History of Clinical Depression

There are several things you inherit from your parents the color of your hair and eyes, your skin tone, even your height. You inherit these traits because you have genes and these genes make up your DNA. Unfortunately, you also inherit predisposition to certain diseases and even mental illness. Researches have recently shown that depression could actually be inherited. It simply means that if someone in your family is suffering from clinical depression, then there is a very high probability that you too could become depressed.

Years ago, scientists did not really know where depression came from. The environment was always identified as the primary suspect as the cause of depression in general, but more recent studies show a strong evidence that clinical depression such as depressive disorder, manic depression and dysthymia is actually caused by chemical imbalances, the predisposition to which is inherited.

The results of recent studies show that if you do have a parent, an uncle, a brother or a sister who is suffering or has suffered from clinical depression, you have 1.5 to 3 times more chances of developing the same condition than someone who does not have such a condition within the family.

Recent researches have not really been successful in trying to narrow down the research to specify which gene actually causes clinical depression. Different studies have yielded different results. It was hypothesized that the gene may be different from one family to other, but this has never been proven to date.

So there is no actual conclusion as to which gene is the culprit that causes clinical depression. But there is very little debate about the fact that clinical depression is hereditary. It is nothing to be ashamed of in fact, depression is so common that it affects more than 19 million Americans each year. However, less than half of the people suffering from this mental illness acknowledge it and seek treatment. If you or someone in your family may be experiencing depression, consult a psychiatrist immediately.

Depression Knowledge - Symptoms

A great number of people suffer from depression. About two percent of the population gets depressed each year, some to the point of needing some serious medical attention. Most people experience mild depression and not even notice it for they lack the knowledge. What they don't know is that depression is a disease that could eventually kill if not controlled. That's why it's important that we have enough depression knowledge and that we are aware of its symptoms so we'll be able to recognize them when they manifest.

Depression is a mental disorder that is characterized by low mood, low self-esteem and a loss of interest in normal day to day activities. It's a condition that affects one's family, work or school, sleeping and eating habits and health. The causes are most frequently identified but sometimes symptoms just develop without obvious causes.

People who suffer from depression usually exhibit a very low mood that disallows them to take pleasure in activities that they previously enjoyed. They may be disturbed by nagging feelings of worthlessness, guilt, regret, helplessness, hopelessness and self-hatred. In some cases, some people suffer from psychosis that may include delusions, hallucinations and thoughts of suicide.

Other symptoms include poor concentration and memory, and withdrawal from social activities. Their appetite decreases that result to weight loss, although in some cases there is an increase in appetite that result to weight gain. They become agitated or lethargic.

Insomnia is another common symptom. They often suffer from disturbed sleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep. Hypersomnia or oversleeping may be another symptom. Some may suffer from physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches and some digestive problems.

Mood swings that sometimes become violently abnormal can also happen. One minute they're laughing and smiling, the next minute they could be irritable and angry. Moods could change violently in just one day.

If depression is ignored or underestimated, it could lead to suicide, substance abuse and alcoholism. It could also cause anxiety and certain health problems like diabetes and heart diseases.

The causes are often attributed to biological, psychological and social factors. Depression can be hereditary. But most of time it is brought about by a stressful event, a loss or failure.

Depression could last from a few days to several months. But if depression lasts longer than two weeks without improvement, treatment is recommended before the condition gets worse. If the depressed person could no longer cope or if the depression is so severe that there is a great risk of suicide, you need to consult a specialist.

Possible treatments could include psychotherapy such as counseling, anti-depressants and electroconvulsive therapy which is often used as a last resort.

But treatment could also be done at home. Encouragement and support from relatives and loved ones are often vital to a depressed person's survival. Physical exercise is also said to have beneficial effects on depression. Substantial depression knowledge is important to our understanding of the disease. It's a disease that should not be underestimated, ignored or toyed with or else the consequences could be dire.

Types Of Clinical Depression

Depression is a moral state characterized by a negative sense of inadequacy, pessimism and often low disposition. It is a mental state in which the patient suffers from sad feelings of gloom and downturn in mood, caused by various reasons (tragedy in the past, loss of somebody very close, etc.). Usually the main symptoms include feelings of sadness, despair, low self-esteem, low self-reproach and discouragement. The patient is often annoyed, angry or upset. He/she may behave rather strange: sudden emotions like tears, laugh or uncontrolled feelings of anxiety, fear are very common.

Depression is associated with the low mood which can alter several times per day. Loss of earlier pleasures and interests, sleep disorders and thoughts about death - are other symptoms of depression state.

The following types of clinical depression should be distinguished:

• Major depression is one of the most serious and dangerous types of depression. It is characterized by change in mood that lasts for weeks or months. It usually involves a low or irritable mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. This state includes also physical symptoms.


• Dysthymia is considered to be less severe than major depression but usually goes on for a longer period, often several years. There are usually periods of feeling fairly normal between episodes of low mood.


• Bipolar disorder a very dangerous form of depression. It involves episodes of depression, alternating with episodes of extreme elation called mania. This condition is also known as manic depression.


• Seasonal depression, also called by medical specialist seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It is depression that occurs only at a certain time of the year, usually winter, when the number of daylight hours is lower. It is sometimes called "winter blues." It is very spread type of depression, though it does not mean that it is not severe.


• Psychotic depression is a form of depression when hallucinations or delusions are experienced at the same time. Suffering this form of depression the patients can sometimes lose touch with reality.

All indicated depression types are very sever and require medical involvement. In order to avoid depression in such extremely dangerous forms it is highly recommended to start the course of treatment at the appearance of the first signs of depression. At the early stages depression can be controlled and safely eliminated. If you feel that every day of your life becomes more and more colourless and boring, and your mood is often low pay attention to your health condition. Visit a good psychologist, try to identify the cause of your low mood and if you feel that you need medical help feel free to ask for it.

Is a Depression Questionnaire Reliable?

