Major depression is also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a mental disorder. Its characteristic symptoms are pervasive mood swings, low self-esteem and loss of pleasure or interest in activities that the individual generally found enjoyable.

Major depression is different from depression, although the terms are often used synonymously. But the fact is major depression is different from what is referred to as ‘depression, which is actually a depressed mood. Major depression is a disabling condition which affects and impairs an individual’s work, family life, school life, sleeping and eating habits and overall health. Women are at a greater risk for major depression as compared to men, but suicide is more common among men. In the United States, about 3.4% of individuals with major depression commit suicide, while depression is a problem with 60% of all those who commit suicide.

Major depression is most likely to occur between the ages of 30 years to 40 years with a later peak between 50 years to 60 years. There are, however, no laboratory tests for depressions. Physicians and psychologists often do refer laboratory tests to assess that the symptoms are not the result of other diseases.

The symptoms of major depression are sometimes obvious, other times not so. Many a times they are mistaken for a depressed mood but the fact is major depression lasts longer and the symptoms will go well beyond two weeks. A person suffering from major depression will exhibit the following symptoms;

1. Persistently sad or irritable mood

2. Pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, and energy

3. Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering

4. Physical slowing or agitation

5. Lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that were once enjoyed

6. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, and emptiness

7. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

8. Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Major depression can be brought about by a number of reasons and it’s hard to pinpoint a single culprit. Psychological, biological and environmental factors may all play their part and often it is the combination of these rather than one isolated factor. Regardless of what caused if, major depression is a serious medical illness that warrants medical care.

What happens inside the body to bring about major depression? Scientists believe that norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are three neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that transmit electrical signals between brain cells), and these are involved in major depression. When a chemical imbalance occurs in these neurotransmitters, major depression is the result. Anti-depressant medication works by stabilizing the chemical balances. Anti-depressants either increase the availability of neurotransmitters or change the sensitivity level of the receptors for them.

The heredity nature of major depression has been found to be quite a determining and predicting factor. An individual who has a family history of major depression is at a higher risk for developing major depression than those who don’t have major depression in the family. This doesn’t mean that every person with a family history of major depression will develop the illness, but for such individuals, there may be a genetic vulnerability.

Whatever the case may be, if you suspect that you or a loved one has major depression, you should immediately consult a psychologist as the condition will affect both your health and your life.

jeniferhobson
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/major-depression-is-a-serious-medical-illness-1000013.html

I have the worse insomnia ever. I used to take like 6 benadryl a night. It worked and for awhile I stopped. Mostly because I smoked alot of weed for awhile. Anyway, I don’t smoke anymore and I was prescribed Seroquel 400mg. If you ever been on it you know it practically puts you in a mild coma. LOL! My prescription ran out and I can’t afford more right now. I took 4 benadryl’s and it’s now 6am and I am still wide awake.

I need sleep. I am thinking of a combination of DIPHENHYDRAMINE, Melatonin and valarian root. How does that sound? If not does anyone know a quicker way to fall asleep? I am addicted to my sleeping pills I know but right now I can not sleep and I need to sleep. Any help?

if you an addiction kind of medication you have to take lifelong try with yoga hypnotherapy

Anxiety is affecting my sleep like crazy, I may have got two nights of good sleep in the past week but I slept for like 12 hours to catch up, what are some good meds for this problem? Other than stress relievers and alcohol?

first, you have to be tired when u lay down each night. By this I mean, same time each night go to
sleep. wind down.you can’t fool mother nature.Believe me I know.
I also take one tylenol arthritic aspirn (650 mg) and I fall to sleep for 6-7 hrs minimum, but when I wake up, I’m out of there and ready to go..also during the day, if I feel a little sleepy, I try to pull over for a 5-10
minute nap. One nap a day please..

Sudden cravings for refined food, mood swings and insomnia are all symptoms associated with low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia.

By a little research and understanding you can help yourself overcome these problems!

Hypoglycemia is caused by allowing your body, amongst other things, to become dependent on sweets and other junk food. High starch and carbohydrate diets create a dependency on refined foods to keep up sugar levels. When these drop, you suffer the symptoms of low blood sugar levels.

Hypoglycemia may be seen as a symptom of the onset of diabetes. If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms below, you could be hypoglycemic.

* Sudden hunger and shakiness

* Sweating, dizziness or light-headedness

* Sleepiness

* Confusion or difficulty talking

* Weakness and fatigue

* Anxiety

Many of these symptoms will occur during the day, but if you wake up tired and irritable, to find your sheets are damp from sweating, you are probably experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms during the night.

While medical advice is imperative, there are things you can do.

