Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of life. as a psychotherapist recovering from a past experience of major clinical depression, I bring unique experiences to this dis-ease. I explainto clients how my experience is informed by academic study (”head” knowledge) and personal experience (empathy and “heart” knowledge.)

There are many metaphors, poetic descriptions and analogies seeking to express the emotional content of a depressive experience. perhaps one of the most vivid: “it is similar to an emotional toothache, with no hope for solace.” Any form of depression is a complex disorder with a variety of causes, including genetic, chemical, physical, and sociological. it is also influenced by behavior patterns learned in the family and by cognitive distortions.

Technically, the words “depression” is inaccurate — there are many forms of “depressions” (plural). Nonetheless, all types of depression are a “whole body” concern — mood disorders impact our physiology, biochemistry, thoughts, behaviors and capacity to make clear decisions. Here’s the key; there is no shame or weakness if one lives with a mental health concern. it is important (critical) to be certain that an appropriate assessment and treatment plan is established. like any other disease, if left untreated … it often becomes worse.

Depression affects thousands of people in the United States. it is always troubling, yet for some people it can be severely disabling. Depression is more than just sadness or the blues; it can impact nearly every aspect of a persons life. People who suffer from it may experience despair and worthlessness, feelings that can greatly influence both personal and professional relationships. In this handout, many of the factors which evoke depression are described, and strategies for preventing depression are explored.

When a person suffers from depression, it can affect every part of his/her life, including ones physical body, behavior, thought processes, mood, ability to relate to others, and general lifestyle. many folks report body aches, insomnia, lack of interest and difficulty with decision (including ordinary issues, such as “what do I want for dinner?”).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

People diagnosed with clinical depression typically have a combination of symptoms, including:

- Feelings of hopelessness, even when there is reason to be hopeful- Fatigue or low energy- Greatly reduced interest or pleasure in most regular activities- Low self-esteem- Feelings of worthlessness- Excessive or inappropriate guilt- Lessened ability to think or concentrate- Indecisiveness- Distorted thoughts and having an unrealistic view of life- Weight gain or loss- Appetite changes- Sleeping pattern changes- Recurrent thoughts of death- Suicidal thoughts- Specific plan for committing suicide- Suicide attempt- Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down

When a person suffers from depression, his/her symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in family, social, and occupational relationships, as well as other important areas of life. such symptoms are not the result of a chronic psychotic disorder, substance abuse, a general medical condition, or bereavement. Depression may include feelings of sadness but is not the same as sadness. Depression lasts much longer and involves a loss of self-esteem, which sadness does not. People who are depressed function less productivity; people who are sad or disappointed continue to function.

Any form of depression is a “full-body” issue. it impacts our mind, body, spirit and emotions. if you or someone you know experiences any of these feelings or behaviors, seek assistance of a qualified mental health professional. this is a medical condition which can be treated … and it’s not a sign of weakness, failure or a valid source for shame.

“Creative Coping” is a series of mental wellness articles written and distributed by dcDiversity.com. this series is dedicated to our human capacity for resiliency, wellness and transformation. Learn about “Who Get’s Depression,” “Paths to Wellness,” and discover how to “create a Recovery Program” in future articles!

After a career in broadcast media, John Duggan, M.a., NCC, LCPC embraced a contemplative transformation and earned graduate degrees in Counseling Psychology and Theology. he taught at university, worked at mental health clinics and is now a full-time as a psychotherapist/mentor. John shares personal passion with folks seeking mind-body-spirit-emotional wellness, resiliency and integral psychology. Contact John (info_at_dcdiversity.com).

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People often get the wrong end of the stick when it comes to understanding stress and depression. There are a startlingly high number of people who are hit by clinical depression in the world each year. and very few illnesses are as misread by the common man as depression. It is important to know the real depression symptoms to avoid misinterpreting it.

People might be going through a major episode of depression, but we should know that those who suffer from depression are not clearly gloomy or feeble. although grief is a prominent depression cause, grief is a lot apposite and healthy, and is not a certain pointer of clinical depression. moreover, grief is not simply about the blow of the demise of a friend or family member. a lot of people lament when they lose pets, go through separation, get fired etc. the various forms of depression and symptoms of stress are very unique; nevertheless they all have a general set of symptoms. Usually, the diagnosis is based on the number of symptoms present and how severe they are.