A depression questionnaire is the same thing as a depression test or depression quiz. For any psychological test to be reliable it needs to meet the Standards for Education and Psychological Testing. These standards are developed by three (3) different groups that include the American Psychological Association (APA), American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME). What does it mean when a test meets the Standards? It means that they are "valid", "reliable" and "scored and administered" using standardized methods.

Validity basically means that the test measures what it is supposed to measure. Also, it means that the concept for which the test was developed, and the measurements put in place, are well founded and supported by evidence that justifies the interpretation of the scores.

Reliability means that the results of the test will be consistent. For example, each time a test is administered to any one individual the results should be almost the same. Assuming that the structure and quality of the test is consistent, when the test is given at two different points in time, it will yield similar results. While often confused, validity and reliability are not the same. Validity ensures that the test measures what it has been designed to measure. Conversely, reliability means that the results that are measured are consistent. So, unfortunately, you can have consistency in a test without validity - a test that provides consistent results but is not measuring what is designed to be measuring. This is why both validity and reliability are so important.

The tests must also be scored and administered employing a standard methodology. Research has determined that, if a test is scored and administered in a standard way, the results are more effective and predictable than if they use a non-standard format.

A depression questionnaire or depression test is basically a mood measuring device that gives an indication of emotional and cognitive functioning. Depression tests are developed and designed to evaluate an individual's mood, characteristics, affect and demeanor. Most are also used to track behavior changes over a specific period of time. In most cases, the tests are self administered and they ask you to evaluate your mood or characteristic over the last two weeks or more. Also depression tests that are self administered usually have pre-defined optional responses so there are not free form answers. For example, a test will have the individual choose "a", "b", or "c", or "true" or "false".

A question that is commonly asked is whether the results from a depression test are used to diagnose depression. The answer? In part, yes, the depression questionnaire is used as one reference point to determine if a client is depressed or not. However, it is important to note that there are many other factors that we look at to make a diagnosis. To diagnose depression we need to do a full evaluation by looking at a variety of factors.

Symptomotology is one of the components that are considered. For instance, what symptoms does the client have? How long have they been present? How severe are the symptoms? Has the client experienced these symptoms before? How are they currently functioning emotionally and cognitively? Have they recently experienced any traumatic events? Also, is the client currently using drugs or alcohol? If so, how often do they use?

The mental health history of the client is considered as well - have they been diagnosed with depression before? What about the family history? Has any of the client's family members been diagnosed with depression?

It is also important to rule out any other medical conditions that might cause or contribute to the depressed feelings. Is the client suffering with another condition such as Lyme's disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a hypothyroid condition, and any nutritional deficiencies? All of these things, and many others, need to be carefully considered before making a formal depression diagnosis.

A depression questionnaire and depression tests are available on-line. However, if want reliable results it is important to take one that is professionally developed (ie. not by a Webmaster!). This will ensure that the depression test meets the Standards for Education and Psychological Testing. What this ultimately means is that it will be valid - testing for signs of depression like it is supposed to, and that the results you get will be reliable and statistically relevant.

It would be horrible to take a depression questionnaire that generates incorrect results. It can tell you that you're depressed when you really aren't or tell you that you aren't depressed when you really are. In either case, you will be misled and will not proceed in a matter that would be in your best interest. If you take a depression test that meets the aforementioned criterion, you can rely on the results and determine the best course of action.

Depression and Purpose

Depression, which is partly anger at ourselves, is self-destructive and drains our energy to the point that it is sometimes difficult to function even minimally. Depression is an illness of will, which becomes diseased, making a person incapable of persevering in many pursuits. People always tell a depressed person to get control and stop wallowing in self-pity, but this is like telling a kindergarten child to solve a nuclear physics problem.

There are many types of depression with a variety of causes. If it is mental or emotional, and the cause is a lack of self-esteem, then there are ways to alleviate the depression. Finding fulfilling work or falling in love could temporarily counteract a problem that is only on the surface of the personality.

The most difficult cure to find is one for the invisible cause of a disease. When something is wrong, either physically or mentally, in our bodies or in a machine, we often look for what exterior factor has caused a problem. In the case of depression, sometimes the cause is not an invasion of something external, but rather a lack of something internal, a sense of purpose, a use of our innate abilities that we are born with and are destined to do that we are not doing.

A basic psychological principal is that gifted people will suffer psychologically when their gifts are not used to the utmost. This principal is not limited to only those we refer to as gifted, but to all humans, since, if you think about it, we are all gifted in some way. Just like the full moon makes the stars disappear due to its brighter light, but does not make the stars cease to exist. They will shine when the brighter light moves to another place and they become the brightest light in the night sky. People are the same, some of us have more flamboyant lives that outshine others, but that is only a temporary blinding. Eventually the small steady light gets its chance to show itself.

Depression comes when that little light is covered by a thick blanket of limitations, often self imposed, that suffocate it. We all have something to offer, and if we do not, we suffocate that bit of God that was born in our human body that wanted to be seen.

Humans are different than any other creature in existence, we are part mortal and part immortal. The immortal has taken a mortal form to show what it is, to express itself, to manifest a material reality of that aspect of the concept of God. If you do not express your talents, whatever they may be, then you are not allowing that immortal part of yourself to live as it wished to live, and that suffocates it and causes depression.

Your mind has to breath. The breath of the mind is the inhalation of thoughts to contemplate and the exhalation of ideas. Contemplating thoughts creates ideas. Ideas are contemplated thoughts that have been developed and need to be expressed. If ideas are not expressed, they get very unhappy because they cannot go out and play. The way ideas play is by being expressed and mixed with new thoughts. So if they cannot go out and play, their unhappiness becomes your depression.

There is a famous story in the Talmud about Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish, his disciple/colleague. When Resh Lakish died, Rabbi Yochanan went into a terrible depression, far more than for the loss of his children who died young, for the very reason of the lack of intellectual/spiritual stimulation, (Resh Lakish was the only one who was able to keep asking him the most difficult questions).

Consider the following points when you try to figure out why you are depressed, and do not limit thinking you are depressed to a major depression. A light perpetual unrest is still not something we need to live with.

Are you expressing your creativity. Are you using your mind to think about, learn and discuss things that interest you. Are you useful to anyone in some way on a daily basis, even if it is a different person each day. All creative people in history have suffered from periods of depression whenever circumstances did not favor their inner creativity. Creativity is a double-edged sword: a blessing and potential curse, "USE IT, OR ELSE..."

Here is a little summary from another article I wrote entitled; 'Depression or Boredom'

There is a big difference between bored and depressed, however they appear the same, and so boredom becomes confused with depression. The longer you are bored, the more you will think and appear to others to be depressed. Eventually you become depressed. But in fact you are bored.

Children are easily entertained, and so boredom does not last long, because it is short lived, it does not turn to depression. If it lasts too long, then depression can result. Adults start to get bored at some point in their life, due to circumstances which are difficult to change because of obligations that come with the search and acquisition of a 'normal' adult life. Often we deliberately choose certain situations because we see some need or benefit from it, and that new situation soon creates the boredom.

For an adult to claim they are bored is not socially acceptable because they should be so busy with their family and work etc. So we deny the boredom because its cure is to make a significant change, which is too traumatic for the family. This way, boredom grows into depression.

Trying to cure depression when it is in fact boredom is like trying to sew a patch on worn cloths with a chain saw, it only makes it worse. When we find ourselves depressed, it is wise to first look at what is exciting in our life. If we find nothing, then boredom may be the cause.

The cure is a drastic change of attitude, understanding, location, work, hobby, etc. each person must find their own. But a cure cannot be had until the true cause of the mental state is truly acknowledged and then corrected.

Why Am I Depressed - 3 Things You Need to Do

"Why am I depressed?" or "why am I depressed all the time?" is a question that many ask all the time due to the feeling of hopeless, lack of confidence and self-worth. There are 3 practical steps you can take in order to overcome your depression. The first step in how to deal with depression is

1. Let Someone Know How you feel 2. Recognize Your Self-Worth 3. Fix All Mistakes

1. Let Someone Know How you feel

Bottling up your feelings and always asking why am I depressed, is not the right thing to do. Rather, expressing how you feel in words can be a healing to you. Many who are depressed do not let others know how they feel, as a result, they cause more harm than good. It is not always easy for other to know how you feel and some just wouldn't know that you are depressed or going through some type of emotional pain. So find a trustworthy friend or family member to talk to. When you talk it out, you are letting out all the feeling that has been bottled up and this will make you feel better.

2. Recognize Your Self-Worth

The lack of Self Worth is another big reason why many are depressed. This feeling can cause you to ask why am I depressed. So many things can cause this feeling of worthlessness. Sometimes it is caused by an unhappy childhood, loneliness, physical or sexual abuse or any other bad experience that has left emotional scars. As a result, it has now left you feeling worthless. What has happened to you in the past did not change or reduce your self-worth. No matter what has happened, you are still a person who has value and you are worth just as much as anyone else. Love yourself, and then you will realize that you are worth something.

3. Fix All Mistakes

Depression can also be caused because of something you have done in the past. This feeling of guilt can and will lead to depression if you do not take care of it. If you have made a serious mistake in the past that is causing you to feel guilty, then that means you need to make peace with the person you have offended and reverse the mistake. So fix any previous mistake you might have made so that you can have a good conscience. As a result, you will be able to forgive your self. When you forgive yourself and make peace with everyone, then you relieve yourself off the feeling of guilt and depression.

Keep in mind that you can not always expect perfection from your self. Also remember that your self-worth is not based on what others think of you but rather this comes from within. Stop asking why am I depressed and actually something about it and take control of your life back.

Depression Symptoms

Depression symptoms are easy to overlook for both the person suffering from the depression and their friends and family. With today's knowledge about depression, their is no need for the person experiencing these symptoms to suffer.

One common symptom of depression is a long period of sadness or simply not feeling up to it no matter what the activity. This moping around and constant state of sadness is probably the number one sign of depression.

Another common symptom is a pessimistic attitude toward most things. A person going through depression will feel and act as if they have nothing going for them and possibly nothing to live for.

Causes for the sadness, such as extreme guilt are other symptoms to be on the look out for. Because you or someone you know may feel so guilty about something, you feel bad if you are happy. This causes you to be in a constant state of sadness. Helplessness is also another common cause of the constant sadness. When a person feels totally helpless and that nothing can go right no matter what they do, they will then do nothing. This essentially paralyzes the person into a state of constant moping and sadness.

Physical signs of depression are also often time present as well. You may become extremely tired and void of any energy. Even though you are extremely tired, you may not be able to get the required amount of sleep. Because you have lost all hope, you may not be eating properly or maintaining your personal appearance to the same standards you would have before.

Mental fatigue can also be a sign that you or someone you know is depressed. When a person lacks interest in the world around them, and becomes hopeless, the mentally begin to shut down as well. This mental breakdown may cause the person to forget things or not pay attention when you are trying to interact with them directly.

These are just a few of the symptoms of depression and if you or someone you know are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, it is recommended that you seek the services of a professional trained in to treat depression soon. Depression can be overcome, but may require you to take that first step and seek help.

11 Signs of Depression - Find Out If You're Depressed

If you've been feeling blue, knowing the signs of depression will help you decide if you need help. Since depression usually doesn't get better on its own, you will also learn about the treatment options: pharmaceutical medications and alternative medicines.

11 Depression Signs:

1. Feeling sad or blue


2. Sense of hopelessness & worthlessness


3. Crying, seemingly for no reason


4. Difficulty sleeping


5. Loss of interest in life and daily activities


6. Trouble concentrating


7. Trouble making decisions


8. Unexplained weight gain or weight loss


9. Irritable or easily annoyed


10. Loss of sexual desire


11. Thoughts of suicide

It's important to understand that signs of depression can vary with individuals, between genders and age groups. The key to diagnosing depression is that a number of the symptoms must persist over time. You do not have to show all the symptoms above to be diagnosed with depression.

If you show any of the depression signs above, there is help. The most common forms of treatment include prescription drugs, behavioral therapy and alternative medicines.

Using prescription drugs to treat depression signs is effective for some people. As you may know, the problem is that there are troubling side effects associated with prescription medications and these side effects may actually worsen depression and lead to suicide. Make sure to know all the side effects and drug interactions before taking any medication. Also, it's important to know that drugs only mask the symptoms; they do not heal what causes depression.

Behavioral therapy is used to treat the signs of depression by teaching people coping skills that will help them get beyond the symptoms. The idea here is that if you do better, you will feel better. Although therapy with a caring therapist can be helpful, it is most effective when supplemented by a remedy that helps increase the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain.

This is where the third treatment for depression signs comes in. Natural medicine can be used to elevate mood, increase motivation and renew your interest in life. Since holistic medicine is all natural, it has no side effects. Better still, by supplying the brain with the nutrients it needs, proper function will be restored over time, so eventually, you can stop taking the natural remedy. Wouldn't you rather take something that heals your condition, rather than something that just suppresses the symptoms?

When looking for a good natural remedy, look for one that contains Passion Flower and St. John's Wort which have been proven in clinical trials to reduce the signs of depression. Make sure the remedy contains standardized ingredients to ensure that each dose is the same and that the company offers a money-back guarantee. Companies that offer a one-year, money-back guarantee are those who have done their research, proven their product's effectiveness and are willing to stand behind it with an iron-clad guarantee.

Only you can decide which treatment is best for reducing your signs of depression, but it's important to understand that drugs are not the only, nor always the best option.

Nervous, Mental or Emotional Breakdown

The Soul of Soulwork is integrity - a joyful expression of life that brings insight and understanding. Do you want to coach people to untangle difficult relationships and find emotional maturity.

What happens in a Mental Breakdown?

A nervous, mental or emotional breakdown may include a temporary collapse or disintegration of personality. This may involve an inability to function, depression, loss of contact with reality, manic episodes, anxiety and / or panic attacks.

A nervous breakdown can be disturbing, disorienting and frightening. It may come suddenly or last for several years. Depression, confusion or anxiety may accompany a feeling that you are out of control.

Nervous, mental or emotional breakdowns are lay terms. Nerves and emotions don't break down; these terms imply an emotional or mental collapse or a feeling of approaching collapse. These terms often refer to people who tried to hide unpleasant emotions, and finally let them out.

Warning Signs of Nervous Breakdown

Some warning signs can alert you that someone might be experiencing an emotional or relationship crisis. That person may need immediate help or attention.

a person cannot cope with daily chores and responsibilities

a person's words make no sense (word salad)

a person threatens or tries to harm someone

a person threatens or tries to harm self

a person seems to see, hear, smell, taste, or feel things that do not exist

a person becomes destructive to possessions, home and relationships

If you see any of these signs, perhaps call a crisis help line or other source for help and information. Many cities have a suicide hotline or crisis hotline. In smaller towns, a hospital or medical center may help you decide how serious the signs are, and what you can do to help.

Stress & Emotional Breakdowns

Anxiety, stress and depression can occur when we suppress spontaneous reactions. They may occur when you feel that we have no choices. Under lasting stress you may feel on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

You may want to react to stressful situations by either getting away from the situation or fighting back. You cannot always do this. If you cannot run away or fight back, you might force yourself to stay. Your stress builds up.

The same thing might happen at home, or in your close relationships. You can change your relationships or learn to cope with stress. Either can keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

You can eat healthier. You can exercise for about half hour at least 3 times a week. You can get enough sleep. You can avoid alcohol and illegal drugs. You can take a vacation. You can learn how to relax. You can build and enjoy better relationships.

Coping with stress means learning how to communicate better. Reading about or taking classes in communication may help. Systemic coaching can help you recognize and change long-term relationship habits and complex relationship problems.

Personalities that Break Down

People who do break down often seem to be either people pleasing and/or super-responsible. A People Pleaser may focus on being nice and not offending anyone. A super-responsible person may be seen as a control-freak, a perfectionist or workaholic. There are better solutions ... systemic solutions.

Rebuilding Identity in Chaos

When a personality mask finally breaks down, a healthier identity can emerge. This emergence can be painful and haphazard during stress, or gently self-controlled during chaos coaching.

Lasting Solutions for Anxiety, Stress and Depression

What causes breakdowns?

Do illnesses cause breakdowns? Perhaps sometimes, although few people who become ill experience mental breakdown.

Do traumatic experiences cause breakdowns? Perhaps sometimes, although few people break down in trauma, even those who suffer extreme trauma.

Do genetic factors cause break downs? Rather than genetics, behavior copied from suffering family members is the only known link to inherited disposition to stressful illness.

Do depleted levels of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) cause breakdowns? Perhaps, although low levels of neurotransmitters are more likely a symptom than a cause of breakdowns.

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals which help regulate moods. To boost these levels, you can change your behavior or take drugs. The easier route (and much more profitable for health professionals) is that you take prescription medication - and support a $12 billion drug industry.

About 70% of people who take antidepressants will experience mental breakdown if they stop taking the drugs. Antidepressants treat a symptom - low levels of neurotransmitters in your brain.

What is the root cause of mental breakdown? The main difference between people who experience a breakdown and those who don't may be the unpleasant emotions resulting from poor relationships.

To control anxiety, stress and depression, why not learn from people who don't become anxious, depressed or stressed? Such people very often enjoy satisfying relationships. Get systemic coaching.

Consult a physician about any opinions about nervous or other breakdowns, or other medical symptoms or other medical conditions.

Do you want effective relationship coaching or systemic coach training? Do you want to coach individuals, partners and teams to resolve complex relationship challenges? Contact us.

Signs of Perimenopause - Take This Quiz and Find Out

You're in doubt. You're not sure if you're already having perimenopause symptoms, especially since you're just below the 40s line. But you are experiencing signs of perimenopause already - irregular menstrual cycles, irritability, hot flashes, and sleep problems to name a few.

Having these symptoms may or may not be an indication of you going through that phase. Find out by answering these questions:

1. How old are you? (Your age could be a determining factor if you're in perimenopause or early menopause. The usual age would be around 40 to 50, but sometimes it could be as early as 35.)

2. Is your menstrual period still regular? (Your cycle could possibly be either short or long, and blood flow will be lighter or heavier, sometimes even just spotting. This is one of the very first indicators that you are entering the stage.)

3. Do you experience hot flashes? (A result of the hormone triggered changes in the hypothalamus, it is the body's attempt to cool you down if it senses that you are too warm. Blood rushes to the blood vessels near the surface to cool the body, resulting in flushed look to the face and neck.)

4. Are you having night sweats? (If you experience hot flashes with heavy perspiration at night, then you are having night sweats.)

5. Do you have trouble sleeping? (Some women have perimenopause insomnia aside from having sweats and hot flashes at night.)

6. Is your libido level increasing or decreasing than usual? (Changes in vagina can sometimes make intercourse painful, thereby lessening the desire to have sex. Some women however, experience and insatiable sex drive. Whatever the state, there may be a chance that if it's less or more than usual, you may be in the early stages of perimenopause already.)

7. Do you smoke? (If you're a smoker and you're nowhere near the perimenopause age, chances are, you will experience perimenopause 2 or 3 years earlier than usual.)

8. Are you experiencing vaginal dryness or irritation? (Vaginal atrophy is caused by a decline of estrogen that causes the vagina to become dry and less elastic.)

9. Do you have mood swings? (Hormonal changes combined with physical stresses like a change of relationship or career issues contribute to mood swings.)

10. Is your hair thinning? (This is usually genetic, but this is also a symptom of perimenopause.)

If you answered yes to at least 5 out of 10 questions, then you may be in perimenopause already. The usual solutions to these symptoms are having a balanced and healthy diet and regular exercise. It is also best to consult with your doctor to rule out any other illnesses like cancer or thyroid problems, especially if you have heavy or unexpected bleeding, and night sweats with an irregular heartbeat.

Depression - Am I Crazy?

Let's talk about happiness. Most of us want to be happy, all the time, no matter what is going on around us! It's plain and simple. But, being happy, how do you do that, get there, be that?

Maybe happy is not really what you are looking for. After all, happy is just like any other emotion... it comes and it goes. Perhaps what you seek is the ability to feel joy. Not just alive and surviving, but energized, excited, and living the life of your dreams. Imagine feeling joy beyond your wildest dreams as you live in your body, glad to be you, putting energy into your life's work, and creating stimulating experiences. Joy also means accepting your human emotions, experiencing the ups and downs of life, while learning to breathe and let things pass in their own time.

So how do we gain this feeling of joy? As paradoxical as it may sound, perhaps for some of us the path to joy leads us first through depression.

What does depression look like?

Let's imagine we have a friend named Jane. Lately Jane just doesn't feel like herself. She lacks energy and doesn't have enthusiasm for much of anything. Jane lies around a lot, feeling empty and not sure which way to go. Decisions seem overwhelming. She often cries although nothing in specific is wrong. Jane feels shame, wonders what is wrong with her, and thinks she must by crazy. Everyday she asks herself, "why do I feel this way?" and "why can't I make this go away?" She musters up enough energy to make it through the day and creates a happy facade so people will not see the pain she is in. Jane is depressed.

Depression is not the same thing as feeling sad, blue, or down. Most of us have our ups and downs, our good days and bad. Everyday events, and our reactions to them, sometimes interfere with our peace of mind. Some unhappiness, the blues, or an occasional low mood is common when disappointed. This sadness is all part of life.

In contrast, depression affects the entire body, not just the mind. It can lead to an imbalance in the delicate chemistry of your brain and affect your emotions, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, physical functioning, and health. It can also affect the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you see the world. With depression, the misery can be so great, and persist for so many weeks without relief, that a person may begin to think that life is not worth living anymore.

Symptoms of Depression

o Depressed mood for most of the day

o Persistent sad or "empty" feelings

o Loss of appetite or loss of weight

o Eating more than usual and gaining weight

o Trouble sleeping, insomnia, or oversleeping

o Anxiety

o Feeling tired all the time or finding everything is an effort

o Not caring anymore about work, hobbies, friends, or sexual activity

o Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, or indecisiveness

o Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

o Feelings of worthlessness

o Excessive or inappropriate guilt

o Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

Other problems people experience during a clinical depression may include:

o Frequently feeling on the verge of tears

o Waking up early in the morning, with difficulty returning to sleep

o Feeling worse in the morning

o Feeling anxious or irritable

o A gloomy view of the future

o Physical pain or headaches

o Cravings for certain foods

Overcoming depression is extremely challenging and not something that happens overnight. But overcoming depression is do-able. It is entirely possible to move beyond the dread and sadness of each day and reclaim a peaceful, fulfilling, and meaningful life. Below are some enlightening insights that will help you view depression from a higher perspective and some tips that will help you through your journey.

Accepting Depression

If you are struggling with depression, you may have tried countless therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, energy healers, self-help books, and programs. You may have practiced the power of positive thinking, studied the law of attraction, practiced meditation, or looked into religion for you answers. Through all these strategies, you have been at war with your depression, doing everything within your power to get rid of it. Pharmaceutical companies convince us that depression is an illness caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals. If we simply take medication, we can quickly get back to feeling better again. If only the answer were so simple. Perhaps there is a gift beyond depression that can only unfold if you dare to first accept your experience as important and valuable instead of trying so hard to make it disappear.

Depression and Personal Growth

An easy start to shifting depression is to entertain the idea that depression is not dysfunctional, not a mental illness, but instead deeply meaningful. Consider that depression may be a naturally arising expression on your journey of evolutionary growth. Yes, depression is dark, and a time of misery and suffering. Yet, it also a time when we ask deeply personal questions:

Who am I?

Why am I alive?

What does it mean to be me?

What makes my life worthwhile?

Should I continue to live?

Why should I continue to live?

Is depression really something that we should avoid, or an illness that we should 'cure' with drug therapy alone? Should our profound questions be pushed down into silence with medication and drug therapy?

The distress you feel is real, the suffering immensely painful, and there is a very real risk of ending your own life. However, what if you are in emotional suffering but yet not ill? When you look inside, do you really believe, on a soul level, that your pain is simply due to a chemical imbalance - or might there also be a meaningful spiritual component to your journey through depression?

Why Does Depression Occur?

Depression often occurs when we are at the edge of personal and spiritual growth. In some ways, depression can be compared to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. You once lived life as a caterpillar and everything was fine. Then it was time to change and become something new. During this transition, you offer yourself an opportunity to throw off old heavy energies, outdated perceptions about life, self-doubt, and self-limiting beliefs. It's a time when we entertain a spiritual desire to be more than we were in the past. We wish to be more alive, more self-confident, and more authentically engaged in life. During depression you are going through an expansion process, an unfolding, a readiness to release certain agreements you made in the past.

Depression, however, is the middle ground between here and there. Old tried and true ways of living are now outdated and limiting. They create stress, emptiness, avoidance of being in touch with your own authenticity, and narrow ways of dealing with life's challenges. On the one hand you are ready to come out of your cocoon and adopt new ways of being true to self, but on the other hand your logical mind tells you that you are already doing the best you can and no other alternatives are possible.

Depression, and thoughts of suicide, happen when we are in turmoil, caught between the end of an old way of living and a terrifying desire to live in a new way. In this transition, we cannot feel the joy of being alive. Internal anxiety rises and there is nothing we can do to run or hide from the conscious realization that we feel alone. We feel lethargic, powerless, and trapped. It seems as if the pain exceeds our capacity to deal with it.

One Step Forward

If you have feelings of depression, you have those feelings for a reason. Accept that your depression is real, that you feel miserable, and that you are questioning whether you choose to continue living in the same way that you have always lived. Remind yourself that there is no mandate that you must be happy and content. Even though you would rather not be experiencing this part of life, it's okay. You may eventually discover that your depression was more profoundly necessary that you can yet consciously imagine. Depression deals with a deeper relationship issue of becoming more true to self, the transformation of your physical body to become more alive, and a deeper connection to your spirit.

Depression Runs Its Course

If you are depressed, it is natural to want the pain to end. However, consider the idea that perhaps your pain is necessary. You feel the heartache, the loneliness, the despair of your life. For a while, perhaps your pain needs to run its course. It may just be a natural outcome of wanting to evolve and live your life differently, but at the same time being terrified, uncertain, and grieving for what you must let go in order to move forward.

At some point during your depression you will arrive at a decision making point. You can decide to release certain beliefs, adopt new ways of believing, and move forward with the new experiences your life will bring. Alternatively, you could decide to remain in your suffering for a long time. A third choice exists and that is to end your life as a way of ending the painful conflict. There is no right choice to make. It is your life and you must choose what feels right for you, not only in your mind and emotions, but also in your heart and soul.

Do You Choose Life?

During your time of depression, you are considering whether you choose to take the next step in your evolution. Do you decide to let go of self-doubt, move beyond the limitations of your former beliefs, and bring new balance to your mind, body, and spirit? Do you consciously choose to be alive in a new way? If so, for what purpose and meaning? When you accept that your depression is a time of change and release, you can begin to see that you are asking yourself to live in a new way. You are making a choice to release formerly held beliefs and discover what lies beyond those beliefs. Offer yourself compassion as you see that heading off into unknown territory is frightening.

Breathe

What to do if you are depressed? Breathe. If you can accept that your depression has deep personal meaning, if you can accept the experience in which you find yourself, and if you make the conscious decision to remain alive, then the best therapy is to consciously breathe.

You don't need any fancy breathing techniques. Just breathe more deeply than you are right now. Breathing helps move the heaviness of depression. Breathe with intention to fill up with life. You already know that depression does not hold much light, not much energy. Breathing will arouse energy. You can't just wait for energy to flow into you. You must decide to choose life, breath, and energy. If you can, get up and go for a walk outside. Get some fresh air and sunshine. Breathe. If you just arouse a little bit of energy, it will help you to generate a bit more energy, and that uplifts you and gets you moving one more step further out of the depression.

Depression involves the very real emotional despair of living day to day with real hopelessness. There is no one right way through depression. Your life is very important, including those times when you are in transition or depressed. Use the ideas above to help support yourself as you choose to bring new meaning into your life.

Anonymous Depression Tests Online Can Help You Determine How Serious Your Depression Really Is

If you think you are suffering from depression, there are several depression tests online that will help you identify the symptoms and determine the level or seriousness of your condition. Millions of people suffer from some form of depression; yet statistics reveal that approximately 70% will not receive the needed treatment. Many people do not seek help because they are embarrassed to talk about their feelings or are unaware of the signs associated with this illness. Unfortunately, symptoms rarely disappear on their own, and proper diagnosis and treatment is necessary for recovery.

Online depression tests provide a simple, quick, and private way to receive anonymous feedback about the feelings and symptoms you are experiencing. Typically, these quizzes are short and will give you immediate scores so you can determine what kind of help you need and decide on the best course of action for your situation.

There are several types of online tests available, ranging from quick quizzes to more in-depth questionnaires; however, it is important that you choose one that will give you accurate results. Check out the credentials and reputation of the organization to ensure that it is a reliable source. To guarantee valid results, all tests must meet "Standards for Education and Psychological Testing".

Depression self-tests include such quizzes as the Zung Depression Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Geriatric Depression Scale. These tests can be accessed easily on line. Simply print a copy, answer the questions honestly, then follow the scoring instructions.

Free depression tests online, such as the Anxiety and Depression Screening Test, the Goldberg Depression Scale, and the Wakefield Depression Questionnaire, allow you to fill in the questionnaire on your computer. Your answers are scored immediately so you will know your results right away.

The purpose of online depression tests is to educate you about depression, provide you with a screening guideline, and help you assess the level of severity so you can decide if you need to seek further evaluation. None of these tests are intended to replace professional and qualified help, but are designed as a tool to help you identify your symptoms and choose an appropriate form of treatment.

Knowledge is power, and the more aware you are of the warning signs, the better equipped you will be to begin overcoming your depression.

I'm So Depressed I Want to Die

Are you depressed with life? Do you feel like your life is not worth living and you want to die?

I'm so depressed, I want to die is a phrase that we hear often now days whether to loosing our loved one, suffering from a health problem, or losing our jobs.

According to a study done by one of the clinics in San Francisco mentioned that over 70% of the patients in hospitals are there due to psychosomatic diseases. These are illnesses that are caused by our negative thoughts which have huge effect on our bodies like excessive anxiety, excessive worry, and excessive stress. Does that statistic surprise you?

I'm so depressed I want to die

If your goal is overcome depression and stop saying the phrase "I'm so depressed I want to die," then follow the guide below:

Examine the root cause

It happens so often that people who are experiencing depression, start looking for solutions right away without taking the necessary time to examine the root cause of their depression. It is like attempting to fix a car without examining the cause of the problem. The problem with this is you will never be able to truly heal yourself and lead a happy life unless you get rid of the root cause first.

Sit in a quiet place and ask yourself the following questions:

• Why am I depressed with life?

• Why do I feel this way?

• When did my depression start?

• Is feeling this way serving me in any way?

• What is the cause to my depression?

Dig deep in your subconscious mind and really ponder these statements as they help you examine the root cause for your depression. Answering these questions sincerely could help you find the answers that you are seeking and help you overcome your depression and start seeing life as a beautiful place.

Take action

Now that you have examined the root cause for your depression, you need to start changing your life by taking action. What do I mean by action? What I mean is look for solutions and start taking some serious steps to help your overcome depression.

Start practicing not to take things seriously in life, start improving your health by eating healthier food and exercising. Start spending time with your family and savoring ever minute of it. Have a goal and start taking steps towards it.

Taking action about your current situation is very necessary, otherwise nothing will change and you will not be able to move on and change your life.

Acceptance

When you come across something that you can't change like the death of a loved one then you have got to accept it. There is no benefit in fighting anything that can't be changed. The sooner you come in grips with things that can't be changed, the faster you can begin to heal.

For example, if one member of your family dies and you feel like you can't go on living, then it is very important to accept the fact, so you can start moving on. I know this is easier said than done. Give yourself time to heal, just realize you have got to come to a point where you accept what has happened to be able to move on.

Finally, to stop being depressed with life, you need first to examine the root cause of your depression and then start to focus on the solution by taking action. If there is something that can't be changed, then you need to accept it and shift your focus on another area of life that is more positive.

4 Questions Answered About Teen Depression

Teen depression is one of the fastest growing problems on the planet. Teen depression affects a teen regardless of gender, social background, income level, race, school or other achievements, though teenage girls report suffering from depression more often than teenage boys. Teen depression is can be hard to diagnose and early discovery is vital to successful treatment.

Teen depression is pretty common and it can affect anyone. Teen depression symptoms can at times seem almost like normal teen behavior. However, Teen depression if left untreated can lead to suicide.

How Does Depression Affect Teens?

Teens with untreated depression are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, leading to higher rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Teens with depression seem to catch physical illnesses more often than other teens. Teens can develop feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy over school performance, social interaction, sexual orientation, or family life.

Teens struggling with depression may experience an inability to think clearly, notice and remember details, and make good decisions. Teens may feel that life is not worth living or worth the effort to even maintain their appearance or hygiene. Teens may become apathetic and drop out of clubs, sports, and other activities they once enjoyed.

Are There Treatments For Teen Depression?

Treatment is good, but prevention is better. Treatment should include trying to understand the reason or reasons. Treatment for teenage depression does not differ greatly from adult depression, and is generally made up of a combination of psycho (or talk) therapy and antidepressant medications. Even more frightening is that only about 30% of these children who are suffering emotional/mental turmoil are receiving any treatment for it.

Depression in teens can be tricky, particularly when it comes to treatment options such as medication. There are a number of treatment options for depression in teenagers, including one-on-one talk therapy, group or family therapy, and medication. No one therapist is a miracle worker and no one treatment works for everyone.

What Role do Friends Play?

Friends or others need to step in if someone seems severely depressed and isn't getting help. Teenage girls' somewhat stronger dependence on social ties, however, can increase the chances of teen depression being triggered by social factors, such as loss of friends. Yes, the teen years are tough, but most teens balance the requisite angst with good friendships, success in school or outside activities, and the development of a strong sense of self.

Offer to take your teen out with friends or suggest social activities that might be of interest, such as sports, after-school clubs, or an art class. Depressed teens typically rely on their friends more than their parents or other adults in their lives, so you may find yourself in the position of being the first - or only - person that they talk to about their feelings.

What Next?

Finally, If they are exhibiting signs of teen depression find out how to help them online. Do not let your child's teen depression go untreated. If left untreated your child's teen depression could be catastrophic. If your teenager seems withdrawn and they have not been themselves, they may need help for their teen depression. Don't wait, get help or advice from a few different sources and take the approach that works best and seems to make the most sense for you or the teen in your life.

How Can I Overcome My Depression?

"I've had enough, I can't take it anymore!"

"It's useless, there is no point in going on!"

"I am hopeless, I give up!"

"I can't cope anymore!"

"I can't stand my life anymore!"

"My life is not worth living anymore!"

"What's the point in living?"

If these feelings and thoughts of emptiness, despair and worthlessness are intense, prolonged and overwhelming that you find it difficult or even impossible to function normally and enjoy life like you once did; and you walk around sad and tired for most of the day and going through it is an ordeal, then you are "depressed". You are suffering from depressive disorder or clinical depression.

How can you fight and overcome your depression?

Understanding Depression

The first step in effectively overcoming depression is to understand it. What is it, how does it affect you, what causes it?

Depression is an illness! It is the most common of all mental health problems. Researchers estimate that 17 million Americans, or even much more, suffer from depression at some point in their lives.

You are not alone!

It is not just a passing blue mood, or the normal pain and sadness that follows loss of a loved one, or the "downside" in life's ordinary ups and downs. The feelings of emptiness, helplessness, worthlessness, hopelessness and despair are intense, unrelenting and pervasive to such an extent that these affects your the day-to-day life, affecting your ability to work, study, eat, and sleep.

Common signs and symptoms of depression can include:

Diminished or loss of interest in almost all daily activities. Friends, hobbies, sports social activities and sex don't interest you like they used to. You have become numb to pleasure, joy and happiness.

Sleep disorder. You either cannot sleep (insomnia), or you wake up in the early hours of the morning, or you oversleep and struggle to get out of bed (you just like to bury your head under the pillow).

Concentration problem. You find it difficult to concentrate, focus and make decisions.

Loss or Decreased Energy. You are so fatigued, sluggish and feel like a zombie all the time. You drag yourself to work. Simple tasks become difficult and longer to accomplish.

Eating Disorder. Either you have lost your appetite to eat or you cannot stop eating. You become severely underweight or overweight.

Irritability. You have become very irritable and short-tempered.

Increased pains and aches. You always complain of headaches, back pain, muscle pain and stomach ache.

Thoughts that life is no longer worth living. You have lost all enthusiasm and zest for life.

Types of Depression

There are various types of depression. The most common are Major Depression and Dysthymic. Knowing the type of depression you have can help you effectively deal with it.

Major Depressive Disorder or Major Depression. This form of depression interferes with the person's ability to function normally - to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy pleasurable activities. It is disabling! The symptoms are persistent and can range from moderate to severe and if not treated can last for several months. It may occur only once in a person's lifetime but more often, it is recurring and each occurrence tends to last longer and is more debilitating than the one before.

Dysthymic or Dysthymia (dys, meaning disorder and thymia, meaning mood). This type of depression is less severe. The chronic symptoms of dysthymia are not as strong as the symptoms of major depression but could last longer (two years or more). It does not seriously disable the person but could prevent him from functioning well or from feeling good.

The other types of depressive disorders are Bipolar Disorder or Manic Depressive Disorder and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Bipolar or Manic Depression is characterized by swing of moods - from one emotional pole (severe high or mania) to the opposite pole (severe low or depression). When in the manic mood, one may be hyperactive, overly talkative, feel abnormally elated and full of grandiose notions, have increased sexual desire, inappropriate social behavior and poor judgment.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) usually occurs during fall or winter, when natural sunlight is limited. The surroundings look gray and gloomy most of the time and some people get depressed.

Causes of Depression and Risk Factors

Why are you feeling depressed? What causes your depression?

There is no single cause of depression but rather, a combination of many factors - genetic, biochemical, environmental and psychological.

Depression may run in families - meaning it can be hereditary. Some people may inherit genes that make them susceptible to depression. The genes do not cause the depression but increase the risk when certain psychological and social factors come into play at the same time. The genetic tendency to depression can be triggered by some stressful life experience.

Studies indicate that depression may be caused by chemical imbalance in the brain. The human brain operates on fluids called neurotransmitters, some give energy (adrenalin) and some control body movements. The neurotransmitters associated with depression is called Serotonin which regulates mood, sleep, appetite, alertness among others. When a person is overly stressed for a period of time, the brain uses Serotonin faster than it can create and when the level of Serotonin drops, you become depressed. Other studies indicates that depression can also be caused by elevated stress hormone called Cortisol, and by other biological contributors.

These genetic and biological causes do play certain roles in depression but social and psychological factors have more enormous impact. The causes and risk factors for depression may include:

Stressful life experiences like sudden severe loss (of a loved one, job, friendship).

Loneliness

Marital or relationship problems

Financial problems

Health problems or chronic pain

Childhood trauma or abuse

Alcohol or drug abuse (including prescription medications)

Intense physical or mental trauma

Failing at some important task

Knowing and understanding the underlying cause (or causes) of your depression can help in overcoming the disorder. If your depression is caused by loneliness, you can socialize more - go out with friends. If it is your job that is depressing you, change to a more satisfying career. You can remedy your depression by changing your situation!

Treating and Overcoming Depression

There are many treatments for depression, including therapy, medication and other alternative treatments.

First and foremost is to recognize, acknowledge and accept your depressive disorder and deal with it squarely! Do not escape your depression by turning to alcohol or drugs. Your depression will worsen and you may find yourself six feet under the ground!

The standard prescribed antidepressants are not the cure. It has been proven that these prescription drugs have serious risks and side effects and cause more harm than good! Depression can be healed naturally and safely! There are also safe and all-natural alternatives to these commonly prescribed drugs, without the side effects or health risks. Their ingredients are all natural and no prescription is needed.

The best road to take in effectively treating and overcoming your depression is the one that addresses the underlying environmental and psychological factors that cause you to be depressed. Your whole person must be healed! These can include:

Develop a support system. Ask for help from your family and friends. Let them know your problem and how they can help you. Join and participate in support groups. Do not isolate yourself!

Go out and enjoy yourself. Talk to positive and cheerful people who make you laugh (avoid negative people). Visit old friends and reminisce happier times.

Exercise regularly and get adequate sleep.

Eat a well balanced diet and take vitamins regularly.

Change your surroundings (redecorate your room, make it more colorful),

Learn relaxation and meditation techniques. Take a break from your daily routine which could be monotonous and depressing. If possible, change it.

Get out of your bed in the morning and take a refreshing shower.

Last but not the least, pray!

Take the Bipolar Quiz Today - You May Have a Bipolar Disorder

Are you experiencing mood swings lately? