will eliminate hallucinations and delusions, but some have unpleasant side effects such as extreme sedation. A patient on antipsychotic medication needs to be treated as an inpatient and examined at least daily by a psychiatrist.

Finally, with a severe depression that does not respond to medications and the patient continues to be at risk for suicide, electro-convulsive therapy is the treatment of choice. ECT or “shock treatments” are extremely effective in breaking the cycle of depression in brain chemicals. ECT is nothing like it was in the “old days.” The patient is under general anesthesia and the seizure, or convulsion, cannot even be seen except for perhaps curling of the toes. The patient has no recollection of the treatment and is not at all traumatized by it.

If you ve ever had a case of the winter blues or if you ve ever found yourself feeling down as the winter months stretch out, then chances are you ve been a sufferer of seasonal depression at one time or another. While not usually serious, there are instances where seasonal depression has been so severe that hospitalization has been required. By learning about how seasonal depression affects people, we can better prevent and treat it.

Causes

The most common cause of seasonal depression is the lack of light in the wintertime. Part of the theory behind this disorder is that the lack of light slows down the internal clock that regulates many of the body s moods, sleep patterns, and so on. Because of this, seasonal depression is more common in the northern United States, where days are shorter, than in the lower latitudes where more sun is received.

Treatment

One of the most effective treatments for seasonal depression is the use of light therapy. In light therapy, a person is exposed to a very bright fluorescent light for a set period of time each day, exposed to the brightness while relaxing or eating a meal. Although light therapy has been shown to be effective in treating seasonal depression, though, patients often complain that the treatments, though done at home, are inconvenient, and sometimes discontinue that treatment. Light therapy is most effective in the evening, and is probably best used after the sun goes down.

Prevention

Unsurprisingly, one of the best ways to prevent seasonal depression is to increase your exposure to light. By getting outside a little each day, even when it s cloudy, the light will help you to feel better and less depressed. Researchers also suggest using light therapy before seasonal depression sets, ensuring that you never start to feel the symptoms of the disorder.

Other preventative measures are similar to those used to treat other forms of depression. For instance, 30 minutes of exercise a few days a week will keep you healthy and feeling better. Exercise is important because it s tied to self-image, to helping your body regulate your systems better, and because it creates endorphins that give a natural sort of high after exercise.

Another way to help prevent seasonal depression is to ensure that you have activities that get you out of the house and with friends. One of the problems with this disorder is that it often makes people want to withdraw and stay inside their homes, which merely makes the problem worse. By working to combat seasonal depression, however, you will find yourself feeling better during those long winter months.