Sometimes, stressful events may pave the way to depression. when people go through chronic stress, they learn a sense of incapacity. this helplessness is strengthened when a person believes there is no control over the situation. Depresses people usually have negative beliefs about their capacity to manage their lives based on perceived malfunctions in the past. Visualize an entry level employee working in an office with a verbally abusive boss who tells him that he is brainless and can’t do anything correct. Eventually the employee may believe the boss and come to suspect his abilities. he might start feeling helpless and think that everything is beyond his control. this helplessness may well make him susceptible to clinical depression.

Symptoms of Stress and Depression

Some of the common symptoms or the effects of stress and clinical depression include irritability, sadness, lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, pessimism about life, severe self-criticism, mood swings, feelings of shame or guilt, hyper behavior, rage and excessive sleep.

Not all depression and stress sufferers go through all of the above symptoms but if you experience most you should see a physician as quickly as possible. some depression sufferers portray the feeling as a total lack of joy, even lacking the pleasure they used to get from certain preferred activities. Most often a strong sense of despair and vulnerability is also experienced.

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Does depression cause physical symptoms such as acne, et. cetera, what are some things caused by depression, externally?

You say 'clinical depression' have you been diagnosed? if not, it sounds like you need to see a doctor to rule out any other medical conditions, before you think of depression. I know that many people have this disease and do not get diagnosed soon enough so it makes people wonder about depression right away. the other poster is correct Thyroid disease is a big culpret for these symptoms. so are many other muscle/joint disorders. Please if you haven't been, go to a doctor and get a complete physical.

Their are diseases than can cause depression that also causes hair loss and skin changes. Pain in the joints and muscles can be caused by depression too. Fortunately their are good medications that work well for that kind of depression. Check Thyroid problems. Thyroid Disease can cause depression and hair loss and physical pain too.

?Down to 1: Depression Stories? by Margarita Go-Singco Holmes, Anvil Publishing, 2010

MYTH: Filipinos don?t get depressed. We?re a happy people, always seeing the silver lining in every cloud.

Fact: 12.4 million Filipinos have suffered or are suffering from clinical depression.

Part of the confusion regarding the popular perception of the happy-go-lucky Pinoy in contrast to the growing number of Filipinos being diagnosed with one form or another of depression lay in terminology.

When the recent World Values Survey showed that the Philippines ranked only 38th out of 52 countries on the ?happiness? scale, many Filipinos were surprised. Offended, even. How can those gloomy Danes (ranked first) be happier than singing, dancing, don?t-stop-believin? us?

As clinical psychologist Margarita Go-Singco Holmes? book points out, being sad or down in the dumps isn?t the same as being clinically depressed.

Clinical depression is a mental illness that Holmes likens to ?a thief. it takes away your joy, sense of wonder, the taste of your favorite food, even the smell of freshly washed hair.?

Therein lies the rub.

Mental illness remains one of the last taboo topics in Philippine society. Many Filipinos would sooner admit to having gonorrhea than any kind of mental problem.

A case in point ? which receives passing mention in the book ? was the accusation made during last year?s presidential election campaign that then candidate Noynoy Aquino had suffered from a depressive episode during his younger years. true or not, the engineers of this propaganda ploy obviously aimed to manipulate the public fear and anxiety that still surrounds the stigma of mental illness.

For men, especially, depression goes against the grain of Pinoy machismo ? it is seen as a sign of weakness, an inability to suck it up and deal with whatever life throws at you.

And yet, as Holmes? book reveals, depression is a disease that can strike anyone, no matter how wealthy, attractive, intelligent or successful one is. it is far more common than one might suspect, given the general reluctance to admit to suffering from depression.

Had Aquino chosen to admit to having been depressed at one point in his life, well so what? it might have immeasurably advanced the cause of mental health in the country. (On the other hand, given the general state of misinformation and misunderstanding that surrounds depression, it might have cost him the election.)

Fortunately, Holmes has found 10 brave souls who have come forward to share their experiences with depression, and how they have come to cope with it, live with it, and overcome it.

Among them are some people you might have heard of, such as designer Patis Tesoro, filmmaker Peque Gallaga, director Lore Reyes, and banker Roman Azanza.

Through frank and, in some cases, soul-baring interviews with Holmes, these ten succeed in lifting the veil that surrounds depression. By sharing their experiences with the symptoms of depression as well as its treatment through therapy and medication, they put the depressive in a clearer, more sympathetic light, and this can only encourage more people suffering from depression to come forward and seek the proper help.

Intended as a primer on depression, ?Down to 1? includes a useful test for determining the level of severity of depression (normal, mild, moderate and severe) and a section whose title is self-explanatory: ?How do I Know If I?m Clinically Depressed.?

This being a Margie Holmes book, there is also a useful section on ?Sex Life Before and After Medication,? which relates the possible side effects that anti-depressants might have, such as decreased libido.

