How You Can Help Yourself, or Someone Else Who Suffers From Depression

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 »  Home  »  Health & Beauty  »  Mental Health  »  How You Can Help Yourself, or Someone Else Who Suffers From Depression
How You Can Help Yourself, or Someone Else Who Suffers From DepressionBy Anna Allen |Published 05/19/2006|Mental Health|

How You Can Help Yourself, or Someone Else Who Suffers From Depression

Depression can be a matter of life and death, so help from others is of vital importance. Since depression affects millions of people each year, chances are you may know someone who suffers from this terrible illness.

Helping someone with severe depression can be frustrating at times. Many depressed people don't want to be helped. It's as if they feel they can benefit from being depressed because no one expects anything from them. Some even go as far as to feel that being depressed is easier than dealing with life's problems and trying to improve them. It's important to realize however, that not ALL people who suffer from Depression feel this way.

Many people suffer from depression needlessly all because they won't consult with a Doctor. If you know someone like this it's important that you do what you can to convince them to seek professional care. Let them know that you care and just want to make sure that they are okay. Sometimes if the person won't take the initiative, you may have to make the appointment for them and make sure they get there. Be kind but at the same time, be firm. Helping a friend or relative who suffers from Depression is no easy task, but it can be lifesaving. At times, just knowing you care makes all the difference in the world.

Many people who suffer from Depression feel like they are a burden not only to their family and friends, but also to themselves because they feel as if they are helpless and can't get past their depression. Some even feel ashamed and humiliated. So, instead of getting help, they isolate themselves some more and in turn drift further and further away.

In order to help a person who suffers from Depression, you first need to have empathy for that person. In other words, try to identify emotionally with them. Be sensitive to their feelings and realize that they really are in emotional pain. What they are feeling is real so try to be understanding. NEVER ever tell a depressed person to 'snap out of it.' This simply cannot be done.

Other ways to help a depressed person may be to encourage them to talk. You never want them to keep everything bottled up inside them. Avoid judgemental and critical critical comments. Remember, most depression sufferers have very low self-esteem, so try to restore it by reasoning with them. Ask them why they feel the way they do and really LISTEN when they talk. By showing them this attention you are showing them that you have a genuine interest in wanting to help.

If you are married to someone who suffers from Depression don't automatically assume that you are the cause of the depression. Depression isn't ALWAYS caused by a bad marriage. However, it can be brought on by friction, guilt or a strained or isolated relationship. Always remember that if you are married to someone who suffers from depression and they lash out at you, don't take it personal. Remember the emotional pain they are in. Also remember that in most cases, YOU are not the one they're mad at. Remembering this can help you respond to them in a mild way.

If it's your wife that suffers from depression, take the initiative by helping cook and clean. If there are kids in the family, help by tending to them instead of your wife having to do it. By doing this you are helping in more ways than you know.

So, if you know someone who suffers from Depression, always be patient, show empathy and assist them in any way you can. Be encouraging and let them know you are thinking about them and you care. Send them a letter or card in the mail. Give them a call on the phone, or better yet, pay them a visit, even if it's for a little while. All these little things can mean the world to a person who is depressed. Don't expect someone with depression to get well overnight. It can be a slow process at times. So the best thing to do is to try to prevent it.

If you suffer from Depression and want to prevent or fight it, start by getting plenty of exercise, get proper rest and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoid the 'depressing foods' like chocolate, caffeine or other sugars. Don't build your sense of worth on the love of others, on money, power or your job. Avoid drugs and too much alcohol. Always do the best you can but don't try to be perfect. There is no such thing. And the number one thing you have to remember is to recognize the early symptoms of depression and seek help immediately. By doing these things you can have more success in conquering your depression.

For more information on depression visit Anna's Depression Website at: http://www.depressionadviceonline.com/index.html or visit her Depression Blog which contains helpful articles that are updated daily: http://depressionadviceonline.blogspot.com/.

