Depression & Hope

The information listed in this hub is not intended as medical advice. Contact a medical professional before stopping or starting treatment for a medical condition.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, (wanting to harm yourself, or others), please contact HELP IMMEDIATELY!

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a medical condition, (a disease) that affects more than 17 million people in the United States each year. Depression is an illness that is also referred to as a mental illness, because the symptoms affect a person's moods. Depression is also considered to be a mood-disorder. The feelings of sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, aches and pains, and loss of concentration/lost of interest are the hallmark signs of a depressive disorder.

There are several types of depression, some lasting much longer than others.

Normally, when a person looses a job, or experiences a death in the family, a feeling of sadness is felt. When the feelings of sadness and loss of interest last more than a few weeks, further evaluation by a medical professional is recommended by most practicing physicians.

The only way to determine if an individual has a depression type of disorder is to evaluate the person's symptoms: (current and past history). Further medical testing may be warranted to check for other illnesses that may or may not be related to the depressive symptoms.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Feelings of sadness (lasting more than a few weeks).
• Fatigue
• Trouble concentrating
• Wanting to be alone
• Fear or feeling an impending doom.
• Thoughts of harming self or others.
• Cutting on self.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Problems sleeping (trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or
  sleeping more than usual).
• Agitation, Anxiety
• Aches and pains: muscle pain, stomach pain, headaches, back pain.
• Appetite: increase/decrease -- out of the ordinary changes.

Types of Depression

The situation, symptoms, duration, family history, current medical condition, and life style, can all be factors in the type of depression a person is diagnosed with.

Major Depressive Disorder
---> Clinical Depression
SAD: Seasonal Depressive
Double Depression
Catatonic Depression
Anxiety Depression
Melancholic Depression
Endogenous Depression
Minor Depression
Dysthymic Disorder
Unipoloar depression
Atypical Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD)
Bipolar depression
Psychotic Depression
Teen Depression

Major Depressive Disorder,--->AKA Clinical Depression: Depressive symptoms that last longer than six months, often recurs. Different then Dysthymic disorder (there are breaks in the depression type symptoms). See below.

SAD Seasonal depression: Seasonal depression or SAD affects less people than major depression/ also called, clinical depression. Individuals who start to feel the symptoms of depression during certain times of the year, such as winter or fall may have SAD.

Double depression: Combination of more than one type of depression.

Catatonic Depression:A person in a motionless state for long periods of time, affecting motor (physical movement, speech, mental awareness). Occurs most frequently in patients suffering from bipolar depression/mania. High risk for suicide.

Anxiety Depression:Person's diagnosed with a depressive disorder may also exhibit signs of a generalized anxiety disorder. Having both depression and anxiety can be extremely severe, and hard to treat. According to a writer at Healthy Choice online, "over 60 percent of major depressions are accompanied by varying levels of anxious feelings and behavior. (During his illness, Douglas Bloch says extreme anxiety interfered with his recovery and increased the risk of suicide.)" See below for source information.

Melancholic Depression:Has also been referred to as: Endogenous Depression according to the Depression Guide online. The symptoms of Melancholic Depression has many of the same signs and symptoms as does a major type of depression along with symptoms of delusional thoughts, and possible manic type of symptoms. This disorder is often confused with bipolar mania, the link of these two mental illnesses have not yet been determined by a broad spectrum of clinical physicians/physiologist.

Endogenous Depression: According to the depression doctor online website, this form of depression can be considered a type of: biochemical depression which is also considered a chemical imbalance. Also stated on the website where this information was obtained, is that this type of depression is a hypothetical form of depression. Certain forms of counseling is advised such as behavioral counseling, which may also help patients diagnosed with other forms of depression.

Minor Depression:Depressive disorder where the symptoms of depression are often less severe and less disabling then with a major type of depression. Patients suffering from a minor depression disorder are often able to be treated with anti-depressants, counseling, and can function day to day without much need for hospitalizations (such as with a major depression disorder).

Dysthymic Disorder: Depression type symptoms lasting two years or longer, with little break in between. This is a form of depression which has a lot of controversy around it. Due to the current medical treatments and other mental illness found over the past ten years, it has been said that this type of disorder may be a combination of other forms of mental illness, and not just a form of depression.

