Are You Suffering from Manic Depression?
Many people are confused about the many terms that are used when it comes to the subject of depression. They often assume that there is just one type of depression and don’t realize that not only are there different types of depression but it can affect people in different ways and various degrees.
The one which is often confused is manic depression. It shows various types of symptoms and to various degrees. It is not an extreme type of depression as we might think.
When speaking of depression the word bipolar disorder often comes into use several times. Both of them share the same conditions. Manic depression takes many forms and affects people differently. Bipolar disorder is two extremes in emotions and feelings.
A sufferer with manic depression does get feelings of mania which is very lively. This is not the regular energy we get after a good night’s sleep or when we are very happy. This is completely different and also dangerous.
A patient suffering from manic depression often talks non stop on unnecessary topics. They even wake up their children in the middle of the night to play games. Due to their sudden changing mood, they do things like cleaning the cupboards or painting the room.
A patient suffering from extreme manic depression ends up doing very ridiculous and dangerous things. They do crawl to the roof top or drive at high speeds; they also burst their anger on their family and children.
The depressive state is the major cause which affects them. They lie on bed for days. They even neglect their responsibilities and own personal care or hygiene.
This manic depression does take the person even to the extreme of suicide attempts for they have no knowledge on how to get rid of the disease. The patients even believe that they have worn out themselves during their manic state.
The patient during manic state can’t control their mood swings so they are out of balance. This can not be ignored. They need to consult a doctor and take immediate treatment. It is also possible to find a depression cure online that may be much more effective than consulting a doctor but it’s your choice to make.
It is very necessary to consult a doctor and treat yourself. The doctor will provide you with the right medication and diagnosis which will help you a lot. You simply can’t treat the disease on your own.
Depression - What Causes Depression?
For an updated version of causes for depression and more info about cures for depression visit Treat My Depression
Let there be no doubt that depression is a serious mental illness that requires months and sometimes years of treatment on the path to a cure. Millions of Americans across the United States are affected by depression each and every year. Only about a third of them will seek treatment, and that makes it worse. Because depression is considered a mental affliction, many sufferers shy away from seeking help from a doctor. They would rather deal with the problem on their own than risk being stereotyped should they seek assistance. Depression doesn’t just stop, and it’s a lot more common than people think.
So, what causes depression? There are many factors to consider, so the answer isn’t simple. There are so many things factored into the cause of this disease. Lets examine some of the most notorious. Brain chemicals being out of proportion contributes strongly to depression. Why does this chemical problem in the brain happen? The causes can be genetic, mental or even come from the environment. In many cases the underlying cause is never identified. Many become depressed when they are diagnosed with a very serious medical condition. This is especially the case if the diagnosis presents the possibility of death or impairment.
Another cause of depression can be the emotional pain felt after losing a loved one. In many cases the loss can be very traumatic. Some depression is brought on after years of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. When people abuse drugs and/or alcohol the result is often depression. The mental state of a human can be very fragile depending on their environment and the life events that they have been exposed too. There can also be a genetic element to depression. People who have a strong background of depression in the family are at a high risk . Oddly, many drugs including those that regulate depression or anxiety can cause depression. Studies and tests show a casual relation between many high blood pressure medications and depression.
Depression can result from stress. Stress can derive from many different areas in our life. Some of that stress can even be related to positive events in our lives such as promotions, graduation or moving into a new house. People tend to stress when they face the unknown, like a new job or new financial obligations. Arguments with family members, disputes with business clients can both cause stress. Some people have a low threshold for stress. They’re affected by events and activities that to others seem to not be stressful. Knowing is half the battle. Seek medical help if you or a loved one suffer from depression|It’s important that those who suffer depression get medical help at once.
Depression Help
Depression is a serious infliction that affects almost 15 million Americans every year. It is a disease. Although it is defined as a mental illness this is no reflection on the personal attributes of the inflicted. Depression can affect anyone. It has no reasoning for its path. It will affect the rich as well as the poor. It takes no race into consideration. The fact that you are suffering from this disease does not mean that you are less a human being. The age-old stereotype that has been associated with a mental illness must be ignored. The suffering associated with this disease will only get worse without treatment. It will not simply go away if you ignore the symptoms. Untreated this illness will advance and will take over your life.
