Dealing With Depression

Depression Debunked

The majority of people personally know someone who is/has struggled with depression. Did you know that depression has been cited as the most widespread mental disorder? It is much more common in women than men and also affects more teenagers than adults – so, chances are that at some point in your life you will know someone who has battled depression. However, just because we know someone who has depression doesn’t mean that we really understand what it is, what causes it and how it is treated.

What are the causes of depression? 

There are two different types of depression: clinical and circumstantial. Below is an explanation of both types of depression to help you see the differences between the two and how the “causes” are different between the two, as well.

·         Clinical Depression – When a person is diagnosed with clinical depression, there doesn’t seem to be any apparent reason for the person to be depressed. In fact, in many of these cases, it’s hard for anyone on the outside looking in to see why the person is depressed because their life appears to be really good. Often times, the depressed person doesn’t even understand why (s)he is depressed, which can make the situation even more difficult.

·         Circumstantial Depression – This type of depression is the easiest to diagnose because the start of the depression can usually be pinpointed to a specific time or event. For instance, going through a difficult divorce, losing a job, losing a close friend or family member and many other life events can lead to circumstantial depression.  The treatment options vary depending on which type of depression the patient has, as well as, the patient’s individual needs.

Common Myths

As with all things, there are a lot of misunderstandings, or myths, surrounding depression. Below are a few of the most common.

·         Depression is someone just feeling sorry for himself. Many people who have never suffered from depression feel like people who claim to be depressed are just feeling sorry for themselves. However, depressed patients are not willfully feeling sorry for themselves and no matter what they do they just can’t seem to shake out of their depressed state.

·         Depression isn’t really an illness. Again, this is a common view of someone who hasn’t ever witnessed depression up close either personally or through a loved one. Studies have proven that depression accompanies a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is in reality an illness.

·         Medication doesn’t help solve anything. On the contrary, medication helps resolve the chemical imbalance in order to help the patient feel better and seek help in finding the cause of the problem.

Additional Comments – While depression is often times affected by circumstances, there are a number of other things that can play a role in it such as personality, genetics, biology and psychology. As previously mentioned, women generally show signs of depression before men do. However, men suffering from depression are more likely to successfully commit suicide than women are. It is reported that more women attempt suicide than men do though.

What are the Signs of Depression?

So, you’ve heard a lot about depression lately, but don’t know if what you are feeling is depression or just stress. While only a doctor can make a diagnosis on depression, there are several well-known signs and symptoms that come along with depression. If you have one of more of the follow symptoms on a regular basis then you may suffer from depression.

1.    Depressing Mornings – Many people who suffer from depression wake up in the mornings feeling especially down or sad. While depression can take flight at any time of the day, for depressed people, mornings are particularly bad and they often find themselves unmotivated and wanting to stay in bed all day.

2.    Easily Angered and/or Irritated – Another sign of depression is becoming easily angered and/or irritated. While everyone gets irritated and angry from time to time, those with depression can get irritated or angry very quickly and often can’t control it.

3.    Being Overwhelmed – Yes, everyone gets overwhelmed every now and then but if you are constantly feeling like things are just too much and you’ll never be able to do it all, then you may have depression.

4.    Sense of Inadequacy – If you are depressed you may find yourself trying to compare yourself to others and feeling inadequate most of the time. This can cause you to feel even more depressed and if it happens on a continual and constant basis, then it’s a good sign you have depression.

5.    Sleeping Disorder – It doesn’t matter if you are sleeping too much or not enough, depression can cause both of these sleep disorders so you should get it checked out.

6.    Loss of Interest – If you have experienced a sudden loss of interest in activities that you once found enjoyable, then you may have depression.

7.    Sudden Changes in Weight – Another sign of depression is a sudden change of weight. You may gain a lot of weight or you may lose a lot of weight, it doesn’t matter. If you gain or lose more than 5% of your total weight in less than a month, you need to be checked for depression.

