|
What Is A Nervous
Breakdown and What
Causes It? |
"The term
"nervous
breakdown" is
used by the
public to
characterize a
wide range of
mental
illnesses.
Nervous
breakdown is not
a medical term
and doesn't
indicate a
specific mental
illness.
Generally, the
term describes a
person who is
severely and
persistently
emotionally
distraught and
unable to
function at his
or her normal
level.
Often, when
people refer to
having a nervous
breakdown,
they're
describing
severe
depression.
Signs and
symptoms of
severe
depression
include:
-
Agitation
or
restlessness
-
Difficulty
or inability
to stop
crying
-
Sleeping
difficulties
-
Dramatic
appetite
changes
-
Indecision
|
What Is the Relationship
Between Vitamin B-12 and
Depression? Are
They Related? |
"Doctors have
long known of
the relationship
between low
levels of
vitamin B-12 and
depression.
Vitamin B-12 and
other B
vitamins, such
as folate, play
a role in the
production of
certain
neurotransmitters,
which are
important in
regulating mood
and other brain
functions.
However, it is
less clear
whether vitamin
B-12 deficiency
may be the cause
or the result of
depression. Poor
nutrition is one
cause of vitamin
B-12 deficiency.
But poor
nutrition may
also be a
consequence of
depression.
People who are
depressed may
lose interest in
eating or make
less healthy
food choices,
which may lead
to vitamin B-12
deficiency.
A
study published in the American
Journal of Psychiatry in
December 2002 examined the
association between low levels
of vitamin B-12 and depression
in 3,884 older adults. The study
reported that older adults with
vitamin B-12 deficiency were
more likely to have depressive
symptoms than those who were not
deficient in vitamin B-12.
However, the reason for this
isn't clear and more research is
needed to confirm this finding."
For more information: See
Source: Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
/health/vitamin-b12-and-depression/AN01543
|
Caffeine and
Depression. Is
There a Link? |
"The exact
relationship
between caffeine
and depression
isn't clear.
There's no
evidence that
caffeine — a
mild stimulant —
causes
depression.
However, some
people are more
sensitive to the
effects of
caffeine than
are others. In
such
individuals,
caffeine may
worsen existing
depression. How
or why this
occurs isn't
clear. But
several theories
exist.
-
Although
caffeine
initially
gives you a
"lift," it
may later
have the
opposite
effect as
the effects
of the
caffeine
wear off.
-
Caffeine can
make it more
difficult to
fall asleep
and stay
asleep.
A lack of
sleep can
worsen
depression.
-
Caffeine
appears to
have some
effect on
blood sugar,
especially
in people
with
diabetes.
Fluctuations
in blood
sugar can be
associated
with mood
changes.
If
you have
depression, you
may consider
limiting or
avoiding
caffeine to see
if it helps
improve your
mood. However,
caffeine can be
habit-forming.
So an abrupt
decrease in
caffeine can
cause withdrawal
symptoms, such
as headaches,
fatigue,
irritability and
nervousness. To
lessen these
withdrawal
effects,
gradually reduce
the amount of
caffeine you
consume. For
example, drink
one fewer can of
caffeinated soda
or one fewer cup
of caffeinated
coffee a day."
For more
information:
See
Source:
Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
health/caffeine-and-depression
/ANO1700
|
|
Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD) |
"Like many
people, you may
develop cabin
fever during the
winter months.
Or you may find
yourself eating
more or sleeping
more when the
temperature
drops and
darkness falls
earlier. While
those are common
and normal
reactions to the
changing
seasons, people
with seasonal
affective
disorder (SAD)
experience a
much more
serious reaction
when summer
shifts to fall
and on to
winter.
With seasonal
affective
disorder, fall's
short days and
long nights may
trigger feelings
of depression,
lethargy,
fatigue and
other problems.
Don't brush this
off as simply a
case of the
"winter blues"
that you have to
tough out on
your own.
Seasonal
affective
disorder is a
type of
depression, and
it can severely
impair your
daily life. That
said, treatment
— which may
include light
box therapy —
can help you
successfully
manage seasonal
affective
disorder. You
don't have to
dread the
dawning of each
fall or winter."
For more
information:
See
Source:
Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195
|
Male depression:
Don't Ignore The
Symptoms |
"Male depression is a serious medical condition. Many men try to tough it out on their own, but depression symptoms can make them chronically miserable. Effective treatment helps.
Are you irritable, isolated and withdrawn? Do you find yourself working all the time, drinking too much alcohol, using street drugs or seeking thrills from risky activities?If so, perhaps you're being chased by what Winston Churchill called his "black dog" — male depression. Churchill attempted to ward off his black dog with compulsive overwork and large amounts of brandy. For male depression, the coping strategy may be reckless driving, risky sex or shutting yourself off from the world.
But none of these can keep male depression at bay for long. Even worse: Men with depression are at an increased risk of suicide.
Male depression often is undiagnosed. Each year, depression affects about 6 million American men and 12 million American women. But these numbers may not tell the whole story. Because men may be reluctant to discuss male depression with a health care professional, many men with depression may go undiagnosed, and
consequently untreated.
