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QUOTE(keren_za @ Sep 2 2007, 01:04 PM) *FRIENDS, I thank you all. I love you. I love you for being who you are.Silly me, Now I'm crying...IT IS NOT EASY FOR ANY OF US.being part of this amazing community-I find it so very comforting.You represent a piece of Trueness and beauty in a world which can (often) be very frightening.keren.
(-keren_za)
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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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Cultivate your inner calmness
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October, 2005
So, you're a worrier. You even worry that you worry too much. But at least that's a start, says Holly Hazlett-Stevens, Ph.D., author of Women Who Worry Too Much: How to Stop Worry and Anxiety From Ruining Relationships, Work & Fun (New Harbinger Publications, .95).
"As you catch yourself worrying throughout the day," says Dr. Hazlett-Stevens, "remind yourself that your worry is only a thought, not fact. Take a moment and ask yourself if there is any specific action you can take right in that moment to resolve your situation."Worriers may be endearingly dismissed by family members as "worrywarts," but constant worrying can become an exhausting torment. Chronic worriers tend to fret about anything and everything, from work to relationships to little things, says Deann Ware, Ph.D., a Dallas psychologist. "Did I leave the stove on? Is my co-worker mad at me? Will my son get into college? Is this headache something serious?"
And while some worry can be good, such as a little reminder to use common sense (you DID leave that stove on), other times, it can make you paralyzed and literally worried sick about things you can't control. (Was that just turbulence or are we going to crash?!)
"Anxiety, or worry, is useful when it motivates a person to confront a challenge and move forward with a plan," says Dr. Ware. "Anxiety becomes clinically significant when it is prolonged, difficult to control, and is not generating a useful problem-solving approach. Clinically significant anxiety depletes coping resources and cognitive energy, which interferes with everyday functioning."
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And yes, ladies, worrying does tend to happen to us more, but it's not really our fault.
Dr. Hazlett-Stevens says that both social and biological factors play a role. As children, boys are often rewarded for assertive behavior, while girls are more often rewarded for avoidant, shy and anxious behavior.
"Girls also tend to learn to be more empathic," says Dr. Hazlett-Stevens. "While this can be an advantage, it also make women more sensitive to others' facial expressions."
On the biological side, Dr. Hazlett-Stevens says that women's "fight or flight" response is slightly blunted because of certain hormones. "As a result, they're more inclined to protect others and seek group support. This is why they are more likely than men to avoid threats rather than to face them."
Where we worry
RELATIONSHIPS: Worries about relationships and social interactions, be they with your family, friends or co-workers, often surround a fear of others' disapproval or rejection. According to Dr. Hazlett-Stevens, this could lead to avoidance of certain situations and not asserting yourself.
WORK AND ACHIEVEMENT: According to Dr. Hazlett-Stevens, work worries include fears of failing, not getting work done, your work not being good enough, not working hard enough, or suffering the consequences of working too hard. Ouch. Sound familiar?
Dr. Hazlett-Stevens adds that the workplace can add another layer of complication if it's discriminatory, whether in regards to gender, race or religion. This can make employees feel like they can never get ahead no matter how hard they work, she says.
HEALTH AND PERSONAL SAFETY: Humans have the ability to imagine wonderful fantasies as well as horrible tragedies. According to Dr. Hazlett-Stevens, safety worries involve predicting physical harm or injury to you or your family and are usually followed by powerful emotions of fear and sadness.
Worry strategies
Dr. Hazlett-Stevens outlines a few strategies in her book, which can apply to almost any situation.
GET SPECIFIC. Take a vague worry and narrow it down. If you're predicting that someone will "be mean" to you, try to picture his or her exact behavior. And if you think your work isn't "good enough," what exactly does that mean? If you're worried your child might poison himself, then childproof your home.
GENERATE ALTERNATIVES. Free up your thinking and remember that nothing is ever fixed forever. Think of alternative outcomes, including different ways you might respond to an interpersonal situation. If you're frustrated at work, think of different situations that involve a job change. If you're worried your son may fall and severely injure his head, imagine him only skinning his knee.
STICK TO THE FACTS. You might find you don't have much evidence to back up your worry, says Dr. Hazlett-Stevens. If you're worried about failing a test, how many tests have you actually failed in your lifetime? A plane crash makes the news because it's unusual. Imagine a news report for every plane that safely lands.
FOCUS ON THE PRESENT MOMENT. When your mind wanders, bring your attention back to the conversation or situation, and enjoy the process instead of thinking about the outcome. You'll also be able to better react in a tragic situation when paying full attention to the present.
FACE YOUR FEARS. Approach social situations that make you uncomfortable and look at behavior patterns at work, such as procrastination and overcommitting.
RELAX! Take mini-breaks at work or find everyday events, like waiting for your computer to boot or watching a commercial, to remind you to relax at a certain moment. "Even five minutes – a few times a day to scan your body for muscle tension and relax it away, to shift from shallow chest breathing to slow and deep stomach breathing, or to close your eyes and imagine a relaxing scene – can keep your worry and anxiety from spiraling out of control," says Dr. Hazlett-Stevens.
Source: By ERIN WADE / The Dallas Morning News
E-mail ewade@dallasnews.com
THE PHYSICAL SIDE
According to Dallas psychologist Deann Ware, a worry is the thought, and anxiety is the emotional and physiological reaction. "Anxiety places physiological stress on our bodies in the form of muscle tension, headaches, increased heart rate, sleep disturbance and fatigue." Benefits of minimizing unproductive worrying include:
•Improved energy and motivation
•Decreased irritability
•Improved concentration
•Increased sense of well-being
•Improved sleep
She says worry can compromise the immune system, so reducing worrying might actually keep you from getting sick as often.
WHEN YOU NEED HELP
"Worry might be a serious problem for you if it has begun to interfere with your life in some significant way," says Holly Hazlett-Stevens, Ph.D., author of Women Who Worry Too Much. As yourself these questions to find out:
Do you worry about minor things, such as being late, housework or small repairs to your home or car?
Does your worry often contain themes of failure, personal ineffectiveness or inadequacy?
When you worry, are other anxiety symptoms present, such as an upset stomach, muscle tension, irritability or trouble sleeping?
Does your worry often lead to procrastination?
Does worry interfere with your concentration when you need to focus on the present moment?
Does worry keep you from being yourself with others?
RESOURCES
Anxiety Disorders Association of America: www.adaa.org
Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy:www.aabt.org
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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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