Unipoloar depression:A term often referred to a depressive disorder or disorders which do not follow the clinical criteria for a major depressive disorder. Another term that is not always used, and is also controversial to some physiologist. The main terms to be aware of when studying depression is: Major Depression, Minor Depression and Other Types of Depression.

Atypical Depression: Begins in youth, can last through adult hood, affects women more.

Postpartum depression (PPD):
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Depression type symptoms during menstruation/women.

Bipolar depression -- manic-depression: Episodes of major depressive symptoms & mania, some patients with bipolar do not experience the depression part. This hub does not go into all of the symptoms that can affect a person who has been diagnosed with bipolar. Some symptoms include: anxiety, lack of sleep, anger, mood swings, depression, aches/pains, talkative, agitation...more

Psychotic Depression:Symptoms of psychotic depression are more severe then with major depressive type of disorders. Hallucinations and delusions are common in this form of depression.

Teen Depression

• Fighting
  Legal Problems
  Problems at school: fighting, grades, detention.
  Loss of friends.
  Change in appearance: hair, cloths, hygiene, other.
  Wanting to stay in room (isolation).
  Loss of interest in regularly enjoyed activities.
  Lashing out at parents, siblings, friends, or teachers.

How is Depression Diagnosed?

Several factors are looked at when a physician makes their diagnosis:

Symptoms
Duration of Symptoms
Family History
Life - Style
Medical Conditions
Medications
Recent Life Changes

Symptoms: A family physician is a good place to seek help with symptoms of depression. When a person experiences a brief episode of sadness, fatigue and trouble sleeping, they may or may not have depression. Their symptoms may be related to another disease altogether. Symptoms of anxiety, stress, autoimmune diseases and hormonal problems can resemble the signs of depression.

Family History: Depression has been linked to family genes. Current studies show that families with one person who is diagnosed with having a depressive type of disorder, (there are other family members with depression, or other mental health type of illness). Research continues to determine steps to preventing depression.

Duration of the symptoms: When a person feels sad for a short time after a death in the family, employment loss, or other situation, this can be a normal part of healing. When the symptoms of depression last longer than two weeks, it may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. The types of depression are often diagnosed by the length of time the person has suffered with the symptoms, and when the symptoms change: i.e. as with S.A.D, the symptoms often start/ and stop between certain seasons.

Medications: Certain medications can cause and interfere with the treatment of a depressive type of disorder. Depressants should be avoided in individuals who are experiencing depression, or who has been diagnosed with depression. Some anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, depressants (alcohol, benzodiazepines, narcotic, other pain medications, illegal drugs, OTC drugs.)

Medical Conditions: There are a lot of diseases that can cause depressive type of symptoms, and/or actual cause depression. Chronic pain being a major disorder that can lead to major depressive disorder. Other illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and stress can be associated with an underlying condition (and diagnosed with depression). Note: it is not uncommon to have more than one condition, depression symptoms are often misunderstood by medical doctors when a person has a more serious underling medical condition. Talk to your doctor. keep a journal of your symptoms, when they stop/start, and how things affect the symptoms of depression. When in doubt, seek a second opinion.

Example:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Autoimmune Diseases
Vitamin Deficiencies
Hormone Problems.
Thyroid Irregularities.
Other Mental Illnesses.
More...

Life Style:Family situation, economic situation, nutrition, drug use/alcohol use, especially the use of depressants such as: narcotics, alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines. Depressants can lead to the symptoms of depression and / or make an existing mood disorder much worst. Living situations such as living in a violent situation, abuse, neglect, or isolation can also trigger the symptoms of depression.

Treatments for Depression

Medication
Counseling
Physiotherapy
Shock Treatments
Hypnosis
Exercise
Change in life style

MEDICATION THERAPY

Antidepressants such as Buspar, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, and Wellbutrin are commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression. For more information on medications go to Google and type in the key words: Medications for depression OR, effective medications for treating depression symptoms.

Anti-convulsive medications are given sometimes to combat the symptoms of depression.

Treatment of Depression with Medications: Pros & Cons

Pros -- To taking medication for the treatment of depression / and depressive symptoms.

1. In some patients, anti-depressions can drastically reduce and even eliminate the symptoms of depression, enabling a person to begin recovering from the disease.

