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CryingTOP
Causes
The
human nervous system is made up of thousands of nerve cells that send information
to different parts of the brain and body. Inside the nerve cells, information
travels through mild electrical impulses that carry information from one end
of the cell to the other. Between nerve cells information travels using chemical
messengers called neurotransmitters. There are dozens of different types of
neurotransmitters.
Pictured here are two nerve cells, the end of one nerve cell is on the left and the beginning of the next nerve cell on the right. In the middle is a gap across which information must travel. These cells act as a “relay team,” with information being handed off from one nerve cell to the next.
Deficiencies in particular neurotransmitters or the manner in which the neurotransmitters are exchanged between cells can be the biological cause for depression, anxiety or other mental health problems. These deficiencies can be impacted in a variety of ways, including medication, exercise, proper nutrition or a change in thinking patterns.
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Risk Factors
Mental Wellness is happiness, peace of mind, enjoyment and satisfaction in life. Mental health affects your everyday life and physical well-being. It involves the way that you balance your needs, ambition, abilities, ideals, feelings and conscience in order to meet the demands of everyday life.
Stress, Social Support, and Interpersonal Relationships Most cases of depression are triggered by one or more negative life events like those shown here.
Depression can also be triggered by an accumulation of small stressors (such as being in a relationship where there's a lot of conflict, or having to work two jobs, go to school, and raise a family, too.)
One thing that can help
you cope with stressful events is to have other people to whom you can turn
for comfort, advice, help, and support. It is particularly important after a
stressful event.
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Scientists
have discovered that depressed people tend to have smaller and less supportive
networks of friends and family. They have less frequent contact with these people,
and they report having more arguments with people in their networks.
It's important to note that stress, social support and even inheritance factors are risk factors. It does not mean though that if you have one or more of these factors you will definitely suffer from depression (just like not everyone with high blood pressure will have a stroke, or not everyone who's overweight will have a heart attack).
Addressing stress and support factors that are negatively impacting your life can reduce your risk for depression and other mental disorders. They can also be an alert for you to seek treatment early for what can be a debilitating disorder if left untreated.Depression or Major Depression is an emotional and physical reaction characterized primarily by a depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure. Other symptoms vary enormously from restlessness; to “empty mood”; discouragement; irritability; pessimism about the future; changes in weight or appetite; trouble concentrating, remembering or making decisions; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of inadequacy, guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness; and physical symptoms that don’t respond to treatment; and thoughts of death or suicide. These symptoms may go from very mild to very severe. To be diagnosed with clinical depression a person must be interview by a healthcare provider and display at least five of the above symptoms for a two week period or longer.
Dysthymia is a chronic depression displaying two or three symptoms of depression and lasting at least two years. A person may not have any more than two months of remission at any given time. An interview by a healthcare provider is necessary in order to be properly diagnosed.
Bipolar Disorder (formally known as manic-depression) has both manic symptoms and depressive symptoms. Manic symptoms include hyperactivity, distractibility, pressured speech, and grandiosity. Depressive symptoms include deep sadness, sleep disturbance, poor appetite, low self-esteem, and slowed thinking. Diagnosis distinguishes between Bipolar I (mostly manic) and Bipolar II (mostly depressed). It is extremely important that both the depressive and manic symptoms be treated in conjunction with each other.
Postpartum Depression can occur with any pregnancy, not just the first. Symptoms can start anywhere from a few days to a few months after the child is born. Those symptoms include intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, and irritability. If the symptoms begin to disrupt the mother’s life then medical treatment may be required. An even more serious and somewhat rare illness is called postpartum psychosis. Onset is very quick and these women may often lose touch with reality. Symptoms of postpartum psychosis include hallucinations, delusions, insomnia, and agitation. Both postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis should be taken very seriously. These illnesses can affect any woman who is pregnant, has just given birth or miscarried, and those who are weaning a child from breastfeeding. Postpartum depression occurs in around 10% of all pregnancies, and postpartum psychosis occurs in approximately one in every new 500-1,000 pregnancies.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression with symptoms that occur during winter months, usually going into remission during the spring and summer.
Depression or Substance
Abuse? Often people with depression or other mental disorders will use substances
to try to rid themselves of uncomfortable feelings. This is referred to as self
medicating. Untreated illnesses like depression, anxiety, etc. can lead to substance
abuse problems. Treatment for the mental disorder can assist in recovery from
substance abuse. Substance abuse problems can also lead to illnesses like depression.
Treatment for both the substance abuse issue and the mental disorder are necessary.
Treatment for the mental disorder can ease the recovery
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by motor tension, fear, worry, sweating, dizziness, upset stomach, insomnia, and general impatience.
Panic Disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks or fear of having further panic attacks. It is a condition marked by episodes of immediate and intense anxiety at inappropriate times; sufferers may experience palpitations, feelings of faintness, chest pains, and a sensation that death is imminent, even when there is no apparent threat or danger; individuals who experience four or more unexplained attacks in a month, as well as individuals who have fewer attacks but live in constant fear of such an episode, may be suffering from the disorder.
Social Phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by an intense, continuous, and unreasonable fear of being observed or evaluated. Victims are most likely afraid of public speaking, performing before an audience, using public restrooms, or eating in restaurants. See Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that involves a reaction to experiencing an event that is outside the range of usual human experience. Examples would include accidents, natural disasters, assault, and rape. Reactions may include difficulty concentrating, showing no emotions, feeling jumpy, nightmares, having painful memories, to general emotional numbness, which often causes sufferers to withdraw from family and friends. See Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Social Phobia
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder in which the individual experiences
unwanted, recurrent, and persistent ideas, impulses or images, such as thoughts
of death, illnesses, aggression, sexual urges, contamination or other senseless
thoughts.
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Get screened. Screenings are free self-questionnaires that help identify if symptoms are in a range needing further assessment.
Make
an appointment with your physician. Explain that you are suffering from depression
or anxiety symptoms, but you want a complete physical to rule out other illnesses
that may be underlying.
If your symptoms are caused by an illness other than depression or anxiety, follow the advice of your physician.
If your illness is mental health related talk to your physician about his/her comfort in helping you recover. Make certain that he/she will be able to refer you to a mental health professional. A qualified therapist will help you change behaviors and thought patterns that keep you depressed and anxious. Your therapist will also be able to determine if you will need medication for your depression. Advanced Practice Nurses are also available to help you and can prescribe medication and therapy.
To aid in your recovery it is important to remember these simple things
Being “too busy” is no
excuse for lack of self-care. If you can't take care of yourself, you will not
be able to care for your loved ones. Everyone will suffer.
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Opportunities for recovery
The same opportunities for recovery from depression, anxiety and other disorders can help you maintain mental wellness and develop peace of mind. There are many ways to help balance your brain's chemical levels. Good nutrition is important. Drink plenty of water and don't eat too many carbohydrates or sweets. Limit or stop your use of alcohol and other drugs. They can cause depression. Think good thoughts about yourself and others. Psychotherapy is one way to help you develop these skills. Exercise regularly and include relaxation techniques to manage your stress.
Healthy lifestyle
choices can reduce your risk for the onset of illnesses, even if you have a
genetic predisposition to an illness like depression. Of course, consult
your physician before making any major healthcare decisions.
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