Finally, the book includes a chapter on the final taboo: suicide. apart from dissecting some of the myths surrounding suicide, the book also includes stories by the interviewees regarding suicidal feelings and actual suicide attempts during their lowest points.

If nothing else, the stories in ?Down to 1? should let depression sufferers know that they are not alone in their pain, and that in itself can be therapeutic. ?

Dogs, just like humans have their off days; they can mope around, spend more time sleeping than they usually do, go off their food or avoid human contact all together. Usually, they revert to being their usual selves, with their blue mood going just as quickly as it appeared, however, if their low moods persists, it is something to be aware of and take seriously.

Dogs experience a deep and varied emotional life, and we as dog owners often witness the expanse of these emotions throughout our dogs lives. Because dogs share a similar neurological make up to humans, they to are capable of experiencing a series of complicated emotions, such as depression.

The symptoms of canine depression are similar to the symptoms experienced by humans. Typically the dog will show some of the following common symptoms:

Weight loss, due to refusing to take food

Loss of interests in play activity

Withdrawal from people

Clinging to owner

Again, as with humans, dogs can experience depressive symptoms for a whole host of reasons, however, depression is usually a reaction to a stressful event, or a imbalance in the dogs neuro chemical make up, usually referred to as clinical depression.

In the case of an imbalance in the dogs neuro chemistry, medication can be prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms of depression in the dog, by restoring the chemical balance.

Reactive depression can be due to a number of reasons that could include any of the following:

The loss of a human friend or the dogs owner

The loss of a canine friend

Environmental changes, for example, change of house or location

Loss of attention due to a new addition to the family, such as a baby

Separation from it’s owner for long periods during the day

Boredom due to being left alone

Lack of exercise and mental stimulation

Depression is a challenge to diagnose, especially to the untrained, therefore, if you have a dog who is exhibiting the symptoms outlined above, it would be sensible to take your dog to the vet, in order that a correct diagnosis of your dogs condition can then be made, as a physical illness or condition could be the root cause of the symptoms, and not depression.

If the diagnosis confirms your dog has depression, then there are a number of ways it can be treated, depending on it’s origin. If your pets depression is due to a chemical imbalance, then your vet may recommend a course of medication, such as Prozac.

If your dog is experiencing depression due to a stressful event, then a programme of rehabilitation will help him overcome his strong feelings, and a return to his normal state of being. begin by identifying the root cause of your dogs depression, then work from this point. If your dog is depressed due to the loss of a canine friend, you may want to consider getting a new friend for him. If you have a dog who has eperienced bad treatment from a previous owner, and has developed depression as a result, then it’s time for you to help your dog renew his faith in human kind.

Spend time with your dog playing his favourite games, or alternatively, take regular walks to your local park, or some other of your dogs favourite out door places. Giving your dog a chance to stimulate his senses, especially his favourite sense-his sense of smell, will give him respite from his depressive feelings.

Try not to leave your pet alone during the early stages of his recovery. If you have a friend or neighbour who is willing to spend time with your dog, for a while during the day, then take advantage of the kind offer, alternatively you could contact a pet sitting service.

If you are not totally happy with giving your pet medications prescribed by the vet, such as Prozac, then you may want to try more natural remedies. You may want to try using some or all of the following, to help restore your pets emotional balance, naturally:

Bach flower remedies

Flower essence’s have proven to be of benefit to humans experiencing all manner of negative emotions. Flower essences are also as safe and beneficial in helping depressive symptoms in dogs.

Herbal remedies

St. Johns Wort is one herbal remedy proven to help depression in humans, that is also safe and effective treating depressive symptoms in dogs.

Aromatherapy

The use of essential oils is another safe and totally natural way to help your pet. Oils can be dispersed around the room with the use of a burner or diffuser. Your dog can then be left to inhale the oils calming and restorative properties.

Alternatively, you can use massage along with your essential oils. Touch alone will have the effect of promoting your dogs natural ‘feel good’ chemicals. however, when massage is combined with essential oils, the healing process will accelerate.

Tags: Blue Mood, Canine, Canine Friend, Chemical Balance, Clinical Depression, Depression, Depressive Symptoms, Dog Owners, dogs, Emotional Life, Food Loss, Guide, Human Contact, Human Friend, Lack Of Exercise, Lethargy, Long Periods, Loss Of Appetite, Mental Stimulation, Natural, Natural Treatments For Depression, Stressful Event, Symptoms, Symptoms Of Depression, Treatments, Treatments For Depression, Understanding, Weather Changes