Depression Support Blog

Is it just headache or knock of depression?

admin — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:08:55 +0000

Headache means pain and depression means sadness both are different but if any human being is suffer form both problem then it difficult to diagnosis. Headaches and depression both are just terrible. Headaches happen because of major depression. Everybody want a proper treatment for headache and depression.

The headache and depression both are complicated because headaches can lead to depression but those who suffer from depression absolutely they have the headaches problem. There are many type of headaches primary headaches which related with illnesses, tension, brain disorders, migraine headaches and cluster headaches. Headache occur because of more depression. Depression which extremely affects on your feelings, moods and causes physical problems. Depression occur when you are very sad or medical illness such as asthma or diabetes. Depression can take place once in a lifetime or it possibly ongoing on a constant basis. Depression is major problem for every human being and main symptoms of depression is headache.

Symptoms of Depression

Depressed mood with thoughts of helplessness, sadness and hopelessness.
Decreased enthusiasm.
Loss of interest in the normal enjoyable activities.
Difficulty in concentration.
Sleep disturbances.
Difficult in making any decisions.
In depression you lot your self-esteem.

Symptoms of Headache

Sinus nose diseases.
Tiredness.
Tension.
Stare angrily
Smoking and Stress.
Reactions of certain foods.
Hormonal imbalances.
Genetic predisposition.
Irritation in the neck muscles.
Low energy.
Noise.
Frequent thoughts of death.
Lack of confidence.

Chiropractic is most famous treatment for headache. Chiropractice treatment is use when human being is suffer from post-shocking, tension type and migraine headaches. Acupuncture is another treatment for headache. Biofeedback is called as relaxation therapies useful for those who suffer from migraine and also who suffer from headache pain. Exercise regularly will help you to reduce your stress. For constant headaches then please consult your physician. Aroma therapy and meditation both are helpful for headache and also for depression. Avoid continues taking pain relief drugs. Eat a healthy balanced diet which will maintain your health. Daily yoga also helpful for headache and depression.

Is depression being over diagnosed?

admin — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:27:56 +0000

A new study has raised the question whether or not too many people are being diagnosed as having depression. While Professor Gordon Parker, a psychiatrist from Australia says that the threshold for clinical depression is too low, Professor Ian Hickie says otherwise.
Prof Parker carried out a study, following 242 teachers. 15 years into the study, he noted that 79% of the people had met the symptom duration criteria for major, minor or sub-syndrome depression. This caused him to conclude that it is normal to be depressed, reports the BMJ. He also warned that over diagnosis of clinical depression could lead to a diagnosis of it becoming less creditable.

However, Prof Hickie states that if increased diagnosis and treatment has actually led to demonstrable benefits and is cost effective, and then it is not yet being over diagnosed. He insists that diagnosis and treatment has led to a reduction in suicides and increased productivity. He also adds that due to this, there has been a reduction in the stigma attached to being depressed.

Now, they say stress is bad for your teeth!

admin — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:22:50 +0000

Stress is bad not only for your blood pressure and your heart, but also, as it turns out , for your mouth, a literature review has found. The review was conducted by Daiane Peruzzo, PhD, who found that 57% of studies included in the review showed appositive relationship between periodontal diseases and psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Researchers speculate that the hormone cortisol may play a role in the possible connection between stress and periodontal disease. A previous study had found that increased level of cortisol can lead to increased destruction of the gums and jawbone due to periodontal disease. It is well known that periodontal disease, if left untreated, can ultimately lead to bone loss or tooth loss.

“Individuals with high stress levels tend to increase their bad habits, which can be harmful to periodontal health. They are less attentive to their oral hygiene and may increase their use of nicotine, alcohol or drugs, “explained Preston d Miller, Presidence American Academy of periodontology.

“Patient should seek healthy way to relieve stress through exercise, balanced eating, plenty of sleep, and maintaining a positive mental attitude, “he added.
Peruzzo now calls for more research to be done in this field.” More research is needed to determine the definitive relationship between stress and periodontal diseases,” she said.
“However, patients who minimize stress may be at a lesser risk for periodontal diseases,” she added.
The review appears in the August issue of the journal of periodontalogy.