8.    Inability to Concentrate or Make Decisions – Depression has a unique way of affecting your outlook on life in every aspect. The small decisions that you used to make easily now see much larger and you constantly find yourself struggling to decide what to do. You also find it increasingly difficult to concentrate or focus on things that were once easy to think about. This can lead to thoughts about suicide or death and should be taken seriously and checked out.

Depression in Kids

Many people didn’t used to believe that depression could hit children and teens like it does adults. Therefore, they chalked up the mood swings and out-of-character behaviors to normal hormonal causes. However, recently pediatricians and experts have begun diagnosing more and more children and teens with depression, proving that it really is an illness that can affect anyone…no matter how young they are.

So, what exactly causes kids to become depressed? There is no clear-cut answer to this question as depression can be caused by a number of things, just like it is with adults. However, there are some unique circumstances at various stages in life that make depression more likely.

·         Children – It is possible for genetics to play a role in childhood depression, just like it does in adults. If depression runs in the family, then it’s possible for a child to have inherited this tendency, which doesn’t take much to set it off. Two of the most common things that cause depression in children are divorce and bullying. Children are very relational and when their family dynamics change, it can cause depression to set it. Likewise, when a child is the victim of bullying at school, if can easily cause depression.

Another thing parents need to watch for is children who are very detailed oriented or lean towards perfectionism. Often times, these children can fall to a depressed state when things don’t go like they want or they don’t perform as they feel they should.

·         Teens – As many of you know, teenagers are constantly going through changes both emotionally and physically, as well as, socially. All of these things can cause them to succumb to depression. Therefore, it’s very important that parents don’t just chalk moodiness, and other symptoms that double as signs of depression, as “teenage hormones.”

Some of the causes of teenage depression include bullying, peer/social pressure and rejection from someone of the opposite sex. There are causes that may be emotional, physical or even physiological too.

Now that you know some of the causes of depression in kids, what are the signs you should watch for?

·         Children: 

o   Disruption of normal sleep habits

o   Sudden changes in appetite (can increase or decrease)

o   Loss of interest in friends, school and other social activities

o   Easily angered and/or irritated

o   Overly sensitive to rejection

If parents will monitor the amount of time children are allowed to watch television, as well as, the types of shows they are watching on television, some studies indicated the risk of depression drops. In fact, kids who watch less than six hours of TV each day are said to be less prone to depression than those who watch more than that every day. Also, pay attention if your child starts to talk about death and suicide as this can be a sign of childhood depression.

·         Teens:

o   Rapid weight gain or loss

o   Binge eating

o   Obsessive dieting and/or exercising

o   Easily angered and argumentative

o   Lack of interest in family, friends and social activities previously enjoyed

As you can see, there are some signs for teenage depression that are similar to those in children, but there are also some that are different. Just like with children, parents should stay in tune with their teens in regards to the types of movies and music they are watching and listening to. Also, parents need to pay attention when their teens talk about suicide or death, just like they would with children.

Why Depression Needs to Be Treated

Depression is not something that should be taken lightly no matter how irrelevant it may seem. Depression is an illness that can affect anyone, no matter what his or her age is. However, there are some demographics of people that tend to be more susceptible to depression than others are. For instance, teenagers are generally more likely to suffer from depression than adults are and women are generally more at risk than men are.

There are several risks, or dangers, tied to depression which is why it is so important that depression is not ignored. Below are some of the risks associated with depression to show you why it needs to be treated.

Job and Income Loss – When depression is severe enough, it can literally debilitate people. They feel a complete lack of interest in life and therefore are unmotivated and have feelings of worthlessness. This can cause them to call in sick for work or just stop coming altogether. Now, there are some people who will continue to go to work depressed, but there are some jobs that require workers to be attentive and make important decisions. Depression can hinder the decision making process as well as concentration, which can be dangerous.

In all of the circumstances described above, a person suffering from depression is at risk of losing his/her job, which means the income will stop coming in as well.

