Depression

Depression happens to everyone from time-to-time. Breaking up with a boyfriend, losing a family pet, not receiving that much-anticipated promotion can all effect emotions.  The old saying which goes “Money buys happiness?”  Don’t believe it.

In her book On The Edge of Darkness, author Kathy Cronkite explores the many stages of depression that plague the famous and the not-so-famous. Conversations with people such as Kitty Dukakis, Rod Steiger, Dick Clark, and the daughter of John Belushi all point to major bouts of depression affecting them.

It used to be believed that people who were depressed were thought to be controlled by evil spirits. When church exorcisms failed to lift the “spirits” other alternatives or treatments were eventually sought. 

Today, depression is known as a whole-body disease. Someone who is depressed expects failure in their lives. This type of thinking if it goes untreated can result in failure even in suicide.

What are the types of depression?

Seasonal depression- can be treated with different lighting throughout the home.
Bipolar Depression- people who are bipolar are afflicted with major bouts of depression.
Major Depression- the most severe form of depression, one that cannot be easily overcome.
Dysthymic Disorder- a longer form of depression that is resistant to treatment and clings to the victim tenaciously.
Unspecified Depression- another term for depression when there is no specific reason to be depressed.
Adjustment Order with Depression- reactions to major stress in your life or life-changes.
Eating Disorders- Anorexia and Bulimia- starving yourself in order to gain acceptance, or overeating in secret, and then purging your system.
Post-Partum Depression- women can enter into this depression not long after the birth of a child.

The symptoms of depression

Symptoms of depression includes; (Learn more, Symptoms of Depression)

• Numbness
• Irritability
• Improper sleep patterns
• Fatigue
• Feeling depressed
• Decision making becomes difficult
• Poor choices are made
• Feeling hopeless
• Cutting or burning your skin
• Developing eating disorders
• Feeling empty inside
• Anxious
• Guilt ridden
• Obsession with body’s function
• Unable to manage stress
• Excessive shyness
• Avoiding people
• Oversensitive to rejection
• Lack of assertiveness
• Inability to take charge
• Inability to take risks
• Hiding from loved ones

(Learn more, Symptoms of Depression)

What causes depression?

Depression is a disease that affects the entire body. Your body chemistry changes when you are depressed. This alters your every mood and emotion.

Depression is a disease without prejudice as it can afflict anyone at any time.  Depression is known to be hereditary. Women are affected by depression more than men are. Or perhaps, women are prone to discuss their feelings more than men are.

Dealing with life-changes unsuccessfully can cause depression, the loss of a loved one, the death of a child, a divorce, a missed job opportunity, financial problems, food concerns, obsession with weight and looks, not having the appropriate coping skill to accept rejection gracefully.

After having a child, many women enter into Post-Partum Depression. Being with the wrong life-partner, dealing with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder, being an abuse victim all of these things have the ability to sink someone into depression.

Dealing with depression

One of many ways to deal with depression is listed below

• Join a support group.
• See a doctor or a psychiatrist/psychologist.
• Talk to your school counselor or close friend.
• Go online to reputable websites that deal with mental disorders.
• Talk to your parents.
• Talk to your clinician about antidepressants.
• Seek holistic means to ease depression such as St. John’s Wort or Valerian.
• For severe cases consider ECT (shock therapy).
• Identify the source of your depression and work to overcome it.
• Seek help at a depression treatment center.

Instead of asking, what causes depression? Perhaps the better question would be: What DOESN’T.

Treatment for depression

Please read the following article on "Treatment for Depression"