Clinical depression is a severe medical disorder caused by changes in brain chemistry. Clinical depression patients lose interest in activities that they were once passionate about and often stay sad and hopeless for prolonged periods of time.
This type of mental illness has the potential to affect your body, behavior, thoughts, mood, negatively changing the way you feel, act, eat, drink, work, think, and interact with others. Individuals suffering from clinical depression are often found complaining that they miss something badly and don’t feel like themselves any longer. Such patients cannot pull themselves together, with the mental disorder often affecting their ability to ask for help. In some serious cases of depression, the patient may even entertain suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide.
Here is an excerpt from this 2014 study by BMC Psychiatry:
Regression analyses showed that poor diet, low levels of exercise, obesity, smoking, marked social isolation and taking interferon were associated with greater depression risk. Participants who supplemented with omega 3s
, particularly flaxseed oil, had frequent fish consumption, supplemented with Vitamin D (This is what I supplement with), meditated, and had moderate alcohol consumption had significantly reduced depression risk.
Additionally, the graph below is part of this study-publication. It clearly shows the connection between poor life style and nutrition and depression:
Must read: You may be malnourished without even knowing it. This article on nutritional deficiencies will definitely shed some light.
Preventing and Treating Depression:
While therapy and medication are effective in “controlling” not ending the depression, it is important to make lifestyle changes to fight the psychological disorder naturally. A healthy and active routine along with healthy eating habits can go a long way in helping you cope with depression.
Nutrition is, in fact, a key element in treating depression. This 2013 study associates diet quality and dietary patterns with depression in adults.
If you have tried every medication suggested by your doctor, and other treatments without success then you owe it to yourself to try and figure out if you are suffering from nutritional deficiencies, find a support group or if a medication(s) can be making you feel this way.
Finally, I would suggest for you to try managing and even reversing depression naturally without the never ending cycle of prescription medications that make you feel “OK” for a bit, then back to square one. Have you ever tried EFT therapy? Below you I am sharing a great video by David Childerley –EFT Tapping: Depression 30-Day Challenge
What Causes Depression
Numerous factors can contribute to the onset of clinical depression. It is often a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological factors, and as of recent studies your diet, multiple sclerosis medication, and life style risk factors play a substantial role.
- Certain medical conditions. This study explains the connection between multiple sclerosis medications and depression.
- Difficult life circumstances; failure in an exam, death of a close relative
- Genetics; family history of depression
- Changes in hormone levels
- Stress; marital or relationship problems; unemployment
- Grief
- Lack of social support
- Substance abuse
- Financial strain
Several studies claim that depression is linked to changes in the functioning of neurotransmitters or brain chemicals. Moreover, your lifestyle choices, coping behavior, and relationships may also contribute to distressing situations, which, if combined, can lead to depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association, each year, clinical depression affects more than 17 million Americans”.
No doubt depression is quite common these days and affects people of all ages, cultures, ethnicities, genders, and religions, it often goes undetected and thus untreated. However, there are some common symptoms that cause distress and impairment in the individual, impacting their ability to function.
Common Symptoms of Clinical Depression
An individual suffering from depression does not behave in their usual self. In fact, they tend to exhibit a considerable change from their normal level of functioning.
Physical Depression Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances, which may be in the form of oversleeping or insomnia
- Change in appetite
- Digestive problems
- Recurrent headaches, stomach aches
Behavioral symptoms
- Difficulty concentrating
- Problem remembering
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Loss of interest in fun activities
- Carelessness about responsibilities
- Neglect of personal appearance
Emotional symptoms
- Abrupt crying for no reason
- Persistent sad mood
- Feeling guilty or helpless
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling aggressive than usual
- Exhibiting anxious, agitated behavior
- Suicidal thoughts
- Unexplained pain
- Reckless behavior, reckless driving, substance abuse
Depression may start unexpectedly or build up in severity over a period of few days, weeks, months, or years. Symptoms of depression may vary from one individual to another in severity, number, and duration.
Do you or someone that you know has or is currently battling with Depression? If so, what has been your experience?
More information on treat depression with alternative methods
Sleep Therapy Seen as an Aid for Depression
How Nutritional and Alternative Treatments Can Help You Avoid Using Drugs for Depression
References https://uhs.berkeley.edu/lookforthesigns/depressionsuicide.shtml https://www.sh.lsuhsc.edu/fammed/OutpatientManual/Depression.htm https://med.stanford.edu/depression/depression.html https://www.depressioncenter.org/depression_treatments/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23802679 Graph source https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4263016/figure/Fig1/
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