Depression Help

Anti depression should be the route to follow after you are diagnosed with depression. Besides sing anti-depressants, exercise and other medicines and therapies have been proven to be effective. Meditation and yoga are one of the best ways to combat depression and follow the path to recovery or anti depression.

Many people have started turning to natural remedies for to overcome depression because many herbs and minerals have shown healing abilities. Another reason for adopting natural remedies being the side effects of chemical medication and even symptoms like nausea , dizziness , headaches etc. The medicines might even result in uncontrolled weight gain which can lead to depressing you even more. So before starting with any anti depression drug we should check the internet about it side effects and any addictive properties.

The best way to fight depression is the natural way going for natural remedies like herbs, exercise, meditation, yoga or even counseling. Herbs like St. John’s Wort have proven itself over the years to be ones of the best ways to fight depression. It has proven to be as effective as any pharmaceutical drug and has almost no side effects. Another factor supporting its use is that it costs just a fraction of what the other medicines cost. It can also be used as an antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory drug and even as medicinal tea. Its effectiveness has also been proven by scientific analysis and many new uses are still being discovered.

Another drug which is a effective anti depressant is the gingko balboa, derived from a tree. It is very effective in recovering memory loss and age related problems. It also helps improve blood circulation to the brain resulting in improved mental health and thus less depression.

Saffron has also been proven to be effective against depression. But it should only be considered for mild cases.

Depression can also be treated by regular exercise and meditation as both these activities make us feel good about ourselves and our surroundings. The best policy is to be happy with what god sends our way and have very few expectations as inflated expectations are one of the prime causes of depression.

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Everyone knows that everyday unhappiness can be brought about by stressful experiences. But there is also substantial evidence that such adversity may at times result in clinically significant anxiety and depression. In this editorial we summarize the evidence for this link in relation to depression. Although much of what we describe comes from research with women, the general principles appear to apply to both sexes.

Women have been studied largely because of a consistent finding that they are 2-3 times more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetime Interestingly; this excess emerges at puberty and largely disappears after the menopause. It has been suggested that this may reflect biological differences, particularly involving the sex hormones, but puberty is not a discrete event and major psychological and social changes occur at the same time, clouding the simple biological interpretation. For example, the prevalence is greatest at the time in a woman’s life where she is most involved in caring for pre-school children and it may be this, rather than age itself, that accounts for the age-related trend among women.

In addition to female sex, national surveys have consistently identified a number of demographic factors linked to depression. For example, higher rates among financially and educationally disadvantaged populations, living in the inner city and being separated or divorced. Married men appear to do better than single men without children and vice versa for women. Lone mothers are especially vulnerable. But interesting as these observations are, they do not really explain what it is about the social environment that is ‘toxic’ or why only some of the people with these broad characteristics should become depressed.

The first and most obvious explanation is that clinical depression might be precipitated by particularly severe stressful experiences. There is considerable evidence to support this notion. Both discrete life events above a certain severity of unpleasantness, and ongoing difficulties of a similar severity have been shown to be more common in the year before onset. Further studies have refined these early observations and shown that depression is more likely following particular classes of experience – those involving disruption, losses and experiences of humiliation or entrapment. It has also been shown that some of these types of experience (e.g. children becoming involved in crime or drug dealing) are particularly common in inner-cities and may partially explain the greater prevalence of depression in these settings.

It is clear however, that while adversity may be a necessary condition for the precipitation of depression, it is seldom a wholly sufficient cause. Many people who experience the most appalling adversity do not develop depression and this suggests that there must be other factors operating that make some people more vulnerable to adversity than others. A strong candidate for such an effect is social support, long seen as providing an important buffering effect against the impact of unpleasant experience. It has emerged that women both express a greater need for emotional support than men and find it less often from their marital partners.

Reflections on the mechanism by which emotional support from the environment could have an impact on an individual’s mood state has also led to investigations of the links between such support and more psychological features of people vulnerable to depression – such as their ongoing levels of self-esteem, their way of appraising their stressful experiences, and with more or less negative automatic thoughts than normal and their other coping skills; such as problem-solving and looking on the bright side of life or rumination and feeling out of place and alientated. The links go in both directions: emotional support with confiding can improve someone’s coping skills and self-esteem, but if coping and self-esteem are too low initially a person may not risk confiding in anyone and will therefore remain without support.

Social Impacts that are linked to remission and recovery are largely a mirror-image of those implicated in onset. So, for example, recovery is more likely to occur following life events that bring fresh hope or which reduce chronic difficulties. Similarly, the presence of ongoing emotional support contributes to remission. These observations lead on naturally to a consideration of psychosocial interventions based on this causal model. There have now been a number of studies, most of which have built upon the notion of the provision of support. This may be provided through regular meetings with a group of individuals with similar issues to solve (e.g. groups of new mothers at risk of postnatal depression have proved relatively successful) or may involve meetings on a one-to-one basis only, which perhaps give greater scope for the development of the kind of intimate trust required for emotional support to be effective. This second type of intervention is the essence of volunteer befriending. Some organizations combine group and one to-one principles Some extremely persuasive evaluations of these interventions have been reported though the scale of the effort so far has been slight when compared to the investment in pharmacological therapy.

