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on: Friday, 03 July 2009 18:41
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Member Testimonials
QUOTE (sinead05 @ Feb 2 2009, 03:10 PM) *
I am grateful for:
-God: my faith plays an integral role in my life. His unconditional love keeps me strong.
-That my dad is still alive: Every moment we have together is treasured.
-My family
-My close friends.
-The ability to love & give love.
-My friends-both online & in real life.
-This beautiful place we all call DF!
-the opportunities to experience life.
-Financial security.
-having shelter to live under, food to eat.
-music.
(sinead05 @ Feb 2 2009, 03:10 PM)
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated 40 million Americans living today will suffer from major depressive illness during their lives. Seasonal affective disorder is major depression that appears in the fall or winter and goes away in spring, thought to be caused by lack of sunlight.
Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of a women giving childbirth. Most new mothers suffer from some form of the �baby blues.� Postpartum depression, by contrast, is major depression, thought to be triggered by changes in hormonal flows associated with childbirth. Catatonic depression is a rare form of major depression characterized by (at least two): Stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, peculiarities in voluntary movement, and repetition of other people's words or actions. - mcmanweb.com
Psychotic depression is a rare form of depression characterized by delusions or hallucinations, such as believing you are someone you are not and hearing voices.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder. Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on
America's health and productivity. It affects more than 21 million
American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of
disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.
Lost productive time among U.S. workers due to depression is estimated
to be in excess of $31 billion per year. Depression frequently
co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as heart disease,
cancer, and chronic pain and is associated with poorer health status
and prognosis. It is also the principal cause of the 30,000 suicides
in the U.S. each year. In 2004, suicide was the 11 th leading cause of death in the United States, third among individuals 15-24.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is presently on track to becoming the world's second-most disabling disease (after heart disease) by the year 2020. Depression is responsible for some $87 billion a year in lost productivity in the US (a conservative estimate), and according to Bank One, is responsible for most lost work days in its employees after pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, one million people worldwide die by their own hand, most as a result of a mood disorder. Finally, the linkage between depression and a host of physical illnesses makes it arguably the world's greatest killer.
Research presented at the 56th Annual Conference of the Canadian
Psychiatric Association shows a marked link between bipolar disorder
and migraines. The odds of migraine in persons with bipolar disorder were 40% higher than the general population. Data
obtained from 36,984 people aged 15 and over, who screened positive for
manic or depressive episodes with migraine, were compared against those
who screened positive for mania but who didn�t suffer from migraines. Amongst
males, 14.9% of those with manic episodes were also diagnosed with
migraines compared with 5.8% of the general population. Amongst
females, 34.7% had both migraines and bipolar disorder compared with
14.7% who only had migraines.unquote.gif While the research was
skewed towards persons who were already diagnosed with bipolar
disorders, what does it mean for people who suffer from migraines but
who may have an undiagnosed bipolar disorder?
Migraines and headaches aren�t fully understood but the manifestations are very real and debilitating for their sufferers: Throbbing pain Nausea Heightened sensitivity to light or sound Seeing dots, wavy lines, flashing lights, or blind spots Difficulty with speech, sensation, or movement
An estimated 2.1 million
American adolescents have experienced major depression within the last
year, according to a new comprehensive government study. Researchers
surveyed more than 67,000 young people ages 12 to 17 and found that one
in 12 had suffered from serious depression in the previous year.Nearly
13 percent of girls had struggled with depression, compared to less
than 5 percent of boys. Odds of depression increased with age -- just 4
percent of 12-year-olds experienced depression but that climbed to 11
percent for older teens.
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Depression Forums Welcome's you!
Our mission is to create an atmosphere that is both supportive and informative in a caring, safe environment for our members to talk to their peers about depression, anxiety, mood disorders, medications, therapy and recovery.
Our vision is to advance the public awareness of mental health issues so as to eliminate the stigma that surrounds depression and mood disorders through education and advocacy, not to forget to strive to obtain the equality for mental health care coverage as it is no different from any other medical illness.
Newsworthy
 Late-life Anxiety Is Treatable with Cognitive Behavior Therapy;
Improves Mental Health
 Older adults with generalized anxiety disorder who received
cognitive behavior therapy had greater improvement on measures of
worry, depression and mental health than patients who received usual
care, according to a study in the April 8 issue of JAMA.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common in late life, with
prevalence up to 7.3 percent in the community and 11.2 percent in
primary care. Late-life anxiety predicts increased physical disability,
memory difficulties and decreased quality of life, according to
background information in the article. Late-life anxiety is usually
treated with medication, but associated risks (e.g., falls, hip
fractures, memory problems) with some drugs and patient fears of
adverse effects limit their usefulness. Two previous studies suggested
benefits of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in primary care for
late-life GAD, but the studies were small and the conclusions were
limited. Older adults most often seek treatment for GAD in primary
care. by Lindsay, 2009-04-13 22:00:00 More...Q. I need help. I’m 16 years old and I am falling apart. I
have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ptsd, depression, and
generalized anxiety disorder. My parents won’t bring me to a therapist
anymore and I can’t go to my phyciatrist because we don’t have to
money. My parents won’t listen to me when I say I have a problem. I
don’t want to die but I black out and hurt myself a lot and it just
keeps getting worse. I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself next
time something bad happens.
