depression – Personal Growth Cafe

March 27, 2019March 12, 2018

What is Depression?

If you ask a group of people who’ve suffered from clinical depression to define the illness, you’ll hear a variety of answers.

Depression is a very personal experience that millions of people all over the world experience.

Different people manifest different symptoms, but one thing is certain: depression is a difficult illness that can destroy your life if left unresolved.

Many people with depression describe it as a sense of despair that engulfs everything they do and everything they feel.

If you think being depressed is akin to feeling sad because your favorite team just lost the championship game, you really have no idea what suffering from a true depression is like.

Depression is much deeper and more invasive than sadness or frustration.

Depression takes everything away from you; it saps your energy, focus, concentration, and especially your joy.

You just don’t care about anything; nothing matters and even the people you love become unimportant.

If you’re depressed for a long period of time, you become accustomed to the feeling and any other emotion becomes unfamiliar and even frightening.

Physical Concerns of Depression

Depression doesn’t only take its toll on your emotions and mental state; it can cause serious physical problems as well.

Depression may cause you to either lose your appetite or eat incessantly. It also zaps your energy and motivation.

When you’re depressed, you tend to become inactive.

This alone can cause a number of problems, but when added to some of the other physical side effects of depression, it’s easy to see why depression is such a serious illness.

In addition, depression can lead to:

Lack of sleep. Depression can cause insomnia, which strips the body of the necessary sleep to function properly.

Poor nutrition. When depressed, many people fail to take in proper nutrients. It takes too much effort to plan and prepare a meal.

This can cause several health problems.

Aches and pains. If anyone tells you that your mental state has no effect on your physical state, they’re wrong.

When you’re depressed, the chemicals in the brain that signal pain are as affected as the chemicals in your brain that help you feel happy.

Physical aches and pains are increased, which in turn, kicks in the sad feelings and the cycle begins again.

Hygiene issues. Someone suffering from depression doesn’t have the energy or the motivation to be concerned with self-care.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

These are some specific things those with depression experience:

Constant and severe sadness about everything
Hopelessness
Insomnia or trouble sleeping
Irritability
Trouble concentrating
Loss of interest in things that once interested them
Feeling worthless, useless and strangely guilty for no reason at all
Serious change in weight, one way or the other
Lack of energy and fatigue

One thing about depression is certain: it’s a serious condition and should be taken seriously.

As depression progresses, it feeds on itself like a snowball rolling downhill.

The longer someone is depressed, the worse the depression gets until they see no way out of it at all.

They become resigned to being miserable all the time.

Depression can be caused by a certain event, the change of seasons, a loss of someone close, or even a chemical imbalance in the brain.

The treatment for depression usually involves counseling or medication that helps alter brain chemistry.

If you know someone who is depressed, the best thing you can do is be his or her friend.

Talk to them and help them through this period. Help them seek medical care to treat their illness.

If you think you may be depressed, talk to a health care provider.

Depression doesn’t have to ruin your life!

With help and support, you can conquer your depression, move past it, and go on to live a joyful life.

Was there a time when you felt depressed?

How did you get over this event in your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 23, 2018February 20, 2018

Top Five Strategies to Overcome Depression

If you’ve ever mourned a deep loss or suffered from depression, you understand how overwhelming it can be.

People of all ages, even children, can be depressed.

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome your condition!

Here are the top five strategies to overcome your depression and regain your life:

1. Talk about it.

If you find yourself unable to concentrate on anything, have lost your appetite, or are over-eating, try talking to a family member or trusted friend.

Because you’re depressed, you may not be able to get the help you need alone, so enlisting someone you trust is important.

Don’t feel embarrassed to talk about it.

Chances are the people you confide in will know more about depression than you think.

2. Seek professional help.

Many people avoid this for what they feel are good reasons: “My insurance won’t cover it,” or, “I can’t afford it.” In today’s society, this is simply untrue.

Many insurance companies do offer compensation for depression treatment because it’s widely known as a serious medical condition.

Plus, they aren’t allowed to release treatment information to your employer.

Even if you don’t have medical insurance, many mental health centers or hospitals offer treatment free or on a sliding scale based on your income so that it can be affordable.

Seek out help for your depression – it’s the best thing you can do!

3. Become involved.

Some people who suffer from depression find that the more they help others, the more they help themselves.

For instance, a woman who was consumed with depression went to school and became a licensed therapist.

Through her sessions with people, she was able to use her own depression experience to heal others.

Volunteer at a local center for seniors or abused families.

Many people in these centers tend to be depressed and working with them can give you insight on how to make yourself feel better.

4. Exercise.

Surprisingly, exercise can help you feel better.

The energy your body gets from yoga, walking, jogging, swimming, and fitness center exercise will help you immensely.