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Depression, a common term for a sad or low mood or the loss of pleasure; an emotion that does not affect capacity to perform personal and vocational obligations

The findings were based on a five-year longitudinal epidemiologic study of 1,007 adults 22 to 35 years old.

The researchers found:

• A history of major depression was associated with a three-fold increase in the risk for progression to daily smoking
• A history of major depression did not significantly decrease a smoker’s rate of quitting during the ensuing five years
• A history of daily smoking significantly increased the risk for major depression

This study is the first report on the influence of major depression on the progression of smoking among people who have ever smoked, according to the researchers. The data offer a view of the relationship between major depression and the progression to daily smoking across a respondent’s life span and suggest that the influence of major depression on the progression to daily smoking begins in adolescence but does not predict smoking initiation.

“The observed influences from smoking to major depression and from major depression to subsequent daily smoking support the plausibility of shared etiologies,” the authors write. “Our results suggest that history of early conduct problems was an influential antecedent factor in both smoking and major depression and that history of early conduct problems accounted in part for the observed associations of major depression with smoking stages.

“The potential role of neuroticism, self-esteem and social skills in the depression-smoking association is an important topic for future research.”

Smoking As Self-medication:

By now, you are quite aware that smoking is not in your best interests. Well, here’s just one more reason to strongly consider stopping. To no one’s great surprise, there are some rather strong connections between smoking cigarettes and depression. You may have noticed that many smokers, perhaps even you, are more likely to show signs of depression than people who don’t smoke. So what do we know about this connection?

First of all, we know that people who are at risk in their lives for developing depression are much more likely to become dependent on tobacco. Many of you may have had the experience of being depressed, and know that the tendency is to smoke more when this happens. For people with a history of depression, a greater dependence on smoking seems to happen even when they are not actually experiencing a depression. This means that there is probably some biological connection between depression and tobacco use.

The other part of the connection is that people who smoke are more likely to develop depression. Nicotine has an effect on the brain. Initially, that effect may help decrease depression. A lot of people talk about how smoking a cigarette helps them feel less stressed out. However, when smoking continues for more than a few weeks, it has an opposite effect on the brain and depression may develop or get worse. This may be one of the ways that tobacco exerts its “addictive” effect. Withdrawal from nicotine, which happens when people quit smoking, can actually cause or worsen depression. Because of this, people who are depressed are more likely to fail in their attempts to quit smoking. Failing feels lousy, and may add to the depression.

Stopping smoking is not easy for anyone; if it was, we probably wouldn’t need to have this  For people prone to depression, quitting can feel impossible. A failed attempt to quit may leave us feeling inadequate, which may make depression worse. On the other hand, a successful effort at stopping can really boost our morale and self-esteem, which may help keep depression away. What is most important is to realize that depression won’t prevent your attempt to stop if you follow the right path to quitting.

 “To no one’s great surprise, there are some rather strong connections between smoking cigarettes and depression.”

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Introduction:

The birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression.

Many new moms experience the baby blues — a mild, short-lived depression — for a few days or weeks after childbirth. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 10 percent of new moms experience postpartum depression — a more severe form of depression that can develop within the first six months after giving birth. For women with postpartum depression, feelings such as sadness, anxiety and restlessness can be so strong that they interfere with daily tasks. Rarely, a more extreme form of depression known as postpartum psychosis can develop.

Experiencing depression after childbirth isn’t a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it’s simply part of giving birth. If you’re depressed, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms — and enjoy your baby.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of depression after childbirth vary depending on the form of depression. Signs and symptoms of the baby blues — which last only a few days or weeks may include:

• Anxiety
• Sadness
• Irritability
• Crying
• Headaches
• Exhaustion
• A sense of inadequacy

Postpartum depression may appear to be the baby blues at first — but the signs and symptoms are more intense and longer lasting, eventually interfering with your ability to function. In addition to the signs and symptoms listed above, you may experience:

• Constant fatigue
• Lack of joy in life
• A sense of emotional numbness or failure
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Lack of concern for yourself or your baby
• Excessive concern for your baby
• Less interest in sex
• Severe mood swings
• Impaired thinking or concentration
• Insomnia

With postpartum psychosis — a rare condition that develops within the first six weeks after delivery — the signs and symptoms are even more severe. In addition to the signs and symptoms listed above, you may experience:

• Fear of harming yourself or your baby
• Confusion and disorientation
• Hallucinations and delusions
• Paranoia

Causes:

There’s no single cause for depression after childbirth. Physical, emotional and lifestyle factors may all play a role.

