Posts Tagged ‘manic depression’

What Is Depression?

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Depression is a medical condition with several symptoms that left unrecognized and untreated can disrupt an individual’s life and maybe even threaten it. Depression has gotten public awareness because the methods for diagnosing depression and treating it have improved.

Diagnosis as well as treating of depression has to be done by a professional however there tend to be particular symptoms that if suffered more than 2 weeks or longer that may let you recognize if you or a family member should find professional screening but this isn’t simply a blue period or down period that can be normal with anybody

• Markedly changed sleep patterns - too much sleep or very little to no sleep
• Restlessness or chronic fatigue, becoming easily irritated
• Lingering physical signs and symptoms that do not respond to treatment
• Lack of ability to come to decisions or concentration
• Being powerless or despairing
• Great loss of interest in regular pursuits and hobbies, nothing seems engaging
• Suicidal thoughts - A professional should be contacted promptly

What makes recognition of the symptoms most typically associated with depressive disorders challenging is the fact that it manifests in a different way in different individuals. Appearing unhappy or blue is a regular part of daily life because we all recognize you can’t always be happy all the time nor unhappy all the time.

Yet, with depressive disorders, the feeling does not lift and the despondent individual cannot simply ‘cheer up’ and it does not only last just a day. Major depression is able to not merely affect how a person thinks about themselves but his or her job and their relationships with loved ones.

Seasonal depressive disorder is cyclic and is much more common in people in northern climates. Although signs and symptoms might end up being precisely the same as major depression, the signs and symptoms disappear as the seasons change. Light therapy has been helpful for people who’ve been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder or seasonal depression.

Certain persons could have a single episode of major depressive disorder that lasts for a couple of months and then disappears with proper treatment. Other people may have major depression that reoccurs. Either way, major depression has the capacity to not merely hinder enjoyment but also normal daily functioning. In the matter of major depressive disorder, ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear.

Males normally may be less likely to make a complaint about feeling sad or hopeless and instead grow to be irritable rather than lethargic. Elderly people tend to be susceptible to big life changes, losing friends, loved ones. They may often suffer from major depressive disorder, and are at a greater risk of committing suicide as compared to any other group.

Though females are diagnosed with major depression two times as frequently as males are, females could present the entire array of symptoms. There isn’t a single sign of depression however rather if you suffer signs and symptoms longer than fourteen days testing is essential. Depressive disorder is incredibly responsive to treatment.

These types of treatment of depression have improved over the last several years and pharmacological treatment can be obtained which may successfully treat a large number of individuals with major depression. What’s the most effective treatment or medication should be discussed between the patient and the doctor but life can and really does improve if the signs and symptoms of depressive disorders are recognized and professional testing is sought.

What Is Depression?

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Depression is a medical condition with several symptoms that left unrecognized and untreated can disrupt an individual’s life and maybe even threaten it. Depression has gotten public awareness because the methods for diagnosing depression and treating it have improved.

Diagnosis as well as treating of depression has to be done by a professional however there tend to be particular symptoms that if suffered more than 2 weeks or longer that may let you recognize if you or a family member should find professional screening but this isn’t simply a blue period or down period that can be normal with anybody

• Markedly changed sleep patterns - too much sleep or very little to no sleep
• Restlessness or chronic fatigue, becoming easily irritated
• Lingering physical signs and symptoms that do not respond to treatment
• Lack of ability to come to decisions or concentration
• Being powerless or despairing
• Great loss of interest in regular pursuits and hobbies, nothing seems engaging
• Suicidal thoughts - A professional should be contacted promptly

What makes recognition of the symptoms most typically associated with depressive disorders challenging is the fact that it manifests in a different way in different individuals. Appearing unhappy or blue is a regular part of daily life because we all recognize you can’t always be happy all the time nor unhappy all the time.

Yet, with depressive disorders, the feeling does not lift and the despondent individual cannot simply ‘cheer up’ and it does not only last just a day. Major depression is able to not merely affect how a person thinks about themselves but his or her job and their relationships with loved ones.

Seasonal depressive disorder is cyclic and is much more common in people in northern climates. Although signs and symptoms might end up being precisely the same as major depression, the signs and symptoms disappear as the seasons change. Light therapy has been helpful for people who’ve been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder or seasonal depression.