The endorphins released during exercise can bring relief from your depression and give you the motivation to fight it.

Enlist a friend if you don’t want to exercise alone.

5. Get a pet.

Animals of all sorts have been shown to help people with depression.

Caring for a pet strengthens your ability to take on responsibilities.

Plus, pets are joyful and can put a smile on your face!

Even if you have allergies, there are many breeds of cats and dogs that don’t produce allergens.

Using these tips can help you fight your depression, but the most important one is to seek professional help.

A good therapist can suggest more techniques to help overcome your depression.

Take these tips as suggestions and add your own creative spin to best suit your needs.

No advice can replace a full examination by your doctor.

Depression comes in many forms and determining a plan of treatment for your individual needs is required.

If you’re concerned about medication and side effects, there are also many homeopathic remedies available today that you can discuss with your health professional.

Make a list of your concerns and share them during the exam.

This way you’ll be actively involved in choosing a treatment plan.

With a good treatment plan overseen by your doctor, some support to bolster your spirits, and true determination, you can overcome your depression!

How do you keep yourself happy and positive?

How has this helped you in times of depression?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 5, 2018February 19, 2018

How Can I Tell If I Suffer From Depression?

Depression is something we all hear about and, even in this day and age, some of us try to hide it.

You may have had possible symptoms yourself and wondered if there are ways to tell if you might be depressed.

The biggest question, though, is probably, “What can you do about it?”

Fortunately, there are ways to tell if what you’re experiencing is depression, and there are things you can do about it.

Let’s analyze three important depression questions:

What Is Depression?

Scientists know the least about our most important organ – the brain.

Until the early 1970’s, families would often say, “Oh, Aunt Emma’s having a one of her spells,” or “Uncle Fred’s going away for a while.”

Depression was simply taboo to talk about and to seek help for.

Fast-forward to modern day and you’ll notice a lot has changed.

No longer is it taboo.

People who suffer from depression are encouraged to openly seek help, and even join support groups of others who suffer from depression, so they can heal.

Depression is now considered a serious illness.

The good news is that it’s treatable, but it does require professional attention.

Depression isn’t an occasional sadness, such as after the loss of a loved one or a move to a new home.

These types of temporary sadness usually pass.

Depression is where someone becomes so down that it interferes with daily life.

Here are some common symptoms of depression:

Extreme fatigue and tiredness, sleeping too much

Insomnia

Feeling lethargic and lacking the motivation to do anything

Loss of appetite or excessive overeating

Difficulty concentrating on anything

Feeling sick all the time

Aching bones and joints

A feeling of hopelessness

Suicidal tendencies

Who Does It Affect?

Depression can affect just about anyone, at any age.

Because the world of science has much to learn about our brain, there’s no way to pin down how and why depression occurs.

Scientists have learned that depression is usually caused by:

Genetics. Depression can run in families.

Environmental and biochemical hazards. A bad situation may trigger an episode.

Psychological disorders – panic attacks, bipolar disorder, and others

Head injuries, concussions

Surprisingly, when a depressed person is given an MRI, or magnetic resonance image, their brains look different than those who aren’t depressed.

The differences appear in the parts of the brain that regulate moods, thinking ability, sleep, and appetite.

Women tend to be more prone to depression than men.

This can be due to hormonal or biological changes within a woman’s body.

We’ve all heard about menstrual conditions, post-partum depression, and how women can change during and after a pregnancy.

Women also face depressive-triggering events more than men, such as abuse, responsibility for child raising, caring for their elderly parents, and financial worries.

When men become depressed, they’re more likely to show fatigue, irritability, and loss of interest in previous activities.

They tend to become withdrawn.

Men tend to hide their feelings more than women and are sometimes afraid or embarrassed to talk about their feelings.

Depression in children has also become a concern.

Children can refuse to go to school, become clingy towards one parent, worry that everything is wrong, and have mood swings.

Severely depressed children can even have suicidal thoughts.

Depression in adolescents can trigger eating disorders, destructive behavior, and substance abuse.

What Can I Do About It?

If you feel you might be depressed, the first thing to do is talk to your family doctor about it.

They can lead you to the right place to get help.

Or, if you’re familiar with mental health centers in your area, call one of them.

Many mental health centers and hospitals have free or sliding scale payments to make treatment for depression affordable to all.

Don’t ever feel that you’re alone!

The faster you get help, the faster you’ll begin to heal.

If you feel you may suffer from depression, get some help, or trust in a friend who can help you.

After an evaluation, your health provider can guide you through relaxation techniques, depression medications, talk therapy, or even group therapy.

There are many ways to relieve your suffering.

Be sure to take advantage of them, for your sake, and for those you love.

How often have you heard of cases about depression?

How do you reach out to someone depressed?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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