Depression Help 09/16/2009
 
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We live in a society where circumstances, toxic environmental factors, poor eating habits, and family stresses and strains all contribute to an explosion in the number of people becoming clinically depressed. 

It's estimated that at least 8% of all adults in the USA are likely to suffer from serious depressive illness at some time in their lives, though the National Institute of Health estimates that in any given year up to 26% of the population struggles with some kind of need for depression help and support due to conditions such as Post-Partum depression, PTSD and co-existing illnesses such as heart attack or stroke.

This means that the requirement for depression help and support is fast becoming one of the fastest-growing and most critical needs throughout the United States, Europe and indeed, across the world.

Yet for many of those suffering from depression help seems a remote and unimportant requirement as they struggle alone to cope with the fallout from the pain and misery that depression can bring.

Much more than a simple state of temporary sadness, or a sense of 'feeling blue', major depression can leave one in a position where there is a constant struggle with work and relationships, along with physical aches and pains. Some even experience a frightening sense that they are 'losing their grip on reality'.

If you recognize this description and see yourself in it, know that long before you reach this state of deep depression help can be found.  You do not have to cope alone.

One of the online resources that I recommend is HealthMedia's Depression Help program. It is a conveniently accessible and highly effective methodology that will help you to reclaim a peaceful, optimistic, and more energetic outlook on life. As one of the most clinically sophisticated self-help online programs available today, for those suffering with the symptoms of depression help is now always available online.


MORE INFORMATION: HealthMedia's Depression Self Help program is a highly personalized depression help and self management program designed to give you the kinds of support, information, tools, and action plan. It is a remarkable new digital coaching program that really works and, best of all, you and those around you will feel the difference.

 
 
We've all heard of it. Most of us come into contact with it. Depression. Depression is a difficult and miserable experience to go through. It's something that either you or someone you love will have to deal with. However, it isn't just the victims who are impacted. What about their friends? Victims of depression need steady, supportive friends to rely on in times of need. If you're the friend of a depression victim and are confused and worried, then worry no longer-this article is for you.