Certain persons could have a single episode of major depressive disorder that lasts for a couple of months and then disappears with proper treatment. Other people may have major depression that reoccurs. Either way, major depression has the capacity to not merely hinder enjoyment but also normal daily functioning. In the matter of major depressive disorder, ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear.

Males normally may be less likely to make a complaint about feeling sad or hopeless and instead grow to be irritable rather than lethargic. Elderly people tend to be susceptible to big life changes, losing friends, loved ones. They may often suffer from major depressive disorder, and are at a greater risk of committing suicide as compared to any other group.

Though females are diagnosed with major depression two times as frequently as males are, females could present the entire array of symptoms. There isn’t a single sign of depression however rather if you suffer signs and symptoms longer than fourteen days testing is essential. Depressive disorder is incredibly responsive to treatment.

These types of treatment of depression have improved over the last several years and pharmacological treatment can be obtained which may successfully treat a large number of individuals with major depression. What’s the most effective treatment or medication should be discussed between the patient and the doctor but life can and really does improve if the signs and symptoms of depressive disorders are recognized and professional testing is sought.

Introducing Depression Statistics

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Someone once said that the statistics of depression are miserable, and in fact, the statistics showing how many American people are depressed are staggering. For example, the National Institute of Mental Health, called the NIMH, said that depression affects about 17 million adults every year in America.

Unfortunately that’s much more than coronary heart disease, AIDS and even more than cancer! Further they report that in their estimate, 15 percent of chronic depression cases will end in suicide. Women are said to be twice as likely as men to be chronically depressed. Also 90% of suicides had a diagnosable mental illness and it was usually a depressive disorder.

Other depression statistics point out that approximately 80-90% of all cases can be effectively and successfully treated. This information is borne by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association has stated that an estimated $ 43 billion per year are lost because of depression. This is mainly attributed to medical expenses, lost productivity and certainly absenteeism from the work force. Furthermore, 80-90% of people with serious mental illness are jobless.

You may want to know what is depression. There are three different types of depression, bipolar or manic depression, major depression and finally dysthymia. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has stated that major depression may affect as many as 15% of Americans at some point during their lives.

Major depression is said to come in the episodes, while dysthymia doesn’t come in the episodes at all, but rather is persistent through many years. According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Depression Statistics indicate nearly 10 million American people who may have dysthymia every year.

Manic-depression or Bipolar is much less common, as it’s reported in the statistics of depression that only about 6 million or 3% of American people are affected by this type of depression in a given year.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported that having a serious medical illness will also cause depression. For instance of those who have had a heart attack, they will have a 40% chance of feeling depressed.

Truly frightening on the topic of Depression Statistics are the great depression facts that roughly 80% of people who are currently experiencing depression symptoms are not receiving treatment. Also 4% of adolescents will develop serious depression and truly unfortunate is the fact that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 24 years old. It is also expected that depression will become the world’s 2nd most universal health problem by the year 2020.

Introducing Great Depression

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The Great Depression was a period of economic and social devastation that started in the US with the Wall Street stock exchange collapse on October 29th, 1929, the day that has come to be well-known as Black Tuesday.

The great depression facts, record that these poorest and hardest of times which were to follow, would last for many years, until the beginning of the Second World War, at which time many nations began pouring huge sums of money into the new war driven economy, eventually bringing the unprecedented worldwide slump to a end.

What mustn’t be forgotten of course is that in those days, there was no social support. If you were penniless and hungry, there was nowhere or no-one to turn to. It was under such circumstances as these that one of the most shocking depression statistics emerged that 50% of all kids didn’t have enough food, clothing, shelter or medical care.

For most people, too poor to put food on the table, the only recourse was the soup kitchen, where people queued all day long for a bowl on meager, thin, watery soup. People were reduced to scavenging amongst the rubbish bins for something, anything to eat.

Industry ground to a standstill, almost. Since people did not have money, they could not afford to purchase anything. In the absence of income from sales, companies have been forced to lay off workers and, finally, go into liquidation.