I won’t even get out of bed anymore unless my boyfriend wants me
to go somewhere but my problems have been affecting him so greatly
lately that I just feel guilty when I’m with him. I try to be happy, I
do but there’s this voice in my head and it just tells me everything
that’s wrong with me and tell’s me that I’m worthless and that I’d be
better off dead.
by Lindsay, 2009-06-17 08:00:00 More...The Benefits of Physical Activity on
Improving Mood Disorders Chalk up another benefit to being active, as even meager levels of
physical activity can improve the mood of people with serious mental
illnesses (SMI) such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia. The
new study from Indiana University both reinforces earlier findings that
people with SMI demonstrate low levels of physical activity and
supports the consideration of physical activity as a regular part of
psychiatric rehabilitation. “We found a positive association
between physical activity level and positive mood when low to moderate
levels of physical activity are considered,” said study author Bryan
McCormick, associate professor in IU’s Department of Recreation, Park
and Tourism Studies. “Physical activity interventions that
require lower levels of exertion might be more conducive to improving
transitory mood, or the ups and downs people with SMI experience
throughout the day.” by Forum Admin, 2009-04-01 15:00:00 More... As the nation muddles through a great
recession, a new study suggests that if you lose your job, you’re at
greater risk for a slew of new health problems.
Even when people find a new job quickly, there is an increased risk of
developing a problem such as hypertension, heart disease, heart attack,
stroke or diabetes as a result of the job loss. The study suggests an
important mental health component often overlooked when a person loses
their job.
“In today’s economy, job loss can happen to anybody,” said Kate
Strully, who conducted the research as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Health and Society scholar at the Harvard School of Public Health.
“We need to be aware of the health consequences of losing our jobs and
do what we can to alleviate the negative effects,” he added. by Forum Admin, 2009-05-11 08:00:00 More...
Learning to Live Again …
June1, 2009 - Although I am writing this piece with
much fear and trepidation I do so with the hope that my experiences can
help others lead a life where sunshine shines a little brighter and big
black clouds are seen only in occasional showers instead of torrential
downpours. Normally the people writing these so called "words of
wisdom" are ones who have not actually dealt with the issue firsthand,
rather those who have read about it in book, studied it at school and
talked to others who experience the problem personally. Hopefully this
will help others walking in the same shoes see that there is hope out
there.  Dragonfly_dreams is a member of DF
by Dragonfly_dreams, 2009-06-02 12:30:00 More...
There Is No Association Between Antidepressants And Birth Defects Expectant mothers can safely use prescribed antidepressants during
their first trimester, according to a new study from the Université de
Montréal and Ste. Justine Hospital published in the May 2008 edition of the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Dr. Anick Bérard and her team found that antidepressants have no effect
on foetal development. "This is the first study to investigate the
impact of antidepressant use during the first trimester of pregnancy in
mothers with psychiatric disorders," she said. "In terms of birth
malformations in this population, we found no difference between women
who used antidepressants and those who did not use antidepressants
during their first trimester." by Forum Admin, 2009-05-16 10:00:00 More...I can't 'snap out' of my depression
That's why I'm writing this.
May 7, 2009 at 12:00 AM EDT --
"It's a shame about your job," my friend says.
"Yes," I say. "But what can you do? In this economy lots of people are getting laid off."
We both nod and sigh a little. The part about the economy is true.
The part about my job is a lie. I've been lying to a lot of people
lately.
The truth is that I wasn't laid off from my job. I've been sick, too
sick to work. I struggled through most of the winter to make it through
those long, dark days at my desk, but eventually I had to quit before
the end of a six-month contract. It wasn't a choice. I simply couldn't
keep going.
- So why didn't I just tell my friend this? Surely he would be
supportive. Why would I lie to someone I've known for more than 10
years? Because the thing I'm sick with usually doesn't generate the same
level of sympathy and understanding as other illnesses, even though
it's far more common than most people imagine. Simply put, I'm depressed. Clinical depression, major depressive
disorder, severe depression; there are several names for what's going
on inside my head.
ophilia123 lives in Toronto and is a member of Depression Forumsby ophelia123, 2009-05-09 18:00:00 More...
