Depression Resources

 Types of Depression

Major Depression

Severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, concentrate, eat, enjoy life, hopelessness, sadness, sometimes leading to suicidal tendencies. Most major depression episodes last longer than a few days, sometimes weeks and months at a time. This type of depression is not a few days of feeling low, but a person may have multiple episodes in a life.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

A chronic type of depression in which a person’s moods are regularly low.

Minor Depression

Symptoms that are less severe than those of major depression and dysthymia, and symptoms do not last long.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

A depressive mood disorder that occurs and disappears at roughly the same time each year.

Depressive Psychosis

A combination of a depressed mood along with psychosis, or a loss of touch with reality.

Postpartum Depression

Short term depression experienced by women after giving birth. Hormonal changes after childbirth can cause postpartum depression.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Extreme mood shifts may start to occur in women beginning 7 to 10 days before their period starts and may continue into the first few days of their period.

Symptoms

People typically have multiple episodes of depression. During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and may include:

  • Feeling of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
  • Angry outburst, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or  sport
  • Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping or sleeping to much
  • Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small task take extra effort
  • Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased craving for food and weight gain
  • Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
  • Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
  • Feeling or worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
  • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
  • Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
  • Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day -to- activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why while other have depression triggers.

Depression Symptoms in Children and Teens

Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to those of adults, but there can be some differences. In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight. In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interactions.

Depression Symptoms in Older Adults

Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and it should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults, and they may feel reluctant to seek help. Symptoms of depression may be different or less obvious in older adults, such as:

  • Memory difficulties or personality changes
  • Physical aches or pain
  • Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of interest in sex – not caused by medical
  • conditions or medication
  • Often wanting to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things
  • Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men

When to see a Doctor

If you feel depressed, make an appointment to see your doctor or mental health professional as soon as you can. If you’re reluctant to seek treatment, talk to a friend or a loved one, any health care professional, a faith leader, or someone you trust.

When to get emergency help

If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Use that same number and press “1”to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.

Reach out to a close friend or loved one. Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.

Complications

Depression is a serious disorder that can take a terrible toll on you and your family. Depression often gets worse if it isn’t treated, resulting in emotional behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life.

Examples of complications associated with depression include:

  • Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes
  • Pain or physical illness
  • Alcohol or drug misuse
  • Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia
  • Family conflicts, relationship difficulties and work or school problems
  • Social isolation
  • Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide
  • Self-mutilation, such as cutting
  • Premature death from medical conditions

Prevention

There’s no sure way to prevent depression. However, these strategies may help.

• Take steps to control stress

• Reach out to family and friends in times of crisis

• Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem before depression starts worsening

• Consider getting long-term maintenance to help prevent a relapse of symptoms

Supporting a family member of friend

Helping someone you love with depression can be a challenge. If someone in your life has depression, you may feel helpless and wonder what to do. Learn how to offer support and understanding and how to help your loved one get the resources to cope with depression. Here’s what you can do:

  • Learn the symptoms of depression
  • Depression signs and symptoms vary from person to person.

They can include:

  • Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
  • Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sport
  • Insomnia or sleeping too much
  • Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small task take extra effort
  • Changes in appetite or reduced appetite and weight loss or gain, increased cravings for food
  • Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
  • Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixing on past failures or blaming yourself for things that
  • aren’t your responsibility
  • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
  • Frequent or recurrent mention of death, suicide thoughts, suicide attempts
  • Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day to day activities, such as work, school, social activities, or relationships with others. Other people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without knowing why. Children and teens may show depression by being irritable or cranky rather than sad.

Identify warning signs of worsening depression

Everyone experiences depression differently. Observe your loved one.  Learn how depression affects your family member, love one or friend – and learn what to do.

  • What are the typical signs and symptoms of depression in your relative, loved one or
  • friend?
  • What behaviors or language do observe when depression is worse?
  • What behaviors or language do you observe when he or she is doing well?
  • What circumstances trigger episodes of more severe depression?
  • What activities are most helpful when depression worsens?

Stay alert for warning signs of suicide!

Common warning signs of suicide:

  • Talking about suicide “I wish I were dead, I wish I hadn’t been born, I’m going to kill myself”.
  • Getting the means to attempt suicide – buying a gun, stocking pills
  • Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone
  • Having mood swings, such as emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next day
  • Being preoccupied with death
  • Felling trapped or hopeless about a situation
  • Increasing use or alcohol or drugs
  • Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly
  • Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns
  • Giving away belongings, getting affairs in order when there’s no logical explanation for why
  • Saying goodbye to people as if they won’t be seen again
  • Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when
  • experiencing some of the warning signs above.

