News and Articles on Health. Medical research topics.

Now we’ve certainly had a good look at the Physical Effects of Depression. If you remember, we had a chuckle over the paragraph entitled.

Depression Is Bad For You.

No. Really? Anyway, to re-cap very quickly. Depressives spend too much time in R.E.M. sleep, so their bodies don’t receive the repair they need. This leads to weakened immune systems which in turn leads to disease. In addition, there’s a sustained increase in stress hormones, which again suppress the immune system.

Depression, Serotonin and Pain. This, too, we looked at, noting that a lack of serotonin is mistakenly thought to be the cause of Depression. Of course, people enjoy an immediate relief from drugs because their levels of serotonin are increased which has an enormous effect on lifting the Depression.

The other point to bear in mind is that R.E.M. sleep is always suppressed by anti-depressant drugs which again lifts Depression. All that, as we saw before, is very fine and large, but these drugs are simply treating the symptoms, not the cause.

Thinking Styles For Depression.

Three points to bear in mind.

1. Unpleasant events do not necessarily cause Depression.

2. It cannot be explained away as a disease.

3. Hormones or brain chemicals are not the cause.

Having stated all this, one or more of them may be included in Depression, but it’s a great deal more than any one of them alone. Let’s have a look at the way people think, the psychological components of Depression, if you will. It’s worth noting that some of the most effective treatments have evolved from a study of this

Shared Thinking Styles For Depression.

Every depressed person thinks in remarkably similar ways. The key is to understand these styles and the pattern they form. By so doing, we take a major step in defeating Depression for good. Depression has to be fed. It must be maintained. If it fails to receive this attention, then it’ll disappear like the mists of morning.

It’s the thinking styles that feed it, that give it this maintenance. The thinking styles we refer to, of course, are those that are emotionally arousing and that encourage introspection, or our old friend, brooding.

There’s an erroneous school of thought that considers prolonged sadness the same as Depression. When something horrible happens, like a death in the family, then you’re bound to feel sad. This is a perfectly natural re-action. However, the person who does not suffer from Depression is able to see beyond that sadness. Yes, they’ll grieve, but they know deep down that there’ll be a happier tomorrow.

Not so the depressed person. To them, ‘life’s always going to be like this’.

The best depression treatment has been the center of debate for some time now. While most of the medical community leans toward the use of traditional medications, patients and their families, unhappy with the serious side effects and addictive nature of these medications, have been looking for other answers. Now, there are other methods of treatment available that offer great promise.

The best treatment for depression relies on addressing the health of the brain and nervous system. Without focusing on this underlying cause, treatment will not be completely successful. The malfunction of neurotransmitters leads to emotional imbalance and feelings of dread and unhappiness can result. The key to restoring equilibrium, then, is re-establishing proper neurotransmitters.

Standard anti-depressants focus solely on the surface symptoms of the condition, providing a quick fix and enabling patients to function normally, but stopping short of a long term solution. These medications can also carry serious side effects and the possibility of becoming addictive, making them less than the best depression treatment.

A far more hopeful alternative is the use of natural remedies. Developed by clinical psychologists and drawing on centuries old homeopathic methods, these products represent the best treatment for depression as they offer a whole system approach, targeting both surface symptoms and their cause.

Combining a variety of herbs and other plant based ingredients, including St. John’s Wort and Passion flower, natural remedies provide the ability to balance moods, calm nerves and improve the emotional state. And because they are entirely organic, they carry no side effects at all, making them the best depression treatment for patients of any age.

What makes these products so effective is their ability to work with the body’s own defenses to provide thorough and long lasting results. It is a theory homeopaths have traded on for years, establishing wellness by treating the body as a whole rather than focusing on one particular area. This approach offers the best treatment for depression currently available.

Of course, even a natural remedy will only be truly successful if it is implemented as part of an overall approach to treatment. The best depression treatment can include a variety of methods, including behavior therapy, stress reduction and lifestyle changes. Everything from practicing yoga to ensuring that you eat a balanced diet can have a very real effect on mental well being. Together, all these methods represent the best possible course of treatment.

In order to treat depression thoroughly, it is necessary to consider the health of the whole body. If depression symptoms are a problem for you, consult your doctor and together you can decide on the best course of treatment. Remember to consider all of your options and don’t forget to include natural remedies. Nature’s healing can be the best treatment of all!
Lois Lane is a passionate advocate of natural remedies for health and well being, whether for humans or their pets alike. As an ardent researcher, she presents the best information she learns and introduces people to natural products that may assist them in living a fuller, more vibrant life.