How does STRESS lead to depression in melancholic and psychotic depression?

admin — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:12:24 +0000

The brain is made up of anatomical sections and numerous circuits (the latter like railroad tracks). If, for example, the basal ganglia (the brain centres refining motor performance) and the pre-frontal cortex (a structural region at the front of the brain) are disrupted, there are three principal effects: depressed mood, observable PMD and cognitive problems.
Disruption of these circuits can occur in response to stress or even spontaneously. We can presume that certain neurotransmitters (these modulate mood and other mental states) have been ‘turned off’. Many factors may influence neurotransmitter function.
In melancholic depression (and, less clearly in psychotic depression) there is often a family history of depression, suggesting a genetic influence. People with melancholic depression will commonly report a significant stress prior to their first, or first few, episodes. Subsequent episodes tend to appear more spontaneously and are less clearly related to stressful events. Therefore, certain genetic influences may create a vulnerability that initially requires a stress event to trigger the depressive state.
Physics provides a useful analogy with Hookes’ Law, which states that if elastic objects are stretched within their limitations, they will ‘bounce back’ to their previous state. If, however, they are stretched beyond a certain point, their elasticity is lost. In melancholic depression, for example, it seems that initial elasticity allows the vulnerable individual to be unaffected by stressful events-for a period at least. However, once a formal episode has occurred, the elasticity is lessened and future episodes may occur without the individual being ’stretched’ or ’stressed’. Vulnerability has been manifested and is no longer latent.
Certain drugs and some diseases can also act like environmental stressors, in that they have the capacity to disrupt some of the brain’s neural circuits linking the basal ganglia and pre-frontal cortex (presumably by using differing pathways and affecting mechanisms). In older people, the effects of the aging brain may disrupt the circuits in other ways. There are parallels between these depressive conditions and Parkinson’s disease (which causes changes in the basal ganglia and other parts of the brain), including depression and a movement disorder.
These parallels provide some understanding of biological depressive disorders such as melancholia. In psychotic melancholia, the disruptions in the brain’s circuitry are more severe and extend to other brain circuits and regions, causing delusions and hallucinations as well as severe PMD.

How does STRESS lead to depression in the non-melancholic disorders?

admin — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:11:23 +0000

The Mood Disorders Unit suspects that non-melancholic disorders are primarily caused by psychological processes reflecting an interaction between stress and the individual’s personality. A central feature of ‘depression’ is loss of one’s self-esteem (that is, thinking less of oneself or being increasingly self-critical). Any event, therefore, that impacts on an individual’s sense of self-worth risks precipitating depression.
A common stress event to impact on self-esteem is the break-up of an intimate relationship. The event itself is irrelevant- it is the individual’s response to the event that is crucial.
Consider an individual who responds to a marital break-up with, ‘My wife has left me for another man as she thinks I’m a jerk, and everything recently just confirms what a hopeless human being I am.’ Contrast this with somebody who says, ‘My wife-what a jerk-has left me. Great. I can get on with life again.’ The chance of developing depression is greater for the first respondent than the second. This is because the event differed in terms of its impact on each individual’s self-esteem levels or because they ‘processed’ the event differently as a result of their differing personalities.
Stressful events can be acute (a marital break-up) or ongoing (a dysfunctional marriage), but both have an impact on an individual’s self-esteem.
Many people who develop a non-melancholic disorder have such a low ongoing self-image, or their personality type is such, that any stressful event is likely to trigger depression. In a sense, some people actually create their own triggers. For example, a woman who thinks that everyone rejects her may misinterpret a remark at a party and become immediately and distinctly depressed.