Provide Support

What you can do for your loved one or friend:

  • Encourage them to get treatment and stick with it – take prescribed medications and keep
  • appointments
  • Be willing to listen – Let them know your trying to understand, but avoid giving advice or opinions or making judgments. Just listing and understanding can be a powerful support
  • Give positive reinforcement – people with depression may judge themselves harshly and find fault with everything they do. Remind them about their positive qualities and how much they mean to you and others. Remind them they are not alone
  • Offer assistance – Your loved one or friend may not be able to take care of certain tasks well. Give suggestions about specific task you’d be willing to do, or ask if there is a particular ask you could take on for them.
  • Help create a low-stress environment – Creating a regular routine may help a person with depression feel more in control. Offer to make a schedule for meals, medications, physical activity and sleep, d help organize household chores.
  • Encourage participation in spiritual practices – For many people, faith is an important element in recovery from depression
  • Make plans together – Go for walks with them, as them to join you on a hobby or other
  • activities he or she previously enjoyed. But don’t force the person into doing something

Alternative treatments for depression

Counseling can be remarkably effective in treating depression. I personally have experienced the positive affects of both Christian and secular counseling. There must be a good match between the counselor and the person seeking to overcome depression in their lives. There must be trust, openness, between the two and the rule of confidentiality. Nevertheless, confidentiality does not overrule the danger of harm or suicide. You should feel comfortable talking to the person you confide in. If you don’t feel comfortable, you should talk to some else. Keep searching until you do. It may take several meetings until you feel comfortable. Finding the right person is often a trial-and-error process.

Sticking to your treatment plan is one of the most important things you can do. Don’t get discouraged in the first few weeks of treatment. You may not want to continue, but all type of treatment can take a few months before you notice a difference. If two or more months have gone by and you stuck to a treatment plan but don’t feel any relief from depression , it likely not working for you.

Talk to your doctor immediately if you’re:

  • Depression doesn’t improve after several months of treatments
  • Symptoms have improved, but you still don’t feel like yourself
  • Symptoms get worst

There are a variety of alternative and natural treatments that are often used to treat depression. These natural treatments should not be used without consulting your doctor first, especially if you are talking prescription antidepressants or other medications.

Some alternative remedies for depression:

  • St. John’s Wort
  • Ashwagandha
  • Chamomile
  • Fish oil
  • Folic acid
  • SAMe
  • Vitamin D, Vitamin B-12, B-Complex
  • Turmeric
  • Foods:
  • Liver, Clams, Mussels, Eggs
  • Vegetables, Fruits and Nuts:
  • Spinach, Mustard, Turnip, Beet Greens, Lettuces (red, green) Berries, Bananas
  • Green Tea, Brazil Nuts

Tips for Fighting Depression

Get in a Routine: Depression can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the next, When you set a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track.

Watch your Depression Triggers: Learn to respond differently when depression triggers are pushed. Don’t allow yourself to slide into depression, talk to yourself. You control the depression triggers, they don’t control you.

Set Goals: When you’re depressed, you may feel like you can’t accomplish anything. That makes you feel worse about yourself. To feel better, set daily goal for yourself. Start exceedingly small. Make your goal something that you can succeed at, like doing the dishes every other day.

Exercise: When you exercise, you temporarily boost feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways.

Control Eating: Avoid sauger! Depression tends to make you overeat. Stay in control of what you eat. If you must overeat eat healthy.

Get enough sleep: Depression can make it hard to get enough sleep or make you sleep to much, both will make your depression worse. Make a life still change. Get up and go to bed at the same time each day. Taking out all distractions from your room may help you rest better. Listening to soft wordless music may also help you relax your mind without forcing you to think about anything. The wrong music can be a depression trigger.

Tip for fighting depression

Challenge Negative thoughts

Depression is a battlefield of the mind. In your fight against depression, one of the most important work you will do for yourself is mentally changing how you think and how you see yourself. Depression makes you see the worse side you think you have. When your depressed you sometimes leap to the worst possible conclusions. When negative thoughts come in your mind, immediately replace them with positive thoughts.

Do something new

When you’re in the rut of depression, push yourself to do something new or different. Go to the museum. Read a book on a park bench. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, find a new hobby. There are chemical changes in the brain when we challenge ourselves to do something new or different. Trying something new alters the level of the chemical dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, enjoyment and learning.

Try to have fun

Not having fun is one of the symptoms of depression. You may have to keep trying anyway. You may have to work at having fun. Fun things will feel fun again if you keep trying to have fun.

Foods that are natural antidepressants

  • Liver, Clams, Mussels and eggs
  • Spinach, Mustard Greens, Turnips, Beet Greens, Lettuces (Red, green), Berries
  • Turmeric, Brazil nuts

Boosting Dopamine Naturally

  • Regular exercise at least 30 minutes daily
  • Spend time outdoors in nature
  • Eat healthy
  • Achievement of small goals
  • Happy memories
  • Praying
  • Listening to music

All Information from: www.healthline.com, webmd.com/depression/features/natural-treatments, healthline.com , MAYOCLINIC