Anna AllenAnna Allen is the author of several articles on depression and grief. For more information on Depression and dealing with the loss of a loved one visit Anna's website at: http://www.depressionadviceonline.com/index.html or visit her Depression blog which is full of helpful information updated daily at: http://depressionadviceonline.blogspot.com/  

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Handling Severe Depression

Copyright ? 2005 Mark Myhre

As long as I live, I'll never forget the feeling of my mouth wrapped around the cold blue steel of the 6 ? in. barrel of my Ruger Blackhawk .357 single action revolver.

I was so close to pulling the trigger. And nobody ever knew.

It seemed like I could turn on the 'manic' phase at will - and be as friendly and outgoing and talkative as the situation required. But as soon as I was alone again, I'd start sinking down, down, down.

Those days are long gone - and I doubt they're ever coming back. I've found too many tools I can use to feel better. (Mostly because I learned the value of embracing and releasing my emotions!)

But what do you do - when the argument to kill yourself becomes too strong? ...and a little too logical?

"Hey - I gave it my best shot. I tried. God knows I tried. But I failed. This pain will never end. C'mon Mark - you know that. Nothing could be worse than these feelings. You know you'll be doing the world a favor. Go ahead. Get it over with. Do it now..."

You hear that stuff in your head and you start believing it.

When you're in that place of total despair - your options become quite limited.

One option involves taking antidepressants. And under those circumstances - who could blame you?

In my opinion, this may perhaps be the only real situation where taking a depression medication truly qualifies as an appropriate response. Especially if you can't do the second option.

The second option involves understanding the many different emotional levels, and "working your way up the ladder". Climbing up from where you are now, to a different emotional state that feels better.

All emotions exists on a scale, from the most positively expansive down to the most negatively constrictive.

Most of the time, we feel stuck on whatever level we're at - especially when we're on the lower end of the scale.

True depression - along with the thoughts and feelings it generates - lies at the very bottom of this scale. Nothing is worse than severe depression. It's the lowest level of all possible emotional states.

See, when you're truly crushed by depression - you're not likely to just snap out of it and feel wonderful. At best, you'll usually fake it for a short time by going into manic behavior, and then end up right where you started from.

But if you can correctly identify where you're at right now - emotionally speaking - then you have a starting point with which to work. And once you have a starting point, then you can reach and stretch for the best possible thoughts and feelings available to you.

Loneliness is one step up from the crushing weight of depression. When you've reached the total despair of hopelessness and depression - even feeling painfully lonely is a step in the right direction.

Beyond that lies hate and rage. Being consumed with hate is two steps up from depression. Much better to feel hate than to feel depression.

Am I telling you to feel hate?

Yes, if you're currently lonely or depressed, definitely reach for your hate. Not to stay there, but as one step on the emotional ladder.

There's a lot of passion in hate.

If you're *not* lonely, depressed, hopeless, empty or hollow - then don't go for hate!

The goal is to always reach for a better feeling state.

It starts with knowing where you're at right now. It starts with awareness of what you're thinking and feeling.

If you will take a sheet of paper and write out all your thoughts -

and then take another sheet and write down all your feelings -

...you will begin to find your hope. And a tiny bit of your power.

"Going through" your emotions strengthens you. And one way to start going through your emotions is to write them down.

Go through your emotions. You could imagine yourself walking through a minefield or a battlefield, if that's what it takes. Embrace your emotions by walking into them. Release your emotions by walking out the other side. That's one way to embrace and release your emotions.

Anytime you embrace and release your thoughts and feelings - you'll find yourself a tiny bit stronger.

If you're depressed - write it out. Then FEEL what you've written. Then you can reach for loneliness.

If you're lonely, do the same with *those* thoughts and feelings, so you can reach for hate. Not to stay there, but as one step up the ladder.

(See the full list at http://www.emotional-times.com/blog.html)

The key is to STOP AVOIDING those horrible feelings. Instead, go *into* them and out the other side.

That's how you climb the ladder and start feeling better.

Mark Ivar Myhre, The Emotional Healing Wizard, offers unique cutting-edge emotional healing tips, techniques and secrets that teach you how to deal with depression, stress, anxiety, and much more. ==> http://www.join-the-fun.com

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How To Avoid Descent Into Depression

You?ll hear many times that single events can trigger a major episode of stress, depression and anxiety. The key word is ?trigger?, because that is all a single event is. It doesn?t actually CAUSE stress, depression or anxiety but it does trigger a sequence of behaviors that lead to mental trauma.