Negligence – People suffering from depression tend to not care about taking care of themselves, or anyone living in the household, any longer. For instance, they may stop cleaning the house, eating, feeding their kids or even caring for their own health. This can easily open the depressed person, or anyone under his/her care, up for illness. Sometimes these illnesses can be serious, but because of the lack of interest caused by the depression, the illnesses may go untreated.

Suicide – Suicide is the major risk associated with depression and one that is happening more and more frequently among people suffering from the disorder. Those suffering from depression can easily convince themselves that they are worthless, no one cares about them and that it would be better for everyone if they were out of the picture. These are the typical warning signs displayed by someone with depression who is suicidal:

·         Constant talking about death, ways to commit suicide and other related topics. A suicidal person may also do a lot of research on these subjects as well as the afterlife.

·         Giving a lot of things away, especially sentimental items.

·         Making final arrangements or “getting things in order.”

Medications – Medications can be great when they work properly, but there are some medications out there that have serious side effects. For example, some antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts even though they generally have less side effects than SSRIs do. Some of the side effects that can come from SSRIs include temporary or chronic diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, bad headaches and anxiety.

 Depression and Treatment Options

Everyone with depression experiences it on a different level. Therefore, the treatment options are unique for each patient which is why it’s important to discuss treatment for depression with a licensed healthcare professional. Below are some of the most common treatments available.

1.    Pharmaceutical Drugs – There are a number of pharmaceutical drugs available that effectively treat depression. However, you need to be very detailed about the symptoms you are experiencing with your doctor to make sure (s)he prescribes the right medication to you. This is important because each person experiences different symptoms of depression and each medication is designed to treat different symptoms.

Also, if you choose to take prescriptive medicines for your depression, keep in mind that many experts suggest to supplement it with another form of treatment for the best results. Finally, many depression drugs make patients feel a lot better and like they’re fine again, but it can be dangerous to go off your medications before talking to your doctor first.

2.    Exercise – Exercising on a regular basis has been proven to reduce the effects of depression. Why? When you exercise, your body produces a hormone that makes you feel good, which helps shake the bad feelings associated with depression. Exercising for 30 to 60 minutes a few times a week is recommended for those with depression.

3.    Psychotherapy – If you have a mild to moderate form of depression, psychotherapy may help. What a psychotherapist does is help people with depression talk things through to help them find and focus on the root of the depression so they can work their way out of it. This helps patients regain control and get out of depression’s grip.

4.    Supplements – There are several types of natural supplements that have been found to help reduce the symptoms of depression. Below is a list of some of the most common types of supplements (mineral, herbs, vitamins, etc.) for treating depression.

a.    St. John’s Wort

b.    Evening Primrose Oil

c.    Fish Oil

d.    Flax Oil

e.    Magnesium

f.     B-Complex Vitamins

g.    Valerian

5.    Changes in Diet – Finally, changing your diet to a more healthy one can actually have quite a positive effect on those with depression. The body needs certain nutrients to effectively fight depression and the foods listed below contain them. 

a.    Whole Grains and Carbohydrates – The nutrients found in whole grains and complex carbohydrates increases the production of serotonin in the brain. This is a very important chemical used to fight depression.

b.    Good Fats – Certain foods contain the good fats our bodies need to function properly. These fats increase brain function and fight off depression. You can find these fats in foods such as fish, nuts and seeds.

c.    Fresh Produce – Lastly, your body needs the nutrients and antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables in order to make you feel better and combat depression!

Depression: What You Need to Know About Alternative Treatments

Depression is a real problem that millions suffer with every day. Many of these people want to treat their depression without prescriptive medicines, therefore seeking alternative treatments. Even though these treatments are natural treatments, it doesn’t mean that they are necessarily better for you or that they are safe. Below you will find a few of the most popular alternative treatments for depression, as well as, the pros and cons associated with them.

1.    St. John’s Wort – This is an herb that is packaged in small tinctures, or capsules, and is commonly referred to as a good aid for managing mild to moderate depression.

