"http://www.geocities.com/janet313/wordspie/199707/027874.html"
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Post: 027874
Date: 1997/07/18
Subj: clinical depression [cd] defined
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dear syber-siblings
i've had a lot of positive feedback on my 'perceptions' posts
about clinical depression [cd - as i like to call it]
as i understand it
clinical depression is not simply feelings of sadness
it is chemical imbalance
which can be triggered by stress
and
which can affect one's thought processes and emotions
in the same way that
the chemical imbalance of pd
can affect one's mobility
this is the clearest detailed description i've found on the web
[from the university of british columbia, eh?]
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What is a Clinical Depression?
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Clinical depression is sometimes referred to as a major
depressive episode. Episodes are usually a result of
Major Depressive Disorder, but they can also be
associated with other disorders. It appears that
clinical depressions can be caused in a number of ways.
Clinical depression is not just feeling unhappy. A
clinical depression can include a low mood, hopeless
feelings, and loss of interest or pleasure in almost all
usual activities and pastimes.
Some of the common symptoms are:
* Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
* Not caring anymore about work, hobbies, friends or
sexual activity
* Self-recrimination for things in the past or
present
* Feeling tired all the time or finding everything an
effort
* Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
* Loss of appetite or loss of weight
* Eating more than usual and gaining weight
* Thoughts of suicide
* Considering a way of dying
Other problems people experience during a clinical
depression include:
* Frequently feeling on the verge of tears or weepy
* Waking up early in the morning, with difficulty
returning to sleep
* Feeling worse in the morning
* Feeling anxious or irritable
* A gloomy view of the future
* Physical pain or headaches
* Cravings for certain foods
Most people experience these symptoms for months before
seeking treatment. Being depressed is painful and it may
feel like it will never end. Without treatment symptoms
can last for months, sometimes years. Appropriate
treatment can help over 80% of those who suffer from
depression.
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What Causes a Clinical Depression?
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There is evidence that a combination of factors produces
a depression. These include physical problems,
environmental stress, and psychological factors.
Factors that can contribute to the cause of depression
include:
* Certain medical diseases, for example, Parkinson's
Disease, thyroid diseases, anemia.
* Some medical drugs, for example, antihypertensive
drugs.
* Drugs of abuse, for example, alcohol or cocaine.
* There is evidence for a genetic predisposition to
having a depression. Often, someone with depression
will have family members who also suffer depressive
episodes.
* Other psychiatric conditions, such as panic
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder.
* Prolonged and severe stress in your environment
such as relationship problems, unemployment,
financial difficulty.**
* Any situation in which one feels helpless.**
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What Treatment is Available for Clinical Depression?
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Some depression will disappear eventually without any
treatment, though this can take many months or sometimes
years. Currently there is no sure way of predicting when
an episode of depression will end. Treatment may be
recommended, rather than simply waiting.
Since depression may be caused by a combination of
factors, a combination of treatments may be necessary.
Some of these are psychotherapy, behaviour therapy, and
medication. An individual treatment plan is organized
between patient and doctor.
Psychotherapy is a method of talking about your concerns
with your therapist to identify problems and seek
solutions. Cognitive-behavioural therapy focuses on the
negative beliefs and behaviours commonly seen in
depression. Antidepressant medication is prescribed to
get the mind and body working in a reasonable way again,
allowing you to think clearly about problems in your
life that may be contributing to the depression. Some
patients with severe depression do well with
electroconvulsive therapy. Winter depression (seasonal
affective disorder -SAD) and manic depression (bipolar
disorder) have specific treatments. Light therapy is
often employed in SAD. Mood stabilizing medications or
antimanic agents are used for bipolar disorder.
There are things that depressed individuals can do help
themselves, including reading more about depression.
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What About Psychotherapy for Depression?
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The "talking therapies" assist individuals to discuss
and resolve problems through emotional support, insights
and understanding gained through the verbal "give and
take". These psychotherapies can be individual-,
family-, marital-, or group-oriented.
Interpersonal and cognitive-behavioural therapies have
been the most scientifically evaluated psychotherapeutic
treatments for depression. Interpersonal therapy is
based on a concept that depressive symptoms occur in the
context of disturbed personal and social relationships.
