Depression

Quick Tips to Help Care for Depression

Stretch and Relax

Tip # 1
Eat your way out of a depression. Food like leafy green salads, carrots and fresh fish like cod and salmon can improve the levels of “happy” vitamins and fatty acids like omega 3.

Tip # 2
Take energy supplements like ginseng. It’ll get you up and about and then you can go and do some walking or exercising, which in turn improves your state of mind.

Tip # 3
There is a difference between being in a bad mood and being depressed. Typically if a mood lasts for a couple of weeks it would be classified as a depression.

Tip # 4
There are degrees of depression. A bad mood generally doesn’t last long and is technically not a depression. On the other end of the scale we have clinical depression or major depressive disorder which is recognisable by the fact that it is interfering with normal day to day life.

Tip # 5
The modern day diet which is lacking in Omega-3 fatty acids has been identified as one of many possible causes for depression. This has been verified, at least partially by a study that used dietary supplements to measure the effect.

Tip # 6
Ginkgo Biloba is an effective natural anti depressant, and it has the added benefit of improving concentration.

Tip #7
Meditate every day. Meditation is gaining momentum as a complimentary way to increase the effectiveness of other treatment methods and could speed the recovery from the depression.

Tip # 8
Watch out for substance abuse as it is a way some people with depression choose to dull their feelings.

Tip # 9
Go for a walk in the forest or a nearby park. Listen to the birdsong and enjoy it. Or find something else you used to like doing and do that instead. Then stop when it’s not enjoyable anymore.

Just Chilling

Tip # 10
Women above the age of 45 needs vitamin B supplements as the levels in the body often diminishes to as little as half of what is required and this can make any depression worse. Vitamin B supplements can therefore improve moods quite dramatically.

Tip # 11
The best thing to do if you suspect your child is suffering from an episode of depression is to talk to your health care provider. Research on your own as well, so you can better understand what your child is going through.

Tip # 12
A well-balanced life that includes sunlight, sufficient sleep and good food will give a person a lot of energy and put them in a good mood.

Tip # 13
Try light therapy if you tend to get depressed in the autumn or winter time.

Tip # 14
Alcohol is proven to make depression worse. If you are depressed it is therefore best to avoid or significantly limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Tip # 15
When the first waves of depression and bad moods set in, the best thing to do is to go for a walk or your choice of fitness and exercises. Endorphins released during and after exercise improves moods, plus going out doing something other than dwelling on what ever is getting you down also helps.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression also known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder, is one of the most  common illnesses to plague man kind.  It is a sickness of the mind and body,  that affects your emotional and physical well being.  Though it does not directly affect your physiology it affects your ability to carry on with you daily tasks.  This is because you are on such an emotional low that you feel like you no longer want to be on this earth.

Typical Symptoms of Depression:

Let me Think

• A feel of extreme sadness
• Insomnia
• Outburst of crying for no reason
• Loss of interest in life’s activities
• Low sex drive
• Indecisiveness
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Suicidal
• Unexplained physical pain
• Irritable
• Weight loss or gain
• Tiredness
• A feeling of worthlessness
• Restlessness

Not all of these symptoms may be felt at once and not all people experience the same symptoms. These symptoms may vary from person to person based on age, sex or the different situations one is faced with. Remember no to people are exactly alike.

Test that Help Diagnose Depression

Should I?

Before anyone is diagnosed with depression a physician needs to put you through a series of test.  This is to find out what type of depression you have and to make sure that you do suffer from depression.

You will go through three types of examinations:

1. Physical Examination

This involves examining your physical appearance, your vital signs which is your temperature, blood pressure, respiration and pulse, also listening to the heart beat  or anything the doctor can pick up about your physiology that is abnormal.

2. Laboratory Test

This involves test where blood, urine and stool samples are sent to the lab to be tested. Any abnormal readings could give the doctor a good idea of what is wrong with you.

3. Psychological Evaluation

A physician or mental health specialist will ask you a series of questions to give you a mental evaluation.  They will ask you how you feel about certain things and ask you questions about your past as well. From the answers they will be able to evaluate and diagnose your illness.