Steps
  1. Research. If you don't know much about depression, it's harder to recognize dangerous symptoms and be able to offer some relief. It's not hard to learn a lot about depression. There are websites, books, magazine and newspaper articles, and of course, many doctors. Ask people who know the disease about what it really is. Look it up and determine what type of depression your friend has/may have. Look over the symptoms, various medications and other treatments. The more you know, the easier it is to help.
  2. Listen. Although you may think that the last thing your friend wants to do is talk to you about depression, you could be wrong. Sometimes a friend just needs someone to talk to. Actively listen without judging or giving advice. Depression is an issue that people sometimes feel they must hide, in order to maintain their usual life. Either that or they are only just coming to terms with it themselves, let alone the idea of letting other people in on it. However, from time to time, your friend may open up, or express the desire to talk to you. When this happens, be understanding and kind. Don't interrupt, don't try to convince them they're wrong, and try not to react in horror. It can be difficult to hear about how terrible your friend feels, but remember that they're trusting you. Value this trust and keep it close.
  3. Acknowledge. Tell the person suffering from depression that you've noticed that they seem down or depressed lately.
  4. Find out why your friend is depressed. Did they just have a bad break-up or did their parents get divorced? Ask them if there is anything you can do to help. Ask carefully and gently, don't get upset if they're slow to tell you. Some people take longer than others to talk. If they say they don't have a reason, it's probably true.
  5. Try to understand. Every person's story is different, and so it is impossible to completely understand. However, keeping an open mind and putting yourself in your friend's shoes can help you come closer to them. Once you've done your research, you should know a lot more about depression. Apply the symptoms and emotions to yourself, and contemplate how you would feel if this was happening to you. Call upon things your friend has done or told you, and try to understand why and what they mean. In times of need, having someone understand can be all the relief in the world.
  6. Don't tell your friend that life is still worth living and that this situation will improve and the sadness will get better. This trivializes their pain and will not help.
  7. Encourage your friend not to abuse drugs. People with depression can be much more vulnerable to the negative effects that occur when recreational drugs wear off. If your friend is taking antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, encourage them not to make any changes without talking to their doctor or psychiatrist. Taking more than they were prescribed can be dangerous, and going off the medication suddenly may make them feel much worse. Avoid alcohol as well - nobody is going to conquer depression with a hangover.
  8. Be patient. Because depression is heavy, slow moving and unpredictable, it can frustrate and even anger those who are trying to help. Remember that depression is a complex disease, and try to understand that the depressed person is not herself or himself right now. If your friend doesn't seem to appreciate your efforts, or is pushing you away, don't walk off in a temper. Give them space or give them comfort if they need it, and be there for them, no matter how much they believe you don't need to be.
  9. Advise them to seek professional help. Depression is not something that goes away by itself after a while. This is probably the most difficult step. Sometimes, a depressed person is more than happy to talk about it, go to a therapist, have people know, and start the healing process. But other times, they will argue, refuse, deny things, and often get angry and defensive. It is a serious mental illness. However, just because your friend doesn't want you to get involved, it doesn't justify you standing there and letting the problem get worse. Be sensible. If you friend is sounding like they are harming themselves or are thinking of suicide, you need to alert somebody.Encourage the person to start with a family doctor or local mental health associations. Offer to help them find resources or counseling services.
  10. Don't push too hard. If it makes your friend feel worse to face up to their problems, do not force them to continue. Sometimes analysing a person's past can make them feel WORSE rather than better; in this case, focus on how they feel now and how they want to be in future, and forget whatever caused them to feel depressed. Leave it in the past until they are ready to either deal with it or let it go.
Tips
  • Stress, anxiety and a long period of significant low mood can cause or worsen depression. If your friend is prone to any of these conditions, they must attempt to overcome them through stress management, positive thinking and any other therapies or techniques that may be effective.
  • People can and do recover from depression. Never lose sight of that, and without pushing it in the depressed person's face, make sure they remember it too.
  • Even if a person does not 100% recover from depression, as may be the case for severe sufferers, it is still possible to live a normal, productive and happy life as the sufferer gradually learns new coping mechanisms.
  • Don't press them too hard. Talk on their terms and only go as deep as they go. Otherwise they will just turn away from you.
  • Waiting for them to confront the problem with you can be hard; hint that you're there for them to make the process easier.
  • Keep them talking, talking helps but give them ways to work out their problems privately too, don't force them to be dependent on you.
  • Sometimes they just want to vent. Don't start spitting out possible solutions until you know the full extent of the problem. A good listener can sometimes be vastly more helpful than someone who tries to offer solutions.
  • If a person finds their thoughts and feelings too troubling to talk about, the best thing you can do to help them is to distract them; play a game, tell them a story, listen to some music, watch a film. There is no time limit to recovery and a depressed person does not have to confront all their darkest fears straight away. Take it steady, go at their speed. They may feel ready to open up to you at a later date.
  • If you honestly mean it and can do so with an open heart, offer to be there 24/7. Tell them that you welcome their phone calls at all hours. You will rarely, if ever, receive a middle of the night call. But a sincere offer sends a message of support that will be heard.
  • Try not to give them advice, try to just guide them.
  • A lot of times depressed people just want to be alone, so don't push. If you can, try to get them interested in going out with friends and doing things again. Even getting them to be happy again for a couple hours means there is still hope!
  • If a person has put their problems aside for even a moment, then for that moment they overcame their depression. Tell them this.
  • Remember that having a mental illness still carries a stigma in our society. So, before you discuss the depressed person's condition with a third party, ask their permission to do so. You want to help them, not make them subject to the gossip mill.
  • Do not try to make them feel better by reminding them how much better their lives are than other people's.
  • Be gentle. Depression can be dark, confusing and angry, but it can also be tender, hurtful and full of sensitive tears. Don't yell or be rough-keep your voice and body language soft and don't force your friend into anything.
  • Do things for your friend. Helping with work, distracting them or temporarily cheering them up, defending them from others...preventing and blocking everyday hassles does make a difference.
  • Make sure the people who need to know, know. Although your friend may be furious at you, parents need to know if their child is depressed. You may be their friend, but parents may be able to reach out and help in the ways you can't. In any case, they deserve to know. However, if the depression is triggered or made worse because of troubles, violence, or abuse at home, do not tell the parents. Instead, alert a teacher or some other form of authority.
  • Recovery can be hard work and it may take a while. It probably won't happen overnight, or even in a few days or weeks, depending on how severe the depression is and the trigger factors causing it, if any. It is possible to experience "blips" or temporary relapses on the road to recovery; this is normal, so be gently reassuring when it happens, and remind them how far they have come.
  • There are organisations set up to support people suffering from low moods and depression. "Venting" thoughts and feelings to these organisations can be very helpful.
  • If your friend is suffering badly, encourage them to see their doctor. Go with them if necessary. Encourage them to discuss their options with the doctor - counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy can be very helpful and are also effective at preventing sufferers from "relapsing" into depression after they have recovered.
  • If your friend is prescribed antidepressants, make sure they request other forms of therapy at the same time, for example counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. Antidepressant medication can help to "muzzle" the depression, improving a sufferer's quality of life, but it won't make the problems go away. That's what talking therapy is for.
  • Antidepressants and other forms of therapy such as counselling may actually make a person feel worse for a while. Medication can have many side-effects, and talking therapies may kick up problems and distressing feelings that have been long buried. It is totally normal for a person to find these things distressing; it should get easier as time goes by. Make sure your friend knows you are there for them if they need your support.
Warnings
  • Depression can be very serious. It often takes a professional to take care of it.
  • Never tell them that their problems are stupid or that there is nothing to worry about. They'll stop talking.
  • Many people with depression will turn down your offer of assistance. Don't take it personally.
  • If you believe your friend may be at risk of harming themselves or others, take them to their doctor or a drop-in accident and emergency centre.
  • Self-harm could be the precursor to thoughts of suicide, so watch them closely and continue to provide gentle encouragement and reassurance. However, self-harming does not definitely mean that a person will become suicidal, it usually indicates that a person has significant personal problems and may simply be a cry for help.
  • If your friend does any of the following things, you should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for referrals [1-800-273-TALK(8255)] or seek immediate help.
    • Talks about "wanting to die," or "wishing it was all over."
    • Begins stockpiling medication, buys guns or gets them out of safety lockers, or does anything else to make a suicide attempt easier.
    • Begins giving away possessions.
    • Writes notes to try to "tie things up," even if they are not explicitly talking about a potential attempt.
    • Begins abusing drugs or alcohol, or eating dramatically less.