Pros – There have been a number of well-respected studies that have shown St. John’s Wort to effectively treat depression. In fact, the drug is actively prescribed by medical professionals in Europe.

Cons – There have been a few placebo-controlled studies that have shown that St. John’s Wort doesn’t have a major effect on patients with severe depression. The problem is that many people don’t know the severity of their depression and may turn to St. John’s Wort thinking that it will help them, when in fact their depression is severe enough that they actually need something stronger.

2.    SAM-e – S-adenosylmethionine, or SAM-e, is a “drug” that our bodies make naturally, but it can be taken as a supplement as it is produced in a synthetic form now.

Pros – Many in the medical field believe that SAM-e is a very promising supplement that will aid in the function of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.

Cons  - There have been reports of side effects such as constipation and nausea associated with the supplement. Additionally, if one is taking it with another antidepressant, the body could receive too much serotonin. Finally, SAM-e is a very expensive supplement, making it difficult for many people to afford it.

3.    Omega-3s – By now, you’ve probably heard about a lot of the benefits associated with the Omega-3 fatty acids and one of these benefits is reducing depression symptoms. Omega-3s are found in foods such as salmon, caviar, flaxseed, walnuts and sardines.

Pros – Omega-3s are easily available as they can be found in foods such as those mentioned above, as well as, supplements. Omega-3s help every area of the body and some experts believe that they are actually involved in the function of every cell in the body as well. It has been proven that both clinical and manic depression can be improved with Omega-3 fatty acids.

Cons – There have not been any major concerns regarding the consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids as they are essential for our bodies to function properly. However, it can be dangerous for those suffering from depression to replace their medications with Omega-3s only or to stop a medication cold turkey and start taking Omega-3 supplements.

While there isn’t anything wrong with researching various alternative treatments for depression, it is important that you speak to your doctor before you begin treating yourself. There are many times when doctors will allow their patients to try an alternative treatment in conjunction with their medications or even go off their meds entirely to try an alternative treatment. However, it is dangerous do this without consulting with your doctor first.

 Natural Remedies for Depression

Many people who have suffered from mild to moderate depression have had success with natural treatments for their depression. There are even some cases of severe depression that has been helped with natural remedies when taken in conjunction with other medication. There are a number of natural treatments for depression. Below are some of them:

Ø  Diet – Most natural health professionals agree that changing the diet is one of the best natural remedies one can do for depression. Some of the dietary changes you may need to make include:

o   Vitamin-Packed Foods – Begin to eat healthy foods that are packed with vitamins and other nutrients to increase brain function and improve moods. Some of these foods include whole grains, fresh produce and nuts.

o   Essential Fatty Acids – Increasing the amount of essential fatty acids your body receives on a daily basis will work to improve your mood, which is important for those struggling with depression. Fish, nuts, olive oil and safflower oil are great providers of EFAs.

o   Reduce sugar and corn syrup – Corn syrup and white sugars raise blood sugar levels, as well as, crashes which further enhance depression symptoms.

o   Increase the amount of fresh produce and whole grains – Whole grains and fresh produce are jammed packed with nutrients and carbs needed to fight depression. They also don’t contain artificial colors, flavors or preservatives which also helps battle depression.

Ø  Body – Treating depression naturally does not just have to be about the foods you eat, but it can also mean treating the body physically. One great way to do this is to begin exercising on a daily basis for at least 30 to 60 minutes.

Exercise burns off negative energy while increasing the “happy” chemical released within your body, which increases moods.  In addition to routine exercise, there are some other methods for naturally treating depression through the body. They include: martial arts, dance therapy, yoga and acupressure.

Ø  Supplements – Of course, there are many natural supplements that you can take that will help your body fight depression naturally. These include B12 and B6, as well as, magnesium. These nutrients are also deficient in those suffering from depression. You may also find flax oil, primrose oil and fish oil as good natural supplements for reducing depression symptoms.