Depression is brought on by many factors in our life. This illness is more than just feeling sad and confused for a day or so. The affects of true depression can last for months and years. Depression at its worse can lead one to the act of suicide. In its early stages it may just make you feel remorse. It can take from you the enjoyment that you once used to receive from your favorite activities. You can experience loneliness and despair. You may feel like a failure at life and cannot see where the future is going to get any better. As time goes by it can begin to change your personality for all to see. You will feel the affects at work, at school and at home. It will upset your sleep habits and cause your anxiety to grow.
There are many causes of depression. Stress can be a major factor. Stress caused by the loss of a loved one or from a serious illness that you have been diagnosed with. It can be passed on genetically. It can be caused by abuse rather it be physical, emotional or sexual. Much of the time it can be felt because of simply trying to get by financially in everyday life. There is so much stress in the world today to compete and satisfy those in our society. This disease can become very dangerous. The good news is that there is help if you choose to seek it. Studies have shown that only a third of that 15 million Americans that are affected by depression will ask for assistance. You have to want help or you have to have someone who loves you seek the help for you.
The most common form of treatment for depression is ‘talk therapy’ and ‘anti-depressants’ such as Prozac. However, this can get to be very expensive and the anti-depressants offer as many side affects as the depression itself. There are natural medications available that contain the ingredient ‘hyperforin’ that are just as effective as the prescribed anti-depressants. There are support groups that are aimed at assisting those affected by this terrible illness. The bottom line is this there is help for depression but you have to want it or someone has to want it for you.
Understanding The Types of Depression And Its Various Medications
Depression is a complicated illness. Depression can linger and grow for months or even years before being detected . It’s known that some 15 million people in America will be impacted by some type of depression each year. Unfortunately fewer than 1/3 of these people will look for help. Often the sufferers don’t even know they’re sick. Life is full of stress on a daily basis. It has become harder and harder to deal with the every day obstacles of life. Hand to mouth survival is common. The recent economic crises has created even more pressure to obtain and hold a job. Stress can give birth to depression.
Countless types of depression exist. Many of the labels are similar in meaning. These include medical depression, clinical depression and manic depression. There is also severe depression that alludes to the final stages of the disease. Depression is brought on by many associating factors. One of these is simple biology, brain chemistry issues. Depression is also passed along in the genes. If your grandfather and father suffered bouts with depression than you may be at risk to suffer it as well.
Different types of depression are given birth by other similar factors. Depression is often the result of substance abuse. Both alcoholics and drug abusers can contract depression. In many cases the loss of a loved one has shown an enhanced possibility of depression. History hasn’t been kind to mental depression. Before being classified as a disease it was thought to be a defect in character. There was very little treatment offered. Every stage of depression has its ill affects. That’s why early detection is vital to treatment.
When depression becomes severe depression then medical care is a must. Suicide often takes place in this final phase. The calls for assistance weren’t answered and now the chance to solve the problem is fading. Medications and therapy combine for a working treatment. Support groups can also help. You can also find many natural herbal medications that have been proven effective in clinical studies. People who suffer from any type of depression have options. If you or someone you love are experiencing symptoms of lingering depression please consult a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of Chronic Depression - What Are The Chronic Depression Symptoms?
For an updated version of chronic depression symptoms and more info about cures for depression check out Treat My Depression
Dysthymia is another name for chronic depression. Although not as serious as Major Depression, this is a severe illness. Someone you know may have Chronic Depression and you would not know it. Usually someone with this disease can live a regular life. They go to work or school and go about their daily lives without as much as causing a ripple in the water. This is due to the fact that theproblems caused by this illness do not appear on the outside of the body but on the inside. There are both physical and mental results from this disease.
Shaking, dizziness, or a fever won’t result from Chronic Depression. A rash won’t break out on your body. But you may well feel helplessness, worthlessness and hopelessness. Sleeping disorders such as nightmares and insomnia may develop. This illness can leave the victim with a constant sad or empty feeling that seems to consume them . Usually those affected by the disease may also experience episodes of thinking about death or suicide . Chronic Depression isn’t always apparent. With mental illness it requires a close look and a lot of experience to recognize the symptoms because victims work hard to conceal the problem.