Some men learn to overvalue independence and self-control during childhood. They're taught that it's "unmanly" to express common feelings and emotions often associated with depression, such as sadness, uncertainty or a sense of hopelessness. They tend to see illness — especially mental illness — as a threat to their masculinity. So men may deny or hide their problems until a partner's insistence or a catastrophic event, such as job loss or arrest, forces them to seek treatment.
When they visit their health care professional, men are more likely to focus on physical complaints — headaches, digestive problems or chronic pain, for example — than on emotional issues. As a result, the connection between such symptoms and male depression may be overlooked. And even
if they're diagnosed with depression, men may resist mental health treatment. They may worry about stigma damaging their careers or about losing the respect of family and friends.
Symptoms of male depression:
In both men and women, common signs and symptoms of depression include feeling down in the dumps, sleeping poorly, and feeling sad, guilty and worthless. Men with depression, however, have bouts of crying less often than do women with depression.
Other symptoms of male depression often include:
- Anger and frustration
- Violent behavior
- Losing weight without trying
- Taking risks, such as reckless driving and extramarital sex
- Loss of concentration
- Isolation from family and friends
- Avoiding pleasurable activities
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in work, hobbies and sex
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Misuse of prescription medication
- Thoughts of suicide"
"In
addition, men often aren't aware
that physical symptoms, such as
headaches, digestive disorders and
chronic pain, can be symptoms of
male depression.
|
Job stress a common
trigger of male
depression: Whether
in men or in women,
the precise cause of
depression isn't
known. Researchers
believe depression
is the result of a
combination of
genetics, your
thought processes
and your social
environment.
Everyone, for
instance, is
susceptible to
depression in the
wake of a major life
stress, such as the
end of an important
relationship, the
death of a loved
one, moving or
financial problems.
Some research
suggests that for
men, job-related
stress may also play
an important role in
male depression.
Some job
characteristics that
may be associated
with male depression
include:
-
Lack of control
over your
responsibilities
-
Unreasonable
demands for
performance
-
Conflicts with
supervisors or
co-workers
-
Lack of job
security
-
Night-shift work
-
Excessive
overtime
-
More time than
you'd like spent
away from home
-
Wages that don't
reflect the
level of
responsibility.
Suicide and male
depression:
Although women are
twice as likely to
have depression, men
are four times as
likely to suffer its
worst consequence:
suicide. Starting in
adolescence, men are
far more likely than
women to take their
own lives. Older
men, particularly
white men over age
85, have the highest
suicide rate.
Although women
attempt suicide more
often than men do,
men are more likely
to complete suicide.
Men are more likely
to use more lethal
means in suicide
attempts, such as
guns, which partly
accounts for their
higher rate of
suicide. But other
factors also are
involved. One such
factor may be their
tendency to move
from suicidal
thoughts to suicidal
actions faster than
women. Men take an
average of just 12
months to go from
contemplating
suicide to
attempting suicide.
In contrast, it
takes women about 42
months. During this
time, men are less
likely than women to
show warning signs,
such as talk of
suicide. Because
this window of
opportunity is so
short, family and
mental health
professionals may
have little chance
to recognize a man's
depression and
intervene.
Treatment and
self-care for male
depression: If
you or someone close
to you is
considering suicide,
seek help
immediately from
your doctor, the
nearest hospital
emergency room or
emergency services
(911).
If you suspect you
have depression,
schedule a physical
examination with
your family doctor
or primary health
care professional.
Conditions such
as a viral
infection, thyroid
disorder and low
testosterone levels
can produce symptoms
similar to male
depression. If your
doctor rules out
such conditions as a
cause of your
symptoms, the next
step may be a
depression
screening. Treatment
for male depression
may include
antidepressant
medications,
psychotherapy or
both."
For more
information:
See
Source: Mayo
Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
health/male-depression/MC00041
|
What is Atypical
Depression and How Does
It Differ From Regular
Depression? |
"Nearly
50
years
ago,
two
English
psychiatrists
first
described
atypical
depression
— a
type
of
depression
that
seemed
to
differ
from
classic
forms
of
depression
in
both
its
symptoms
and
treatment.
Experts
in
the
field
of
psychiatric
research
continue
to
debate
the
finer
points
of
this
diagnosis.
However,
atypical
depression
is
typically
characterized
by:
- Earlier onset of symptoms
- Overeating
- Oversleeping
- Mood reactivity
Mood
reactivity
refers
to
the
observation
that
although
people
with
atypical
depression
experience
pervasive
sadness,
mood
may
improve
or
worsen
in
direct
response
to
specific
events.
This
is
different
from
classically
depressed
individuals
who
experience
persistent
sadness.
In
addition,
some
research
suggests
that
an
older
class
of
drugs,
monoamine
oxidase
inhibitors
(MAOIs),
may
be
more
effective
in
treating
atypical
depression
than
newer
drugs,
including
tricyclic
antidepressants
and
selective
serotonin
reuptake
inhibitors
(SSRIs).
However,
research
continues
to
try
to
define
this
more
clearly.
Atypical
depression
is
more
common
in
women
than
in
men.
The
exact
cause
of
depression
isn't
clear.
But
genetics
and
environmental
factors
play
a
role.
If
you
are
concerned
that
you
or
someone
you
know
has
atypical
depression,
seek
help
from
a
mental
health
professional."
For more
information:
See
http://www.mayoclinic.com
/health/atypical-depression/AN01363
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