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This forum has been great. I understand myself better now and realize I'm not alone. (Maedhros @ Sep 23 2008, 05:11 PM)
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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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How to Simplify the Holidays With a Holiday Planner
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The
holiday season brings forth great memories of holiday seasons past.
Each year we want to recreate those holiday memories, and make our
holiday season a memorable one. In the process, we can sometimes get
overwhelmed and lose focus of the true purpose of the holiday season.
In order to keep focus of the holiday season and avoid feeling
overwhelmed, consider making a checklist to keep track of your dreams
and goals for this holiday season. This checklist will help you to keep
your holiday focus without losing yours.
Step1
A checklist is a great way to keep track of each task, each goal that
you want to accomplish this holiday season. Yes, there is a lot to do,
but you can do it all with the correct plan. Create categories that
this checklist will cover. Within each category, you will list your
goals and a list of tasks that will help you to accomplish these goals.
Some categories to consider are: decorations, cards, gifts, family
dinner etc.
Step2
For the card category, list your overall goals for this holiday season.
It could be as simple as sending out cards by a specific deadline.
Start by making a list (or spreadsheet) of all the people you want to
send cards to this year. List their addresses and make a note if the
card will be sent by mail or given to the receiver in person. Make a
note of the supplies you will need to complete this, and the time you
will need to complete this assignment.
Step3
For the gift category, make a list of people you want to make or
purchase gifts for. Keep this list as short as possible! If you have
any ideas of what each person wants, write it down next to their name.
Also write a price limit for the amount of money you want to spend next
to that person's name and the number of gifts you plan to purchase for
each person.
Write down set days, times and locations to shop for your gifts. Try to
schedule this for actual sale days or at specific department stores
where they having sales. Do not get overwhelmed! You are not obligated
to fulfill everyone else's dream for the holidays. If possible,
consider gift certificates.
Step4
For holiday decorations, set aside a specific time and day and ask for
help. A joint effort to trim the tree and decorate your home is a great
way to get in the holiday spirit and can be a lot of fun.
Make a list of all the areas of your home (both exterior and interior)
that you would like to decorate. For each area of your home, draw or
make a list of decorating ideas. Ask for help and plan to work in one
area at a time until complete.
Step5
For the holiday dinner category, consider a potluck dinner. A joint
effort will help to relieve the pressure of large holiday dinner. Plan
a menu that encompasses any family traditions and holiday favorites.
Make a list of all food items needed to make the dinner. Plan to
purchase everything at least 1-2 weeks before the big dinner. Consider
making a cooking schedule where the times and dishes are listed.
Pre-cook everything you can.
Ask for help. If you can, split up the menu with another person or
group of people. Let everyone bring a dish to the dinner, or plan to
work together at one person's home.
Step6
Lastly, make a home cleaning list for this time of year. Try to
de-clutter and clean all of the gathering spaces for your holiday
gatherings, at least 1-2 weeks in advance. This will help to avoid the
crash cleaning that usually comes right before a holiday gathering. It
will also help you to feel better and think clearer during this season.
Make a short list of the gathering areas that need to be clean and
clutter free. List all of the tasks in each area to be completed. Work
on it for 15 minutes every day until you are done. Tips & Warnings
- Keep each section of your checklist as short and as simple as possible.
- Remember, simple is best. Do not take on more than what you can handle.
- Set specific deadlines for each category. Give yourself a few more days
- Work on everything a little at a time, every day until you are complete.
- Do
not compare your holiday plans to those from holidays past, or the
plans of your neighbors, friends, relatives etc. The focus is on your
holiday and what will make you and those closest to you happy this
season, all within reason of course.
- Try not to add more tasks to your checklist unless it is something that you have absolutely forgotten to include.
- Source:
By
njoli
-
www.ehow.com
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Comments 
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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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