The main symptom of depression is sadness or low mood level, but many other
mental and physical symptoms also occur. Here are symptoms, causes and treatment
options explained.
Depression is a complex of psychological and physical symptoms. Low mood
level or sadness is often the most prominent symptom. The common property of
these symptoms is a decreased activity level in parts of the brain.
THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Depression may give one or more of these symptoms:
-Low mood level or sadness.
-Lack of joy or interest in activities that
were joyful before.
-Pessimism.
-Feel of guilt of something without any
substantial reason to feel so.
-Inferiority thoughts.
-Irritability.
-Slowness in the thought process.
-Slowness in interpreting sensorial
stimuli.
-Slowness of digestion or other internal physical processes, and
symptoms caused by this slowness, for example inflated stomach, constipation or
difficulties by urination.
-Slow physical reactions.
Depression can be a mild disease that only causes some annoyance in the daily
life, but can also get very serious and make a person totally unable to work and
unable to participate in social life. By depression of some severity, there is
also a greater risk of suicide.
Depression can occur in all age classes. In teenagers lack of interest in
school work, withdrawal from social life and difficult mood can be signs of
depression.
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT PRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS
By depression there is a decreased amount of neurotransmitters in parts of
the central nervous system, mainly deficiency of serotonin, but also to some
extend of noradrenalin, acetylcholine, dopamine or gamma-amino-butyric acid
(GABA), or the nerve cells do not react properly by stimulation from
neurotransmitters. A neurotransmitter is a signal substance that transmits the
nerve signal through the junctions between two nerve cells.
Serotonin and noradrenalin cause nerve cells to send impulses along to other
nerve cells, and thus increase the activity in the brain. Deficiency of these
substances causes slowness in parts of the brain, and that again causes the
depressive symptoms.
The role of GABA is the opposite, namely to slow down some nerve impulses,
mainly those causing anxiety and panic response. Lack of GABA causes higher
anxiety and easier panic response. Yet, lack of this transmitter also seems to
cause depressive symptoms. This is because a too high activity in some brain
processes may slow down other processes.
There are many causes and subtypes of depression with different physiological
mechanisms involved.
TYPES OF DEPRESSION
Depression is often divided into subtypes according to exhibited symptoms.
1. Mono-polar depression and dysthymic disorder
By mono-polar depression there are pure depressive symptoms. Mild cases of
mono-polar disorder that do not affect a persons ability to work and to
participate in social activities are often called dysthymic disorder.
2. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disease) and cyclothymic disorder
In this condition there are periods with symptoms of depression - the
depressive phase, alternating with periods of elevated mood level with increased
mental and physical activity - the manic phase. In the manic phase, the affected
person also sleeps poorly and has concentration difficulties. A mild form of
this disease is called cyclothymic disorder.
3. Manic disorder
This condition is characterized by abnormally elevated mood, by unrealistic
optimism, by lack of sleep and by hyperactive behaviour. Many psychiatrists
think that this disorder is simply the same disease as bipolar disorder where
the depressive face has not yet occurred.
4. Depression with mainly physical symptoms
Sometimes the physical symptoms of depression are alone or dominant, as for
example: Digestive problems, constipation, difficulties with urination, slow
response to sensorial stimuli or slow physical reactions.
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
Two or more factors can have an effect simultaneously to cause depression.
Depression can be an independent disease, or a part of other disease. Depression
is also divided into different subtypes according to cause.
1. Reactive depression
This disease is simply a result from psychological stress, physical struggle
or mental straining without proper rest or sleep over a long time period. The
straining will simply wear out the nervous system or deplete the organism from
nutrient necessary for the nervous system to work properly.
2. Endogenous depression
When there has not been any period of stress, straining or lack of rest that
can explain the condition, the condition is often called endogenous depression.
Inheritance is thought to be a part of the cause.
3. Depression by physical disease
Depression or depressive symptoms may be a symptom of physical disease. This
is perhaps the most common cause of depression.
Diseases often associated with depression are: Heart disease, Parkinson's
disease, stroke, hypertension or Cushing's syndrome.
Mononucleosis or flu may trigger depression that continues after the
infection has gone.
By lack of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism, the metabolism in the whole body
is slowed down, including the production of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Therefore depression is an important symptom of hypothyroidism.
4. Depressive symptoms as a consequence of unsound lifestyle
A general unsound lifestyle with too less exercise, too much of stimulants
like alcohol, coffee or tea, too less of important nutrient and too much of
sugar and fat may give depressive symptoms, as well as physical problems.
5. Postnatal depression
Women will often have a period of depression after pregnancy and berth of the
baby Pregnancy and berth is physically and mentally exhausting, and may drain
the body for nutrient. This in turn can cause depressive symptoms.
6. Seasonal affective disorder
Depression can occur in cold and dark periods of the year and go away in warm
and light periods. Light stimulates brain activity, and lack of light is a
causative factor.
TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION
Serious or prolonged depression is often treated with anti-depressive
medication. Medicines used against depression generally increase the level of
neurotransmitters like serotonin in the central nervous system, or they mimic
the neurotransmitters.
The medications mostly used today increase the serotonin concentration by
decreasing the removal of serotonin from the space around nerve cells. Examples
of this medication type are: Fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox),
paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro, Celexa), sentraline (zoloft).
By bipolar disorder in the manic face, heavy tranquilizers (neuroleptica) are
used to stop the manic symptoms. By bipolar disorder, lithium salts are
sometimes used to stabilize the condition, and prevent new outbreak of
depressive or manic faces.
Psychotherapy is sometimes used by depression, usually in combination with
medication.
Sometimes serious depression is treated by applying electric shock through
the head, electroconvulsive therapy. The shock induces epileptic eruption of
nerve signals through the brain and this gives cramps throughout the body. The
cramps are alleviated or stopped by applying anaesthesia before the
electroshock. This form of treatment is controversial, since it can cause memory
loss and is suspected of causing brain damage. The possibility of brain damage
is however denied by most psychiatrists.
By seasonal depression, light therapy maybe useful.
Adjustment of lifestyle should always be considered by depression or
depressive symptoms. Lifestyle measures can sometimes be enough to cure
depressive symptoms before a serious depression develop. Lifestyle adjustments
can be:
- To slow down a stressful life with too much work or activities.
-
Enough rest and sleep.
- A good diet with enough of necessary nutrients.
- Some physical exercise.
- Meditation.
- Supplement of vitamins,
minerals, antioxidants, lecithin, amino acids and essential fatty acids.
-
Stimulants like coffee or tea may help against depressive feelings in moderate
amount. However, if you are a heavy user of these stimulants, you should cut
down on your consumption.
There exist nutritional products in the marked to help against depressive
symptoms. These contain ingredients that the brain uses as building blocks for
neurotransmitters, for example amino acids and lecithin. They also often contain
vitamins and minerals that the brain uses as tools to produce neurotransmitters,
especially vitamin B6.
Supplements may further contain herbal extracts that trigger higher brain
activity much like anti-depressive medications, but may have fewer side effects.
About The Author
Knut Holt is an internet consultant and marketer focusing on health items. TO
FIND natural supplements to help against serotonin deficiency, GABA deficiency,
hypothyroidism, mental problems, acne, skin problems, heart disease,
hemorrhoids, rheumatism, and other common health problems, PLEASE VISIT:---- http://www.panteraconsulting.com/salg2.htm.
Free to reprint with the author's name and link.
