Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.
True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time.
Symptoms of depression include:
1. Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping
2. A dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss
3. Fatigue and lack of energy
4. Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt
5. Extreme difficulty concentrating
6. Agitation, restlessness, and irritability
7. Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities
8. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
9. Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
CAUSES
Depression may be brought on by:
1. Alcohol or drug abuse
2. Childhood events like abuse or neglect
3. Chronic stress
4. Death of a friend or relative
5. Disappointment at home, work, or school (in teens, this may be breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or parents divorcing)
6. Drugs such as sedatives and high blood pressure medications
7. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis
8. Nutritional deficiencies (such as a lack of folate and omega-3 fatty acids)
9. Overly negative thoughts about one's self and life, self blame, and ineffective social problem solving skills
10. Prolonged pain or having a major illness
11. Sleeping problems
12. Social isolation (common in the elderly
There some tips on how to handle a depression, some of my idea:
SELF CARE
1. Get enough sleep.
2. Follow a healthy, nutritious diet.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Avoid alcohol, marijuana, and other recreational drugs.
5. Get involved in activities that make you happy, even if you don't feel like it.
6. Spend time with family and friends.
7. Try talking to clergy or spiritual advisors who may help give meaning to painful experiences.
8. Consider prayer, meditation, tai chi, or biofeedback as ways to relax or draw on your inner strengths.
9.A dd omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, which you can get from cold-water fish like tuna, salmon, or mackerel.
Take folate (vitamin B9) in the form of a multivitamin (400 to 800 micrograms).
10. Watching movie like comedy
11. Window shoping
12. Go to salon to make over your self
13. Read the funny book story
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your doctor right away if:
1. You hear voices that are not there
2. You have frequent crying spells with little or no provocation
3. You have had feelings of depression that disrupt work, school, or family life for longer than 2 weeks
4. You have 3 or more depressive symptoms
5. You think that one of your current medications may be making you feel depressed -- DO NOT change or stop any medications without consulting your doctor
6. You believe that you should cut back on drinking, a family member or friend has asked you to cut back, you feel guilty about the amount of alcohol you drink, or you drink alcohol first thing in the morning
