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on: Thursday, 20 November 2008 00:54
on: Thursday, 20 November 2008 00:12
on: Wednesday, 19 November 2008 22:35
on: Wednesday, 19 November 2008 22:05
on: Wednesday, 19 November 2008 20:31
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QUOTE (colourless butterfly @ Jul 6 2008, 08:37 AM) *
I joined this forum few months ago and I felt welcomed from the beginning. Peolpe are so supportive, they always have some nice things to say or some good advice. I'm very happy I found the DF.
And I'm sure you'll feel the same way soon.
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(colourless butterfly )
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated 40 million Americans living today will suffer from major depressive illness during their lives. Seasonal affective disorder is major depression that appears in the fall or winter and goes away in spring, thought to be caused by lack of sunlight.
Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of a women giving childbirth. Most new mothers suffer from some form of the �baby blues.� Postpartum depression, by contrast, is major depression, thought to be triggered by changes in hormonal flows associated with childbirth. Catatonic depression is a rare form of major depression characterized by (at least two): Stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, peculiarities in voluntary movement, and repetition of other people's words or actions. - mcmanweb.com
Psychotic depression is a rare form of depression characterized by delusions or hallucinations, such as believing you are someone you are not and hearing voices.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder. Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on
America's health and productivity. It affects more than 21 million
American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of
disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.
Lost productive time among U.S. workers due to depression is estimated
to be in excess of $31 billion per year. Depression frequently
co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as heart disease,
cancer, and chronic pain and is associated with poorer health status
and prognosis. It is also the principal cause of the 30,000 suicides
in the U.S. each year. In 2004, suicide was the 11 th leading cause of death in the United States, third among individuals 15-24.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is presently on track to becoming the world's second-most disabling disease (after heart disease) by the year 2020. Depression is responsible for some $87 billion a year in lost productivity in the US (a conservative estimate), and according to Bank One, is responsible for most lost work days in its employees after pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, one million people worldwide die by their own hand, most as a result of a mood disorder. Finally, the linkage between depression and a host of physical illnesses makes it arguably the world's greatest killer.
Research presented at the 56th Annual Conference of the Canadian
Psychiatric Association shows a marked link between bipolar disorder
and migraines. The odds of migraine in persons with bipolar disorder were 40% higher than the general population. Data
obtained from 36,984 people aged 15 and over, who screened positive for
manic or depressive episodes with migraine, were compared against those
who screened positive for mania but who didn�t suffer from migraines. Amongst
males, 14.9% of those with manic episodes were also diagnosed with
migraines compared with 5.8% of the general population. Amongst
females, 34.7% had both migraines and bipolar disorder compared with
14.7% who only had migraines.unquote.gif While the research was
skewed towards persons who were already diagnosed with bipolar
disorders, what does it mean for people who suffer from migraines but
who may have an undiagnosed bipolar disorder?
Migraines and headaches aren�t fully understood but the manifestations are very real and debilitating for their sufferers: Throbbing pain Nausea Heightened sensitivity to light or sound Seeing dots, wavy lines, flashing lights, or blind spots Difficulty with speech, sensation, or movement
An estimated 2.1 million
American adolescents have experienced major depression within the last
year, according to a new comprehensive government study. Researchers
surveyed more than 67,000 young people ages 12 to 17 and found that one
in 12 had suffered from serious depression in the previous year.Nearly
13 percent of girls had struggled with depression, compared to less
than 5 percent of boys. Odds of depression increased with age -- just 4
percent of 12-year-olds experienced depression but that climbed to 11
percent for older teens.
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Therapy Could Benefit Heart Patients
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Heart Patients Could Benefit From Therapy
Program Has Success With Heart Patients Who Saw Psychologist Before Surgery
By CATHY BECKER and JONANN BRADY
Oct. 9, 2008 —
When Edward Richardson, 50, learned he needed bypass surgery, it wasn't his heart that was troubling him -- it was his head.
"I kept hearing a saw. I couldn't go to sleep. I kept hearing this saw
and, 'OK, your chest is going to be cut open,'" Richardson said. "I
mean, it was a strange thing where my mind was playing tricks on me."
Depression is three times more common among people who have had
a heart attack, compared with the general population, according to a
report released by the American Heart Association.
Because depression can have lasting consequences for a patient's
recovery, including an increased risk of future heart attacks and
hospitalization, and even an increased risk of mortality, the American
Heart Association now recommends depression screening for people
suffering from heart disease.
The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Hospital in
Chicago was already ahead of the curve with an innovative program,
requiring heart patients to see not only a cardiologist, but a
psychologist, as well.
"We know the mind and the body are connected. And patients with
a chronic medical illness have increased risk of experiencing a poor
quality of life, depression, anxiety and emotional distress,"
Northwestern Memorial Hospital psychologist Kim Lebowitz said.
Richardson began behavioral treatment before surgery. In
therapy, Lebowitz asked him to discuss his fears and taught him
breathing and relaxation techniques. Before long, he was no longer
hearing that saw.
During his recovery, Richardson continued the breathing and relaxation exercises, which reduced his need for pain medication.
"Dr. Lebowitz said it's a fear that everyone goes through. It
manifests itself in different ways," Richardson said. "After a few
sessions, it was determined that there are some things that you just
cannot control and you need to relax and leave that alone."
Richardson's wife, Carolyn Nelson, was shocked by her husband's transformation after a few sessions.
"Before he came in to talk to Dr. Lebowitz, he was very
uptight," she said. "By the night before the surgery, he was so calm, I
was like 'What's the matter with you?' And he actually was laughing and
singing on the way to surgery."
While there are no official studies on the Northwestern
program, cardiac patients are doing so well that even the heart
surgeons are impressed.
"With some behavior modification, we get a much better outcome
and a lot of those complications, I think, are decreased," said surgeon
Dr. Richard Lee.
Eight weeks after surgery, Richardson said he's doing great.
"It was extremely helpful to me," he said. "You don't go in with
an idea that you're defeated, that this is something you can't control
or have no say in. Your mind is at ease and you can go in joking."
© 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures
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Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
Mental illness affects one in seventeen Americans.
We
would like to invite you to share your story about
your Depression, as breaking the silence will help us to break open the
stigma surrounding mental health that keeps people from getting the
care that continues misunderstandings about those affected by mental
health disorders.
Stories with a positive outlook are most welcome.
There is nothing better than to speak out, tell your story and get the word out!
There is hope!
Together, we can help ourselves and others.
Please PM Forum Admin for more information to submit your story.
Warm Regards,
~Lindsay and The Depression Forums Administration Staff
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs 2
What is Clinical Depression? Clinical
depression can affect your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can
change your eating habits, how you feel and think about things, your
ability to work and study, and how you interact with people. Clinical
depression is not a passing mood, a sign of personal weakness or a
condition that can be willed away. Clinically depressed people cannot
"pull themselves together" and get better. Depression can be
successfully treated by a mental health professional or certain health
care providers. With the right treatment, 80 percent of those who seek
help get better. And many people begin to feel better in just a few
weeks.
Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health World Health Organization Finds Depression Often Goes Untreated By Salynn Boyles WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Sept.
6, 2007 -- Depression has a greater impact on overall health than
arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes
unrecognized and untreated, a report from the World Health Organization
(WHO) suggests. more... Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health
For Additional Information About Depression Write To: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
For free brochures on depression and its treatment call: 1-800-421-4211. or visit: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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