Depression Basics
Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives. Many people feel like they have no energy and can't concentrate. Others feel irritable all the time for no apparent reason. The symptoms vary from person to person, but if you feel "down" for more than two weeks, and these feelings are interfering with your daily life, you may be clinically depressed.
Most people who have gone through one episode of depression will, sooner or later, have another one. You may begin to feel some of the symptoms of depression several weeks before you develop a full-blown episode of depression. Learning to recognize these early triggers or symptoms and working with your doctor will help to keep the depression from worsening.
Most people with depression never seek help, even though the majority will respond to treatment. Treating depression is especially important because it affects you, your family, and your work. Some people with depression try to harm themselves in the mistaken belief that how they are feeling will never change. Depression is a treatable illness.
Life with depression
Working with your doctor, you can learn to manage depression. You may have to try a few different medications to find the one that works best for you. Your doctor may also recommend that you see a therapist and/or make certain lifestyle changes.
Change won't come overnight—but with the right treatment, you can keep depression from overshadowing your life.
Also of Interest
See how depression affects the brain.
Do you know the common symptoms of depression? Try this questionnaire.
The information below is from www.revolutionhealth.com For more helpful information please just click on the web address and you will be linked directly to this site. We want to offer you as much hope and encouragement as we possibly can, which is why we have place so many links on our site. We hope that this is a help to you and your loved ones. As you see with each paragraph more information is offered, in blue type. Simply click on a specific option and you will go directly to that specific page.
Anxiety symptoms
Experiencing anxiety is normal from time to time. However, in some people, anxiety can be a larger issue and interfere with daily functioning. Generalized anxiety disorder causes excessive or unrealistic anxiety, usually without a specific impetus.
Read about anxiety symptoms
Reader's Digest presents: Want some sleep? Kill the stress
Stress affects the body in myriad ways, including keeping you awake when you need to be asleep. Women who struggle with anxiety are far more likely to have insomnia than men who have anxiety, according to a recent Finnish study. Find out what works — and doesn't work — in the fight against insomnia.
Read more
Causes of Depression
Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things. You may have no idea why depression has struck you.
Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.
Some of the more common factors involved in depression are:
- Family history. Genetics play an important part in depression. It can run in families for generations.
- Trauma and stress. Things like financial problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can bring on depression. You can become depressed after changes in your life, like starting a new job, graduating from school, or getting married.
- Pessimistic personality. People who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed. These traits may actually be caused by low-level depression (called dysthymia).
- Physical conditions. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on. Depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear. In some cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat medical conditions.
- Other psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance abuse often appear along with depression.
Also of Interest
See how depression affects the brain.
It's normal to feel shock, anger, sadness, or other emotions—even relief—when you’re diagnosed with depression. Listen to two patients describe their reactions.
More about anxiety
Find out more about a topic related to anxiety — including how to cope with it — plus discover additional resources.
Get more information about anxiety
Symptoms of depression
Depression is an illness that causes persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It's not something you can "snap out of" and usually requires medical attention. The good news is that it's highly treatable.
Depression symptoms
Depression treatment
Depression is a treatable illness. There are many medications — including newer antidepressants — that are effective. Therapy is also a very useful tool in treating depression. Other treatment options are also available.
Read more
Dig deeper: More information about depression
Taking good care of yourself is important for everyone, but it's especially so if you're living with depression. Getting lots of rest, talking to a friend or therapist, exercising and eating right can all help.
Read more
Life with depression
Read about one woman's personal take on depression. Marti Johnson chronicles her experience living with depression, expressing her opinion about managing her depression and sharing what is working well for her.
Read her blog
Information below comes from www.encourageconnection.com Please go to this site for more information and encouragement
Panic Attacks
| Do you experience sudden episodes of intense and overwhelming fear that seem to come on for no apparent reason? |
| During these episodes, do you also experience several of the following: |
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| During these episodes, do you have the urge to flee, or the feeling that you need to escape? |
| During these episodes, do you think something terrible might happen-that you might die, have a heart attack, suffocate, lose control, or embarrass yourself? |
| Do you worry a lot about these episodes or fear that they will happen again? And, does this fear cause you to avoid places or situations that you think might have triggered the attack? If you answered yes to most of these questions, chances are you are suffering from panic disorder. If so, you are not alone. NIH Publication No. 94-3641 Additional information can be found on our General Info web page. |
| Symptoms of a panic attack can include: Light headedness, dizziness, racing heartbeat, chills or warmth, numbness and tingling in the extremities, "jelly legs", distorted vision, chest pain, feeling as though you may faint, sense of impending doom, fear of dying or going crazy, fear of losing control, feelings of unreality, a strong urge to run or flee. |
| Panic attacks are not considered dangerous; one does not die or go crazy as a result of a panic attack. |
| Just as there are differing opinions regarding the cause of panic, there are differing opinions as to the best treatment. Treatment options include cognitive/behavioral therapy and medication, among other modalities used today. Panic disorder and agoraphobia are considered highly treatable. |
| Genetic studies are underway to determine if individuals have a hereditary predisposition to panic attacks. |
| Agoraphobia may occur without panic attacks although agoraphobia most often develops as an avoidance response to panic attacks and the feelings of anxiety. Agoraphobia is sometimes called the "fear of fear" since agoraphobics actually avoid places or situations where he/she fears a potential attack, particularly where he/she might feel "trapped" or less able to get quickly to their "safe place or safe person." |
| Agoraphobics are not necessarily housebound. Limitations vary from person to person. |
| Agoraphobics are said to share similar personality traits: people-pleasing behavior, difficulty in expressing anger, highly imaginative, creative, easily moved to emotion, perfectionistic, sensitive, and intelligent. Counseling and/or special programs developed for agoraphobics can aid in developing appropriate assertive behavior, expression of emotions, greater self-esteem, and so forth, to better manage stress and anxiety. |
| (The above data is but a small portion of the available information on these subjects.) |
| What is Agoraphobia? Family Member With An Anxiety Disorder? |
