We know when we’re sad. We don’t need the dictionary definition of depression, “a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity” to explain the condition. But when it is truly an illness, not just a passing emotion, doctors do a complete physiological evaluation to determine the extent of the problem, whether it is a mild case of depression or an extreme condition that would require depression rehabilitation.

We are fortunate in this century, that getting help for depression no longer means getting shock treatments or a frontal lobotomy. The father of the lobotomy “Walter Freeman believed lobotomies worked because the procedure severed connections between the frontal lobes of the brain and the thalamus, thought to be the seat of human emotion, which the mentally ill apparently had in overabundance. ”

Success with Depression Rehab

Luckily, that treatment is now recognized to be the barbaric procedure it is, and doctors have turned to actual science for answers.

Nowadays the cause of depression is thought to be due to chemical imbalances in the brain. Contemporary scientists have come up with a variety of medications to correct those imbalances. Doctors select antidepressants based on their patient’s symptoms but there’s no one magic pill or one magic protocol. The drug side effects differ, as do their effectiveness. Dosages and prescriptions are adjusted over time as doctors use their best judgment on which specific medications the symptoms respond to–or don’t respond to.

Depression rehab is not limited to drugs, however; it is combined with a variety of supportive practices, such as psychotherapy, cognitive and even physical therapy. The point of depression rehab is to treat not just the body, not just the mind, not just the symptoms, but instead to treat the whole person.

There are increased chances of developing a depressive disorder if the eating disorder goes untreated for a longer period, and however at the same time, depression and other mental health problems are also known to add to the danger of developing an eating disorder. The fact is there is a relationship between depression and eating disorders and other mental health problems can coexist with both. Both depression and eating disorders are becoming increasingly common. According to the Mental Health Foundation 10% of the population in the UK will experience some form of depression every year, and 2% of women as well as some men will suffer from an eating disorder. Anorexia is more likely to affect young women whereas bulimia is more likely to affect older women and is more common than anorexia. Compulsive eating affects both women and men equally and approximately 10% of all people with eating disorders are men.What is a depressive disorder?

A depressive disorder can be defined as a set of symptoms ranging from mild to severe that coexist with overwhelming feelings of sadness and an inability to take pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed to the extent that they interfere with normal daily routines. There are several different types of depressive disorders including clinical depression, bipolar disorder or manic depression, post natal depression, seasonal affective disorder or SAD and post traumatic stress disorder. No one knows why some people become depressed and not others, but low self esteem is known to increase the risk of developing a depressive disorder and is also an underlying factor in eating disorders.

Symptoms of depression

Feeling tired and lethargic for most of the time; Persistent low moods and sadness, a feeling of despondency; Sleep disturbances, either inability to sleep or sleeping too much; A pessimistic outlook on life; Feeling anxious and nervous; Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, low self esteem; Frightening and irrational thoughts; Loss of pleasure in activities and lack of interest in sex; Avoidance of social contact and social situations; Changes in appetite involving either loss of appetite or an increased appetite and associated weight loss or weight gain; Emotional outbursts for no apparent reason and Irritability

Eating disorders

There are three main types of eating disorders and these include:

Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by a fear of putting on weight to such an extent that the person doesn’t eat or eats very little, sometimes to the extent that they can starve themselves to death. By controlling what, when, and if they eat, they feel safe, secure and in control. Feelings behind anorexia include a low self esteem, a distorted self image and fear of rejection. It is a potentially life threatening condition.

Bulimia Nervosa: Someone with bulimia eats copious amounts of food and then feel guilty and out of control so try to purge themselves by vomiting, starving themselves or taking laxatives. It is harder to detect than anorexia because the weight remains relatively stable and the sufferer keeps their behaviour hidden, it is also more common than anorexia.

Compulsive eating: Involves eating for comfort or for emotional security and is characterized by nibbling all day without being able to stop. People who eat compulsively are usually overweight. It can be a way of denying or avoiding problems and is often associated with low self esteem, feelings of worthlessness, loneliness and emptiness.

Possible triggers of depression and eating disorders

There is not a single cause that will trigger either depression or an eating disorder as combinations of factors are involved. For example:

Stressful events and experiences such as problems at home, bullying, abuse, loss of someone close, rejection, failing at school or work, coping with puberty, worries about sexuality, etc. can all result in a extreme stress which can act as a trigger; Either physical or mental health problems can trigger an eating disorder or depression. For example, someone struggling with a physical illness or disability can become depressed. Depression or anxiety related disorders can trigger an eating disorder, and someone with an eating disorder can develop depression – both are linked; Low self esteem and feelings of insecurity or feeling out of control of ones life can increase the risk of developing depression or an eating disorder or both.

Some other psychological disorders that can accompany eating disorders include:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Manic depression; Panic disorders; Anxiety disorders; Post traumatic stress disorder; Attention Deficit Disorder. At the root of eating disorders are negative feelings including low self esteem, guilt, shame, sadness, anger, stress, feeling deserving of pain and punishment, all of which can be symptoms of depression too.

