Depression life! Is it a state of mind resulting from our perceived losses and failures in life or is it result of the physiological alteration in the anatomy of our brain due to deteriorating brain function.
In a fast paced modernized world of routines, lifestyles, work and domestic pressures, depression is now a common factor affecting millions of people at some point their threat to life . On the other side of the spectrum,
Depression is also a condition faced by the lonely sufferers of old age resulting from diseases like Alzheimer’s and various
mental disorders.
Depression can make one feel a number of things all of which are negative. The feeling of loss, frustration, low self esteem, hopelessness and anxiety and a feeling of profound sadness. All these states are termed as depression which if left unchecked can materialize into physical ailments. It has been diagnosed and scientifically proven that those with mental anxiety can alleviate
gastrointestinal conditions like reflux and acidity. Ulcers can be aggravated by negative emotions of anger and depression.
What Are the Common Emotional Factors That Bring About Depression?
- Loss of loved ones
- Loss of material wealth or job
- Unemployment
- Marriage breakup
- Ridicule and harassment in office
- Financial crisis
- Terminal diseases
- Anxiety disorders
Depression attacks you gradually as a buildup of emotions. Most people are resilient and cope with depression through various methods to divert their minds of the source of their depression. But, there are many who are unable to cope and thus resort to medical and psychiatric help and counseling. The symptoms that can be caused due to depression are many. However there are also early warning signs that reflect a condition of depression
- Depression and the feeling of sadness every morning
- Fatigue during daytime and gentleness
- Guilt and inability to make decisions
- Inability to focus
- Insomnia or excess of sleeping
- Reduced interest in healthy activities
- Fear of death as well as the inclination for suicide
- Obesity and weight gain
- Depression and insomnia
Depression has been linked very seriously to three of the above symptoms.
Insomnia is one such condition that most depressed people face each night. The inability to sleep makes it necessary to resort to sleeping pills whose dosage and strength are required to increase as the conditions worsen.
Depression and Insomnia
Depression and insomnia are interlinked. Medical study has found that stubborn insomnia cases were thrice likely to develop into depressive states. Till recent years medical scientists and psychiatrists were prone to treating either of the two conditions separately. But recent medical findings concluded that both are distinct conditions that overlapped each other thus both were two sides of the same coin.
When depression and insomnia are treated together, both the quality of life and sleep are improved. Insomnia is also regarded as the precursor to depression where bouts of insomnia are regarded as signals of developing depression. In recent studies it was found that when insomniacs were treated by relevant psychotherapy, depression too disappeared with improved quality of sleep.
Depression and eating disorders like obesity
Depression can make a person fat. On the other hand it can also make a person thin. What this means is that depression induces eating disorders that lead either to
dehydration or
obesity.
Depression and eating disorders leading to obesity is a vicious cycle controlled by guilt. Some people, in order to ignore their depressed states start eating relentlessly. Sugar and sweets have a way of making such people feel better but the biggest problem is that with intake of sweet stuff, fat gain is centered on the abdomen. The feelings of guilt then lead one to east more. Alternately, certain cases of depressed patients show signs of
weight gain and fatness despite not eating at all.
Alternately depressive states can lead to patients suffering loss of appetite. Ultimately these lead to conditions such as low blood sugar, low blood reassure. In worse conditions, dehydrations sets in and the patient soon require hospitalization and immediate help.
Depression in seniors
Depression in seniors have a much larger impact than it does on younger persons. In seniors depression is brought upon by life threatening diseases such as heart problems, alzheimers and the likelihood of death are unfortunate factors causing depression that lead to suicide in senior adults.
- Causes of depression in old age
- Terminal disease
- Loss of spouse and social support
- Unemployment or retirement from a job
- Locating to new residences
- Feelings of dependence on others
Such is the seriousness of depression in seniors that in countries like the US, depression has become a matter of grave concern in people over the age of 65. As the likelihood of death approaches, people find the inevitable hard to cope with. As result suicides have been recorded more I the 75 + age group.
Recovery from depression
The greatest possible influence on
depression recovery can come from a patient’s family. Support and improved quality of family relationships can work wonders for depression. However recovery from depression is akin to rehabilitation. The process is a step by step one which takes a patient trough various stages till recovery is complete.
Helping a patient acknowledge a condition is the first step towards recovery, after this psychotherapy sessions with professional counseling. There are three methods to correct depression.
1. Psychotherapy and counseling
2. Medication for both depressions and insomnia
3. Electroconvulsive therapy
Treatment of depression is usually commenced with therapy and counseling sessions. If this doesn’t work, the patients are given medication such as antidepressants and sedatives. In some cases tranquilizers and sleeping pills may be prescribed.
Besides medical treatment which can have their own set of side effects especially if you are prone to allergies and the linked. Patients can develop a healthier lifestyle to cure their depression. A healthy diet, plenty of water and regular physical activity are important and should also come to full terms with their condition. Only when an illness is acknowledged can it be reduced and totally rendered ineffective.
Depression can make one feel a number of things all of which are negative. The feeling of loss, frustration, low self esteem, hopelessness and anxiety and a feeling of profound sadness. All these states are termed as depression which if left unchecked can materialize into physical ailments. It has been diagnosed and scientifically proven that those with mental anxiety can alleviate gastrointestinal conditions like reflux and acidity. Ulcers can be aggravated by negative emotions of anger and depression.
Depression and eating disorders leading to obesity is a vicious cycle controlled by guilt. Some people, in order to ignore their depressed states start eating relentlessly. Sugar and sweets have a way of making such people feel better but the biggest problem is that with intake of sweet stuff, fat gain is centered on the abdomen. The feelings of guilt then lead one to east more. Alternately, certain cases of depressed patients show signs of weight gain and fatness despite not eating at all.
Alternately depressive states can lead to patients suffering loss of appetite. Ultimately these lead to conditions such as low blood sugar, low blood reassure. In worse conditions, dehydrations sets in and the patient soon require hospitalization and immediate help.