Recent Articles
Cry For Help - Hamilton HighThe PBS Special Aired April 29th, 2009 Executive Producer, Edie Magnus
April 20th, 2009
The Film: Exploring the Emotional Lives of Teenagers
Edie Magnus, Executive Producer
Dr. Chris Lucas, head of child psychiatry at New York University’s School of Medicine, says it best:
“People
only seem to pay attention when there is a major event and when a large
number of kids die suddenly together. Whereas kids are dying all the
time through gun violence or…though suicide, and there is not much
attention paid to that.”
- By Forum Admin
- Published 06/21/2009
- Bipolar
Dark Glasses and Kaleidoscopes: Living with Manic Depression An Educational Video About Bipolar Disorder The information on the video is narrated by Tony Dow of "Leave it to Beaver", fame.
- By Forum Admin
- Published 06/10/2009
- Mental Health
I
have schizophrenia, which is a brain disease that usually hits most
severely when the brain reaches maturity—around 20 or 21 years old. I
had my first psychotic break when I was in my senior year of college
and have been disabled by the illness for over ten years now.
My official diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder, which means that in
addition to having symptoms of schizophrenia, I also have trouble with
depression. I'm lucky to have a very supportive family and a wonderful
doctor who have helped me learn how to live with my illness. The new
generation of anti-psychotic medications that became available in the
mid-1990s made a big difference.
I'm doing so much better now than during the first horrible years of
being sick. I have an art studio and am able to work a couple of hours
a day. I'm able to live on my own now, and one of my best friends lives
in my building. Lately I've become deeply interested in spirituality
and have found a wonderful spiritual director through my church.
Everyone with schizophrenia needs to know there is hope. This is what helped me:
- Find an understanding, kind doctor who knows a lot about schizophrenia and the latest treatments
- Take
advantage of local mental health services—sometimes they can help get
you a case manager, a social worker, housing and even employment
- Stop drinking alcohol and using drugs that aren't prescribed—they interfere with medication and make recovery almost impossible
- Learn
as much as you can about the nature of the illness, and then study your
symptoms to figure out warning signs and ways to avoid bad episodes
by John Cadiganhttp://www.peoplesayimcrazy.org/index.html
Benefits Of Older Antidepressants Verses Newer Drugs
Newer Antidepressants Not Always Better
May 5, 2009 - New
antidepressants might be no more effective than the best existing
drugs, according to two new systematic reviews that compared 12
commonly used medications.
“Patients are usually encouraged to
take the newest medication,” said lead author Andrea Cipriani, M.D., of
the University of Verona, in Italy. “But it’s better to have an old
treatment that has been proved with many patients and many years in the
market.”
The reviews suggest that sertraline — sold under the
brand name Zoloft since 1991— could be the best initial choice of
antidepressant in people with acute major depression. The generic
formulation produced the best balance of effectiveness, tolerability
and purchase price, the authors say.
Patients also did well on
one of the newest antidepressants, escitalopram (Lexapro), but it is
not yet available in lower-cost generic form. The authors note that
comprehensive economic studies are necessary to evaluate overall
cost-effectiveness of various treatments.
Cipriani said that
the review recommendations are for new episodes of depression. “If a
patient is taking another drug and doing well, we are not saying he has
to change.”
What Causes Depression?
The causes of depression are manifold, but the most important
thing is to take charge of your life and make decisions that won't
cause you to feel worse.
Is it All in My Head?
I've
read that depression is an excuse not to grow up, not to be responsible
for your own happiness, that it is self-pity, etc. I've also read and
heard how it is a chemical reaction in the brain and that a person
can't control it. Which is correct? Am I being selfish and
self-centered? Have I created this depression or is it out of my
control?
What causes depression? The best answer is many things. The contributing factors vary substantially from one person to the next.
To
start with, biology matters—there can be genetic and neurochemical
factors that play a role in the onset and course of depression. The
misconception many people have, though, is that you have a
neurochemical anomaly and then depression results.
Seasons
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs 2
What is Clinical Depression? Clinical
depression can affect your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can
change your eating habits, how you feel and think about things, your
ability to work and study, and how you interact with people. Clinical
depression is not a passing mood, a sign of personal weakness or a
condition that can be willed away. Clinically depressed people cannot
"pull themselves together" and get better. Depression can be
successfully treated by a mental health professional or certain health
care providers. With the right treatment, 80 percent of those who seek
help get better. And many people begin to feel better in just a few
weeks.
Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health World Health Organization Finds Depression Often Goes Untreated By Salynn Boyles WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Sept.
6, 2007 -- Depression has a greater impact on overall health than
arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes
unrecognized and untreated, a report from the World Health Organization
(WHO) suggests. more... Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health
For Additional Information About Depression Write To: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
For free brochures on depression and its treatment call: 1-800-421-4211. or visit: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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