• Physical changes. After childbirth, a dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone may trigger depression. The hormones produced by your thyroid gland also may drop sharply — which can leave you feeling tired, sluggish and depressed.
• Changes in your blood volume, blood pressure, immune system and metabolism can lead to fatigue and mood swings.
• Emotional factors. When you’re sleep deprived and overwhelmed, you may have trouble handling even minor problems. You may be anxious about your ability to care for a newborn. You may feel less attractive or struggle with your sense of identity. You may feel that you’ve lost control over your life. Any of these factors can contribute to depression.
• Lifestyle influences. Many lifestyle factors can lead to depression, including a demanding baby or older siblings, difficulty breast-feeding, exhaustion, financial problems, and lack of support from your partner or other loved ones.
• Risk factors
• Postpartum depression can develop after the birth of any child — not just the first. In fact, postpartum depression is more common in second-time mothers.
• The risk of postpartum depression increases if
• You have a history of depression, either during pregnancy or at other times
• You had postpartum depression after a previous pregnancy
• You have a history of severe premenstrual syndrome
• You experienced stressful events during pregnancy, including illness, premature birth or a difficult delivery
• You have a difficult marriage
• The pregnancy is unplanned or unwanted

When to seek medical advice

• Counseling: It may help to talk through your concerns with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. Through counseling, you can find better ways to cope with your feelings, solve problems and set realistic goals.
• Antidepressants: Antidepressants are a proven treatment for postpartum depression. If you’re breast-feeding, it’s important to know that any medication you take will enter your breast milk. Some antidepressants can be used during breast-feeding with little risk to your baby. But several antidepressants raise concerns for the baby, and various others have not been adequately tested to fully assess the risk. Work with your doctor to weigh the potential risks and benefits as you choose the treatment that’s right for you.

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Depression, a common term for a sad or low mood or the loss of pleasure; an emotion that does not affect capacity to perform personal and vocational obligations

Workplace stress comes at a huge human and economic cost, but changing it requires a seismic shift in attitudes, writes Steve Dow.

Late shift … erratic working hours and stressful office environments can trigger depression.

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Advertisement Samantha Paige was always good at hiding her darker side. As a business manager with the Department of Defence in Canberra, she was responsible for a budget of up to $14 million and the “day-to-day happiness” and needs of 80 people.

The irony of that brief is not lost on her. “You go all day every day with a smile on your face, and then get home and fall in a heap,” she says. A telephone conversation with her mother in 2001 about Paige’s sister “always feeling sad” crystallised the problem: a family history of depression. “I always felt sad, too. I don’t remember feeling any different.”

Paige, then 25, confided her sadness in a counsellor who was regularly dispatched by her employer to make the rounds of the office to inquire about staff members’ wellbeing. He referred Paige to a psychologist for weekly counselling; cognitive behavioural therapy, which emphasises learning how to moderate behaviours and thoughts. Her employer paid for the initial sessions, and by mutual agreement Paige paid for the rest. She also took anti-depressants for 2 years.

A few weeks after beginning counselling, Paige told her closest colleagues of her condition; those who needed to know so that she could confide in them when she was having a bad day, in order to delegate or delay decision-making. It wasn’t an easy decision to disclose her illness. The colleagues were supportive, if stunned.

Organisational psychologist Peter Cotton says employees in both the public and private sectors are sometimes scared to put their hands up and say they are suffering depression, for fear they will be marginalised or lose their jobs. “A lot of senior managers are still sceptical,” he says. “They think employee stress is due to workers’ under-performance.”

Highet and Cotton, who are both trying to achieve cultural change in handling depression by educating senior executives and managers in workplaces such as the Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink as well as private companies such as Qantas, say the illness can have numerous causes: a family history of depression can sometimes predispose people to depressive illness, while bereavement and relationship breakdown, as well as stresses at work, can all be triggers.

It is often impossible to blame an individual’s depression on a single cause, however. Bad employee management is certainly a risk factor. Cotton says employees can and do accuse managers of bullying as an “industrial tool” against their employers, but he also sees workers with “genuinely serious problems because they have been exposed to dreadful management practices”.

Highet says she is concerned with bullying “embedded in the culture”, in workplaces whose managers do not tolerate perceived weakness, even though someone admitting and getting help for their depression, for instance, should be commended as courageous.

Promotional opportunities can be denied even those who are treated, have recovered and moved on. Highet recalls giving a training session on depression where one manager said: “I wouldn’t tolerate someone on anti-depressants on my team.” Highet says that, with one in five Australians suffering depression at some point in their lifetime, or 800,000 at any one time, chances are there has already been someone with depression on that manager’s team.

Spotting a depressed worker:

• Screening calls to avoid contact.
• Irritability, sometimes aggression.
• Increased alcohol and drug use.
• Avoiding social get-togethers.
• Coming to work tired
• Regularly sad
• Lack of interest or pleasure

Weight reduction:

Samantha Paige, who is now 29, says she suffered depression “because, basically, I hated myself”.

“If something went wrong, it was my fault. Now it’s a case of ’stuff happens’. Back then, it was, ‘I’m such a horrible person.”‘

Depression, as she describes it, is a “heavy feeling. There’s blackness inside. You feel really dark. Like there’s a huge weight inside of you, but at the same time, a huge hole.”

Paige thinks genetics played a large part in her depression, and doesn’t blame her work, although “certainly work stress doesn’t help, or stress of any kind”.

Last year, she separated from her partner, quit her job in Canberra and moved to Melbourne and started her own business, a training consultancy.

She’s been fairly happy since, barring a small relapse into depression earlier this year, which she attributes to failing to pay enough attention to her stress levels and working too hard. She’s feeling well now.

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