Depression Tips

Understanding Depression

January 4th, 2008

Depression may be defined as various feelings or combination of feelings such as sad, down, discontented, fed-up, or low. Generally people feel this at once or for short periods. When mood disorder in which feelings of wretchedness, failure, antagonism, or annoyance get in the way of daily life for a long time is termed as exact medical depression.

Substitute Names

Discouragement; Dejection; Sadness; Dimness; Downhearted; Mood changes

Degree and Symptoms

Depression can be grade in terms of severity — meek, moderate, or severe. The level of your depression can determine how you’ll be treated.

Following are the symptoms of depression:

• Extreme sleeping or trouble sleeping
• A striking change in appetite results in weight gain or loss
• Exhaustion and Tiredness
• Feeling of triviality, self - abhorrence, and inapt guilt
• Acute difficulty in concentrating
• Anxiety, impatience, and bad temper
• Lack of interest and withdrawal from typical activities
• Feelings of despair and vulnerability
• Chronic thought of death or suicide

Low down self esteem is common along with depression. Similar are unexpected burst of anger and lack of delight from activities that usually makes you happy, including sex.

The main types of depression include

• Major depression – In depression, 5 or more above listed symptoms must be there for at least 2 weeks, but in case of major depression, the symptoms are likely to continue for at least 6 months. (When less than five symptoms of depression are there for at least 2 weeks then such depression is classified as minor depression.)
• Dysthymia – it is a chronic and milder form of depression but it remains for a long time — generally as long as for 2 years.
• Uncharacteristic depression - depression accompanied by atypical symptoms, such as illusion (such as, hearing sounds that are not really there) or delusion (illogical thoughts).

Other forms of depression incorporate:

• Postpartum depression – some women feel a bit down after having a baby, but accurate postpartum depression is not very common.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder - depressive symptoms arise one week prior to menstruation and depart after menstruate.
• Seasonal affective disorder - crop up during the season of fall-winter and disappears during the season of spring-summer, probably due to the lack of sunlight.

Depression is more widespread in women than men, especially for the duration of the teen years. Men seem less often than women to seek help for feelings of depression. Thus, women have more cases of depression then men.

General Causes

Depression can also be genetic in some cases. This may be from learned behavior, heredity, or both. Even with a genetic tendency, it is usually a tense or sorrowful life that starts a depressive period.

Following may be the sources of Depression:

• Frustration at home, school or work (especially in teenagers, this may be due to failing a class, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or unpleasant family atmosphere)
• Sudden demise of a friend or family member

Home Care

If your depression prolonged for 2 weeks or more then you should consult your doctor, who recommend treatment option. In any case of mild or major depression, the following self - care steps can help:

• Take sufficient sleep.
• Take a healthy, nutritious diet.
• Regular exercise.
• Avoid recreational drugs like alcohol, marijuana, and others.
• You may add cold water fish like tuna, salmon, or mackerel to your diet which are a rich source of mega-3 fatty acids.
• Take vitamin B9 (folate) in the type of a multivitamin 400 to 800 micrograms.

Tags:  atypical symptoms bad temper Depression major depression striking change symptoms of depression types of depression

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Entry Filed under: Depression