2. When the symptoms of depression are reduced, the person can start making additional life changes that may further help them in the recovery of depression such as: seeking counseling, making life changes, finding additional support and/or treatment options. Getting back to school, work, or their previous activities/interest.

Cons -- As with all diseases, the treatment of depression is not an exact science. What works best for one patient, may not work at all for another. Depression can be a symptom itself, due to another medical and/or mental health illness. The physician may need to try differing medication and at different doses before finding the right type for the person.

2. Some medications that are designed to treat depressive symptoms can actually make the symptoms worst. Talk to your health care provider as soon as possible if you experience a negative reaction to your new prescription.

3.Some anti-depressants can cause a decrease in libido, (sex drive).

Medications prescribed for other health issues: can affect the outcome of other medications. There are too many medications to list in this hub that can affect how an anti-depressant is used in the body.

Pharmacist are also good people to contact, with questions relating to drug interactions and side affects.

Other Treatments:

(Non medical related)

• Increasing physical activity: starting an exercise program, or residuum
• Change in life style: limit to ingestion of drugs and/or alcoholic beverages.
• Limit or quitting of smoking, caffeine, and other drugs that can influence a person's mood.
• More sleep
• Change in daily routine: getting up earlier, getting out more, doing or going somewhere different.
• Limit watching sad/and or tragic types of television (may also include the daily news), if this seems bothersome or increases thoughts of sadness, anxiety or depression type symptoms.
• Creating a support system list: listing all of the medical, and other people that you can phone in the event of an emergency. Put telephone numbers, address, name and relationship next to the names. Keep one copy of this in car, in home, and in wallet/or purse, in case of an emergency. List also medications taking/reason, etc.. for medical purposes.
• Schedule time for self at least once a week.
• Reward self for completing appointments to doctors/counselors each week.

Recovering from depression is work. Be good to yourself, and make the rewards something you really want or enjoy. Good luck to you on your new journey, toward recovery. Depression can take over a life, and a family if it is not dealt with.

Start today by talking with your family physician.

Remember depression is a medical condition. Too often individuals, especially teenagers find being diagnosed with a disease that is categorized as a mental illness hard to cope with.  A person who suffers with the symptoms of depression needs a lot of support, and understanding from their friends, family and co-workers. Depression is a treatable disease, one that can take over a life, if the support is not there.

Take care, & Don't give up!

Symbyax: Bipoloar Depression vs. Unipoloar Depression
http://www.symbyax.com/understanding/bipolar_unipolar.jsp
Accessed on August 31, 2009

http://www.depression-doctor.com/endogenous-depression.htm

A Poem About Depression

Let Me Go

Behind my tears

There is a light

Although it does not show

I am always searching for a way out

Not out of pain

Nor of this dark and dreary despair

But of from myself

I am a prisoner without

The bars and without hope

The words of encouragement comes in tides

Stop feeling down put on a smile

I listen to all that is said

I try and try to lift all the doubt

Underneath there is a light

Hidden very deep I have tried to dig it out

No luck tonight I fear the worst

Let my mind find peace

I could not take another step

My body is broken

My mind is tired

I have lived a good life

But it is my time to go

Just be glad that I am free

I could not live for the moment

Always longing for the day to see their face

To hug them tight

To hear mom I love you

I just could not live each and every day

The way a life should be spent

Please just know my love was so strong

My will was weak

Now I must go

Let me go in peace

by, Katina Marie Woodruff 2007

I wrote this poem during one of my bouts with depression. It was around the holidays, and I was going through a very hard situation one year. Writing the poem gave me a way to self-evaluate. Thankfully, I survived the ordeal and I'm here today to create this hub on depression. I don't think that I'll ever be free of all depression symptoms, (however), from what I have learned from the past, I know that I can get through them. With support, medication, exercise, and mental (exercise), I found a way to be a productive individual, one that has depression.

Creating an emergency call sheet is a valuable task. Just like having the list of babysitters, doctors and local hospitals are good to hang on the refrigerator, so is a list of people a person with depression can contact when they need to talk to someone. Communication can save a life, reaching out can save : your life!

Who to contact about depression?

• Family Care Provider/Doctor
• Therapist
• 1-800 Help Line (Numbers vary to area).
• Local Church
• 911 or other Emergency Number in your area
• Any Hospital in your area.
• Family, Friends, or Neighbors.
• Online Support Group.