There are many adults who are trapped under the state of depression due to increase in work load or due to other personal problems. Depression is something that can be treated naturally but it does not mean that people can use self treatment. It is very important for that person to consult the doctor in order to cure the same as it can turn serious if left untreated. Depression is the symptom of other diseases such as anemia or hypothyroidism. According to the doctors depression must always be treated naturally in order to get rid of it totally.

There are various natural treatments of depression.

• St. John’s Wort: It is a herb that comes under the category of folk medicine which is used in order to relieve poor sleep and nervousness. It is effective antidepressant. For patients with moderate depression, the effect can be noticed within 4 to 6 weeks. It is available in all the medical stores and can be consumed in the form of tablets, capsules, tea or liquid extracts.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: According to the doctors, it is suggested that people under depression needs more of fatty acid in order to trigger the proper functioning of the brain. Omega-3 fatty acid is found in fish. It is also noted that countries where fish is the main food such as Taiwan and Japan, depression rate is much lesser.
• SAM-e: SAM-e means S-adenosyl-L-methionine which is naturally found in the human body and is helpful i increasing the level of dopamine and serotonin.
• Folic Acid: Folic acid also known as folate is generally found in fruits, green vegetables, grains and beans.
• 5-HTP: 5-HTP means hydroxtryptophan and it gets generated in the body and helps in boosting up the level of serotonin in the body. It should not be used with the combination of any other antidepressants.
• Diet: The intake of sweets must be reduced in order to bring down the sugar level. The intake of alcohol and caffeine must also be avoided as it increases the anxiety and depression in the long run. Magnesium must be included in the diet as it is important for the production of serotonin. Vegetables, grains and nuts are very good sources of magnesium.

Can you believe that there is a fast and permanent method to help you break the cycle of depression, so you can live a normal life again? Can you imagine to be proud of yourself to have followed your gut feeling to the right cure for dealing with depression? Imagine, having done so, to live your life to the fullest again.

Are you having trouble facing daily challenges? Is it hindering you from work, studies or family responsibilities? You might know this already: Depression is not a passing feeling of sadness. It’s a condition requiring professional attention. Several approaches to treating clinical depression can improve your condition so you can move on with your life.

Treatments for depression may vary from person to person. Your case may not be the same as the others having the same condition.

It is always wise to see a doctor because he will tell you if you’ve got a physical illness that leads to depression. In this case, your doctor is the only one who can give you the appropriate treatment.

Approaches to heal depression that originates in the brain range from taking medication, the talking cure, holistic approaches to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for very severe cases.

• Dealing with depression by taking medication is very common but it is not my favorite method. 50% of depressed people are not responding to antidepressants.

However, I want to explain what kind of drugs are out there to treat this condition. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter needed for your brain to maintain your mood, temperature and sleep cycle stable. Depression will usually take place when you have a low serotonin reserve. SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors regulate serotonin levels. Common SSRI medications are fluxetine, setraline, citlopram and paroxetine. Other neurotransmitters involved in depression are epinephrine and dopamine. Unlike SSRI, atypical antidepressants target these two neurotransmitters to reduce depression. Common drugs under this category are bupropion, nefazodone and mirtazapine. People who are resistant to SSRI and atypical antidepressants would need a different kind of antidepressant medication. MAOI or Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are not usually prescribed because of the many side effects. People who are on MAOIs have to avoid certain foods and drinks because it may interfere with the medicine. Elderpryl, Nardil, Zelapar and Marplan are some medications prescribed under this category.

• A very effective approach in dealing with depression is known as ‘talking cure’.

Since depression is a subjective condition, your therapist will need to understand where your depression comes from. Psychotherapy enables you to voice your negative feelings and thoughts that lead to depression and make long lasting changes in your life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) uses this particular method in treating depression. The aim of this therapy is to try to change negative thoughts and feelings to a more constructive ones.

• Reading self-help books (bibliotherapy) that are based on new CBT and brain research findings have been acknowledged to be as effective as psychotherapy.
• Several studies on holistic approaches have been found to bring better results than other therapies. Yoga, meditation, supplements, exercise, regular sleep, a specific diet, and acupuncture have been proven to play a solid part in depression recovery.
• For severely depressed people electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often the last resort when nothing has helped. Then electric currents are used to alter certain brain compounds to relieve symptoms. Although ECT is still controversially discussed as an anti-depression treatment, it is used today with precise electrical current calculation to reduce adverse effects.

You’re not the only one suffering from depression so you should never be ashamed of it.Dealing with depression successfully requires your participation. Ask for help and get help before your depression gets worse.