But how does this happen?

Descent into a stressful, depressive or anxious episode happens because of negative and catastrophic reactions to events you are confronted with. One event by itself simply isn?t enough. There are many chain-reactions that take place before a person becomes highly stressed or depressed or anxious, but I?m going to discuss one of the biggest ones: using one event to ascribe catastrophic meanings to all areas of your life ? I call it ?generalizing?.

Let?s take a look at two events that most, if not all humans, will experience during their lifetime:

1. Loss of a job. 2. Death of a loved one.

Loss of a job is a major event that can trigger depression. Please understand, the job loss itself cannot cause depression. It triggers a number of reactions, especially generalization and here?s how it works:

You lose your job and you start to think in general terms:

?Oh no, this is disastrous! How will I cope now? What will people think of me when I tell them? My job meant the whole world to me, now my world is falling apart. I?m nothing without my job! How will I pay the bills? I won?t be able to get another job and life will become a real struggle. Everything is going wrong and I?ll never be happy again!?

Now, this reaction is typical of how a depressive episode can be triggered by one event. Powerful words ? disastrous, nothing, struggle, everything, never ? will stir fearful emotions within you. Self-esteem is being hit, doubt about your abilities is raised, and a catastrophic prediction of the future is made. The job has also been used to ascribe meaning to your whole life and now it?s gone, a feeling that your life has no meaning is also present.

A similar reaction will happen when you lose a loved one:

?I?m devastated! He/She was my whole world, and now my world has fallen apart. Nothing will ever be the same again, I?ll never be happy and I feel empty inside. Life holds nothing for me anymore and I don?t know how I?ll cope without him/her. ?

Can you see the generalizations? Again, we have powerful, negative and emotionally charged phrases to ascribe meaning: whole world, fallen apart, nothing, never, anymore. And a catastrophic prediction for the future is present again.

In both examples, one event has been carried into all areas of your life. With a job loss, enormous importance has been placed on the job itself and now the job has gone, these general meanings cause you serious distress. It?s the same with losing a loved one. Meanings about your whole life have been placed on one person and their passing means your whole life is affected.

In generalizing like this, descent into mental trauma is inevitable.

To stop it, the key skill of keeping perspective is crucial. This means that you keep an event from one area of your life separate from other areas. For example, if the event is job loss, you react without generalizing:

?OK, I?ve lost my job, but my job is just a way to earn income. It doesn?t mean I won?t find a better job nor does it mean that things will change for the worst. My social and home life will still remain the same and I?ll carry on with my life just as I?ve always done. One chapter in my working life has ended and a new one is about to begin.?

Do you see the difference in how keeping perspective and not using powerful, emotionally charged words and phrases will prevent fearful emotions arising?

Please remember that no change is permanent as nothing lasts forever. Things will come into your life and things will move out of your life. It is the cycle of life. Keep things relevant to the area of your life they affect and you will maintain good mental health no matter what circumstances you are faced with.

Until next time.

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of ?Conquering Stress?, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com
Author publisher and IT Consultant Chris Green started out as a computer operator before starting several successful businesses. He now concentrates exclusively on producing self-help and e-commerce electronic books. 

View all articles by Chris Green

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How to Help a Friend Going Through Postpartum Depression

1.  When I suffered from post partum depression, the best thing anyone did for me was look after my baby so I could either sleep, exercise or hit Starbucks for a decaf and read my favourite magazine. My first born was colicky and I needed a break every now and then.

2. I would suggest you ask your friend, "What do you need right now?", "What would you like more than anything right now?" If she answers, "my bathroom to be cleaned" - by all means do it! :)

3. Some other great things were little gifts like herbal teas and bath soaks to pamper myself. I absolutely loved this peppermint foot spray that Body Shop has. It soothed my aching feet. I also loved a pampering day at the Spa.

