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Depression - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment options

The main symptom of depression is sadness nervous system or deplete the organism
or low mood level, but many other mental from nutrient necessary for the nervous
and physical symptoms also occur. Here system to work properly.
are symptoms, causes and treatment 2. Endogenous depression
options explained. When there has not been any period of
Depression is a complex of psychological stress, straining or lack of rest that
and physical symptoms. Low mood level or can explain the condition, the condition
sadness is often the most prominent is often called endogenous depression.
symptom. The common property of these Inheritance is thought to be a part of
symptoms is a decreased activity level in the cause.
parts of the brain. 3. Depression by physical disease
THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION Depression or depressive symptoms may be
Depression may give one or more of these a symptom of physical disease. This is
symptoms: perhaps the most common cause of
-Low mood level or sadness. depression.
-Lack of joy or interest in activities Diseases often associated with depression
that were joyful before. are: Heart disease, Parkinson's disease,
-Pessimism. stroke, hypertension or Cushing's
-Feel of guilt of something without any syndrome.
substantial reason to feel so. Mononucleosis or flu may trigger
-Inferiority thoughts. depression that continues after the
-Irritability. infection has gone.
-Slowness in the thought process. By lack of thyroid hormones,
-Slowness in interpreting sensorial hypothyroidism, the metabolism in the
stimuli. whole body is slowed down, including the
-Slowness of digestion or other internal production of neurotransmitters in the
physical processes, and symptoms caused brain. Therefore depression is an
by this slowness, for example inflated important symptom of hypothyroidism.
stomach, constipation or difficulties by 4. Depressive symptoms as a consequence
urination. of unsound lifestyle
-Slow physical reactions. A general unsound lifestyle with too less
Depression can be a mild disease that exercise, too much of stimulants like
only causes some annoyance in the daily alcohol, coffee or tea, too less of
life, but can also get very serious and important nutrient and too much of sugar
make a person totally unable to work and and fat may give depressive symptoms, as
unable to participate in social life. By well as physical problems.
depression of some severity, there is 5. Postnatal depression
also a greater risk of suicide. Women will often have a period of
Depression can occur in all age classes. depression after pregnancy and berth of
In teenagers lack of interest in school the baby Pregnancy and berth is
work, withdrawal from social life and physically and mentally exhausting, and
difficult mood can be signs of may drain the body for nutrient. This in
depression. turn can cause depressive symptoms.
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT PRODUCE 6. Seasonal affective disorder
THE SYMPTOMS Depression can occur in cold and dark
By depression there is a decreased amount periods of the year and go away in warm
of neurotransmitters in parts of the and light periods. Light stimulates brain
central nervous system, mainly deficiency activity, and lack of light is a
of serotonin, but also to some extend of causative factor.
noradrenalin, acetylcholine, dopamine or TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION
gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), or the Serious or prolonged depression is often
nerve cells do not react properly by treated with anti-depressive medication.
stimulation from neurotransmitters. A Medicines used against depression
neurotransmitter is a signal substance generally increase the level of
that transmits the nerve signal through neurotransmitters like serotonin in the
the junctions between two nerve cells. central nervous system, or they mimic the
Serotonin and noradrenalin cause nerve neurotransmitters.
cells to send impulses along to other The medications mostly used today
nerve cells, and thus increase the increase the serotonin concentration by
activity in the brain. Deficiency of decreasing the removal of serotonin from
these substances causes slowness in parts the space around nerve cells. Examples of
of the brain, and that again causes the this medication type are: Fluoxetine
depressive symptoms. (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine
The role of GABA is the opposite, namely (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro, Celexa),
to slow down some nerve impulses, mainly sentraline (zoloft).
those causing anxiety and panic response. By bipolar disorder in the manic face,
Lack of GABA causes higher anxiety and heavy tranquilizers (neuroleptica) are
easier panic response. Yet, lack of this used to stop the manic symptoms. By
transmitter also seems to cause bipolar disorder, lithium salts are
depressive symptoms. This is because a sometimes used to stabilize the
too high activity in some brain processes condition, and prevent new outbreak of
may slow down other processes. depressive or manic faces.
There are many causes and subtypes of Psychotherapy is sometimes used by
depression with different physiological depression, usually in combination with
mechanisms involved. medication.
TYPES OF DEPRESSION Sometimes serious depression is treated
Depression is often divided into subtypes by applying electric shock through the
according to exhibited symptoms. head, electroconvulsive therapy. The
1. Mono-polar depression and dysthymic shock induces epileptic eruption of nerve
disorder signals through the brain and this gives
By mono-polar depression there are pure cramps throughout the body. The cramps
depressive symptoms. Mild cases of are alleviated or stopped by applying
mono-polar disorder that do not affect a anaesthesia before the electroshock. This
persons ability to work and to form of treatment is controversial, since
participate in social activities are it can cause memory loss and is suspected
often called dysthymic disorder. of causing brain damage. The possibility
2. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive of brain damage is however denied by most
disease) and cyclothymic disorder psychiatrists.
In this condition there are periods with By seasonal depression, light therapy
symptoms of depression - the depressive maybe useful.
phase, alternating with periods of Adjustment of lifestyle should always be
elevated mood level with increased mental considered by depression or depressive
and physical activity - the manic phase. symptoms. Lifestyle measures can
In the manic phase, the affected person sometimes be enough to cure depressive
also sleeps poorly and has concentration symptoms before a serious depression
difficulties. A mild form of this develop. Lifestyle adjustments can be:
disease is called cyclothymic disorder. - To slow down a stressful life with too
3. Manic disorder much work or activities.
This condition is characterized by - Enough rest and sleep.
abnormally elevated mood, by unrealistic - A good diet with enough of necessary
optimism, by lack of sleep and by nutrients.
hyperactive behaviour. Many psychiatrists - Some physical exercise.
think that this disorder is simply the - Meditation.
same disease as bipolar disorder where - Supplement of vitamins, minerals,
the depressive face has not yet occurred. antioxidants, lecithin, amino acids and
4. Depression with mainly physical essential fatty acids.
symptoms - Stimulants like coffee or tea may help
Sometimes the physical symptoms of against depressive feelings in moderate
depression are alone or dominant, as for amount. However, if you are a heavy user
example: Digestive problems, of these stimulants, you should cut down
constipation, difficulties with on your consumption.
urination, slow response to sensorial There exist nutritional products in the
stimuli or slow physical reactions. marked to help against depressive
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION symptoms. These contain ingredients that
Two or more factors can have an effect the brain uses as building blocks for
simultaneously to cause depression. neurotransmitters, for example amino
Depression can be an independent disease, acids and lecithin. They also often
or a part of other disease. Depression is contain vitamins and minerals that the
also divided into different subtypes brain uses as tools to produce
according to cause. neurotransmitters, especially vitamin B6.
1. Reactive depression Supplements may further contain herbal
This disease is simply a result from extracts that trigger higher brain
psychological stress, physical struggle activity much like anti-depressive
or mental straining without proper rest medications, but may have fewer side
or sleep over a long time period. The effects.
straining will simply wear out the




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