Depression Part C: Getting the help you need

I spoke earlier in Part A about the causes of depression, secondly I spoke briefly on how you can slowly heal your mind and body; Part B, I focused on women and Depression. Now I will give detailed ways on how to treat depression by means of professional medical assistance as well as ‘padding’ this with a natural dietetic lifestyle.

————————————————————————————————

Psychotherapy–

In psychotherapy, or counseling, one receives assistance in understanding and resolving habits or problems that may be contributing to or the cause of the depression. This may be done individually or with a group and is conducted by mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or psychiatric nurses.
—-Effective psychotherapy may result in different habitual thinking and action which leads to a lower relapse rate than antidepressant drugs alone. Medication, however, may yield quicker results and be strongly indicated in a crisis. Medication and psychotherapy are generally complementary, and both may be used at the same time.
———————————————————————————————–

Exercise–

It is widely believed that physical activity and exercise help depressed patients and promote quicker and better relief from depression. They are also thought to help antidepressants and psychotherapy work better and faster. It can be difficult to find the motivation to exercise if the depression is severe, but sufferers should be encouraged to take part in some form of regularly scheduled physical activity.
—–A workout need not be strenuous; many find walking, for example, to be of great help. Exercise produces higher levels of chemicals in the brain, notably dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. In general this leads to improvements in mood, which is effective in countering depression.Note: Before beginning an exercise regime, it is wise to consult a doctor. He or she can establish whether a person has any health problems that could contraindicate some types of exercise.
————————————————————————————————

Dietary Supplements

Note: Along with taking your supplements eating a healthy, well-balanced diet will keep up your energy levels and may make it easier to cope with feeling depressed or anxious.
———————————————————————————-

St John’s Wort [Hypericum perforatum] Traditionally used by ‘wise women’ and midwives for hundreds of years, to ‘chase away the devil’ of melancholia and anxiety. It is a mood-enhancing herbal substance which acts like an antidepressant and increases the availability of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine at the neuron synapses. It is also popular for treating insomnia, mood swings, fatigue, PMS and menopause. IT SHOULD NOT BE USED CONCURRENTLY WITH OTHER ANTIDEPRESSANTS.
——————–

Black Cohosh supports female health around the time of menopause. it helps to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats. Helps support the physical and emotional changes that occur in a woman’s body over time.
——————–

Evening Primrose Oil provides nutritional support for women with PMS, promotes mentrual health; a natural source of Gamma Linolenic Acid [GLA]
——————–

Omega-3 fatty acids (found naturally in oily fish, flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, and canola oil) have also been found to be effective when used as a dietary supplement (although only fish-based omega-3 fatty acids have shown antidepressant efficacy.
——————–

Chocolate improves mood, probably by raising serotonin. But keep that as limited if you are on a diet.
——————–

Other herbal supplements frequently used that have not been evaluated in large-scale clinical trials are ephedra, gingko biloba, echinacea, and ginseng. Any herbal supplement should be taken only after consultation with the doctor or other health care provider.
————————————————————————————————


Famous People who suffers/suffered from Depression:–

One in four people will have a mood disorder; that is depression or manic depression. Depression is a medical condition – it is common and it is treatable but first it must be recognized.
–Brooke Shields (actress)
–Harrison Ford (actor)
–Jim Carey (actor)
–Anne Rice (author)
–Virginia Woolf (author)
–Tennessee Williams (playwright)
–Sheryl Crow (singer)
–Diana, princess of Wales
–Abraham Lincoln (past American president)
–Vincent van Gogh (painter)
–Winston Churchill (past American president)

[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org]

————————————————————————————————
CAUTION: It is important for you to be well informed about medications for depression, if you are taking any of these medications, but this is not a “do-it-yourself” manual.
Self-medication can be dangerous. Interpretation of both the signs and symptoms of depression, and identification of possible side effects, are jobs for the professional. The prescription and management of medication, in all cases, must be done by a responsible physician working closely with the patient, his/her psychologist, and sometimes the patient’s family. This is the only way to ensure that the most effective use of medication is achieved with minimum risk of side effects or complications.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Comments