4. I had friends cook meals for me that were nutritious and hot. I craved a good hot meal. It took a lot to make a meal so this was SO FABULOUS! I had arranged for 5 friends to alternate meals each week for me. I knew from the first pregnancy that I had to be bold and ask for this kind of help. However, the first time, I was too shy and too afraid to ask. As a result, I was lonely, undernourished and depressed. Ask your friend what her favourite meal is and make it! Or if you aren't a good cook, order it!

5. If you're friend is able, take her for a walk with her new baby. Getting outside was THE BEST thing for me! Find a great park or something with paths away from busy traffic. Walk past a playground so your friend can see happy moms and children playing. This was encouraging to me too.

Warning!: Do talk to your doctor before engaging in any exercise routine.

Visit: http://www.cure-your-depression.com for more helpful info.

Merri Ellen is a former depression sufferer and mother of 2, wife of 1 hubby, owner of 1 cat. Shes beaten it (depression, not the cat) and is on a mission to share the research she spent hours compiling to help others be in the know of what depression really is and how to really treat it. Depression isnt a disease it is a symptom! She invites you to share your stories too. http://www.cure-your-depression.com/  

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5 Facts You Need To Know About Depression

Around 18 million US citizens suffer from stress, depression and anxiety every year and for many of them, understanding why they endure the torment is difficult to establish. This is because of the many ?magic bullet myths? associated with these problems. Here are five such myths along with the root cause as to why stress, anxiety and depression arise.

1. Chemical imbalances within the brain. This is a theory with no proven clinical evidence to support it. The theory alleges that low levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain cause people to suffer from anxiety, stress or depression. Drug therapy is used to treat the imbalance. But there is no test to establish levels of these chemicals before patients are prescribed drugs and therefore, no way of knowing which chemicals are depleted and which ones aren?t. So there?s no way of measuring success either. Another issue: Over seventy percent of people who stop taking antidepressants enter into second and further episodes of stress, anxiety or depression. For another one third, they are totally ineffective. But if chemical imbalances haven?t been proven to cause these problems, why are they being treated?

2. Nutritionally deficient diet, either not eating enough fresh food or eating way too much junk food. There are many people throughout the world who don?t eat a good diet. Most of our forefathers would?ve struggled to eat the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Does this mean all of these people suffered from stress, depression or anxiety? Highly unlikely. And I know people whose diet is largely junk and they don?t suffer from stress, depression or anxiety. Also, does it mean that everybody who eats a nutritionally sound diet won?t suffer from these problems? Again, and I include myself in this, there are people who eat a balanced, nutritionally sound diet but suffer from stress, depression or anxiety. Why?

3. Toxins. The premise here is that as our air is polluted, containing harmful, poisonous or toxic chemicals, the air we breathe is causing more and more people to enter into stressful or depressive episodes. If that is the case, then everybody who lives in a modern city ? New York, LA, Tokyo, Athens, Paris, London, Mexico City, Rome, Berlin, Chicago, Moscow, etc. ? must all be enduring the misery of mental torment because each of them breathe the same polluted air. Is this so? Of course not. And by the same rule, does it mean that if you live outside polluted cities, in coastal towns or villages in the beautiful countryside etc. ? then you?re immune from mental trauma? Certainly it does not.

4. Trauma. This means that if you encounter a traumatic event, say death of a loved one, or moving home or relationship breakdown for example, such an event can cause stress, depression or anxiety. But such events happen to every human being and not all of them become depressed. This means that events cannot cause these problems, but the way we respond to them can.

5. Genetics. If your parents suffered these problems, you will too. This does hold a little truth. Because while there is no genetic link to these problems, you can learn the modes of behavior that cause these problems from parents throughout childhood. So, if your parents reacted to events in their lives in ways that caused them to be stressed, depressed or anxious, you will learn them too. The good news is that just as you learned them you can unlearn them.

The problem with all of the above is that they shift focus from outside yourself to try and find a ?magic bullet? (drugs, diet, events, genetics, toxins) when the answer to them lies within yourself. None of the above can cause depression and therefore, you cannot find a cure by addressing them. Curing stress, depression and anxiety can only be done by treating the root cause and that root cause lies in the way you make sense out of everything in your life.