  • Many suicide attempts happen when people begin to feel slightly better, rather than in their very deepest depression. When someone is at rock bottom they may not have enough energy to do anything; when their energy starts to return, that is when they may take action.
  • Most people who try to kill themselves do talk about wanting to die or not wanting to live first. Don't ignore these warning signs.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Help a Friend with Depression. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
 
 
Follow these steps EXACTLY until you can fulfill your goals.
Steps
  1. Get a cookbook.
  2. Learn to cook meat (beef, chicken, fish, etc..).
  3. Learn to cook grains/starches (millets, rice, oats, potatoes..).
  4. Eat 3 meals a day, meat first with veges, then grains. (See more detailed version below)
  5. Notice that you feel more energetic, alert, calm, and focused--use this new asset to fulfill your goals -- work.. job search.. study.. attend school.. read.. learn.. exercise.. etc.. give yourself some freedom around this new accomplishment!!
  6. Establish a daily routine. (morning, afternoon, evening)
  7. Tweak your daily routine.
  8. Reevaluate your situation and your goals.
Tips
  • Cook generous portions and eat till you're full.
  • Learn to use "food combining" (GOOGLE IT!) for better digestion, eat meat/veges, do something/rest, then eat my starches for each meal.
  • Oh YEAH.. you should feel full and satisfied after each meal!!
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Food to Treat Depression. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
 
 

When I was going through some of the worst bouts of clinical depression I always seemed to be ill with something else; usually something to do with my liver or gall bladder or some blood condition. I almost always had some pain in my back, or my knee, or I had low-grade cold and flu symptoms.