Therapists help patients understand their illness, their
feelings, and how interpersonal problems and conflicts
relate to their depression. Patients are encouraged to
identify and better understand such problems and to
develop more adaptive ways of relating to others.
Cognitive/behavioral therapy is based on the premise
that peoples' emotions and behaviours are determined by
how they view the world and interpret their experiences.
The therapist helps patients correct maladaptive beliefs
and negative thought patterns.
The most widely used forms of psychosocial therapy are
those referred to as psychodynamic. They are based on
the assumption that internal conflicts are at the heart
of the patient's disorder. Treatment brings the conflict
into the therapeutic situation where it can be dealt
with and resolved.
For some patients, the most effective treatment is a
combination of medications to control symptoms and
restore functioning, plus psychotherapy to address
social and behavioral problems.
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How Can I Help Myself with Clinical Depression?
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You can help yourself get better. Here's some advice:
* Take your medication as prescribed. Report any
problems with side effects to your doctor.
* Avoid alcohol and other mood-altering
non-prescription drugs.
* Keep a regular schedule of sleeping and waking.
* Exercise regularly, for example, taking a daily
half-hour walk.
* Avoid making any important decisions until you feel
better.
* Don't expect too much of yourself at work or at
home. As you will be feeling better within weeks,
try to delay any major responsibilities or get help
from others. If your depression is severe, you may
be unable to do much else for yourself until you
begin to feel better. Start with small tasks, then
build up to bigger tasks.
* Self-help groups can also be very helpful for
depressed people and their families.
* Self-help on the internet is also available by
e-mail, including alt.support.depression
* Read about depression. We have a short list of good
books about depression.
--------------------------------------------------------
Books About Depression
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Overcoming Depression
by Dr. D.F. Papolos and Janice Papolos
Excellent, practical overview of the symptoms and cause
of depressive disorders with much useful advice for the
patients and families. Highly recommended.
Depression and its Treatment
by Dr. John H. Greist and Dr. James W. Jefferson
A brief but excellent review of the current status of
the biological treatment of depression.
The Feeling Good Handbook
by Dr. David Burns
A persuasive self-help guide for treating depression by
a cognitive therapist. Includes charts, homework
assignments to offer mechanisms for coping with problems
such as procrastination, loneliness and negative
thinking. Highly recommended.
The Depression Workbook:
A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression
by Mary Ellen Copeland
Another workbook that many people with depression will
find useful.
Depression:
What Families Should Know
by Elaine Shimberg
A very readable guide for families struggling to help
their loved ones.
On the Edge of Darkness
by Kathy Cronkite
An inspirational book by a journalist recovered from
depression, filled with personal observations about
depression from well-known patients (Joan Rivers, Mike
Wallace, Rod Steiger, etc), clinicians, and researchers.
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Raymond W. Lam , MD, FRCP(C), 1996
http://www.psychiatry.ubc.ca/
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the two items which i marked ** under 'Causes'
are the key ones for me:
three years of financial/business/shareholder troubles
where i have finally had to allow the company
i started six years ago to die a quiet death;
hence, i may now be technically unemployed
but i sure am happy about it!
all my feelings of anger and frustration and helplessness
were stuffed down inside
where they fermented nicely
and bubbled up predictably and inevitably in a fog
of london/jack/the/ripper proportions
and a downward spiral of non-functioning/hermitting
aided and abetted
by what i refer to as
those yadda yadda monkeys yammering at me in the background
with a running negative commentary on everything
[dr. david burns refers to these 'monkeys'
with a somewhat more professional term: 'automatic thoughts']
when i put that business stress together with
a probable genetic tendency towards cd in my family
and the apparent bio-chemical relationship between cd and pd
blammo
i was hit with a triple whammy [dr. whammi, d.s.o.]
and now i can't tell you how wonderful it is
for me to be able to say 'was'
janet
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janet paterson
53 now / 44 dx cd / 43 onset cd / 41 dx pd / 37 onset pd
tel: 613 256 8340 url: "http://www.geocities.com/janet313/"
email: "[log in to unmask]" smail: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0
Canada