There have been a few herbal supplements that have been successful in combating depression. St. John’s Wort is one of the most popular. Others include valerian root, ginseng and chamomile. The neat thing about chamomile is that is can be easily consumed through tea.

However, before you begin supplementing your diet in hopes to fight depression naturally, you need to talk to your doctor, as well as, an herbalist to ensure you won’t be subjected to any unwanted side effects.

Foods that Fight Depression 

It has been suggested by many medical professionals and experts in the natural health field that many nutrients found in our foods have the ability to fight depression. 

However, not all foods contain these nutrients, so you have to know what foods do in order to get the depression-fighting nutrients. Listed below are some of the best foods for fighting depression.

1.    Turkey – If you’ve visited a health food store in the past, you may have noticed the supplements L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine. These two amino acids have been reported to boost moods. Why? These particular amino acids make work to create norepinephrine and serotonin, important chemicals found in our brains.

While you can purchase the supplements and take daily, experts say it is better to eat foods containing the amino acids as they are more likely going to be absorbed by your body than supplements will. The good news (since the holidays are here) is that Turkey is a great source for L-tryptophan. Additional foods containing these supplements include: pumpkin seeds, fish, chicken, beans and avocados.

2.    Beef (Lean) – Beef contains vitamins B12 and B6, which are essential for the body to regulate moodiness. However, you can’t just eat any type of beef. The cuts need to be lean and, if possible, fed on grass instead of corn. Additional sources of B12 and B6 include: tuna, eggs, prunes, bananas and garbanzo beans.

3.    Salmon – More than likely you’ve heard about Omega-3s and the benefits these “good fats” have. One of the benefits is managing depression because the fatty acids contain B12 and other nutrients that help improve mood.

4.    Clams – Another great source for B12 is clams, which as previously mentioned, keeps your moods regulated.

Additional foods with B12 include crab, oysters, dairy milk and chicken. Zinc is also found in crabs and oysters, which combats depression also.

5.    Beans – Folic acid is one of the nutrients that is necessary for pregnant women to take in order to help their unborn children. It’s also an important nutrient proven to help depression due to its effect on the body’s neurotransmitters. Lentils, garbanzos, pinto beans and black beans are some of the specific types of beans that are high in folic acid.

Additionally, beans also have magnesium in them, especially black beans, which also works to reduce depression symptoms. A few more foods that contain magnesium include: artichokes, almonds, oat bran, halibut and spinach.

6.    Greens – Although many people aren’t fond of eating greens, green vegetables as well as dark leafy greens tend to have a lot of folic acid, calcium and iron in them, which all work together to fight depression.

So, stock your refrigerator full of the following: collard greens, asparagus, spinach, turnip greens and yogurt. (Yogurt contains zinc which helps reduce anxiety compounds form) Other foods with zinc include: barley, turkey, pumpkin seeds and lentils.

7.    Nuts and Seeds – Nuts contain lots of the good fats and Vitamin E, which all work to ward off depression. Some of the best nuts and seeds for this are: sunflower seeds, walnuts, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds.

8.    Tomatoes – Tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C, which is vital for the body to process B12 and iron, but they also contain Vitamin E and powerful antioxidants too.

9.    Whole Grains – When one is depressed, he may find himself craving foods high in carbohydrates. It’s important that the carbohydrates consumed aren’t from sugary foods, but from whole grains instead.

These carbs have great depression-fighting powers. The types of whole grains that should be consumed include: millet, brown rice, whole wheat and quinoa.

How to Live with Depression

Whether you or a close friend or family member is suffering from depression, it is a difficult thing to deal with on a daily basis. For those with loved ones with depression, it can be hard to know how to act or what to do. Below are some tips for how you can live with depression when it’s plaguing someone you know.

1.    Get help for your loved one. The first thing that needs to be done is that you get your loved one in to be treated for depression. However, don’t just take your loved one to the first doctor you find, make sure you do your homework and seek out the best doctors in your area so your loved one can have the tools available to fight the depression.

