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QUOTE07-14-07I've been a forum mod/admin before, but this board is much different, and thankfully much nicer. [You all are doing a wonderful job. I haven't seen any of the usual trolls, spammers or rude members who need spanking/banning].butterflyfree:
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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.
Our DF Members
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Keep pets safe during the holidays
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Just as parents child-proof holiday homes, pet owners should do some pet-proofing to ensure a happy, safe holiday season.
Dr. Mark Russak, a veterinarian in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Primary Care clinic, said the main mistake pet owners make during the holiday season is feeding their pets leftovers and other unhealthy treats.
"It's often all too easy to reward our pets' unconditional adoration by giving them all the holiday leftovers. This is not a good idea, even if the intent is good," Russak said. "A little bit of lean turkey mixed with regular food is not problem -- with an emphasis on the 'little' -- but all too often it is the fatty leftovers and bones that end up down on the floor for our 'other' children."
Bones may be the most tantalizing leftover treat for pets, but they also are the most dangerous. Small bones or bone chips, particularly those from birds, can get lodged in an animal's throat, stomach and intestinal tract, sometimes requiring surgery to remove. These bones also can splinter and form needle-like shards that can slice pets' stomachs or intestines.
"Symptoms of a lodged bone may not show up for several days. They include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting or diarrhea. If there is a perforation of the intestine, pets will experience those same symptoms, plus sudden, severe abdominal pain from infection, which can lead fairly rapidly to death," Russak said.
Fats and scraps can cause severe stomach upset in pets. Candy also will cause stomach upset, and chocolate can even be fatal to pets, particularly cats and small dogs. Keep holiday chocolates out of reach of curious pets; many can get into boxes of chocolate under the tree or on the coffee table, even if they are wrapped.
"Another problem that affects pets just as it does humans is the problem of holiday foods that sit out for long periods as people nibble," Russak said. "Food poisoning caused by the Salmonella organism is always a threat when food sits out at room temperature or if it is not cooked thoroughly. If it can make a human sick, it will make your pet sick, as well."
Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning are similar to those for bone obstruction but also include high fever.
Other holiday festivities and traditions also can present hazardous situations for pets. Holly and mistletoe are poisonous when eaten, and the poinsettia's sap and leaves can cause severe stomach upset. Tree preservatives, sugar or aspirin placed in the holiday tree's water can cause intestinal upset and should be kept out of pets' reach.
"Also, if you have a tree-climbing cat or a large dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall with a strong cord or rope," Russak said. "Tinsel and ornaments can also harm pets."
Substitute chains of shiny, silver stars or plastic icicles for tinsel. Keep breakable ornaments and small decorations out of reach. Be sure to secure holiday light cords and keep them out of the way.
Lighted candles left at a kitten's eye level or within a puppy's chewing zone can quickly become disastrous. Russak advised anchoring candles securely away from curious pets.
Stress also is an issue for pets whose homes may be invaded by unfamiliar sights, sounds and people.
"With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors, and make sure your pet has a collar and tag on, or consider having your pet microchipped, in case of an escape," Russak said. "Some pets may need a quiet place to retreat if the festivities get too stressful."
The holiday season often inspires people to give pets as gifts, but CVM veterinarian Dr. Thomas Lenarduzzi said this often is unwise.
"If the person really wants a pet and you know it, it's one of the most wonderful gifts you can give. But if you don't absolutely know the person wants a pet and exactly what kind of pet they want, it's not a good idea," Lenarduzzi said. "Unlike other gifts, you can't say, 'That's not really the gift I wanted.' You can't exchange it or put it away in a cabinet."
Pets require an enormous amount of responsibility, and a person cannot make that decision for someone else, Lenarduzzi said. Specific issues to consider regarding pet ownership include providing adequate health care and preventative health maintenance, being able to spend adequate time with the pet and creating a safe environment. Lenarduzzi also said owners should have pets spayed or neutered.
Children often ask their parents for non-traditional pets like reptiles, ferrets, parrots, rabbits and guinea pigs. While these can be good pets, Lenarduzzi said parents must consider the specific requirements of the pet.
"Maintenance for exotic pets is a little higher than for dogs or cats. Most have special nutritional and environmental requirements," he said. "Do your homework before buying any pet, but especially an exotic pet."
Consider the typical life span of pets and how that may affect children. For instance, some parrots can live 50 to 70 years; on the other hand, ferrets rarely live longer than eight years.
Parents also must think about what type of pet will fit into the family's lifestyle. Lenarduzzi advised against large breed dogs for families with very small children.
"One of my rules is that you shouldn't give an animal decision-making power when it comes to the health of your family. If that animal is having a bad day or is sick or hurt, and a child pulls on its ear, the instinct could be to snap at what hurt it," Lenarduzzi said. "Also, very small children don't understand the concept of injury, and they could actually seriously hurt a small animal without intending to."
-Dr. Mark Russak, -Dr. Thomas Lenarduzzi
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Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
Mental illness affects one in seventeen Americans. However, in this country alone, funding for mental health
facilities is dropping drastically and the care for the mentally disabled.
When the people who need those facilities have no where to go, they end up overcrowding emergency rooms.
Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
We would like to invite you to PM Forum Admin to share your story about your Depression or Mental Health issues 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 get the word out!
Together, we can help ourselves and others. Your stories would appear right here on DF's Portal.
Please PM Forum Admin for more information or to submit your story.
Sincerely,
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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