Web Design by Surfer Sam and FriendsSurfer Sam's Online MagazineSend Free Ecards to your friends and familyContact Us
Celebrating 10 years on the Internet 1999-2009
  HOME BLOGS PICTURES STORIES JOKES VIDEOS STUDENT LOANS FREE CELL PHONES 






Help for Depression. What is Depression
Signs, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Cure
and Antidepressants


Are you depressed? We all go through emotional changes. Sadness is a normal reaction to life’s problems. But clinical depression is much more than just sadness.

Depression is worse than feeling blue or sad. Depression makes it hard to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. For some people, depression is like living in a black hole. Some depressed people have a sense of doom. Other depressed people feel sad or lifeless, empty, and apathetic. Depressed people have strong persistent feelings that they are beyond help, have no hope or are worthless.

help for depressionThe Signs and Symptoms of Depression


Signs and symptoms of depression are not always easy to detect. And depression is different for each person.
  • Perhaps you can’t sleep or you sleep too much.
  • You can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult.
  • You feel hopeless and helpless.
  • Your thoughts are negative and out of control.
  • You have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating.
  • You become much more irritable and short-tempered than usual.
  • Perhaps you cry often.
  • In every case, thoughts of death or suicide are a serious symptom of depression.

help for depressionMore Signs and Symptoms of Depression


Teenagers who are depressed often become irritable, hostile, grumpy and full of rage. Unexplained aches and pains are also symptoms of depression in teens.

Men consider depression as a sign of weakness. Instead, depressed men complain about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems and lack of interest in work and hobbies. In men, anger, aggression, violence, reckless behavior and substance abuse are often symptoms of depression. Depressed men are at a high risk of suicide.

Depression affects women twice as often as men. A woman's depression can be related to hormonal problems and PMS. Some women become depressed after childbirth and during menopause. The symptoms of depression in women are feelings of guilt, sleeping excessively, overeating and gaining weight. Women are also more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

help for depressionDepression and Suicide


Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. People who are depressed may want to hurt themselves or others. A person who talks of suicide needs your help . Encourage a depressed person to talk to their health professional for diagnosis and treatment. The despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression hurts. A depressed person may think that suicide is the only way to escape the pain.

help for depressionTypes of Depression


Depression is different in different people. Everyone has unique symptoms, causes, and effects. Clinical depression shows symptoms that are constant and moderate or severe. Without treatment, clinical depression lasts about six months, and it can recur. Atypical depression comes and goes with mood changes, but the symptoms always return. Dysthmia is chronic mild depression with symptoms that continue a long time. SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, is depression triggered in the fall or winter by the absence of sunlight. Light therapy treats SAD with doses of bright artificial light to relieve the symptoms. Bipolar Disorder, also called manic depression, causes strong mood swings from deep depression to manic highs. During the mania, the person becomes impulsive, hyperactive and is unable to sleep. Depression can also be a side effect of prescription medications and illness, too.

help for depressionWhat Causes Depression?


Depression has been recognized all through history, as far back as the Bible. In centuries past, depression was thought to be an inherited weakness of temperament. Freud thought that guilt and conflict were the causes of depression. Today, doctors admit that they don't really know what causes depression. Depression is related to a chemical imbalance in the brain with lower levels serotonin and norepinephrine. But we don't know if depression causes the brain chemical imbalance, or vice versa. There is no laboratory test, blood test, or X-ray that can diagnose depression.

There are some important factors in your biology, your psychology, lifestyle and life events that can lead to depression. You are at risk for depression if you have grief and unhappiness in your life.
  • Loneliness
  • Lack of social support
  • Recent loss or death of a loved one
  • Family history of depression
  • Difficult relationship problems
  • Money worries
  • Childhood trauma or abuse
  • Alcohol or drug problems
  • Unemployment or underemployment
  • Medical problems or chronic pain


help for depressionHow to Treat or Cure Depression


There are four ways to treat or cure depression: self-help, lifestyle changes, medication and therapy. Sometimes you can get over depression by helping yourself. Finding a better job, moving away from stressful people, distracting yourself from your grief, are all ways to lift the sadness and depression from your shoulders. Spend more time with people. Make friends, volunteer or work on hobbies so that your life is open to happier feelings. A healthier lifestyle with no drugs or alcohol will often relieve depression.

But many times, depression drains your initiative and blocks your ability to help yourself. Ask for help and support, especially when your depression is overwhelming. It is important that you talk to a health professional. Medicine and therapy can be very effective and are often recommended to treat your depression.

help for depressionTalk Therapy to Treat Depression


Like any illness, depression often requires medical treatment. Talking to a therapist is often effective treatment for depression. Therapy is often recommended in combination with antidepressants. A therapist will give you tools to treat depression and to understand yourself better. You'll develop the skills and insight to overcome depression and move past it. As you work with a therapist you'll learn what causesm your depression and how to stay healthy.

help for depressionTreat or Cure Depression with Antidepressants and Drug Therapy


Depression is a major illness of modern life. We are fortunate to have antidepressants available that help with it. Medication can help relieve the symptoms of depression in many people, but they don’t cure everyone. And the depression is liable to return later. Sometimes, the doctor will need to try several antidepressants to find the most effective one. Antidepressants should not be discontinued suddenly, but only gradually over a period of weeks.

