| "Treat Depression and Despair Naturally" If you or someone you love is struggling with sad feelings, you may be wondering, what is depression? DEPRESSION is a state of mind that hurts. It's long been thought that depression and other disorders of the mind are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The fact is that this idea has never really been proven in scientific tests. Most researchers would say that what causes depression is a combination of factors, including genetics and social issues. In other words, it runs in families and can be precipitated by things that happen to you. However, in and of itself, depression often cannot be traced to an event. You don't need a reason to feel depressed. Another answer to the question "what is depression?" is the definition of the term "clinical depression." Feelings of sadness that are intense enough to warrant treatment from a physician are called "clinical depression." A name sometimes given to this condition is a "major depressive episode." Clinical Depression is very common. Some experts estimate that about twenty-five percent of all women and ten percent of all men at any given time are experiencing feelings of depression. Manic Depression is a particular mental disorder in which a person's moods move from feelings of depression to elation. Both ends of the spectrum are too intense to be healthy. Because of the two opposite "poles" people move between, manic depression disorder is more commonly called "bipolar disorder" now. Diagnosing Depression For doctors, diagnosing depression can be one of the most challenging tasks they face. The symptoms of depression are widely varied depending on the individual. Not only that, but depression symptoms can look like symptoms caused by a wide range of other illnesses, such as hypothyroidism. To make a definite diagnosis of clinical depression, a person must have a number of symptoms at the same time. In addition, the symptoms of depression must have been present for at least two weeks. Let's take a look at some of the major areas that make up a depression test. 1. A depressed or irritable mood. The blue mood will be experienced most of the time by a depressed person. That is, he or she will feel depressed almost every day and almost all day long. Tearfulness is common in younger people and women. 2. Sleep disturbances. People living with depression sometimes have insomnia problems and sometimes sleep too much. A common pattern of sleep seen in some with clinical depression is to wake hours too early and not be able to get back to sleep because of worrying. Again, the sleep problem is recurrent almost every night. 3. Life isn't fun anymore. Things that used to be pleasurable, such as hobbies or even sex, no longer seem desirable. This inability to get interested in having fun or to enjoy oneself happens almost every day. 4. Fatigue and low energy. One of the most common depression symptoms is feeling tired and unable to get going. Low energy, like the other symptoms used in diagnosing depression, must be experienced almost daily for two weeks or longer. 5. Inability to concentrate. A depressed person often cannot keep his or her mind on a task. They find it extremely hard to sustain the thought processes needed to make decisions. Hence, indecisiveness can be a sign of depression. 6. Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or thoughts of death. Again, these feelings must be recurrent and hard to get rid of. 7. Suicidal thoughts or plans. This is the most critical of the depression signs, and the one that signals that you need to get help whether or not you have the other classic symptoms. 8. A depressed person will often seemed either markedly slow moving or agitated. This symptom of restlessness or retardation is something others can observe. It is not just a subjective experience of the patient. In diagnosing depression, a health professional will look to see if at least five of these symptoms have been in operation most of the time for at least two weeks. Treatment of severe depression often includes both depression self care techniques, such as exercise, as well as some form of counseling or talk therapy. Depression treating you can do yourself includes getting involved in some form of sympathetic group support. Try to hang out with some people who make you feel better and avoid the ones who aggravate your symptoms if you can. Support can be as simple as joining an online group, but it can make all the difference.