Foods That De-Stress

admin — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 06:51:37 +0000

Stress is the bane of today’s society and plays havoc on our physical and mental makeup. Psychological stress activates the adrenal glands to discharge stress hormones called cortisol, which help us survive the stress but are harmful to our health. When a person is exposed to prolonged periods of stress, he can develop ailments like high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, cancer and various immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, depression etc.
Food has a profound effect on both mind and body. Health is a reflection of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. A person with a disturbed mind cannot have a healthy body because the mind is the monitor of our physical health. Research at the National Institutes of Health in the USA has been looking at how stress affects the mind and body. One of the scientists, Dr. Pamela Peeke, focussed her work on the relationship between stress and weight gain. It was found that people who are stressed out often turn to food for solace, and eat more than normal. Dr. Peeke found that the stress released fat accumulation can begin in people as young as 20.
Stress is one of the largest killers of mankind, today. It is the cause of most of our illnesses, whether physical or mental. Stress has a very negative impact on our digestive system. The body can assimilate the nutrients from food only when the mind is in a relaxed condition. No matter what you eat, if the mind is disturbed, your body will not gain any benefits from the nutritive components of your food.
There are, however, a few foods that help the body cope with the demands made by stress. When the body is under stress the demand for nutrients is more as key nutrients are burned up faster. In order to derive the maximum benefits from a nourishing diet, one needs to follow three essential steps-
• Eat under a stress-free and pleasant atmosphere.
• Eat just enough to repress hunger; overeating can be hazardous. Overload the digestive system by overeating and it will make you lethargic, sleepy and inactive.
• In case you suffer from excessive stress, eat foods that counteract stress.

Foods that Counteract Stress

admin — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:18:33 +0000

During stress, the body needs more of certain nutrients because they are burned up faster than usual. Stress increases the demand for vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex, proteins, magnesium, antioxidants and essential oils. To counteract the stress effects, one needs more of these nutrients.
There is a high concentration of vitamin C in our brain tissues, more than any other tissue in the body. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, that is used up quickly during stressful periods. One needs to cater to the high demand for this vitamin during high levels of stress. An amount between 500-1,000 milligrams would be required to combat the stress after-effects. The best sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits like oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin A is another requirement during times of stress. It is needed for maintenance of skin, mucous membranes, bones, teeth and hair, eyesight, and reproduction. Vitamin A may also protect against cancer. Liver (especially fish liver), egg yolk, fortified margarine, oily fish, oranges, apricots, carrots, tomatoes, melons, and dark green leafy vegetables contain this vitamin in abundance.
Magnesium is found in dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain foods, legumes, milk.
Proteins are of two types - animal protein and vegetable protein. Animal protein can be found in foods like meat, fish, egg and all dairy products, while vegetable protein is found in grains, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds and sprouted seeds.
Stress increases the generation of free radicals in the body, which are the main cause of cancer. The only elements that can fight free radicals are antioxidants, found in plenty in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli etc. They are rich in bio-flavinoids, which are powerful antioxidants. During stressful times, the body generates a whole lot of free radicals, which cause harm to the body cells. Bio-flavinoids protect the body against cell damage caused by free radicals.
Another important source of antioxidants is green tea. It contains an abundance of polyphenols which are active agents protecting against heart disease and cancer. The polyphenols also protect against the damages caused by stress. Chamomile tea is a powerful anti-stress agent. It relaxes and soothes the mind and promotes sound sleep.
Fruits are an essential ingredient, which could provide the required amounts of antioxidants required to counteract stress.
They contain simple sugars and complex carbohydrates, which help raise the serotonin levels in the bloodstream. Serotonins are the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters, which elevate mood and fight depression.
Vegetable and fruit juices are also a good source of antioxidants. A regular glass of any fruit juice or vegetable juice can go a long way in helping the body cope with the detrimental effects of stress.

