It has been noted that 1 in 4 women will suffer from depression while 1 in 10 men will suffer from depression (this statistic is not absolutely correct because more women are apt to see their doctor for depression than men do.) Depression strikes all races, rich and poor. Many report that depression is a significant negative factor in their lives and in our society.
Depression seems to be one of those common maladies that have grown resistant to correction, even in the face of significant attempts to overcome it. Many people seek help year after year and yet continue to face serious bouts of depression.
SOURCE: SOME CAUSES
LIFE EVENTS
Depression can be a normal reaction to the problems and heartaches of life. It is the normal feeling a person experiences following the loss of a loved one. It also occurs normally following other losses such as the loss of good health when sickness strikes, the loss of peace after a car accident, or the loss of a job along with the financial and social losses associated with that. The difficulties in life are many and it is normal to feel sadness when considering loss.
PHYSICAL
Often times our physical bodies malfunction, that is, they fail to function properly in some way. This may be due to an accident in which a person is physically hurt and the body needs repair. It may be life events have been such that the body has been overcome with the stress it is facing and takes a “time out” to mend itself. Very often we just don’t know. It is quite common to hear the phrase “due to unknown causes” even among medical professionals.
Researchers have been unable to specifically identify the root cause of depression. Experts in various fields of study may hold to beliefs that pertain to their field of study. Biologists might suggest that it is caused by chemical or hormonal imbalances in the body. Environmentalists might claim that it is a direct result of our ingesting all the toxins that are in our food and drink from our environment. Neurologists may point to a problem of the circuitry in the brain. Psychiatrists may infer that wrong beliefs and wrong thinking play an important part.
MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE
In Psychiatry depression is a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal, sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. It is usually experienced as negative emotions or feelings of sadness, gloom, and dejection that a person may feel intermittently or on a regular basis.
Although there is no blood test to diagnose depression, the American Psychiatric Association has developed a set of guidelines called the DSM-IV®, that health care professionals use to diagnose a major depressive disorder.
If in doubt or if you have not been professionally diagnosed I recommend that you seek medical direction prior to reading this book. Self-diagnosis and therapeutic remedies adopted without medical supervision can sometimes prove detrimental to your health.
According to the DSM-IV, a major depressive disorder (or “depression”) is diagnosed when five or more of the following symptoms are present for most of the day, or nearly every day for at least 2 weeks:
• Constant sadness • Irritability • Hopelessness
• Fatigue or low energy • Trouble sleeping
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feeling guilty for no reason
• Significant weight change
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Significant weight change
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Difficulty concentrating
Be sure to tell your health care professional if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms as described by the DSM-IV. Also, consult your health care professional if your symptoms are affecting your ability to function at home, at work, or with family, friends, or colleagues.
Call a health care professional right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms
• Thoughts of suicide or dying
• Attempts to commit suicide
• New or worse depression
• New or worse anxiety
• Feeling very agitated or restless
• Panic attacks
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• New or worse irritability
• Acting aggressive, being angry or violent
• Acting on dangerous impulses
• Extreme increase in activity and talking (Mania)
• Other unusual changes in behavior.
SYMPTOMS
On a more personal level, people often report their symptoms as follows:
Physically: They have trouble sleeping, lose interest in sex, loss of appetite, perhaps weight loss (some gain weight), and a general lack of energy.
Emotionally, people may experience hopelessness, a gloomy outlook, “the blues,” fear, guilt, irritability, crying, and sad feelings.
Mental thought patterns decline and corresponding difficulties occur such as lack of concentration, poor memory and decision-making abilities. The might be increased self-criticism, pessimism and even thoughts of suicide or death.
Activities: Many people have difficulty performing tasks, are disorganized, lazy, develop poor work habits, leave jobs unfinished, and avoid difficult work.
Socially it is quite common to withdraw from relationships and normal social contact. Many let their personal appearance deteriorate and withdraw from usual activities.
Chemically: some people have adverse emotional reactions to toxins that they encounter. Alcohol is a well-known depressant. Different people might experience a negative reaction to medications. Women may experience natural depression during the monthly cycle or after childbirth.
In sum, we may not know the exact cause but that does not mean that we need to live with it. We can do a lot of things to reduce and even eradicate the symptoms. So what are the options?
Key 1: Work with your Physician to develop a supportive pharmaceutical approach that suits your needs and supports your efforts to beat depression once and for all.
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE
I recommend that you visit your medical practitioner to benefit from the assistance that pharmaceuticals can provide, at least in the initial phases of your journey through to overcoming depression. Sometimes a prescription can provide quick relief and allow you to move forward with your life. You may find that the prescription doses getting smaller and smaller as you proceed with your efforts. Work closely with your physician for the approach that works best for you. There is no shame to taking medications if your body needs them.
Natural vitamins may also work well for you.
There are also other measures you might explore. You might attend self-help groups or work with a psychoanalyst. Often times, ‘talking therapies’, without or without chemical support, can assist you in working through the problem.
The purpose of this book is to explore a wide variety of solutions so that you can beat this thing once and for all. You may pick and chose methods that work for you. Implementing one primary methodology or finding a variety of remedies that work in unison to defeat this enemy is the