Once the root cause has been successfully addressed using a combination of knowledge, understanding and personal skills, stress, depression and anxiety will never cause you anguish ever again.

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of ?Conquering Stress?, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com
Author publisher and IT Consultant Chris Green started out as a computer operator before starting several successful businesses. He now concentrates exclusively on producing self-help and e-commerce electronic books. 

View all articles by Chris Green

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Depression - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment options

Depression is a complex of psychological and physical symptoms. Low mood level or sadness is often the most prominent symptom. The common property of these symptoms is a decreased activity level in parts of the brain.

THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

Depression may give one or more of these symptoms:

-Low mood level or sadness.

-Lack of joy or interest in activities that were joyful before.

-Pessimism.

-Feel of guilt of something without any substantial reason to feel so.

-Inferiority thoughts.

-Irritability.

-Slowness in the thought process.

-Slowness in interpreting sensorial stimuli.

-Slowness of digestion or other internal physical processes, and symptoms caused by this slowness, for example inflated stomach, constipation or difficulties by urination.

-Slow physical reactions.

Depression can be a mild disease that only causes some annoyance in the daily life, but can also get very serious and make a person totally unable to work and unable to participate in social life. By depression of some severity, there is also a greater risk of suicide.

Depression can occur in all age classes. In teenagers lack of interest in school work, withdrawal from social life and difficult mood can be signs of depression.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT PRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS

By depression there is a decreased amount of neurotransmitters in parts of the central nervous system, mainly deficiency of serotonin, but also to some extend of noradrenalin, acetylcholine, dopamine or gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), or the nerve cells do not react properly by stimulation from neurotransmitters. A neurotransmitter is a signal substance that transmits the nerve signal through the junctions between two nerve cells.

Serotonin and noradrenalin cause nerve cells to send impulses along to other nerve cells, and thus increase the activity in the brain. Deficiency of these substances causes slowness in parts of the brain, and that again causes the depressive symptoms.

The role of GABA is the opposite, namely to slow down some nerve impulses, mainly those causing anxiety and panic response. Lack of GABA causes higher anxiety and easier panic response. Yet, lack of this transmitter also seems to cause depressive symptoms. This is because a too high activity in some brain processes may slow down other processes.

There are many causes and subtypes of depression with different physiological mechanisms involved.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION

Depression is often divided into subtypes according to exhibited symptoms.

1. Mono-polar depression and dysthymic disorder  

By mono-polar depression there are pure depressive symptoms. Mild cases of mono-polar disorder that do not affect a persons ability to work and to participate in social activities are often called dysthymic disorder.

2. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disease) and cyclothymic disorder

In this condition there are periods with symptoms of depression - the depressive phase, alternating with periods of elevated mood level with increased mental and physical activity - the manic phase. In the manic phase, the affected person also sleeps poorly and has concentration difficulties. A mild form of this disease is called cyclothymic disorder.

3. Manic disorder

This condition is characterized by abnormally elevated mood, by unrealistic optimism, by lack of sleep and by hyperactive behaviour. Many psychiatrists think that this disorder is simply the same disease as bipolar disorder where the depressive face has not yet occurred.

4. Depression with mainly physical symptoms

Sometimes the physical symptoms of depression are alone or dominant, as for example: Digestive problems, constipation, difficulties with urination, slow response to sensorial stimuli or slow physical reactions.

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

Two or more factors can have an effect simultaneously to cause depression. Depression can be an independent disease, or a part of other disease. Depression is also divided into different subtypes according to cause.

1. Reactive depression

This disease is simply a result from psychological stress, physical struggle or mental straining without proper rest or sleep over a long time period. The straining will simply wear out the nervous system or deplete the organism from nutrient necessary for the nervous system to work properly.

2. Endogenous depression

When there has not been any period of stress, straining or lack of rest that can explain the condition, the condition is often called endogenous depression. Inheritance is thought to be a part of the cause.

3. Depression by physical disease

Depression or depressive symptoms may be a symptom of physical disease. This is perhaps the most common cause of depression.

