Fingertip Titans UniteTaking Depression Into Your Own Hands
October 21st 2006 19:00
It could be you. Not in the mood to be around others and have a good time? Unusually irritable? If you’re suffering from prolonged sadness for longer than 3 weeks, you may be suffering from clinical depression. Your doctor can help you, and there are steps you can take to help heal yourself. Getting diagnosed is the first step to getting better, and getting your life back.
Depression or prolonged sadness is very common, around 80 percent of the American population suffer from some form of this illness at one time or another in their life. However, not all of them get treated, so depression and its ill-effects continue to be a burden to some folks, and those they come in contact with. This illness may seem simple to treat but in reality, it takes more than a little cheering up to cure depression.
The last thing someone who is suffering from depression needs to hear is to “Cheer up” or “Stop being so lazy”. Criticizing a depressed loved one only makes the problem worse. Now, not only are they sad, fatigued, irritable, and feeling hopeless, they get to add “lazy” and “grumpy” to the long list of “things that are wrong with me”.
If you have a loved one who exhibits symptoms of depression, a more effective approach would be to ask them to talk about their feelings, listen objectively, and gently suggest that they see a doctor. If you ARE the depressed loved one, it is crucial to find someone non-judgmental that you can talk to. You might preface a conversation with something like “I just need to vent” or “Don’t take any of this personally, I just need to talk and get some things off my chest”. If you don’t have anyone available to listen to you objectively, then it is crucial that you see a doctor, and not suffer any longer.
Any family practitioner is trained to recognize the signs of depression, and in an otherwise healthy adult, usually one medication is all that is needed.
In some cases, the first attempt to medicate the problem isn’t sufficient. If, for some reason, you don’t feel like the medication is helping, schedule a visit with your doctor to assess your symptoms again, and allow him to experiment with different types and dosages of medications.
In many cases, Seratonin is the guilty chemical, or a lack of it. There are several medications (SSRI’s) that facilitate the production of Seratonin, and a low dosage might well do the trick.
Medication is necessary to bring the chemicals in the brain back into balance, and is a very effective “quick fix”. If you have more than just a few bouts with depression in your lifetime, however, you might consider some holistic approaches.
Brainwave Entrainment is one approach many people have seen success with. You should be cautioned that brainwave entrainment is not for everyone. If you are prone to seizures, or pregnant, you should find another route.
Brainwaves respond to certain sound patterns, and listening to soundtracks containing these patterns can help “Train” the brain to produce more of the chemicals a depressed person lacks. As an added benefit, long-term regular use of entrainment soundtracks can facilitate personal growth, and increased intelligence.
Another method that is being used very successfully, and with amazing and immediate results is EFT or the Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT combines the science behind the energy meridians of acupressure with Neuro-Linguistic Programming into a procedure where you “tap” certain parts of the body while repeating affirmations. The surprising effectiveness is documented extensively and becoming more and more widely used in clinical settings. You can download a free manual detailing a very basic self-administered version of the process Here.
Depression oftentimes can easily get in the way of a person’s daily activities and normal functions. Zest for life can quickly and easily dissipate due to depression. In place of an someone’s sunny disposition is a person who hates themselves, has no self-confidence, tries to isolate themselves from the world and, in some cases, doesn’t care about living any more.
More so, a person suffering from depression isn’t the only one who’s going to suffer from this destructive illness. Their loved ones are affected as well. It can be difficult and unpredictable to live with someone who is depressed. Negative emotions and tension can have a huge impact on the mood of a home.
The children of parents suffering from depression are more likely to have behavior problems, and suffer depression in childhood and adulthood. Many times teenagers suffer depression, but it goes unnoticed because it is masked by the difficulties of being a teenager.
Fortunately, depression can now be cured, especially when diagnosed early, depressed individuals can actually be treated through therapy and medication, although it may be a bit costly. Cognitive behavioral talk therapy or interpersonal talk are just some of the available psychosocial treatments that cognitive behavior therapists can offer to their patients, and both can be effective.
Depressed individuals oftentimes exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors such as suddenly lacking interest in hobbies (or other things they usually enjoy), sleeping too much or not enough, suddenly becoming anti-social, or irritable, talking about death or being a worthless person, and obsessing on certain topics.
There are a lot of other symptoms, and you should acquaint yourself with them. Look for one of the following:
Depressed Mood
Inability to experience pleasure
Accompanied by any five of the following:
Overwhelming sadness, fear or feeling of emptiness
Consistent decrease in the amount of pleasure derived from daily activities
Changing appetite and marked weight loss or gain.
Increase in “fidgety” behavior, or decrease in physical activity in general
Mental or Physical fatigue, loss of energy
Feelings of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness and fear.
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty focusing, making decisions
Recurrent thoughts of death, and/or suicide. (with or without a specific plan)
Some other symptoms you may experience:
A decrease in self-esteem.
Inattention to personal hygiene.
Sensitivity to noise.
Physical aches and pains, and the belief these may be signs of serious illness.
Fear of 'going mad'.
Change in perception of time.
Depression in children is not as obvious as it is in adults. Here are some symptoms that children might display:
Loss of appetite.
Irritability.
Sleep problems, such as recurrent nightmares.
Learning or memory problems where none existed before.