It’s African-Americans that were always first to lose their livelihoods. For those who have had the chance to stay in work, wages have been dreadfully low. Depression pictures reveal that the average wage for a farm worker was $216 per year, whilst a doctor earned $3822.29.

The president at the beginning of the great depression was Herbert Hoover and as it can now be imagined, he was not a popular man, being considered by many for doing too little and not managing to avert the crisis.

Hoover’s name was taken and used to nickname several consequences of the time like the settlements or shanty towns that sprang up everywhere being called “Hoovervilles”; or the soup “cocktail” that starving people would make when they went into a restaurant, diverted the waitresses attention, made a soup from whatever was left on the table tops (water, tomato sauce, salt, pepper) and drink it while her attention was still diverted, a concoction that came to be known as “Hoover Soup”. A pitiful but true great depression fact.

A Young Gentleman Needs Counseling For His Acute Depression, Relationship Problems, and For His Chemical Dependency

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Approximately a year ago I had lunch with a forty-three-year-old male named Alexander who suffers from severe depression, has relationship difficulties, and who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. As stated by Alexander, it is his alcohol and drug dependency and his severe depression that had the most to do with his recurring relationship difficulties.

I remember hearing that a history of mental health issues, substance abuse, and abusive and unhealthy drinking many times occur in the same family. In addiction, I have read that in such situations, a person needs to get counseling for both medical conditions and that dependency and mental health difficulties frequently take place in the same individual.

As affirmed by Alexander, he is so crushed by his relationship problems and by both of his medical conditions that he essentially has no drive to achieve much of anything. What is especially sad about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander finished four semesters of grad school in business management.

Alexander’s situation makes me wonder if he is an illustration of a person who can look in the mirror and see his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something meaningful about these issues or if he is a person who has to hit the bottom of the barrel before he gets alcohol and drug addiction counseling that leads to lasting recovery.

The Need For a Rehabilitation Program He Can Believe In and a Psychologist He Can Trust

If it would be helpful I would presume that I could recommend quite a few websites and blogs that could possibly help him find info about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, substance abuse information, and relationship difficulties. In my honest opinion, nonetheless, Alexander needs to find a rehabilitation regimen he can believe in and follow over the long haul and locate a psychologist he can trust.

I could be wrong but it seems logical to conclude that Alexander probably needs to look honestly at his life regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and comprehend the fact that he cannot use drugs or drink at all if he wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the path to lasting sobriety.

It may be asked how counseling would help his drug and alcohol addiction. For starters, there are a number of recently developed doctor-prescribed meds that can help Alexander avoid a drug and an alcohol drug relapse, help him through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, and help him through his withdrawal symptoms.

Second, Alexander would learn to understand the fact that there is absolutely nothing beneficial about drug abuse and negative drinking and that messing around with one or both conditions is the map to poor work and school performance, shattered relationships, legal problems, financial difficulties, a premature death, and deteriorating health.

Third, therapy for his depression and for his relationship difficulties might help him deal with these medical issues more successfully and help create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.

The Importance of Support Groups Like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are realistically a lot of family members, friends, and other people who would want to help Alexander with his chemical dependency and his excessive and careless drinking. He possibly would experience greater tolerance from a support group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, however, rather than getting advice from people who do not drink or who have never abused drugs.

When People Do Things They Love and About Which They Are Fervent

There’s a school of thought in psychology that states that people who do things they love and something about which they are dedicated arrive at an amazing place in life. In other words, when people do what they enjoy, they hardly ever experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is fulfilling, furthermore, they become more whole and experience more contentment and joy in life and in their relationships.

When this is thought about for a few moments it becomes obvious that this uplifting mentality is diametrically opposed to a life that is grounded in alcohol and drug addiction because such a lifestyle removes the pleasure and delight that life has to offer.

Because Alexander lacks the willpower to accomplish much of anything in his life, it is plain to see that he urgently needs some hope for a more fulfilling life. And the sad thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Alexander if he could only get to the place in life to get the therapy he needs for his extreme depression and drug dependence and alcohol addiction and stick with his treatment protocol.