It seemed that whenever I was ill depression quickly followed in the wake of the illness.

But I've read many medical reports since then that show me that it might have been the other way around – that the depression came first and then the aches and pains and illnesses came afterwards.

It turns out that doctors who treat chronic pain and depression have known for years just how closely the two conditions are linked. There's even some research that shows pain and depression share common pathways in the emotional part (the professionals call it the limbic region) of the brain. It's thought that this goes some way to explaining their association.

I came across this article on the WebMD.com site that talks about the link between pain and depression in detail.

“Physical pain is a common, but often ignored, symptom of depression; and pain severity is a strong predictor of the degree of depression and health-related quality of life, findings from a newly published study indicate.

Two-thirds of the depressed patients beginning antidepressant treatment in the study reported being in physical pain, with the most commonly cited symptoms being frequent headaches, back pain, joint pain, and abdominal pain.

Physical symptoms persisted longer than depression symptoms in more than a third of the patients, leading the researchers to conclude that pain may serve as a barometer for gauging the effectiveness of depression treatment. The findings are reported in the August issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

"It is important to recognize that physical symptoms like pain can be part of the picture of depression," researcher Kurt Kroenke, MD, tells WebMD. "Even though the physical symptoms may be related to or aggravated by the depression, they can linger longer than the emotional symptoms."
Source: WebMD.com

Here's a question for you - which do you treat first? The physical pain or the emotional and mental pain?

Well, in my case I ended up getting help for both – when I finally did get round to seeking help that is...

I ended up in hospital a couple of times with doctors leaning over me chatting casually about surgery. I remember being in such pain and wondering how I would be able to live my life if I had to put up with such discomfort for another 5 years. It made me feel even more hopeless and exacerbated the depression.

I thought to myself, if I have these difficulties, and I'm not emotionally strong, I simply won't be able to handle all these health issues as well, and I made a decision to seek counselling and coaching to help strengthen me so I could cope.

Well, I cannot diagnose anyone, including myself, but I do know that in the 18 months during which I worked on my emotional state, treating my depression through as many natural nutrition and talking therapies as I could afford, the physical illnesses and the aches and pains have melted away.

Not overnight you understand. But after 20 years of such troubles, to find that they lessened so much within a year and a half seemed – and still does seem – pretty miraculous to me.

I'd encourage you to have a little think about how your physical state and your depressive episodes might be linked. Don't ignore the one and treat the other.

Our bodies and minds and souls are linked – even doctors know that now... We have to treat ourselves holistically.

Wishing you health, wealth and true happiness.


Lorraine

 
 

Ok, so I'm sure you've noticed by now that I'm a real believer in the importance of using 'talking therapies' and natural methods for overcoming depression.

This isn't because I'm some barefoot, Eastern-New-Age believing hippy type. No, it's because they worked for me. After fighting with increasingly debilitating bouts of depression for 22 years, I thought that finding emotional and mental health within the space of a year just through talking and changing my mindset, and though changing what I ate was amazing. Spectacularly successful.

So I thought I'd quickly chat about one of the most effective and well-established talking therapy available, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – or CTB.

CBT is based on the idea that the way we think, and what we think about creates, or at the very least alters, our mood.

Have you ever felt perfectly content and happy then thought about something sad that made you feel unhappy or disturbed? Well for someone who struggles with depression those unhappy thoughts can spiral out of control and drag them down from unhappiness into desperation.

On the other hand, have you ever felt a bit down, but then started concentrating on something pleasant fun, or remembered a fun event that made you smile and start to feel better?

Well there you can see already how much our thoughts – what's going on in our imaginations – can have a pretty profound influence on our moods.

The thing about CBT is that it doesn't only assist the depressed person through dealing with the feelings they have, such as feelings of hopelessness, sadness, grief or anger. It also works by helping the person find ways to actually change the way they think about life and what's happening to them. So they start to recognise the pessimistic thought patterns, unrealistic expectations, critical self-talk and so on that not only bring on depression, but often makes it worse and makes it stay around for longer.

