Depression Help

Depression Help - Chemical Depression

You’re feeling kind of down. You’re not exactly certain why you don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning and after all, that’s a fairly common feeling isn’t it? The desire to ignore the alarm clock when it goes off and pull the covers over your head and sleep the day away is something everyone experiences at some point in their life. It doesn’t mean you’re depressed or that there’s something wrong in your head, does it?

If the feeling of sadness, inability to engage in your usual activities, desire to sleep more than usual or not sleep at all, loss of appetite or increased desire to eat and these symptoms last more than two weeks, then yes—you may be suffering a major depressive episode.

Depression can be triggered by many things; by situations, by hormonal imbalances and yes depression can also be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The exact chemical imbalances and their relationship to depression are not fully understood, but great strides have been made in the past few years.

People who are suffering from anxiety and depression all seem to have the same chemical imbalances in common. These include the following :

• Low levels of some neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepineprhine, GABA and acetylcholine.
• An increase of toxic neurochemicals like homosysteine.
• Low levels of serum magnesium, zinc or potassium.
• Some have extremely low levels of essential vitamins like B6, B9, B12 and vitamin C.
• Deficiency of some key cofactors such as amino acids that aid in transporting neurotransmitter precursors into the blood-brain barrier.
• Stress hormone levels (cortisol) are off the charts.

Despite extensive clinical research, little is known of the relationship between chemical imbalances in the brain and major depressive episodes. We simply do not know why or how it occurs. Most medical professionals will tell you that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain but they cannot give you a definitive explanation beyond that simple fact. Most doctors prescribe SSRI’s of MAOI’s which are similar in that they are chemical balancers that treat the chemical imbalance in the brain.

Depression, whether caused by situations in life or by a chemical imbalance in the brain, are deeply disturbing episodes that can have a debilitating effect on a person. Always seek the help of a professional if you feel down and the feeling persist for longer than two weeks.
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Risk Factors for Depression

A risk factor is something that makes the probability of something happening more likely. It doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen—simply that it could. The more risk factors you have, the increased risk you run of developing a condition or disease.
Depression can be triggered by various means, physical, psychological or environmental and every person is different.

If depression or mental illness runs in your family, then you may be predisposed to developing depression yourself. A child with parents who suffer from depression is more likely to develop depression, especially as a teenager when triggers for depression are more common.
People who suffer from chronic pain or debilitating physical conditions are at a higher risk for developing depression than those in good health. Constant unrelenting pain and the prescription drugs that are used to treat these conditions can trigger major depressive episodes.
Physical changes in your body can also result in change in mental health. Patients who have suffered stroke, HIV/AIDS, heart attacks, cancer, Parkinson’s disease or other major physical changes are at risk for developing depression.

Another contributing factor for depression is experiencing a major life change. Moving, selling or buying a house, job loss or gain, divorce or new marriage. Stressful situations at work, the loss of a spouse, loved one or beloved pet are all difficult situations.

If you’ve already had a major bout of depression then your risk of a reoccurrence is greatly increased.
People who have little or no social contact or support often become depressed. Young mothers at home with small children sometimes feel isolated and say that they feel down. Getting together with other mothers for play groups can relieve their feelings of aloneness and help with their depression. Certain psychological factors, like low self-esteem and a pessimistic view of the world can make a person more prone towards developing depression than those with high self-esteem and an optimistic view of things.

Low socio-economic status can also put you at a higher risk for developing depression, but the reasons vary. Whether it’s due to financial stress, perceived lower social status, cultural issues or simply every day stress, depression is more common in this group.

Women are more likely to suffer from depression than their male counterparts—however whether that’s due to the fact that most men do not seek help or even admit that they are having problems or because women experience depression more than men—is not entirely clear.

Being over the age of 65 increases your chances of depression, due to failing health, feelings of isolation, loss of mobility, chronic pain or bereavement and the elderly are less likely to admit to needing help for this issue.

If you’re having problems sleeping and your insomnia becomes chronic you are at a very high risk for developing major depression. Restful sleep is essential for maintaining optimal health and if you’re not able to sleep you should seek help so the problem does not worsen.
There are many risk factors for depression, but thankfully this mental health issue is treatable and your doctor can help you decide if medication or counseling is in your best interests. Read more...

Depression in Women

Your sex is a factor in determining whether or not you’re more at risk of developing depression.
Women are twice as likely as their male counterparts to suffer from this form of mental illness, whether it’s because they actually do or because men feel uncomfortable asking for help and saying they feel vulnerable is something that the medical profession is still attempting to determine.

The reason that women’s rate of depression may be twice as high as men’s is due in part to hormonal issues. Women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to varying degrees and those who suffer severe mood swings, painful ovulation, bloating, water weight gain, and agonizing menses are at a higher risk of becoming depressed than women who do not have PMS. Men, of course, do not suffer from these issues.

After a woman gives birth, her hormones are all out of whack. It’s common for some women to experience baby blues after becoming a new mother, but some women fall into a deep and increasingly dark mood from which they cannot escape. This is called post-partum depression and can occur anytime from immediately after giving birth to six months into motherhood. A woman experiencing post-partum depression may not want to hold her child or feel as though she has bonded with her infant in any way. She feels guilty about this lack of emotion on her part, which only leads her further down into despair. A woman who is having these feelings should seek immediate medical help.

Another risk factor for women is miscarriage. Although irrational, a woman may feel to blame somehow for the loss of her baby and thus her risk for emotional disorders is greatly increased. Young mothers who stay at home with small children often claim they feel isolated and alone. This loss of a social network or perceived social status can also contribute to depressive episodes. Read more...