Emotional equilibrium

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:56:38 +0000

Emotional equilibrium is a state of stable balance, such that any disturbance from outside tends to be corrected.
Let’s assume that everyone has an internal ‘regulating machine’ that requires ‘resetting’ after an upsetting event, but the great majority return to emotional equilibrium within days (that is, they have a ‘normal’ depressed mood state). Some people, however, are unable to reset their mechanism easily, thus losing their ‘emotional equilibrium’. They remain essentially ‘stuck’. Their personality styles and ways of dealing with events ‘sustain’ the depression, rather than enabling them to ‘get over it’.
So how can equilibrium be lost? There are two main ways:
1. The machinery can fail; for example, if the keel on a yacht breaks off, the yacht will capsize.
2. A ‘positive feedback loop’ can develop. This means that two or more factors can influence each other to such a degree that a small disturbance leads to a further disturbance. This loop is sometimes also called a ‘vicious circle’. An example of feedback occurs when a microphone is put too close to a speaker. A small noise from the speaker is amplified into the mike, and further amplified by the speaker. While the feedback loop can be of use to create musical effects, such reverberation (mulling over and rumination) is not useful for humans.

Treatment for Schizophrenia

admin — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:46:30 +0000

• Schizophrenia is a disease that is managed rather than cured. Although it may be effectively treated with medication and help from many quarters, it is usually a chronic disorder and the risk of a relapse is always present. After a first about of a schizophrenic illness, many people will be unable to pursue the job they were doing at a high level and many are at risk of becoming less functionally able than they were.
• Although family and friends are the first to realize that the person has a mental problem, the sufferer is often relived to get medical assistance. If the person has sought help early, then medication may be enough, with family support, to restore a good level of normal functioning. Frequently, however, the first time the problem is faced head-on is when a crisis has occurred. The person may refuse to talk, or eat, or is constantly in fear, or is hearing voices. Under these circumstances, a doctor may feel that the person with schizophrenia requires hospitalization. The sufferer may have to be committed to hospital involuntarily under the mental health Act, after assessment by a consultant psychiatrist and approved social worker. In these circumstances, the safety of the sufferer and those around him is of paramount importance. During the early days in hospital strong sedation may be necessary to prevent dangerous situation arising and to enable the sufferer to sleep. Quite quickly people with schizophrenia view hospital as a safe place and agree to stay there voluntarily while receiving treatment.
• On discharge a sufferer will need support from friends, relatives and often community psychiatric nurses. Talking to others with the illness and with community psychiatric nurses may be of great help. Doctors and psychiatrists will be available if relatives need assistance. Rehabilitation and adjusting to life back in the community take varying lengths of time, which is true of any illness.
Exercise is a very good relaxant and a way of helping restore normality. Relaxation therapies, especially tapes and music, yoga, aromatherapy, reflexology, and Indian head massage may also be of great benefit.

How quickly do antidepressants work?

admin — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 11:42:17 +0000

Most treatment guidelines suggest that antidepressants may take many weeks to work. It is argued that even if the current treatment seems ineffective, it should be persisted with for several weeks or even months. The Mood Disorders Unit interprets the evidence differently.
If medication is likely to be effective, evidence of at least some improvement should appear in the first ten days or so, whether it is an improvement in mood, sleep, or other features. For melancholic and psychotic depression, the rate of improvement is generally slower (but relatively constant). It may, in fact, appear painfully slow.
If no improvement is noted in the first two weeks after commencing an antidepressant, the dose of that drug may need to be increased, a change to another class of antidepressant may be required, or ‘augmenting’ strategies (the addition of quite differing drugs) may need to be introduced. Unfortunately, when changing from one drug to another, days to weeks may pass before success can be established. It might also be the case that non-drug strategies will be more effective in bringing the depression to an end.

Augmentation of antidepressant drugs
The effectiveness of some antidepressants can be increased by the use of adjunctive or augmentation drugs, for example, thyroid hormones or lithium.
There is increasing evidence to suggest that the new ‘atypical’ antipsychotic drugs may also have augmenting effects on antidepressants, often working rapidly and also being able to be ceased rapidly in many instances. While not investigated formally, the benefits of such augmenting drugs may only be relevant to melancholic and psychotic depression.