Form a dieting plan. It is important to eat food at regular intervals to avoid hypoglycemic symptoms. By training your body in healthy food choices, you can stave off low blood sugar levels.

Reduce alcohol. When overused this can contribute to hypoglycemia. If you must drink, don’t overdo it. Insulin production is increased with the intake of spirits, beers and wine? Eat a snack or meal with your drink. However, if your symptoms are clear- cut you should not drink alcohol at all.

If you are experiencing hypoglycemia and low blood sugar levels as a result of diabetes medications, make sure you are checking your blood sugar levels regularly and take your insulin or other medication consistently at the same time each day. Also consult your medical advisor to work out the appropriate dosages. While not all people who experience hypoglycemia become diabetic, it increases your chances exponentially.

Although you may be working with your doctor to treat your hypoglycemia, you may still be struggling to overcome the symptoms. There is hope! There are fantastic resources available that will give you pointers, and give you hope that your life can be normal again.

Get your sleeping patterns back, lose your anxiety, quit grabbing the first foods that you can get your fists around and experience happiness again.

Noel Glass
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/hypoglycemia-the-symptoms-687936.html

Depression disproportionately affects the elderly. Unfortunately many times the signs of depression can be confused with signs of aging.  In order to properly diagnose and treat depression in the elderly, individuals, their care takers and health care providers need to be vigilant in looking for the signs and symptoms. Depression in the elderly can be debilitating and effect other areas of health. Determining if depression is involved is an important part of the health screening process.

Warning Signs of Depression

When dealing with the elderly and depression, some detective work is often needed.  It is important that the elderly and their caretakers know the signs and symptoms of depression. As the elderly tend to have a lot of confounding factors coming into play at the same time which affect their health, symptoms of depression are easily masked as signs of aging. Symptoms of depression vary from person to person.  Some common signs are:

• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Difficulty focusing, remembering and staying on task
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, emptiness or helplessness
• Sleeping too much or insomnia
• Eating more or less than normal
• Loss of interest in activities that were enjoyed before
• Crying for long periods of time
• Thoughts of suicide

While these are only a few of the possible symptoms, one can readily see how depression can easily be mistaken for signs of aging, precisely because these symptoms are so prevalent among the elderly. Mental and physical sickness and “old age” are often considered to be one in the same. According to the Rotterdam Scan Study, people with an early onset of depression had an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. The study also found that the depression symptoms did not have to be obvious to run this risk.[i] This study highlights the fact that early detection and treatment of depression in the older population is vital in the fight to lower the risk of Alzheimer Disease. Much more research is being done to investigate the link between the two. It is clear however, that the two are linked.

What You Can Do to Improve Quality of Life

One thing is certain:  the earlier depression is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance a person will recover and regain a healthy lifestyle. There are many treatments available for depression. Once diagnosed a referral should be made to a geriatric psychiatrist. This is a specialist who is trained to treat depression in the older population. The treatment can vary from things as simple as talk therapy, diet changes and exercise to medication. A combination of all these methods is often used.

It should be understood that the elderly deal with problems that younger generations do not. They are often dealing with deaths of loved ones, illness and retirement. They may suffer financial burdens, not to mention a sense of loss of control over their lives. These may be issues they have never dealt with previously and will need to learn new methods to deal with them emotionally.

Diet is an important factor in dealing with depression in the elderly. Older people may not be eating like they should. They may be living alone or on a limited income. Their diets should be carefully analyzed. While there is no one food that will “cure” depression, as the saying goes, we are what we eat, and food does often affect how we feel. Plenty of whole fresh fruits and vegetables are essential. These will provide essential vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. Carbohydrates in small amounts can have a calming effect. Whole grains are especially important for heart and digestive issues. Good sources of protein, especially those with Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and legumes, are recommended.

Exercise is an excellent way to make anyone feel better. During exercise, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called serotonin as well as endorphins. These are the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals. They help a person sleep better, stabilize the mood and even affect appetite and cell generation.

Exercise does not have to be an intense workout at the gym. It can be something as simple as a brisk walk through the park for 10 to 15 minutes. Elderly people could be encouraged to take a dance class or a fitness class with other seniors. This will provide exercise and also give them needed social interaction.

Getting the elderly population involved socially is also an essential part of depression treatment and prevention. Many elderly people withdraw. They may have experienced the loss of a loved one or friends and feel they are alone. Getting them back out in the community and involved in activities that they find enjoyable is helpful.

As you can see, communication and education are vital in detection of depression in the elderly. If you believe an older person you care about may be suffering from depression, bring it to the attention of a health professional. Effective treatment may make a significant improvement in the elder person’s overall health.

[i] http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/70/15/1258

Lori Somekh
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/is-depression-being-mistaken-for-old-age-1202459.html