2.    Get family involved. One of the ways individuals learn to cope with depression in someone they love is by getting involved in their treatment. While it isn’t necessary for the family to be there for every treatment or session, it is necessary that the family does meet at some point with the treating physician so they can all get on the same page about what’s going on with their loved one and how they can help.

Additionally, when family members meet with the treating physician, they can ask questions and get the answers they need in order to better understand depression. Most of the time, all family members need to do is learn more about depression in order to gain the understanding they need to deal with the illness.

3.    Special tips for parents with depressed teenagers. As you may know, teenagers are at a very high risk of developing depression, therefore the parents of teenagers who are depressed should find the following tips helpful:

a.    Be tough. Most of the time, depressed teenagers yell at their parents for the smallest things and often shout things like, “Leave me alone!” and “Just stop talking to me!” It’s important for parents in this situation to not take it personally. Many of these teens are pushing to see if their parents care enough to continue trying to reach them during this difficult time, even though their actions suggest otherwise.

b.    Be an encouragement. It’s natural for parents to want to do things for their kids so that they don’t have to experience failure or pain. However, it’s important that parents with depressed teens learn how to encourage them to work their way through problems so they can learn how to effectively solve problems on their own.

c.    Listen to them. Finally, don’t forget to listen (really listen) to your teenagers. Many parents schedule dinner dates or movie nights with their teens to give them the one-on-one time they need. When your teen talks to you, stop and listen to what he/she is trying to tell you.

4.    Be supportive – Finally, those suffering from depression often have a hard time maintaining their friendships. Therefore, if you have a friend or loved one struggling with depression, be supportive and nurture that relationship. You may not realize it, but this act of sincere love and friendship is one that will have a tremendous effect on the depressed person.

Can Depression Be a Symptom for Something Else?

While most people view depression as an illness, which it is, it can also be a symptom for another health issue. Below are some common health issues where depression is present as a symptom or side effect.

1.    Tumors – As you probably have already guessed, tumors have the ability to cause a number of physiological and psychological effects over a person and depression is one of them, but it’s not necessarily from learning about a cancerous tumor. According to a recent study that used laboratory rats, a tumor can create chemicals within the body that induce depression. 

Additionally, tumors can actually decrease, or sometimes stop, the production of corticosterone, which is a stress hormone that works to decrease some of the side effects of other depression-causing substances. The study has indicated that cancerous tumors have the ability to trigger depression, which means that depression acts as a symptom of cancer.

2.    Thyroid Problems – There are a number of people who have an under-active thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, also suffer from depression. This is because depression can be caused by the disorder.

Weight gain, fatigue, menstrual irregularities and weakness are all symptoms that both hypothyroidism and depression share.  Depression is actually listed as one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but if you aren’t having any other problems, your doctor may not consider your thyroid and give you antidepressants instead.

Therefore, if your depression is in conjunction with any of the following symptoms, you should bring it to your doctor’s attention:

·         Sore Throat

·         Dry or Flaky Skin

·         Difficulty Talking/Hoarseness

·         Sensitive to Cold Temperatures

·         Joint Pain

·         Thinning Hair

3.    Pregnancy – Believe it or not, once you conceive your body immediately begins preparing for the new baby – even before you know you’re pregnant. This means you have a lot of hormonal changes going on before your first missed cycle. As a result, depression may present its ugly head as an early symptom of pregnancy. 

If you begin to feel depressed and there is a chance that you could be pregnant, you need to talk to your doctor about it because there antidepressants can cause pregnancy problems and even birth defects.

4.    Stress – Depression is also a symptom of being over-stressed. Most of us have learned how to deal with stress on a daily basis, but sometimes when stress overwhelms us it can lead to depression. Below are some signs that depression is a symptom of too much stress:

·         Easily Irritated

·         Feeling Guilty and/or Regretful

·         Insomnia

·         Frequent Nightmares

·         Withdrawal and Isolation

·         Overwhelmed