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on: Monday, 01 December 2008 13:43
on: Monday, 01 December 2008 13:10
on: Monday, 01 December 2008 13:07
on: Monday, 01 December 2008 11:43
on: Monday, 01 December 2008 11:39
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"I do feel a bit of a fraud because i have improved so much and so quickly since joining this forum.As i described previously i joined several months ago when i was seriously depressed. I have, i hope, left all that suicidal stuff behind. I have to say that this change is almost entirely due to DF.Thanks Lindsay and all."
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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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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
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“’Tis the season to be jolly!”
--- Words by J.P. McCaskey, 1881
Many modern Americans couldn’t disagree more, if current statistics are correct. Depression strikes about 17 million American adults each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the holidays themselves can trigger feelings of dread, anxiety or depression in some people. Many factors can contribute to tension and sadness during the holidays, including fatigue, unrealistic expectations, increased stress and unresolved family issues. Add in the demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests, and you have the perfect formula for producing high levels of stress. Common stress reactions during the holidays include headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating or not eating enough, and difficulty sleeping. And a post-holiday let down resulting from physical and emotional reactions during the holiday months may cause holiday blues to continue into the new year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) have a great deal of useful information about how to identify and prevent – or just make it through – the times when expectations are high but your mood is low.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
For some people, particularly those who live in the northern regions of the country, holiday blues might be caused by seasonal affective disorder (SAD). An essential feature of SAD is that the depression starts and stops at specific times of the year – in most cases, episodes begin in the in late fall or winter when daylight hours decrease and end in the spring, when the days get longer. Recurrent depressive episodes might also occur in the summer, but less frequently.
The prevalence of SAD is not very well known, although some studies report rates in the range of 2% to 10% of the American population.
The symptoms of SAD, which include energy loss, increased anxiety, oversleeping and overeating, may result from a change in the balance of brain chemicals associated with decreased sunlight. Although the exact reason for the association between light and mood is unknown, research suggests a connection with the sleep cycle. And there is hope for SAD sufferers: several studies have suggested that light therapy, which involves daily exposure to bright fluorescent light, may be an effective treatment for the disorder.
Social Phobia
The holiday season can spark such intense feelings of anxiety and dread for some people that they avoid social gatherings altogether. "A lot of people have anxiety in social situations, such as when meeting new people at a holiday party, but the fear is not severe and typically passes," said Una McCann, MD, of the Unit on Anxiety Disorders at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). "For people with social phobia, however, the fear of embarrassment in social situations is excessive, extremely intrusive and can have debilitating effects on personal and professional relationships."
People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling fear of disapproval in social situations. They recognize that their fear may be excessive or unreasonable, but are unable to overcome it. Symptoms of social phobia include blushing, sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, nausea or other stomach discomfort, lightheadedness and other symptoms of anxiety. Effective treatments include medications, therapy, or some combination.
"Without treatment, social phobia can be extremely disabling to a person's work, social and family relationships. In extreme cases, a person may begin to avoid all social situations and become housebound," said Dr. McCann. "But the good news is that effective treatment for social phobia is available and can be tremendously helpful to people living with this disorder."
Depression
The occasional sadness everyone feels due to life's disappointments is very different from the serious illness caused by a brain disorder such as depression. Depression profoundly impairs the ability to function in everyday situations by affecting moods, thoughts, behaviors, and physical well-being, but many people simply don't understand it. "A lot of people still believe that depression is a character flaw or caused by bad parenting," says Mary Rappaport, a spokeswoman for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She explains that depression cannot be overcome by willpower, but requires medical attention.
The National Institute of Mental Health says that about two-thirds of the people suffering from depression don't get the help they need, and 15% of chronic depression cases end in suicide. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) estimates that 80 - 90% of all cases of depression can be treated effectively, but many people fail to identify their symptoms or attribute them to lack of sleep or a poor diet, while others are just too fatigued or ashamed to seek help.
Fortunately, depression is treatable, says Thomas Laughren, MD, team leader for psychiatric drug products in the FDA's division of neuropharmacological drug products. One major approach for treating depressive disorders is the use of antidepressant medications. The effects of antidepressants on the brain are not fully understood, but there is substantial evidence that they restore the brain's chemical balance.
Changes in lifestyle are also important in the management of depression. Exercise, even in moderate doses, seems to enhance energy and reduce tension. Some research suggests that a rush of the hormone norepinephrine following exercise helps the brain deal with stress that often leads to depression and anxiety. A similar effect may be obtained through meditation, yoga, and certain diets.
For the long term, some people might need psychotherapy to address certain aspects of the illness that drugs cannot. "Although the biological features of depression may respond better to drugs," Laughren says, "people may need to relearn how to interact with their environment after the biological part of the depression is controlled."
Ask for Help
Seasonal Affective Disorder, social phobia and depression are treatable, and most people suffering from them can be helped with medications, psychotherapy and other treatments. Many do best with combined treatment: medication, meditation, diet and exercise help many people gain relatively quick symptom relief, while psychotherapy may help them learn more effective ways to deal with life’s problems, including depression.
If you are experiencing symptoms of intense sadness, anxiety or depression that you can’t resolve on your own, make an appointment to discuss your symptoms with your health care provider. If someone you care about seems to be having these problems, do everything you can to assist them – including offering to talk, listen, find a health care professional or just keep them company. There are many professional organizations that can offer information and supportive materials, among them the National Institute of Mental Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Food and Drug Administration (see links below). In addition, most cities and towns have local helplines or information centers where you can receive advice when problems seem insurmountable. It’s important to try. The most important step toward overcoming these problems – and often the most difficult – is asking for help.
This article includes information from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Food and Drug Administration.
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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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