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What Is Depression?
Depression
is a disorder that affects your thoughts, moods, feelings,
behavior and physical health. People used to think it was
"all in your head" and that if you really tried, you
could "pull yourself out of it." Doctors now know that
depression is not a weakness, and you can't treat it on your own.
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Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms
that usually confirm the diagnosis - are:
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Loss
of interest in normal daily activities. You feel no
interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy. This is
called anhedonia.
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Depressed
mood. You feel sad, helpless and hopeless, and may have
crying spells.
In addition, for a doctor to diagnose depression most of the
following signs and symptoms must also be present most of the
day, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks.
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Sleep
disturbances. Sleeping too much or having problems
sleeping can be signs you're depressed. Waking in the middle
of the night or early in the morning and not being able to get
back to sleep are typical.
Impaired thinking or concentration. You may be unable to
concentrate or make decisions and have problems with memory.
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Significant
weight loss or gain. An increased or reduced appetite and
an unexplained weight gain or loss of more than 5 percent of
your normal weight can indicate depression.
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Agitation
or slowing of body movements. You may seem agitated, irritable
and easily annoyed. Or you may seem to do everything in slow
motion and answer questions slowly in a monotonous tone of
voice.
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Fatigue.
You feel weariness and lack of energy nearly every day.
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Low
self-esteem. You feel worthless and have excessive guilt.
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Less
interest in sex. If you were sexually active before developing
depression, you may notice a dramatic decrease in your level
of interest in having sexual relations.
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Thoughts
of death. You have a persistent negative view of yourself and
the future. You may have thoughts of death, dying or suicide.
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Depression
can also cause a wide variety of vague complaints, such as
generalized itching, blurred vision, excessive sweating, dry
mouth, gastrointestinal problems (indigestion, constipation
and diarrhea), headache and backache.
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Heredity.
Researchers have identified several genes that may be involved
in bipolar disorder, and they're looking for genes linked to
other types of depression. But not everyone with a family
history of depression develops the disorder. Stress.
Stressful life events, particularly a loss or threatened loss
of a loved one or a job, can trigger depression. Medications.
Long-term use of certain medications, such as some drugs used
to control high blood pressure, sleeping pills or,
occasionally, birth control pills, may cause symptoms of
depression in some people.
Children,
teens and older people may react differently to depression. In
these groups symptoms may take a different form or may be masked
by other conditions.
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When to Seek Medical Advice
If you feel sad,
helpless, tired or worthless, if your eating and sleeping habits
have changed greatly and if you show little interest in once
enjoyable activities, see your doctor to determine if depression
is the cause. If you know someone who exhibits the characteristics
of depression, encourage them to see their doctor.
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Self-Care
Once treatment for depression begins, you still have to manage on
a day-to-day basis. Here are some guidelines:
See your doctor regularly. Your doctor can monitor your progress,
provide support and encouragement and adjust your medication if
necessary.
Take your medications. Finding the best medication for you may
take several tries. It may take 4 to 8 weeks for you to start
seeing results. Once you feel better, continue to take your
medication as prescribed.
Don't become isolated. Try to participate in normal activities.
Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet and get the right amount
of sleep and exercise. Exercise can help treat some forms of
depression, ease stress and help you relax.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. Abuse of alcohol and drugs
will slow or prevent your recovery.
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Depression
& Homeopathy
Homeopathy
is recognized as a very effective therapy in treating depression,
grief, and anxiety. Homeopathic remedies work to restore a state
of well-being without the side effects associated with
conventional drug treatments. One of the most rewarding
experiences as a homeopathic practitioner is to observe the rapid
return to a state of well-being that can occur after homeopathic
treatment.
Most patients begin to experience relief of their symptoms within
the first week, followed by continuing improvement over 2 or 3
months until a state of emotional well-being has been attained and
further treatment is no longer required.
Conventional medical treatment for depression alleviates the
symptoms during the period of time that the anti-depressant
medications are being taken, but it doesn't act curatively to
restore a state of well-being. There are also side effects
associated with anti-depressants, and many people find that they
tend to numb all the emotions, not just the sadness
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