| Depression is a complex of psychological and | | | | endogenous depression. Inheritance is thought |
| physical symptoms. Low mood level or sadness | | | | to be a part of the cause.3. Depression by |
| is often the most prominent symptom. The | | | | physical diseaseDepression or depressive |
| common property of these symptoms is a | | | | symptoms may be a symptom of physical |
| decreased activity level in parts of the | | | | disease. This is perhaps the most common |
| brain.THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSIONDepression | | | | cause of depression.Diseases often associated |
| may give one or more of these symptoms:-Low | | | | with depression are: Heart disease, |
| mood level or sadness.-Lack of joy or | | | | Parkinson's disease, stroke, hypertension or |
| interest in activities that were joyful | | | | Cushing's syndrome.Mononucleosis or flu may |
| before.-Pessimism.-Feel of guilt of something | | | | trigger depression that continues after the |
| without any substantial reason to feel | | | | infection has gone.By lack of thyroid |
| so.-Inferiority | | | | hormones, hypothyroidism, the metabolism in |
| thoughts.-Irritability.-Slowness in the | | | | the whole body is slowed down, including the |
| thought process.-Slowness in interpreting | | | | production of neurotransmitters in the brain. |
| sensorial stimuli.-Slowness of digestion or | | | | Therefore depression is an important symptom |
| other internal physical processes, and | | | | of hypothyroidism.4. Depressive symptoms as a |
| symptoms caused by this slowness, for example | | | | consequence of unsound lifestyleA general |
| inflated stomach, constipation or | | | | unsound lifestyle with too less exercise, too |
| difficulties by urination.-Slow physical | | | | much of stimulants like alcohol, coffee or |
| reactions.Depression can be a mild disease | | | | tea, too less of important nutrient and too |
| that only causes some annoyance in the daily | | | | much of sugar and fat may give depressive |
| life, but can also get very serious and make | | | | symptoms, as well as physical problems.5. |
| a person totally unable to work and unable to | | | | Postnatal depressionWomen will often have a |
| participate in social life. By depression of | | | | period of depression after pregnancy and |
| some severity, there is also a greater risk | | | | berth of the baby Pregnancy and berth is |
| of suicide.Depression can occur in all age | | | | physically and mentally exhausting, and may |
| classes. In teenagers lack of interest in | | | | drain the body for nutrient. This in turn can |
| school work, withdrawal from social life and | | | | cause depressive symptoms6. Seasonal |
| difficult mood can be signs of depression.THE | | | | affective disorderDepression can occur in |
| PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT PRODUCE THE | | | | cold and dark periods of the year and go away |
| SYMPTOMSBy depression there is a decreased | | | | in warm and light periods. Light stimulates |
| amount of neurotransmitters in parts of the | | | | brain activity, and lack of light is a |
| central nervous system, mainly deficiency of | | | | causative factor.TREATMENT OF |
| serotonin, but also to some extend of | | | | DEPRESSIONSerious or prolonged depression is |
| noradrenalin, acetylcholine, dopamine or | | | | often treated with anti-depressive |
| gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), or the nerve | | | | medication. Medicines used against depression |
| cells do not react properly by stimulation | | | | generally increase the level of |
| from neurotransmitters. A neurotransmitter is | | | | neurotransmitters like serotonin in the |
| a signal substance that transmits the nerve | | | | central nervous system, or they mimic the |
| signal through the junctions between two | | | | neurotransmitters.The medications mostly used |
| nerve cells.Serotonin and noradrenalin cause | | | | today increase the serotonin concentration by |
| nerve cells to send impulses along to other | | | | decreasing the removal of serotonin from the |
| nerve cells, and thus increase the activity | | | | space around nerve cells. Examples of this |
| in the brain. Deficiency of these substances | | | | medication type are: Fluoxetine (Prozac), |
| causes slowness in parts of the brain, and | | | | fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), |
| that again causes the depressive symptoms.The | | | | escitalopram (Lexapro, Celexa), sentraline |
| role of GABA is the opposite, namely to slow | | | | (zoloft).By bipolar disorder in the manic |
| down some nerve impulses, mainly those | | | | face, heavy tranquilizers (neuroleptica) are |
| causing anxiety and panic response. Lack of | | | | used to stop the manic symptoms. By bipolar |
| GABA causes higher anxiety and easier panic | | | | disorder, lithium salts are sometimes used to |
| response. Yet, lack of this transmitter also | | | | stabilize the condition, and prevent new |