Diseases often associated with depression are: Heart disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, hypertension or Cushing's syndrome.

Mononucleosis or flu may trigger depression that continues after the infection has gone.

By lack of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism, the metabolism in the whole body is slowed down, including the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. Therefore depression is an important symptom of hypothyroidism.

4. Depressive symptoms as a consequence of unsound lifestyle

A general unsound lifestyle with too less exercise, too much of stimulants like alcohol, coffee or tea, too less of important nutrient and too much of sugar and fat may give depressive symptoms, as well as physical problems.

5. Postnatal depression

Women will often have a period of depression after pregnancy and berth of the baby Pregnancy and berth is physically and mentally exhausting, and may drain the body for nutrient. This in turn can cause depressive symptoms

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6. Seasonal affective disorder

Depression can occur in cold and dark periods of the year and go away in warm and light periods. Light stimulates brain activity, and lack of light is a causative factor.

TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION

Serious or prolonged depression is often treated with anti-depressive medication. Medicines used against depression generally increase the level of neurotransmitters like serotonin in the central nervous system, or they mimic the neurotransmitters.

The medications mostly used today increase the serotonin concentration by decreasing the removal of serotonin from the space around nerve cells. Examples of this medication type are: Fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro, Celexa), sentraline (zoloft).

By bipolar disorder in the manic face, heavy tranquilizers (neuroleptica) are used to stop the manic symptoms. By bipolar disorder, lithium salts are sometimes used to stabilize the condition, and prevent new outbreak of depressive or manic faces.

Psychotherapy is sometimes used by depression, usually in combination with medication.

Sometimes serious depression is treated by applying electric shock through the head, electroconvulsive therapy. The shock induces epileptic eruption of nerve signals through the brain and this gives cramps throughout the body. The cramps are alleviated or stopped by applying anaesthesia before the electroshock. This form of treatment is controversial, since it can cause memory loss and is suspected of causing brain damage. The possibility of brain damage is however denied by most psychiatrists.

By seasonal depression, light therapy maybe useful.

Adjustment of lifestyle should always be considered by depression or depressive symptoms. Lifestyle measures can sometimes be enough to cure depressive symptoms before a serious depression develop. Lifestyle adjustments can be:

- To slow down a stressful life with too much work or activities.

- Enough rest and sleep.

- A good diet with enough of necessary nutrients.

- Some physical exercise.

- Meditation.

- Supplement of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, lecithin, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

- Stimulants like coffee or tea may help against depressive feelings in moderate amount. However, if you are a heavy user of these stimulants, you should cut down on your consumption.

There exist nutritional products in the marked to help against depressive symptoms. These contain ingredients that the brain uses as building blocks for neurotransmitters, for example amino acids and lecithin. They also often contain vitamins and minerals that the brain uses as tools to produce neurotransmitters, especially vitamin B6.

Supplements may further contain herbal extracts that trigger higher brain activity much like anti-depressive medications, but may have fewer side effects.

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Knut Holt is an internet consultant and marketer focusing on health items. Please see his web-site for natural erotic products, natural drugs to solve mens and womens problems, anti-aging products and products against common ailments, for example digestive trouble, haemorrhoids, hypothyroidism, edema, over-weight, acne, circulation impairments, urinary problems and more:---- http://www.panteraconsulting.com/ 

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You Can Deal With Your Depression

Depression is a common worldwide problem affecting people of all ages, races and every social and economic level. Each year over 100 million people worldwide suffer from severe depression. In fact, it is so widespread that it has been labeled 'The Common Cold of Mental Illness.'

Despite being so widespread, depression is also one of the most treatable illnesses out there.

If you want to deal with your depression and fight it, you have to first:

Analyze the reasons for your condition.

Truly examine your inner feelings and motives. Quit mentally beating yourself up for feeling the way you do and try to concentrate on getting well.

Ask yourself if things are really 'all that bad' and if the circumstances warrant your depressed feelings. If your depressed mood lingers, it's a good idea to:

Visit your Doctor

Many times depression can have a physical cause, so your doctor can check to see if you have some sort of metabolic disturbance. He can also check for anemia, low blood sugar, diabetes, mononucleosis, or some other illness that could be contributing to weakness and discouragement.

