|
Log in
Donate To Depression Forums
Latest Forum Discussions
on: Saturday, 07 November 2009 12:58
on: Saturday, 07 November 2009 12:03
on: Saturday, 07 November 2009 11:45
on: Saturday, 07 November 2009 10:08
on: Saturday, 07 November 2009 09:23
Search
Current Poll
Find A Therapist
HOPELINE 1-800-SUICIDE
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.
Think you can help?
Do you have expertise in a particular area such as Psychology, graphic/web design, journalism, public relations, IT, (Web Geeks Needed!) or fund raising? We need your assistance volunteering for DF. We're always looking for additional forum and chat moderators as well, keeping DF the safe haven it has always been for our members. If you're interested, this would be a wonderful way of giving back to DF. Contact Forum Admin for more details.
|
Recognize The Signs And Symptoms Of Stress
|
Recognize The Signs And Symptoms Of Stress
Understanding Stress
Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects
Modern
life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. For many
people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life.
Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help you perform under
pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when you’re constantly
running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price.
If
you frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, it’s
time to take action to bring your nervous system back into balance. You
can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the signs and
symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects.
What is stress?
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel
threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger –
whether it’s real or imagined – the body's defenses kick into high gear
in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction,
or the stress response.
The stress
response is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it
helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations,
stress can save your life – giving you extra strength to defend
yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid
an accident.
The stress response also helps
you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes
during a presentation at work, sharpens your concentration when you’re
attempting the game-winning free throw, or drives you to study for an
exam when you'd rather be watching TV.
But
beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing
major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your
relationships, and your quality of life.
The Body’s Stress Response
When
you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a
flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These
hormones rouse the body for emergency action.
Your
heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath
quickens, and your senses become sharper. These physical changes
increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and
enhance your focus – preparing you to either fight or flee from the
danger at hand.
Effects of chronic stress
The body doesn’t
distinguish between physical and psychological threats. When you’re
stressed over a busy schedule, an argument with a friend, a traffic
jam, or a mountain of bills, your body reacts just as strongly as if
you were facing a life-or-death situation. If you have a lot of
responsibilities and worries, your emergency stress response may be
“on” most of the time. The more your body’s stress system is activated,
the easier it is to trip and the harder it is to shut off.
Long-term
exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress
disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure,
suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and
stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process.
Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable
to anxiety and depression.
Many health problems are caused or exacerbated by stress, including:
- Pain of any kind
- Heart disease
- Digestive problems
- Sleep problems
|
- Depression
- Obesity
- Autoimmune diseases
- Skin conditions, such as eczema
|
How much stress is too much?
Because
of the widespread damage stress can cause, it’s important to know your
own limit. But just how much stress is “too much” differs from person
to person. Some people roll with the punches, while others crumble at
the slightest obstacle or frustration. Some people even seem to thrive
on the excitement and challenge of a high-stress lifestyle.
Your ability to tolerate stress depends on many factors, including the
quality of your relationships, your general outlook on life, your
emotional intelligence, and genetics.
Things that influence your stress tolerance level
- Your support network – A
strong network of supportive friends and family members is an enormous
buffer against life’s stressors. On the flip side, the more lonely and
isolated you are, the greater your vulnerability to stress.
- Your sense of control –
If you have confidence in yourself and your ability to influence events
and persevere through challenges, it’s easier to take stress in stride.
People who are vulnerable to stress tend to feel like things are out of
their control.
- Your attitude and outlook – Stress-hardy
people have an optimistic attitude. They tend to embrace challenges,
have a strong sense of humor, accept that change is a part of life, and
believe in a higher power or purpose.
- Your ability to deal with your emotions.
You’re extremely vulnerable to stress if you don’t know how to calm and
soothe yourself when you’re feeling sad, angry, or afraid. The ability
to bring your emotions into balance helps you bounce back from
adversity.
- Your knowledge and preparation – The
more you know about a stressful situation, including how long it will
last and what to expect, the easier it is to cope. For example, if you
go into surgery with a realistic picture of what to expect post-op, a
painful recovery will be less traumatic than if you were expecting to
bounce back immediately.
Am I in control of stress or is stress controlling me?
- When I feel agitated, do I know how to quickly calm and soothe myself?
- Can I easily let go of my anger?
- Can I turn to others at work to help me calm down and feel better?
- When I come home at night, do I walk in the door feeling alert and relaxed?
- Am I seldom distracted or moody?
- Am I able to recognize upsets that others seem to be experiencing?
- Do I easily turn to friends or family members for a calming influence?
- When my energy is low, do I know how to boost it?
If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you're probably in control of stress.
Source:
helpguide.org
|
|
 |
|
 |
Spread The Word
Comments 
|
This Month In Pictures
Members Online
Medical News
A Potpourri of Mental Health Articles
Mental Health Parity News
Suicide Prevention Llifeline
Our Soldiers & Veterans
Andertoon
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
Link To Us
Please use the image below and the code provided to link back to us
Advertisement
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.
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. Warm Regards, ~Lindsay and The Depression Forums Administration Staff
Att: Mental Health Professionals
Take advantage of
this excellent opportunity
to promote your practice, research, career
and
expertise.
Depression Forums, Incorporated is now starting a
Therapists Directory so that we will offer to our members
access to a searchable database of Mental Health
Professionals and facilities Nationwide dedicated to
providing treatment services and support for
those with mental health disorders.
List your individual or group practice in
Depressionforums.org's
Therapist's Directory
and help prospective clients and referral
sources learn more about you and the services you offer.
Communicate in detail your unique credentials and expertise.
Contact Forum Admin.
Write For Us!
If you would like to volunteer to write for our DF blog as to what is going on @ depressionforums.org, then just go ahead and get in touch with us by PMing Forum Admin and we’ll get back to you at the earliest.
edclogo
|