When you are approaching an illness such as Chronic Depression there are a few major options for treatment. One of the most popular approaches is Psychotherapy. You confront the mental ailment with a mental solution. The patient can find a positive outlook, with Psychotherapy, with the help of a doctor who attempts to determine the cause of the depression. The other option is to prescribe Anti-Depressants that will assist in spread of the affliction. Both Psychotherapy and drugs are generally combined to treat chronic depression. The patient may not yet have Major Depression, but Chronic Depression can lead there. Early detection is key.
Normally, Chronic Depression becomes a problem when it gets to the point that the illness begins to cause problems in everyday life. It’s really time to act when employment or other outside activities begin to suffer. Those who suffer from Chronic Depression are not crazy or mentally insane. Care and support are needed to address the underlying issues. This disease can strike anyone at any time. Having knowledge about it may one day assist you or someone you know in facing it.
Anxiety Depression
Help for Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
People who experience anxiety depression, find it can be the result of over extending themselves in several activities at once and this puts added pressure on the brain functions; causing the body to feel physically tired or depressed. A lot of busy people who cannot fathom the idea of relaxing and taking time off from work, as well as their worries, can actually start having nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses.
People who are suffering from anxiety depression, will experience any number of unusual behavior symptoms brought on from stress and even physical symptoms such as jitters or breathing problems. Many people that are more prone to react easily to stressful situations can essentially be more sensitive to having anxiety depression. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first and get relief for anxiety, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is what’ll actually save your mental health from going in an downward spiral.
To effectively cure one’s self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and go to reputable psychiatrist to get yourself diagnosed correctly as well as be able to get the right depression treatment for yourself. Here are the various types of depression:
Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one’s mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) they can feel their in a personal hell.
Postpartum Depression is most common in new mothers, after childbirth and they usually experience extended times of sadness or emptiness and it may appear to be the baby blues at first, but the signs and symptoms are more intense and longer lasting.
Dysthimia is a mood disorder that falls within the depression spectrum, it is considered a chronic depression, but with less severity than a major depression and this disorder tends to be a chronic, long-lasting illness.
Cyclothemia - characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one’s moods.
Seasonal Affective Disorder - characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons and studies prove that people actually fall in to a rut more during the Winter and Fall seasons and can have severe mood swings, wherein a person’s mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.
But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that will actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity, like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day. In this way, anxiety will help you get mentally prepared to face more challenging situations that are not usually a part of your daily routine. However, people experience anxiety depression are not such having the ’jitters’ or a ’nervous stomach’; anxiety depression is much more serious and can even be hereditary, depending on each individual circumstance.
You should also know, that there are different types of anxiety depression and they each have different symptoms. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things that is disproportionate; this excessive worry often interferes with daily functioning, as individuals suffering GAD typically anticipate disaster, and are overly concerned about everyday matters such as health issues, money, family problems, friend problems or work difficulties. They can even be anxious even when there’s no apparent reason that calls for them to behave in such a way. People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they’re doing and even suffering from depression. Treatment involves a therapist working with the patient to understand how thoughts and feelings influence behavior and change negative thought patterns that lead to the patient’s anxiety, replacing them with positive, more realistic ones.
Consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist who’ll help give the individual the therapy that he or she needs to help him or her loosen up, also prescribed medicines are sort of a must to help these individuals battle anxiety attacks, then help to calm them down and relax.
Symptoms Of Depression
Depression is a complicated illness that can be very hard to detect unless you are looking for the right symptoms. Over 15 million Americans will suffer some type of depression this year and many will not even know that they have it. Only a third of those that do realize they are afflicted will ever seek treatment. Why is it hard to detect depression? The answer is simple. Many of the symptoms we associate with depression are problems we all experience from time to time. Therefore, it is not always easy to distinguish between what is perfectly normal and what it a sign of danger.
We all feel sad and out of sorts at different periods of our life. For example we may become a little shaken when we reach the age of 40. There are many who see this as some milestone of reflection that causes us to ponder and evaluate our lives. For many it may be depressing to some extent. This does not mean that you are suffering from depression. Depression is not a feeling that will come and go for brief encounters of sadness. Depression is consistent and constant and will progress if not treated. It can take years to get this illness under control.