If your situation is extreme and persists, you may want to have the disorder treated by a professional who specializes in depression so he can see how much of your depression lies in your own mental attitude and see what influence in you life brings about that 'down' feeling.

Depression is not in itself proof of mental weakness so don't keep silent because of embarrassment. The most important thing you can do to fight your disorder is:

Talk to someone about it.

No one can know how you feel unless you open up and talk about it. Just getting it off your chest can bring relief. By confiding in someone who is empathetic and can help, many times you find that you are not alone and that others have gone through the same thing. They can even help you by telling you how they dealt with it. So talking to an understanding person many times can help you to deal with your depression, so try not to bottle up all those troubling emotions which will only make your depression worse.

Another way to deal with your depression is to:

Build your self esteem and recognize how valuable you really are.

There's a saying that goes: 'To the world, you may be one person; But to one person, you may be the world.'

That saying is so true!

Many times those who suffer from depression experience feelings of worthlessness. Many of them had an unhappy childhood filled with abuse, whether it was physical, emotional or even sexual. Because of their troubled past, many are left with severe emotional scars. The important thing to remember is that none of the emotional scars change a person's worth. So when we're feeling worthless, just keeping in mind the saying above. More importantly, always remember that all of us are valuable in God's eyes.

Remember, God is our loving creator. He cares for us and will give us the strength needed to endure our emotional pain. Even if we've been fighting depression and putting forth an honest effort to overcome it, we should never give up and think we'd be better off dead. Suicide is NEVER the answer. No situation is hopeless.

Never stop praying

God's Word the Bible tells us to 'throw our burdens on the Lord and he himself will sustain us.' (Psalms 55:22.) So never stop praying and asking God for help. His word tells us that he will give us 'the power beyond what is normal' (2 Cor. 4:7b.) so that we can endure our emotional pain.

It should also bring us comfort knowing that God has promised that our depression will not last forever. He promises that 'death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore' (Rev. 21:3, 4). What a comforting thought!

In conclusion, no matter how long you've been suffering and no matter what your problem is, I hope, with this article, I've been able to provide you with helpful and comforting information so that You Can Deal With Your Depression.

To Your Health,

Anna

For more information on depression visit Anna's Depression Website at: http://www.depressionadviceonline.com/index.html or visit her Depression Blog which contains helpful articles that are updated daily: http://depressionadviceonline.blogspot.com/.

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Bipolar Depression Versus Clinical Depression

An estimated ten percent of all Americans suffer from some form of depression during their lives. This figure varies but is pretty much the same worldwide. There are a few areas of the world that depression seems to have missed, but not many. Depression in general affects the way we behave from our sleeping patterns up to the way we think and live life.

The difference between depression and bipolar depression is in the severity and frequency. Depression alone is often brought about by life circumstances, while bipolar depression is chemically- induced and the flip side of mania. The depression and mania come in cycles, regardless of the circumstances in a person's life.

While those suffering clinical depression are at risk of using drugs or alcohol to alleviate their symptoms, the risk is greater in those with bipolar depression. A person who knows the highs of mania may try to recreate the feeling when they are depressed or "stable". Drugs often help create that high for a short time. This puts the person at risk of adding drug addiction to the bipolar disorder.

Treatment of the two types of depression also varies. Those suffering from clinical depression are prescribed anti-depressants alone. Those with bipolar depression, however, are often given a mood stabilizer first, and an antidepressant as a second choice if needed. Both medications adjust the brain chemicals to alleviate the depression, but the mood stabilizer also helps the person keep from going too far in the other direction and becoming manic.

To the person suffering depression, it feels the same regardless of what causes the mood. The important part knowing the difference plays is mainly in treatment options. A person suffering bipolar depression is at risk of becoming manic if only the depression is treated. This in itself creates additional problems.

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Dysthymic Depression

Dysthymic Disorder is a low-grade and yet chronic depression characterized by feelings of sadness or depression associated with lack of interest to do things and including some physical symptoms such as lack of energy, sleep, and concentration.