Upon diagnosing you will be either diagnosed with major depression or any of these types of depression:

• Psychotic depression, this is a severe type of depression characterized by hallucinations or delusions

• Postpartum depression, a type of depression experienced by women soon after they give birth to their  baby due to the fact that they are no longer pregnant.

• Seasonal affective disorder, this depressive disorder is related to the change in seasons for example not enough exposure to the sun.

• Schizoaffective disorder, this is a disorder where a person has both schizophrenic  behavior and mood disorders.

• Adjustment disorder, this is a severe case of depression characterized by a stressful situation affecting ones emotions, thoughts and behavior.

• Dysthymia, this is a mild case of depression however, it may still have effects on your daily activities.

• Bipolar disorder, this is characterized by mood swings which range from extreme happiness to extreme sadness.

• Cyclothymia, this is a mild case of bipolar disorder.

Complications of Depression

Depression is an illness that needs to be taken very seriously.  This is because a person suffering from depression often has an unstable mind causing them to behave unrealistically. Their behavior may cause some of these:

Tell me the Risks

• Conflicts or problems within the family
• Suicide
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks
• Drug, Alcohol and/or Substance abuse
• Difficulties in relationships
• Problems at work
• Isolation
• Difficulties at school

Lifestyle Changes

I'm So Relaxed

It is not advisable to treat depression yourself. Please seek help from a medical provider and follow these guidelines to help you get over depression. These lifestyle changes will help you stick to your treatment  and allow you to learn more about this disorder.

1. Exercise, getting active in some form example running, swimming or walking has been known to decrease depression significantly
2. Be sure to continue and stick out your course of treatment to the end. No short cuts.
3. Stay away from abuse of drugs or alcohol.
4. Educate your self about depression. Book mark this site for the latest info on depression care and more.
5. Always take your medication as directed by your physician
6. Be aware of any change in your symptoms and be sure to alert your doctor to any changes or problems you may encounter.
7. Eat foods that help relive depression. They are Whole grains, cabbage, fish oils, cocoa, brown rice, brazil nuts, dark molasses
8. Minimize the intake of foods high in fat and sugar and caffienne.
9. Increase your intake of supplements such as Vitamin b complex, St. John’s Wort and Omega-3 fatty acids and SAM-e.
10. Participate in  mind and body techniques such as acupuncture, yoga, massages and mental imagery.

Got a Question on Depression?

Use the Box Below to Ask our Expert! …

General Depression Questions

1. Rating: +0

   

   What natural remedies can I take for depression?

   It is recommended that you take a supplement known as St. John's Wort, however there are a variety of remedies you can choose from check out our remedy page under Depression.

2. Rating: +0

   

   Is it possible to recover from depression without professional help?

   It is possible but it is not advised that you do so it is always wise to seek professional help. You can however help yourself by educating yourself about depression. One way of doing this is by reading this site and checking the site for the latest updates on depression.

3. Rating: +0

   

   How do you know if your going through depression?

   Check out the symptoms of depression which you may find under the symptoms section on our depression page, see if the symptoms you have match some of the symptoms of depression. It is always advisable to seek counsel from a physician or mental health provider to be sure and undergo some routine test.

4. Rating: +0

   

   What is the best anti-depressant for depression?

   There is no way to determine which treatment is the best as we all may respond differently treatments but, it is safe to say that St. John's Wort is one of the best anti depressants.

5. Rating: +0

   

   How do I deal with my depression?

   Book mark this site so you can educate yourself about depression and visit a doctor to help diagnose your level of depression so he can advise as to how to go about dealing with it.

6. Rating: +0

   

   How do I distinguish from depression and bipolar?

   Depression may be the cause of stressful situations in life where as bipolar disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance causing you to be extremely happy one time and extremely sad the next. Read our Test and diagnosis page to help you further.

7. Rating: +0

   

   How can I overcome depression?

   You can overcome depression by treating the cause of your depression and working with a doctor to help diagnose you and structure your lifestyle to one that limits stressful events.