| seems to cause depressive symptoms. This is | | | | outbreak of depressive or manic |
| because a too high activity in some brain | | | | faces.Psychotherapy is sometimes used by |
| processes may slow down other processes.There | | | | depression, usually in combination with |
| are many causes and subtypes of depression | | | | medication.Sometimes serious depression is |
| with different physiological mechanisms | | | | treated by applying electric shock through |
| involved.TYPES OF DEPRESSIONDepression is | | | | the head, electroconvulsive therapy. The |
| often divided into subtypes according to | | | | shock induces epileptic eruption of nerve |
| exhibited symptoms.1. Mono-polar depression | | | | signals through the brain and this gives |
| and dysthymic disorderBy mono-polar | | | | cramps throughout the body. The cramps are |
| depression there are pure depressive | | | | alleviated or stopped by applying anaesthesia |
| symptoms. Mild cases of mono-polar disorder | | | | before the electroshock. This form of |
| that do not affect a persons ability to work | | | | treatment is controversial, since it can |
| and to participate in social activities are | | | | cause memory loss and is suspected of causing |
| often called dysthymic disorder.2. Bipolar | | | | brain damage. The possibility of brain damage |
| disorder (manic-depressive disease) and | | | | is however denied by most psychiatrists.By |
| cyclothymic disorderIn this condition there | | | | seasonal depression, light therapy maybe |
| are periods with symptoms of depression - the | | | | useful.Adjustment of lifestyle should always |
| depressive phase, alternating with periods of | | | | be considered by depression or depressive |
| elevated mood level with increased mental and | | | | symptoms. Lifestyle measures can sometimes be |
| physical activity - the manic phase. In the | | | | enough to cure depressive symptoms before a |
| manic phase, the affected person also sleeps | | | | serious depression develop. Lifestyle |
| poorly and has concentration difficulties. A | | | | adjustments can be:- To slow down a stressful |
| mild form of this disease is called | | | | life with too much work or activities.- |
| cyclothymic disorder.3. Manic disorderThis | | | | Enough rest and sleep.- A good diet with |
| condition is characterized by abnormally | | | | enough of necessary nutrients.- Some physical |
| elevated mood, by unrealistic optimism, by | | | | exercise.- Meditation.- Supplement of |
| lack of sleep and by hyperactive behaviour. | | | | vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, lecithin, |
| Many psychiatrists think that this disorder | | | | amino acids and essential fatty acids.- |
| is simply the same disease as bipolar | | | | Stimulants like coffee or tea may help |
| disorder where the depressive face has not | | | | against depressive feelings in moderate |
| yet occurred.4. Depression with mainly | | | | amount. However, if you are a heavy user of |
| physical symptomsSometimes the physical | | | | these stimulants, you should cut down on your |
| symptoms of depression are alone or dominant, | | | | consumption.There exist nutritional products |
| as for example: Digestive problems, | | | | in the marked to help against depressive |
| constipation, difficulties with urination, | | | | symptoms. These contain ingredients that the |
| slow response to sensorial stimuli or slow | | | | brain uses as building blocks for |
| physical reactions.CAUSES OF DEPRESSIONTwo or | | | | neurotransmitters, for example amino acids |
| more factors can have an effect | | | | and lecithin. They also often contain |
| simultaneously to cause depression. | | | | vitamins and minerals that the brain uses as |
| Depression can be an independent disease, or | | | | tools to produce neurotransmitters, |
| a part of other disease. Depression is also | | | | especially vitamin B6.Supplements may further |
| divided into different subtypes according to | | | | contain herbal extracts that trigger higher |
| cause.1. Reactive depressionThis disease is | | | | brain activity much like anti-depressive |
| simply a result from psychological stress, | | | | medications, but may have fewer side |
| physical struggle or mental straining without | | | | effects.Knut Holt is an internet consultant |
| proper rest or sleep over a long time period. | | | | and marketer focusing on health items. TO |
| The straining will simply wear out the | | | | FIND natural supplements to help against |
| nervous system or deplete the organism from | | | | serotonin deficiency, GABA deficiency, |
| nutrient necessary for the nervous system to | | | | hypothyroidism, mental problems, acne, skin |
| work properly.2. Endogenous depressionWhen | | | | problems, heart disease, hemorrhoids, |
| there has not been any period of stress, | | | | rheumatism, and other common health problems, |
| straining or lack of rest that can explain | | | | PLEASE VISIT to reprint with the author's |
| the condition, the condition is often called | | | | name and link. |