Typical symptoms of depression can be irregular sleeping or eating habits. Again, this does not mean symptoms that last the weekend but rather symptoms that are consistent over long periods of time. Depressed individuals tend to recede into a shell. They feel hopelessness and helplessness. Their feelings of loneliness and despair are constant and real. They may want to reach out for help but cannot bring themselves to do so. They may find it hard to relate to those around them. Where they once may have been the life of the party they may now be barely noticeable. These are symptoms in the early stages.
When depression has progressed into later stages it begins to become apparent in their ability to be compatible with others around them. Their employment and or educational activities will begin to be affected by their lack of communication and participation. They find it harder to face others as well as themselves. They see no hope or purpose for living and begin to consider ending it all. To avoid this unhappy result early detection is essential. There is help available for those who suffer depression. There are effective means of treatment that will get those suffering back on the right track. If you or someone you love are experiencing lingering symptoms of depression please consult a medical professional for a diagnosis. Lives depend on it.
What is a natural alternative to treating depression? Any natural way to treat depression?
I have social anxiety with depression, but regular medication makes me feel like a robot, meaning no feelings whatsoever. I am depressed and as time goes on, I pull away from people and life all together. I barley go outside anymore. My doctor says that there isn't anything wrong with me, it's just in my head. Well no kidding, I knew that!
let me try to explain correctly. there mainly 2 types of depression with varying degrees of severity. the first is situational depression (caused by a specific trauma) and clinical depression (caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain). the difference between the 2 is those who suffer from situational depression can be treated with short term use of medications and therapy. on the other hand more times than not those suffer from clinical depression will need not only intense therapy ,but will also need to take medication always, in order to maintain stability.
in many cases when a depressed person is in recovery and is stable they will decide to go off their meds, and most will relapse. you need to be honest, and accept your condition, and keep taking your meds if you need them to remain well.
How to help others cope with depression?
I know that I am depressed and have a bad body image/low-self esteem (due to the past).
My boyfriend knows it as well and it really bothers him. He wants to help but doesn't know what to do and gets really frustrated and angry with me.
What can I tell him to do to help me out?
Is there anything that he can do to help me deal with it?
What kind of tips would you give to another to help one deal with depression?
Please help, this is tearing my relationship apart.
When you are really down, he can help doing some chores, like make supper that night and clear away the dishes or whatever chore that is hard for you & just can't do when depressed.
Pop a comedy DVD into the player, or take you out to your favorite restaurant, budget permitting. Go on a vacation together, even if only one night in a resort, or in a motel or camping, again, depending on your budget.
Go walking together. Exercise helps depression A LOT.
Ask him to help you get involved in activities together, so you are busy and not sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. Such as a hobby, or playing string with the cat, fishing, etc. Explain that it is hard for you to be motivated, so you need help in that department.
Counseling would be a good option for you. If you think your depression might be chronic or genetic, you probably need medication. Also if your depression is very severe (suicidal, or can't hold down a job) Watch out for the SSRI's like prozac - that's the end of your sex life.
Remind him that it isn't him that is the problem, it is you, and he can't fix you. He shouldn't take everything personally. If you are sharp with him, be sure to apologize.
I hope something here helped - I have very severe bipolar disorder and many of these things have helped me & I am happily married. I have taken hubby into counseling with me on many occasions also, and that helped us form a team approach to handling my symptoms.
Are depression medications bad for your liver? If so, what can I do about it?
I hear that some medications for depression can cause liver cancer. I've been on different meds for depression for about 15 years, and I drink occasionally, so if what I hear is true, my liver cannot be in good shape. Any suggestions on what to do?
Depression meds have been on the market and have been used safely for a long time. It depends on which one you use, but it may be metabolized in the liver. If your doctor thought there was a serious risk of liver damage though, he would have taken you off the meds. You can ask your doctor for a simple blood test that will check out your liver for damage caused by the drug. Also, occasional drinking isn't going to do too much damage to your liver. Your liver is processing stuff all of the time, whether or not you're making it process alcohol. Your liver is supposed to work hard. It's only when you drink great quantities daily that it starts working too hard.