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