Significant behavioral changes; such as withdrawal, social isolation, and aggression.
If you recognize the symptoms of depression in yourself or someone you love, the first step to wellness is being properly diagnosed.
It may help to write down your symptoms while you’re at home, and take the paper to your doctor so you don’t have to try to remember everything while you’re sitting there in his office.
There is no need to suffer in silence. Sometimes simply taking proactive measures toward wellness is all you need to set the wheels of healing in motion.
Depression or prolonged sadness is very common, around 80 percent of the American population suffer from some form of this illness at one time or another in their life. However, not all of them get treated, so depression and its ill-effects continue to be a burden to some folks, and those they come in contact with. This illness may seem simple to treat but in reality, it takes more than a little cheering up to cure depression.
If you have a loved one who exhibits symptoms of depression, a more effective approach would be to ask them to talk about their feelings, listen objectively, and gently suggest that they see a doctor. If you ARE the depressed loved one, it is crucial to find someone non-judgmental that you can talk to. You might preface a conversation with something like “I just need to vent” or “Don’t take any of this personally, I just need to talk and get some things off my chest”. If you don’t have anyone available to listen to you objectively, then it is crucial that you see a doctor, and not suffer any longer.
In some cases, the first attempt to medicate the problem isn’t sufficient. If, for some reason, you don’t feel like the medication is helping, schedule a visit with your doctor to assess your symptoms again, and allow him to experiment with different types and dosages of medications.
In many cases, Seratonin is the guilty chemical, or a lack of it. There are several medications (SSRI’s) that facilitate the production of Seratonin, and a low dosage might well do the trick.
Medication is necessary to bring the chemicals in the brain back into balance, and is a very effective “quick fix”. If you have more than just a few bouts with depression in your lifetime, however, you might consider some holistic approaches.
Brainwave Entrainment is one approach many people have seen success with. You should be cautioned that brainwave entrainment is not for everyone. If you are prone to seizures, or pregnant, you should find another route.
Brainwaves respond to certain sound patterns, and listening to soundtracks containing these patterns can help “Train” the brain to produce more of the chemicals a depressed person lacks. As an added benefit, long-term regular use of entrainment soundtracks can facilitate personal growth, and increased intelligence.
Another method that is being used very successfully, and with amazing and immediate results is EFT or the Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT combines the science behind the energy meridians of acupressure with Neuro-Linguistic Programming into a procedure where you “tap” certain parts of the body while repeating affirmations. The surprising effectiveness is documented extensively and becoming more and more widely used in clinical settings. You can download a free manual detailing a very basic self-administered version of the process Here.
Depression oftentimes can easily get in the way of a person’s daily activities and normal functions. Zest for life can quickly and easily dissipate due to depression. In place of an someone’s sunny disposition is a person who hates themselves, has no self-confidence, tries to isolate themselves from the world and, in some cases, doesn’t care about living any more.
More so, a person suffering from depression isn’t the only one who’s going to suffer from this destructive illness. Their loved ones are affected as well. It can be difficult and unpredictable to live with someone who is depressed. Negative emotions and tension can have a huge impact on the mood of a home.
The children of parents suffering from depression are more likely to have behavior problems, and suffer depression in childhood and adulthood. Many times teenagers suffer depression, but it goes unnoticed because it is masked by the difficulties of being a teenager.
Fortunately, depression can now be cured, especially when diagnosed early, depressed individuals can actually be treated through therapy and medication, although it may be a bit costly. Cognitive behavioral talk therapy or interpersonal talk are just some of the available psychosocial treatments that cognitive behavior therapists can offer to their patients, and both can be effective.
Depressed individuals oftentimes exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors such as suddenly lacking interest in hobbies (or other things they usually enjoy), sleeping too much or not enough, suddenly becoming anti-social, or irritable, talking about death or being a worthless person, and obsessing on certain topics.
There are a lot of other symptoms, and you should acquaint yourself with them. Look for one of the following:
Depressed Mood
Inability to experience pleasure
Accompanied by any five of the following:
Overwhelming sadness, fear or feeling of emptiness
Consistent decrease in the amount of pleasure derived from daily activities
Changing appetite and marked weight loss or gain.
Increase in “fidgety” behavior, or decrease in physical activity in general
Mental or Physical fatigue, loss of energy
Feelings of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness and fear.
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty focusing, making decisions
Recurrent thoughts of death, and/or suicide. (with or without a specific plan)
Some other symptoms you may experience:
A decrease in self-esteem.
Inattention to personal hygiene.
Sensitivity to noise.
Physical aches and pains, and the belief these may be signs of serious illness.
Fear of 'going mad'.
Change in perception of time.
Depression in children is not as obvious as it is in adults. Here are some symptoms that children might display:
Loss of appetite.
Irritability.
Sleep problems, such as recurrent nightmares.
Learning or memory problems where none existed before.
Significant behavioral changes; such as withdrawal, social isolation, and aggression.
If you recognize the symptoms of depression in yourself or someone you love, the first step to wellness is being properly diagnosed.
It may help to write down your symptoms while you’re at home, and take the paper to your doctor so you don’t have to try to remember everything while you’re sitting there in his office.
There is no need to suffer in silence. Sometimes simply taking proactive measures toward wellness is all you need to set the wheels of healing in motion.
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