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Chronic Depression: Disease or Charcter Flaw?

A major survey on depression symptoms from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), released in july 2001, revealed a dramatic degree of progress in public understanding. Yet even amid this promising trend, the survey sheds light on the difficulties faced by millions of people striving to manage this sometimes chronic, life-long illness.The NMHA survey shows a major shift in public opinion in the last decade about the cause of depression. A majority (55 percent) of those polled who have never been diagnosed with depression symptoms understand depression is a disease, and not "a state of mind that a person can... Read More

The Patients Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

INTRODUCTION Everybody has a story. My story is the one I know best and can write about. It is not a memoir of chemical dependency or self-abuse. Those subjects have been written about many times. This is a story of my winning battle against depression and the vagus nerve stimulation treatment that saved my life by bringing me Out of the Black Hole. And, this is the first book to be published about winning the battle with a medical implant procedure called VNS Therapy?. Personally, I don't believe the stigma associated with depression has changed one... Read More

Depression in Teenagers: Now What Can We Do?

No doubt you have seen the recent news headlines about a federal panel that recommended to the FDA that anti-depressant medications carry the strongest possible warning label for use in children and teenagers. This recommendation to the FDA shook the medical community, especially those who work with depressed young people. The biggest problem from the treatment community's point of view was not the recommendation for the warning label, but the way that the media protrayed the panel's recommendation. The panel reported that 2% to 4% of children and teens who were given anti-depressants for the treatment of depression became suicidal,... Read More

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression Are Not The Same Thing!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a very misunderstood illness and this is perhaps why there are so many myths about it. Perhaps the most common myth about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that it is effectively a mental condition, and another name for depression. But these two conditions are very different! And when you label a condition incorrectly it can cause no end of problems when trying to diagnose and treat it. So it's extremely important to make the... Read More

New Treatment for Chronic Depression

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Treatment-Resistant Depression About Vagus Nerve Stimulation VNS is not brain surgery, although it is a treatment that affects the function of the brain. Vagus Nerve Stimulation uses specific stimulation of the vagus nerve to send stimulation to specific parts of the brain that are involved in mood. It is not like Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), a treatment that involves stimulation of the entire brain and induces convulsions in patients. In fact, patients may not even feel the stimulation from VNS since the vagus nerve does not have the type of nerves that carry pain signals. Nor... Read More

ADHD and Depression -- More Common Than Thought

"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly. He looks sad. He doesn't accomplish much. He's just glad to be noticed. This is Eeyore, the stuffed donkey who is so often in need of his tail being pinned back on. Eeyore is a good picture of life is like for those who are impacted by the type of ADHD that includes sadness, or depression. It is estimated that as many as 25% of all those with ADHD have to battle depression as well. This type of ADHD is called "Limbic System ADHD" by Daniel Amen, and for good reason.... Read More

5 Tips to Reduce Depression

While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people all over the world, more and more people suffer with depression. The more we focus on news events and the business climate, the more we are depressed. Whatever the reason you feel is the cause of your depression, the following five simple tips guarantee you reduce it significantly.1. Do not read newspapers.Newspapers publish negative stories most of the time. Even in peaceful periods, newspapers will find the worst in humanity and place negative stories on display in order to promote sales and subscribers. Stories focused on War, rebellion, death, destruction,... Read More

7 Things You Can Do Immediately To Ease Depression

1. Get out now and walk fifteen minutes. It will get your feet moving and help you feel you are at least able to do something.2. Go immediately and be with someone who loves you. It will give you the feeling that you are wanted.3. Religious? Say a prayer. Ask God to help you get through this.4. Think of a situation, a place where you were very happy. Visualize yourself in that situation once more.5. Power of suggestion can do wonders. Say to yourself, "I think I can get better. I have to take it step by step. I will... Read More

Is it ADHD or is it Depression?

During the assessment process it is of great importance for the physician or clinician to consider other possible causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity in your child, or teen, or yourself. In fact, this is probably the most important element of a good assessment. There are several possible causes of these behaviors, especially in children, and the clinician must have great certainty that these other possible causes have been ruled out before giving the label of "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" to your child. In this issue we will discuss the possibility that your child has depression rather than an... Read More

St Johns Wort and Depression

The bright yellow flower of the St Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum) with it's ray-like petals, represents the power of the sun that forces away the darkness. This already points to the anti-depressant effects of the St Johns Wort which are highly respected, even in conventional medicine.St. John's Wort, a perennial plant, has been used for hundreds of years to treat depression, unrest and anxiety disorders as well as nerve pain. For a long time, doctors and herbalists alike have known about its use as a sedative, but also as treatment for wounds, burns, insect bites, stomach ulcers and more. It... Read More