This is a type of clinical depression that is supposed to be "milder" than Major Depressive Disorder because the symptoms don't necessarily happen everyday. Unlike patients who suffer from MDD, Dysthymic patients are not bed-bound, still able to work, and do not appear to be sick. But most of these individuals complain that they haven't felt "normal" or "happy" for a long time.

Moreover, Dysthymic Disorder shows itself by lack of drive and motivation. Hence, relatives and friends tend to misinterpret the person's mood. Some patients endure the stigma of being considered "lazy" or not "motivated enough" to do worthwhile goals.

As time passes by, patients with this disorder have difficulty functioning. But because they still appear normal, the illness is not recognized and patients don't get treated early. A lot of times, they are not referred to a psychiatrist.

Patients experience considerable emotional turmoil. In fact, some dysthymic patients eventually develop a more serious depression called Major Depressive Disorder. When "double depression" (dysthymic disorder and major depression occurring together) happens, patients are so depressed that they become a threat to themselves and become functionally impaired. At this time, psychiatric hospitalization becomes necessary.

So Dysthymic Disorder is a serious health problem that should be recognized and treated promptly. It is an illness that somehow hides its existence from everyone including clinicians and patients themselves.

Dysthymic disorder can be treated by antidepressants and psychotherapy. Most patients respond to treatment although some still suffer despite adequate treatment. Also, there are some individuals who only respond minimally. As such, this illness can be more challenging to treat than others.

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Men and Depression

Men and women suffer depression almost equally. Men, however, are taught that any need for help shows weakness. They are, however, at greater risk for depression-related illnesses and suicide because they hide what is going on from everyone, often even denying it to themselves.

Most men hide their depression by trying to cover their feelings. They most often do this with drugs, alcohol, sex, or work. Depression shows in men not as helpless or hopeless, but as angry, frustrated, and other aggressive feelings. Men are less likely to seek treatment than women and they are less likely to admit that they have a problem.

Depression and men is a silent battle that barely makes a rumble until the battle is over. The drugs and the smiles and the carrying on and acting hide many of the typical signs of depression from others. It's hard to pick up on the signs of depression if you are close to the person, and it's even harder if they are trying to cover the feelings up.

If you notice that a loved one is showing any of the typical depression signs like oversleeping or not sleeping, tension, or uncontrollable anger (in the case of men) you should address the topic and let the person know that you care about them and that you are ready to listen when they are ready to talk. It's important not to push the issue and just let things run their course with men.

If you are a man who is depressed, there are a few things you can do to help yourself:

*Talk about how you feel

*Stay active (Find an activity that you enjoy)

*Give yourself a break to do something you enjoy

*Find a way to relax at the end of a busy day

*Try to eat properly.

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The Types of Depression

Depression can take many forms. Seasonal affective disorder, clinical depression, and bipolar depression and postpartum depression are all commonly diagnosed types of depression. Conditions such as substance abuse or an eating disorder may be confused with depression, and can make any form of depression rather hard to diagnose. Other conditions can worsen a case of depression.

The following are some very common forms of depression.

One of the major types of depression is bipolar depression (also known as manic depressive illness). Bipolar depression is commonly recognized as someone experiencing being overly happy, then suddenly becoming horribly depressed.

One of the major types of depression that women are known to suffer from is postpartum depression. This takes place right after giving birth to a baby.

A common subtype of depression is seasonal affective disorder. This form of depression seems to be tied to the way people react to the amount of sunlight that is available to them each day.

A very serious form of the many types of depression is psychotic depression. Those that suffer from psychotic depression very often hallucinate. This is one of the most dangerous types of depression and often there is a need for someone else to jump in and help.

People that seem to be suffering constantly from a mild form of depression are likely to be suffering from dysthymia.

Another of the many types of depression that are very commonly suffered by women is atypical depression. Experiencing things like panic attacks, overeating, and sleeping disturbances commonly mark this form of depression.

No matter which one of the many types of depression you might be suffering from, knowing the difference between them is the best way to get the best possible treatment. Discuss any signs of depression with your doctor and work with him to find the treatment that is best suited for you.

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