CBT is all about helping a depressed person work out how to have a healthier way of thinking about the world and about themselves. For someone who's struggling with incredibly low self-esteem or chaotic thinking (as I did), this can be the key to getting out of the rut that depression keeps you in.

If you want to try CBT, make sure that you search for a qualified, certified and experienced therapist. If you're already under treatment from your doctor, he or she may be able to recommend someone to you.

Wishing you health, wealth and true happiness.


Lorraine

 
 

What? What d'you mean they don't work​? Millions and millions of people have found relief from taking antidepressants over the past years. So what's this headline about?

Well, recent research from the University of Hull in northern England has shown that many of the most popular anti-depressants are no more effective than placebo tablets (such as sugar pills), and the news is sending shock waves throughout the medical profession and amongst those who are struggling with depression in their lives.

In this article, that appeared recently in the hugely respected newspaper The Independent, the health editor Jeremy Laurance states;

“They are among the biggest-selling drugs of all time, the "happiness pills" that supposedly lift the moods of those who suffer depression and are taken by millions of people in the UK every year.

But one of the largest studies of modern antidepressant drugs has found that they have no clinically significant effect. In other words, they don't work.
The finding will send shock waves through the medical profession and patients and raises serious questions about the regulation of the multinational pharmaceutical industry, which was accused yesterday of withholding data on the drugs.

It also came as Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, announced that 3,600 therapists are to be trained during the next three years to provide nationwide access through the GP service to "talking treatments" for depression, instead of drugs, in a £170m scheme. The popularity of the new generation of antidepressants, which include the best known brands Prozac and Seroxat, soared after they were launched in the late 1980s, heavily promoted by drug companies as safer and leading to fewer side-effects than the older tricyclic antidepressants.”

It's always good to hear both sides of a story so, in the interests of presenting a balanced view, the companies that make antidepressants have made vigorous comebacks to the findings of the research, as we can see in this BBC News report here;

“...the makers of Prozac and Seroxat, two of the commonest anti-depressants, said they disagreed with the findings.

A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline, which makes Seroxat, said the study only looked at a "small subset of the total data available".

And Eli Lilly, which makes Prozac, said that "extensive scientific and medical experience has demonstrated it is an effective anti-depressant.”

My personal experience is that anti-depressants (once they've been correctly prescribed of course), can have a dramatic effect on mood and emotional stability. But then I've also seen them wreak havoc on the lives of people who found themselves spiralling even deeper into depression and chaotic thinking. I think it's almost impossible to explain how or why the exact same tablet can have completely different effects on two people.

Anyway, I think these findings confirm something that I've thought for a long, long time now – that for most people it's a much better idea to try to overcome depression through the use of therapy, coaching, psychiatry and other such 'talking' disciplines.

It seems I'm not alone in thinking this.

Wishing you health, wealth and true happiness.

Lorraine

 
 

They say that we find everything the body needs within nature.  And it's true that there are many plants and herbs that help to lift our mood and help us to feel better.

I thought I'd write a short list of some of the herbs that the medical profession generally accept can help with mild depression and tell you some of my experiences with them. 

Remember though, if you are having suicidal thoughts, or are feeling totally overwhelmed by sad and difficult thoughts, you should speak with your doctor or health professional; everything on this list is really for mild rather than deep clinical depression.

St. John's Wort and Kava Kava

Many doctors, particularly in European countries, believe that this herb can prove as effective as some of the milder anti-depressives.  When I used it  found that it helped to 'lift' the way I was feeling as long as I wasn't in a really deep depression.  It worked to lift me when I was kind of 'on my way down' as it were. Have a chat with your doctor though before you start taking these supplements.  I believe that St. John's Wort, though harmless in itself, helps to 'thin' the blood and can therefore cause problems if a person taking it has an operation.  Just something to think about...

