SELF-HELP PREVENTION: DEPRESSION
Author: admin
Depression is a highly complex condition that can be defined in many ways. To the man or woman in the street it is often taken to mean ‘the blues’ or ‘feeling low’, but at the other end of the scale doctors see people who are really ill with depression, which is still the biggest single cause of suicide.
However we define it, depression is extremely common-in fact it is the most common psychiatric condition in the western world. Between 8 and 15 million Americans are being treated for it at any one time, and it is the biggest single cause for admission to mental hospitals in the western world. Women seem to be more commonly affected than men, but this assumption is being seriously questioned as it now appears that men may simply show their depression in other ways-the main ones being anti-social behaviour, alcoholism and sexual misdemeanors.
There are two types of depression. The most common by far is the ‘endogenous’ kind. This occurs for no apparent reason though as we learn more about the condition more and more causes are being recognized. The second type is ‘manic’ depression. In this disease the individual suffers bouts of being highly active and sleepless and bouts of deep depression.
The signs and symptoms of depression are many, and surprisingly it can be a difficult diagnosis to make when the picture is not clear-cut. Many depressives have few mental or psychological symptoms and go to the doctor with physical complaints which are in fact a manifestation of their depression. The main signs of depression are: sadness; a slowness of thought; feeling worse in the
morning and brightening up as the day progresses; trouble getting off to sleep, and waking early in the morning (4 or 5 a.m.); a poor appetite for sex and food; a loss of interest in life generally; a lack of interest in things that used to be of value (e.g. hobbies); self-neglect; loss of self-confidence; a sense of guilt and worthlessness; anxiety; irritability; a tendency to cry easily; a fear of being left alone; a fear of death; a sense of hopelessness; extreme weakness and tiredness; delusions; and suicidal thoughts.
Some of the commonest physical symptoms are: tiredness; itching; weakness; dizziness; palpitation; blurred vision; a tendency to drop things; burning pains in the limbs; abdominal pains; nausea; constipation or diarrhea; ‘can’t draw a good breath’; facial pain; excessive sweating; food ‘sticks’ in the throat or gullet; aches; and pains and cramps in the legs. In one study of people complaining of symptoms for which no cause could be found one in ten were clinically depressed and half had been ill for more than ten years. Many had had numerous operations and investigations-most of which were quite unnecessary.
Treatment takes the form of drugs, psychotherapy, or electro-convulsive therapy (ÅÑÒ). Each has its place but all the treatments have drawbacks and the best way of handling depression is clearly to prevent it, if at all possible.
*135/72/5*
Related Posts:
Tags: General health
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.