Conclusion

The biggest step to combating both depression and any eating disorder is to admit there is a problem in the first place as many people will deny there is anything wrong and without appropriate treatment, these mental health problems can continue indefinitely, and can even be life threatening. In order to attain a complete recovery then it is essential to inquire about help from a qualified medical professional to receive a precise diagnosis and the right course of treatment, support and guidance.

All of us go through the sadness for short time but suffering from prolonged depression that stays weeks, months and even years is different. Vicki was not unusual from anyone else; she had a family, a job and a circle of friends who she saw regularly. However, Vicki suffered from an unexplained prolonged sadness that remained years, a disorder called depression. And after years of anti-depressants, therapy, counseling and even natural treatment; she was finally cured! And Vicki understood a few things along the way…

Traditional Depression Treatments: What I wish I would have known

1.) The Utterly Ineffective: Many depression experts focus on “positive thinking,” energy work or fads that, while entertaining in their way, sap away hope from their victims and leave unfortunate sufferers in their wake no closer to true happiness at all.

2.) The Prohibitively Expensive: While psychotherapy and counseling have been proven again and again to have a positive effect in the ongoing fight against depression, the sheer cost of this one-on-one depression treatments puts it out of the reach for many sufferers and can cause a huge amount of stress and even sadness (more factors to heighten depression) for people. Sessions with a professional therapist can cost $80, $100, $200 or more per hour, hour after hour, week after week for years with only the smallest, barely noticeable changes in attitude, persona and happiness. Therapy can easily add up to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per year.

3.) The Dangerous, Side-Effect-Laden “Magic Pills”: Listen, we’d all like to be able to swallow a pill that would destroy our bad moods and rocket us to a state of positive, powerful happiness. Though, the truth is ‘magic pills’ is that many are simply cover-ups or band-aids to what the true problem is. And the terrible side-effects to these medicines can be completely harsh to your body, personality and soul.

As it is usually characterized by an immense feeling of mood-swings, sadness, low-self confidence, assisting someone going through depression is indeed a task that cannot be carried out simply.

Nonetheless, it is safe to say the comforting news is you are perhaps the stronger one in this scenario and are thus better equipped to help someone who may be depressed.

Based on this realization, here are some tips that you could implement to assist someone who may be going through this emotional encumbrance.

1. Cultivate physical closeness with the person.

2. If the person is acutely suicidal, do not leave him or her alone.

3. Try not to patronize them by simply telling them that “everything will be fine,” or that “they have everything to live for.

4. Stay in contact with them.

5. Help them to feel good about themselves by praising daily achievements.

Though this is not the complete list of how-to’s in regards to assisting someone going through a trying phase of depression, in addition to the factors above, if you are of a spiritual inclination, this will be a good time to pray and ask the Divine for assistance with assisting someone going through depression, this of course is best done according to the framework of your faith.

It’s also of a very wise tendency to look into receiving expert help for this friend, be it through conventional methods together with the use of therapists and/or psychiatrists. It will be very useful the sufferer and it really give back their lives.

Have you affected from a panic attack? Then you’re probably very popular with the symptoms – sweaty palms, mental confusion, and an overly high heart rate. There are other possible signs as well, but these are the most common. It’s important to recognize that these symptoms identify a panic attack, so that a proper diagnosis can be achieved. It also means that the sufferer can identify what’s going on as early as possible, so that measure can be taken to try and avert the panic attack. Lack of knowledge can exacerbate the severity and duration of a panic attack.

It may sound a little silly, but the most common symptom of a panic attack is simply that – panic.

It’s often highly intense, and can be triggered by even the small provocation. Issues arising in the family, at work, or problems with money, can all trigger a panic attack. The sufferer may start to shake or cry, break into a cold sweat, or almost instantly develop a pounding headache. People who experience severe panic attacks on a regular basis will sometimes even go so far as to exclude themselves from society, afraid that if they go out in public they might suffer another panic attack, with the result that others will laugh at them.

Many sufferers also turn to drugs or alcohol on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this reliance of the numbing effects of alcohol and particular types of drugs is of concern, as it can point to a severe underlying issue. Sufferers who try to prevent or reduce panic attacks by heavy drinking or drug use are often trying to suppress emotions and feelings that they don’t wish to express. This can have serious implications for their health, but the person suffering from panic attacks may consider this preferable to having another panic attack.

Another symptom often exhibited in conjunction with panic attacks is an intense level of social anxiety. The individual may be reluctant to meet other people and talk with them, and will avoid any type of social gathering. Unfortunately many people who react in this anti-social way also exhibit other symptoms like dry mouth, stammering, or difficulty talking. This results in others labeling them as very shy or introverted, which garners little sympathy from their peers. Some may even dismiss them as mentally ill. All this does is exacerbate the problem, leading sufferers to believe that their fear of social interaction is correct, and that others don’t care about their mental well being.

Many sufferers also exhibit symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and the two often go together. The individual will be consumed by a limited number of thoughts, and will think the same thoughts over and over again in an endless loop, growing more obsessed and distressed by what them. This obsessiveness can lead to a principle that things have to be done a certain way, or something dreadful will result. So someone feels they have to wash their hands 4 times after going to the bathroom. This in itself is challenging, but if the conditions aren’t satisfied, definitely the result will be panic attack.