CoQ10, Ginko Biloba and Ginseng

This is a herb which helps to boost energy. I remember using it at a time where I was really struggling with low energy levels. I was helping to take care of my elderly mother who was so ill she was essentially disabled, and working in a really demanding job. My slide into depression was accompanied by the most incredible fatigue. At the weekends I would struggle to get out of bed when there was office to go to. I can't vouch for what might happen for you, but my experience with CoQ10 was that it made the difference between lying under the covers for 18 hours a day living off crackers and hunks of cheese, and actually getting up and getting on with my day and getting some quality out of my life.

B Vitamins, Iron and Fish Oils

Ok, ok, I know they're not herbs. But since we're in the groove of talking about natural supplements I have to mention these. We all know now that proper (or improper) nutrition has a huge effect on our physical bodies, and science is now catching up with the fact that nutrition also greatly affects our emotional health. Eating decent greens and vegetables, or at the very least taking a quality supplement to make sure I got the right B Vitamins, Iron and Pantothenic Acid etc. made a heck of a difference to my depression. When I'm down I comfort eat and end up with a real deficit in decent nutrition, so my personal experience was that the effects kicked in within a day or two.

There you go, my short list of the natural supplements that helped me on my climb back out of depression. There are many more herbal supplements that other people recommend highly; I'm just sharing the are just the ones that helped me.

Here again is that list:

1. St John's Wort

2. Kava Kava

3. CoQ10

4. Ginko Biloba

5. Ginseng

6. B Vitamins

7. Iron

8. Quality Fish Oils



Wishing you health, wealth and true happiness.

Lorraine

 
 

I always used to feel 'weak' for experiencing depression.  I felt I should have been 'strong enough' to cope with all the difficulties life had thrown at me. Yes, yes, I know - that's ridiculous. But there was always such pressure to carry on within a short space of time, as though nothing had happened. It all left me feelin so weary...

How many people do you know who are expected by their bosses to return to work within 3 days after burying a loved one, or after returning home from hospital?

In our society today many people still feel that anyone over the age of 12 should be able to 'pull themselves together' in a pretty short space of time, even in the face of the dire life circumstances. But many times that's simply not possible to do.  We can never know in advance how or why depression strikes a person.

Or can we? 

This great article that I found at John McManamy's excellent site talks about Nature or Nurture - Outside Depression Causes  and looks at some of the many reasons why depression occurs.  The article's a bit elderly - it was written way back in 2004 - but as far as I'm concerned every word still rings true.

"We know that depression is a physical phenomenon. Thanks to modern imaging, we can see it actually taking place, like a tiny squid secreting dark ink in the left prefrontal regions of the brain. We also know that genes are a factor in both depression and bipolar disorder, that in twins there is a co-occurrence that cannot be explained away by chance, and that these conditions often have interlocking family histories spanning several generations.

But life, let alone depression and bipolar disorder, is never that simple.

According to the Surgeon General, stressful life events loom large in depression. Thirty to 40 percent of those undergoing divorce report a significant increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Single mothers face twice the risk of depression as do married mothers. Victims of domestic violence must often bear their considerable emotional burdens while battling incapacitating depression. At least 10 to 20 percent of widows and widowers develop clinical depression during the first year of bereavement. In the words of the Surgeon General: "The compelling impact of past parental neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and other forms of maltreatment on both adult emotional well-being and brain function is now firmly established for depression."

In other words, stress incidence in life can often bring on depression, as much as the chemical imbalances that doctors are forever attempting to drug out of existence.

If you're going through a rough patch in life, and I know many of you are, do these three things.  I understand that you feel you don't have much energy - I get that completely, believe me.  But this list is only 3 items long...  not some great and grand action plan.

1. Do what you have to to take care of your body; sleep more, comfort eat less, exercise more.

2. Ask for help; from your mum, your dad, your brother, your close friend,  a sympathetic doctor or some other health professional.  When I finally got round to doing this (after years of struggling on my own mind), things came together in my life within a matter of months...

3. Be gentle with yourself; remember, modern living takes its toll on the human body and the human mind. 

Wishing you health, wealth and happiness.

Lorraine