Better Relationships, Beneficial Change, Self Esteem, and a Wonderful Life Are a Reality

Alexander is simply too young to be defeated in life. He doesn’t realize this at this time in his life but if he can learn how to remove himself from drugs and alcohol through drug and alcohol rehab and get the counseling he needs for his acute depression, he can reorient his life and start living with direction, self-respect, and passion.

Better relationships, a meaningful life, self esteem, and positive change are certainly a reality for Alexander if only he could become motivated to seek the medical rehabilitation he needs, follow through with his treatment protocol, live his life in an addiction-free and healthy way, and learn how to acquire a more positive attitude about life.

A Young Woman Requires Counseling for Her Bipolar Condition and For Her Drug Addiction and Alcohol Dependency

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Nearly three weeks ago I read about a twenty-nine-year-old lady named Rachael who is bipolar and who is also dependent on drugs and alcohol. I remember hearing that under such circumstances, a person needs to get counseling for both medical situations and that mental health difficulties and dependency commonly take place in the same individual. Not only this, but I recollect reading that a history of harmful drinking, drug abuse, and/or mental health concerns often happen in the same family.

Obviously, Rachael is so overwhelmed by both of her medical conditions that she in effect has little or no ambition to accomplish much of anything. What is especially sad about this is that earlier in her life, Rachael completed three years of college. Rachael’s condition makes me wonder if she is an example of a person who has to hit the very bottom before he or she gets alcohol and drug addiction rehab that leads to long lasting recovery.

The Need For a Psychologist She Trusts and a Counseling Protocol She Can Believe In

If I were in communication with Rachael I could recommend quite a lot of websites that could possibly help her learn more about addiction and alcoholic behavior, significant substance abuse information, facts about alcoholism and drugs, and information about addiction symptoms and alcoholism warning signs. From where I stand, however, Rachael needs to locate a healthcare practitioner she trusts and a rehabilitation regimen she can believe in and follow through over the long haul. I could be in the wrong but it seems logical to conclude that Rachael probably needs to recognize the fact that she cannot drink in moderation or use drugs if she wants to get sober, remain sober, and start on the path to long-lasting recovery.

I am mindful that there are some recently produced doctor-prescribed meds that can help Rachael avoid an alcohol or a drug relapse, help her through the drug and alcohol detoxification process, and help her through her withdrawal symptoms. Obviously it would be in Rachael’s best interests if she became conversant with these medications.

It is clear that Rachael needs to acknowledge the fact that there is utterly nothing beneficial about hazardous and careless drinking and drug abuse and that engaging in one or both conditions is the map to legal problems, a premature death, financial difficulties, deteriorating health, poor work and school performance, and shattered relationships.

The Significance of Recovery Groups Such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are reasonably quite a few persons such as friends, other people, and family members who would love to help Rachael but she more likely than not would experience greater acceptance from a recovery group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous rather than listening to individuals who rarely drink or who have never abused drugs.

When Individuals Accomplish Things They Love and About Which They Are Dedicated

There’s a philosophical viewpoint that emphasizes that people who accomplish things they love and something about which they are passionate attain an amazing place in life. Stated more precisely, when people do what they love, they hardly ever experience boredom or an uneventful life. If they involve themselves in something that is satisfying, what is more, they become more fulfilled and experience more gratification and delight in life.

To me, this sounds diametrically opposed to a life that is centered in alcohol and drug dependency because such a lifestyle removes the gratification and delight that life has to offer.

Since Rachael lacks the willpower to achieve much of anything in her life, it is apparent that she urgently needs a little hope for a better life. And the sad thing is that hope is almost everywhere around Rachael if she could only get to the point in life to get the treatment she needs for her bipolar illness and chemical dependency and continue with her treatment routine.

A Wonderful Life, Self Esteem, and Productive Change Are Possibilities

Rachael is simply too young to be overwhelmed in life. She doesn’t comprehend this at this time in her life but if she can learn how to abstain from drugs and alcohol through drug and alcohol therapy and get the treatment she needs for her bipolar issue, she can redirect her life and start living with direction, self-respect, and passion.

A meaningful life, self respect, and positive change are certainly a reality for Rachael if only she could get motivated to seek the professional rehabilitation she requires, follow through with her treatment protocol, live her life in a healthy and sober way, and foster a more positive attitude about life.