"Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them."Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A Few Steps For Fighting Depression
One of the most destructive states for your mind and body is strongly represented by depression. It is a phenomenon that affects millions of people around the world, no matter what culture they belong to. The triggering elements of depression are infinite ...
Depression Kills
We hear reports around the globe of the many souls that suffer depression, because of overwhelming stress. With wars, poverty, and violence going on around us is it any wonder that depression is an issue? Statistics has proven that depression links to ...
Tips for Helping Remove Anxiety, Depression and Stress Over Lost Loved Ones During The Holidays
Tips for Helping Remove Anxiety, Depression and Stress Over Lost Loved Ones During The Holidays During the Holidays, when family and closeness is a premium on everyone's mind, there are those of us who do not have loved ones in our lives, as they have ...
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Almost 10% of the US population suffer from depression at any one time. Similar statistics would be expected from other developed countries.
Depression can affect our sleep in many ways. Some of us sleep longer and others find themselves waking up in the early hours of the morning, unable to go back to sleep.
Insomnia can be one of the many symptoms of depression, so it's best to treat the depression itself and usually the sleep problems will resolve themselves.
Depression can affect not only the sufferer but also family and friends who are often at a loss as to how they can help. We should let them and not try to shoulder the burden ourselves.
We have to be careful whom we chose to confide in though as some people still have the mistaken belief that depression is a "malingerers" complaint. The last thing we need when depressed is someone telling us to, "Snap out of it" or "Pull yourself together"!
Depression is a clinical complaint and a genuine illness. Symptoms of depression can include fatigue, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, irritability and even physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive upsets.
Depression can be severe (major depression) which can completely disable the sufferer, or moderate (dysthymia) in which sufferers can function from day to day but never really feel content or happy.
Then there is bipolar disorder which is less common. Those afflicted with bipolar disorder can swing from a high (manic) state to a low (depressed) state seemingly without cause.
What causes depression? It could be several things. Depression may run in the family, or start after a chronic illness. It can also be caused by hormonal imbalance which is why so many women fall victim. A person's thinking pattern may be prone to depression, for example those with poor self esteem.
"Cures" for depression are many and some more effective than others. There is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) while sounding like something from the torture chambers of the inquisition, is an effective aid for severe depression.
Prescribed medications like lithium can be effective but can also have side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, constipation and more.
Herbal remedies are a viable option and have many less side effects while being remarkably effective and cheaper. Recommended are St John's Wort and Passiflora.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet are also important. Make sure there are plenty of B vitamins in the food you eat or take a supplement. Include foods which help raise serotonin levels (Oats, milk turkey and pasta) This will have a beneficial effect on your sleep too.
Cognitive or behavioural therapy can greatly assist by changing behaviour and thought patterns that may have led to the illness.
To summarise - Share your problems with a trusted friend or paid counsellor, watch your diet, exercise regularly, take appropriate medication or enrol in behavioural therapy. Help yourself defeat the "black dog" of depression.
Copyright 2006 Wendy Owen
About The Author
Wendy Owen is a health researcher and author.
Want to know how to cure insomnia and achieve healthy sleep? Visit http://www.insomnia-connection.com your resource for good sleep advice and articles. Sign on for our newsletter and receive 2 books absolutely free!
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50 shades of snot: The real reason SAHMs are depressedmsnbc.com (blog)By Lela Davidson A recent Gallup poll found that stay-home moms are more depressed than working moms. No kidding? In related news, sales of wine and erotic fiction rise just after the last day of school. (I made that up. Call it women's intuition.) ... |
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Lifescript Launches New Online Depression CenterMarketWatch (press release)Lifescript.com, a women's health and wellness website headquartered in Mission Viejo, Calif., has launched a new online Depression Health Center to help women recognize and overcome symptoms of depression. MISSION VIEJO, Calif., May 24, ...and more » |
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