Adult Men and Women Who Suffer From Chronic Depression

Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated 4.4 million Americans are believed to suffer from chronic treatment-resistant depression. Depression is a chronic, disabling disorder and a major worldwide public health problem. Depressive episodes usually recur over time, with risk for further episodes proportional to the number of prior episodes. After three major depressive episodes, the probability of recurrence is 90%. In the U.S. alone, approximately 18 million people suffer from depression over six million of which are receiving some form of medical treatment.Market studies on women, men and depression also estimate that over 100,000 Americans each year... Read More

Know the Signs of Depression and Improve Your Life

Typical signs of depression actually show a change in the way a person has come to think about himself."I just can't get myself to do any work around the house. My marriage is falling apart.""My hair is thinning. I'm losing my looks. No one will care about me anymore."These are typical thoughts of people who are depressed and show a change in thinking, feeling and acting.Here are other signs of depression :Continual feelings of sadness, emptiness and helplessness that seem to have no causeLoss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activitiesDecreased energy, fatigueSleep and/or eating problemsDifficulty concentrating and making decisionsFeelings... Read More

A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications

While it may be easy to recite the various brand names and generalize their benefits enough to know they put us (or are supposed to put us) in a better mood, for lack of a better term, the drugs themselves can all be categorized individually, each working in a slightly different way.The following is a list and very brief description, by category, of depression and anxiety medications currently prescribed by physicians.Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)SSRIs, which are fairly new to the arsenal of depression and anxiety medications, have gained immense popularity among prescribing psychiatrists within the past 10 years. They... Read More

Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic or Treatment-Resistant Depression About Vagus Nerve Stimulation(VNS) VNS is not brain surgery, although it is a treatment that affects the function of the brain. Vagus Nerve Stimulation uses specific stimulation of the vagus nerve to send stimulation to specific parts of the brain that are involved in mood. It is not like Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), a treatment that involves stimulation of the entire brain and induces convulsions in patients. In fact, patients may not even feel the stimulation from VNS since the vagus nerve does not have the type of nerves that carry pain signals.... Read More

5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression

Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives. We get sad when we fail in our exams, when we're rejected by the person we love, or when someone very close to us passes away. Depression, however, could be more fatal than just plain loneliness. It could render life-long consequences that could ruin your self-esteem, health, and well-being.Here are some superb tips to conquer the melancholy mood and get the most bliss out of your daily activities.1) Get Enough Light and Sunshine.Lack of exposure to sunlight is responsible for the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which could trigger a... Read More

Depression Treatment: Depression Would Be Second Largest Illness by 2010!

World Health Organisation states one out of four worldwide suffer from various forms of mental, behavioral, and neurological disorders. Are you one of them?It has also been estimated that depression would be the second largest illness by 2010 keeping in mind its pace by which it is affecting people world over. Here is some statistics for you: Experts in the field of mental health claim that more than half a billion people worldwide suffer from psychiatric disorders, which include abuse owing to drugs and alcohol, epilepsy, dementia, schizophrenia and stress related disorders. To break up, we have around 400 million... Read More

Acidity Depresses Thyriod Function

THE RISKAccumulation of acids in your body, due to insufficient digestion of food, food allergies and consumption of acid-forming substances, can depress thyroid function. Acid-related causes of hypothyroidism also include exposure to heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the water supply and in highly processed food. When your body's acid level rises too high, your thyroid function will be depressed and your metabolism will slow.Lack of digestive enzymes, also caused by over-consumption of processed foods, further depresses your thyroid function. Your body's ability to neutralize acids is further reduced. As you get older, the more toxins you're exposed to, the... Read More

Depression: Bringing Yourself Down

Sometimes it's hard to see the forest from the trees. Sometimes its hard to see how much you can bring your self down. Recently, my life has been turned upside down. I lost someone close to me and the world became a dark place.Repression is a common reaction to traumatic events. People repress all sorts of things, violence, trauma and loss. To repress is to be able to move on ? quickly. The side effects are often just as bad; repression invites long term suffering and inner turmoil. Typically, the common solution to repression is to be open to dealing... Read More

Recognizing Depression?s Warning Signs

Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of life. It is a complex disorder with a variety of causes. It is never caused by just one thing. It may be the result of a mix of factors, including genetic, chemical, physical, and sociological. It is also influenced by behavior patterns learned in the family and by cognitive distortions.Depression affects millions of people in this country. It is always troubling, and for some people it can be disabling. Depression is more than just sadness or "the blues." It can have an impact on nearly every aspect of a person's... Read More

What?s The Latest on Suicide Risk and Antidepressants For Children?

FDA confirms some antidepressants increase suicide risk in some children. In February of 2004, two advisory committees of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that the FDA warn practitioners about the possible risk of suicide potential associated with antidepressant treatment in children. The information was obtained from clinical trials of medications with children, expert witnesses on suicide research, testimony from families of suicide victims, as well as from those whose children had benefited from antidepressant medication.At a second meeting last year, improvement on antidepressant study designs and monitoring for suicide risk was discussed. Now, federal officials are preparing stronger... Read More