The Darkness of Depression
Depression is a mental health condition which involves negative, lethargic, and self-loathing thoughts as well as behaviors and emotions that may significantly interfere with everyday functioning. Approximately 20 million people in the U.S. have symptoms of depression.
Symptoms of Depression
- Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Feeling irritable or restless
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable.
- Feeling tired all the time
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or difficulty making decisions
- Not able to go to sleep or stay asleep (insomnia); may wake in the middle of the night, or sleep all the time
- Overeating or loss of appetite
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Ongoing aches and pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not go away.
NOTE
Having some of these symptoms may not immediately indicate a clinical diagnosis of depression. Please consult your physician or other health care provider for an evaluation.
What Leads to Depression?
Genetics
Some types of depression tend to run in families. There is a considerable amount of research going on currently to identify genes that may be involved with depression.
Brain chemistry and structure
When chemicals in the brain are not at the right levels, depression can occur. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, help cells in the brain communicate with each other. By looking at pictures of the brain, scientists can also see that the structural differences between someone who has depression versus someone who does not. Therefore, the next step for researchers is to figure out why these differences occur.
Environmental and psychological factors
Trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, and other stressors can trigger depression. Scientists are working to figure out why depression occurs in some people but not in others with the same or similar experiences. They are also studying why some people recover quickly from depression and others do not.
Treatment of Depression
The two most common forms of treatment for Depression are Psychotherapy and Medication, or both combined.
Medications are designed to balance certain neurotransmitters such as Dopamine or Serotonin.
For more information and a more detailed list of anti-depressants please visit… http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/012.printerview.html.
Typically, psychotherapy explores thoughts, behaviors, emotions that surround the symptoms and potential origin of the depression. (See Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Sections in “The Ball and Chain of Anxiety” for further information as well visit http://www.depression.com/psychotherapy.html) for brief definitions of common treatments)
Other factors that may influence depression include the following:
Exercise
According to many studies, regular exercise has been found to be a significant “anti-depressant” and can reduce symptoms.
Nutrition
Not surprisingly, having a well-balanced and health diet may reduce depressive symptoms.
Sleep
In the research, there is a lot of data correlating lack of sleep and an increase in depressive symptoms. Make sure you get your sleep!
Social Support
Strong social networks reduce isolation, a key risk factor for depression. Keep in regular contact with friends and family, or consider joining a class or group. Volunteering is a wonderful way to get social support and help others while also helping yourself.
Stress Reduction
Make changes in your life to help manage and reduce stress. Too much stress exacerbates depression and puts you at risk for future depression.
Supplements
There are certain supplements such as St. John’s Wort and SAM-e that may have some research support to reduce depressive symptoms. Be very careful, however, when using supplements and make sure your physician or psychiatrist is aware of exactly what you are taking. They may have interactions with other medications you are taking or may harm your body in some other way.
Reference:
Winning Over Depression with Dr. Schwartz
“There’s a Light at the End of the Tunnel and it’s not a Train”
At its core, Depression strives to remove what I consider 4 basic human needs for motivation and strength. Without these, life becomes very difficult to live:
- Meaning
- Purpose
- Hope
- Things to look forward to…
Depression: Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors
Depression Can Make Me Feel
- Despair
- Powerless
- Anxious
- Pained
- Sadness
- A sense of loss
- Grief
- Doubtful
- Alone
- Paralyzed
- Lonely
- Rejected and/or Dejected
- Aching
- Overwhelmed
- Helpless/Hopeless
- Useless
- Anguish
- Ashamed
- Weak
- Afraid
Depression Can Make Me Think
- Why bother?
- Why can’t I do anything right?
- I’m a failure
- There’s nothing to look forward to…
- I have no control over my body or my life anymore
- Life sucks!!!
- What’s the point?
- Nothing makes me happy anymore. Nothing…
Depression Can Make Me
- Stay at home all the time
- Not exercise
- Avoid family
- Eat everything in sight!
- Cry a lot
- Feel nauseous and not eat anything at all
- Not do anything!
- Angry at the whole world
- Give up!
So What to Do???
Depression can be a big factor in our lives and can affect the decisions we make, how people treat us, and how motivated we are in everyday life. Combining biofeedback and psychotherapy; even hypnotherapy, we explore how these aspects affect us on an individual basis and how we can manage the thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that surround these conditions. Ultimately, we want to reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of depressive symptoms to improve quality of life.
By monitoring certain physiological aspects of stress and physiology while adding counseling and psychotherapy we explore all the aspects of depression. In fact, the goal is not just to address depressive thoughts, behaviors, and emotions but to consider the spiritual, existential, cultural, and religious factors…and then we can begin to lift the layers of despair, emptiness, and negativity off you.
Ask: “What can I do to challenge these depressive thoughts? How can I peel off the layers of depression and sadness on top of me so I can be me again? What can I do to increase my support system? “How do I get meaning and purpose in my life?
Examples of Potential Goals with Dr. Schwartz
- Get back my life from Depression; gain control.
- Getting more support from friends and family
- Restarting or improving diet and exercise to reduce depression
- How can I get more energy, stamina, and motivation to do activities?
- Find out what is enjoyable for me in life.
- Find out what gives me meaning and purpose; a direction.