Categorization of depression has always been a cumbersome task for the socio-psychologists. Depression is a highly variable term depending upon numerous factors. In this situation any pinpoint classification for depression is nearly impossible. Hence depression is broadly classified in three major forms that primarily depend upon the duration and severity of it. These are:

• Major depression: This type of depression lasts for a shorter period but it is more severe; people in this stage are most prone to suicide or other self-punitive actions. This form is the major concern for doctors as it is can lead to dangerous consequences. Sadness is often accompanied by prolonged and continuous problems in other spheres of life. The routine activities like sleep, sex, food etc get overwhelmingly affected. The perception towards life is negative and feelings of self-rejection worthlessness and incompetence crop up. The goals of life seem to be unreal and unachievable. Depression may jeopardize the processes of self-actualization and self-perception. The vitality of life is lost and the whole surrounding may appear hostile. A great degree of stagnation is recognized and inferiority complex tends to grow up within the individual. The person may feel unattractive, despondent, morose and unsuccessful. Due to its high incidence, many psychologists have developed their propensity to study major depression comprehensively.
• Dysthymia: Dysthymia is a mild depression that lasts for a longer period but it is les incapacitating. Sometimes it is even hard to recognize it. This sort of depression is mainly attributed to magnification or minimization of events such as under eating or overeating. The patient may frequently feel tiredness and hopelessness. They have difficulty in decision making and concentration. The recurrence of depressive episodes may lead to, what is called “double depression“. In Dysthymic depression, people recover from major depression but continue to experience intermittent depression episodes.
• Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood: It circumscribes a depressive reaction to a particular event so that the adjustment because of that event takes longer time than expected and in the given course it affects other activities. For example after the sudden demise of a person’s spouse he continuously feels her presence and is unable to perform his daily duties.

Apart from the above three classifications, depression may also be classified on the basis of triggering or casual factors. A brief account of this categorization is as follows:

• Depression due to Biological Genetic Factors: Recent findings have proved that depression may also result due to certain biochemical imbalances. For example Norepinephrine and Serotonin, the two neurotransmitters are lower in depressed persons than in Non-Depressed persons.
• Psychological Factors: Several psychological factors like “learned helplessness“, “negative self schema“, “primitive thinking“, “heightened self awareness” play a crucial role in triggering depression.
• Socio-Cultural Factors: Sometimes societal expectations also cause depression, when an individual finds oneself unable to meet the demands of his socio-cultural arena then depression may engulf him.
• Miscellaneous Factors: The other factors such as financial condition, religious status, physical being may also prove to be effective depressants.

The symptoms of all kind of depression are almost same. Some major symptoms are as follows:

• Persistent sadness accompanied by displeasure.
• Inferiority complex and a sense of worthlessness.
• Reclusive tendency
• Anxiety anger and unusual irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Indifference and pessimism

Postpartum depression symptoms occur in many women every day. The women who suffer from postpartum depression symptoms often feel as though they’re alone. They feel down, depressed, they feel lower than low. Some women even feel suicidal or feel like harming their own babies. Postpartum depression symptoms need to be watched out for not only for the health of the mother but for the health of the child or children, too. These women are not alone. Postpartum depression symptoms occur in many women and only by getting help can you hope to alleviate them.

Postpartum depression symptoms occur right after the woman has her baby. Postpartum depression symptoms can mean anything from the woman becoming secluded all of the sudden to the woman talking about harming herself or others. Postpartum depression symptoms may be slight and they may be severe but no matter what their degree, you need to get the woman help. Whether you are her boyfriend, husband, friend or relative, get the woman to see a doctor. A mental health professional will be able to determine if the woman is indeed exhibiting postpartum depression symptoms.

She Should Seek Help If the woman has postpartum depression symptoms, a mental health professional will set up the proper therapy so that the woman can get through her post birth days stress and anxiety free. Postpartum depression symptoms may not always reveal themselves immediately. The woman may try to hide the symptoms as she feels as there may be something wrong with her. Only by paying attention and listening to what she really has to say can you sometimes see postpartum depression symptoms.

• So, if you are a new mother who is feeling unusually down or you know a new mother who is so low that she’s not herself anymore, call a doctor. Tell that doctor that you are or you know a new mother who has postpartum depression. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a common thing that happens to many women after they give birth. The trick is to catch it early and to understand that it may very well happen, you just have to have a positive outlook to try and beat it.

Don’t try and beat it yourself, however, get some help and take pride in knowing that you are doing everything you can to make sure that your baby is cared for properly. You can’t properly take care of a baby if you’re feeling so low all the time. You’re thinking for two now. Do what’s right for you and do what’s right for your baby.