There are five classes of drugs and medications for depression, SSRIs, NDRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and atypical antidepressants. All classes of medications have some effect on both norepinephrine and serotonin, as well as on other brain neurotransmitters.

SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Used in drug therapy for depression, SSRIs primarily act on serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that affects mood. SSRIs are widely used antidepressants. Familiar brand names are Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Luvox and Lexapro. Generally, SSRIs may have a few mild temporary side effects, like nausia, insomnia, headache, low libido and tremors.

SNRI stands for serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. They are antidepressants that increase the levels of two brain neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine. SNRIs are new, promising drugs especially to treat severe and chronic depression. Brand names include Cymbalta, Meridia and Effexor.

TCA stands for tricyclic antidepressant. TCAs were introduced in 1950s to treat depression as well as many other nervous conditions. TCAs have been largely replaced by newer antidepressants. There are many brand names, including Elavil, Norpramin and Tofranil.

NDRI stands for norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Wellbutrin is one brand name.

MAOI stands for monoamine oxidase inhibitors. To treat depression, MAOIs works by blocking the enzymes that trigger the oxidation of monoamines and thus break down neurotransmitters in the brain. MAOIs are prescribed only when other antidepressants are not effective. These antidepressants have serious and potentially lethal interactions with specific foods and other drugs. Some brand names are Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate.

I hope life brings you much success.
I wish you a very happy day.

>> Please Return to the Top.

Return to the complete index of new blogs.


Share this page with someone, by Email, Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, and your favorite social site Share
  1. Annuity Insurance Retirement Plan offers guaranteed monthly payments for life.
  2. LASIK Laser Eye Surgery. See the world without glasses or contact lenses.
  3. The Fastest Cars in the World. Super sports cars, exotic, fast and road-legal.
  4. Should I sign a prenuptial agreement When do I need a prenuptial agreement
  5. Help for Acne. Medicine, treatment and cures for your acne.
  6. Help for Depression. Signs and symptoms, causes and cures, treatment and antidepressants.
  7. Make Money with the Best Stock Investments The ten best stocks so far this year.
  8. Small business Startup. Strategy and planning for your first business.
  9. Stock Investment with Warren Buffett. How to make money like a billionaire.
  10. Free Money for College. Claim your college cash.
  11. Free Affiliate Marketing Programs Make money online.
  12. Make a Legal Will with or without an attorney.
  13. How to Sell My House and Get the Most Money.
  14. ETF Exchange Traded Funds a great investment.
  15. A Diamond Engagement Ring How to buy diamonds.
  16. Great American novels and famous writers.
  17. Start a New Small Business. Best new small business start-up ideas, planning and opportunities.
  18. How to Get Customers to Your Website. Free Ways to Market a Small Business
  19. Investing Successfully in Gold What you've always wanted to know about gold.
  20. Famous Diets and how they work.
  21. Family Genealogy. Research your family tree and discover your roots.
  22. Famous Baseball Players and Their Teams. Baseball stars become our heroes.
  23. Lose Weight with Super Foods. You need to read this.
  24. Pay Off Credit Card Debt Get out of credit card debt! Enjoy life again.
  25. Get Free Ringtones. Personalize your cell phone.
  26. Find the Best Lawyer. Get the job done right.
  27. How Retirement Plans Work. Your best retirement savings strategy.
  28. Get Relief from Your Allergies. Allergies, their symptoms and relief.
  29. Free Home Foreclosure Help. You have options and legal rights.
  30. Home Staging Tips Sell Your House Fast. Attract more buyers and more money.
  31. What Do My Dreams Mean?
  32. Burn a Free Music CD. Burning is how you transfer data from the computer to the CD.
  33. Best Stock Picks of the Decade. Someone is making big money.
  34. Relief for Stress, Anxiety and Tension. Stress is the cause of illness and unhappiness.
  35. Digital Video Camera Camcorder. Buy and enjoy the best.
  36. Best Cell Phone Plans and Service. The best cell phone plan and service.
  37. Headache Cures and Relief. The causes of headaches and ways to soothe the pain.
  38. Do You Need a Business Corporation? Protect yourself and get a tax shelter.
  39. Stock Investment with Warren Buffett. How to make money like a billionaire.
  40. Become a Millionaire The 4-Hour Workweek.
  41. Make Money. Own a Franchise Business. Be your own boss and build equity.
  42. 401k and IRA Retirement Plans. Start now and retire wealthy.
  43. Best Student Loans A Federal or Private Student Loan Pays for Your College Education
  44. Famous Photographers and Their Work Exploring the world in photos.
  45. Buy 500 Companies for $1,000. Guaranteed average returns with a low cost stock index mutual fund.
  46. Start Your Own New Small Business Opportunities are waiting!
  47. The Happiness Coach. Happiness can be learned, like tennis or handwriting.
  48. Two Miracle Foods that can make you younger . Good news for healthy living.