If you've wondered who can suffer from depression, the fact is, anyone can. There is no particular group of people that is exempt from risk. Children and teens can be affected, as can men and women of all ages. Depression symptoms include a wide variety of unpleasant sensations, such as insomnia, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, a loss ofinterest in things that used to be enjoyable, and even suicidal thoughts. So what is depression, and what causes depression? DEPRESSION is defined as feelings of sadness that are greater than warranted and last longer. In other words, if you are depressed, your feelings don't really make sense. You can look at the circumstances of your life, and while they might be unhappy, they shouldn't cause you to feel so bad. The truth is, many people face great adversities without ever getting depressed, while others suffer depression in spite of a fairly problem-free life. Circumstances are not what causes depression, although they can contribute to it and can precipitate it. Who can suffer from depression? People who are going through times of high stress. Stress is not always a bad feeling. Times of high stress can include bad experiences, like losing your job. But there are good stresses, too, like getting married or landing a new job. Having a lot of major changes in your life will create a general load of stress that can show up as clinical depression. Another answer to the question, who can suffer from depression, is that both men and women can, although women are somewhat more likely. As many as one in four women are suffering from symptoms of depression at any time, while only about one in ten men are experiencing them. One possible reason for women being more likely to be depressed is that they have the problems associated with the childbearing cycle. For instance, most women experience some post partum depression after giving birth to a baby. Sometimes called the baby blues, post partum depression usually hits during the first four days after giving birth. Severe cases can last for months and include suicidal thoughts. Depression is also not unheard of during the times of premenstrual tension as well as during menopause. The fluctuation of feminine hormones causes depression in many of these cases. Another segment of the general population who can suffer from depression are teenagers. Younger children are not immune to depression, either. As many as one in twenty teens is suffering from symptoms of depression at any given time. Depression symptoms in teenagers can look a little different than those of adults. A recurring theme in the depression of teenagers and children is that of poor self-esteem. This may cause them to change their habits. For instance, teens can become interested in writing morbid poetry, or in wearing black clothing. Frequently they will miss school, complaining of headaches and stomach aches. Unfortunately, there is a strong likelihood that a depressed teen will abuse alcohol or drugs. Who can suffer from depression? Anyone! Fortunately, new treatments for depression, as well as depression self care techniques, can help virtually anyone out of a time of feeling blue.
Over ten percent of the general population is living with depression symptoms. How can a person keep functioning with a debilitating condition like depression? The fact is, DEPRESSION saps a person’s energy and motivation, making every day a battle just to get through. Depression self care techniques can be very helpful, but without support, it can seem like a monumental task just to face these techniques! Self treatment of severe depression starts with basic healthy life practices. For instance, getting aerobic exercise on a regular basis can make a big difference in a person's mood. Yet when depression is wiping out a person's energy, getting out for a walk is very difficult. If you are depressed, try to make the effort. Don't expect the moon - just require yourself to walk for ten or fifteen minutes at first. Do it in the fresh air if the weather is nice. If it is someone you love who is living with depression, encourage them to take a walk with you. Getting adequate sleep can also help normalize a person who is suffering from symptoms of depression. Again, insomnia is often one of the major symptoms. People living with depression sometimes are able to get to sleep, but they wake in the wee hours and are unable to get back to sleep. The lack of rest makes the depression symptoms even worse. Follow good sleep habits to counteract this tendency with depression self care. Good sleep habits include unwinding in the evening with a boring book instead of watching a shoot-'em-up movie. The movie will undermine any relaxation you might feel. Also, a hot bath shortly before retiring can help relax you for a good night of sleep. If your work schedule allows it, going to bed at the same time each night is also helpful for developing a consistent cycle of sleeping and wakefulness. To feel better when living with depression, one must be a little tough with themselves. It is necessary to literally force yourself to get out of bed and to eat a healthy breakfast. In fact, providing yourself with depression self care really amounts to making little decisions throughout the day and following through. When living with depression, one of the decisions you must make throughout the day if you are to get better is to change what you are thinking about. Dwelling on negative thoughts only makes symptoms of depression worse. Changing your mental habits takes discipline, but it can be done, and it's worth it. A start is to write some positive affirmations that mean something to you personally, and hang them around the house where you will see them frequently so you can remind yourself to think positively. A simple example of such a depression self care habit is to get into the routine of saying "I believe, I believe, I believe" every morning just as soon as you get out of bed. Then take time to mentally list the good things you believe. Hopefully it won't be long until you are no longer living with depression!
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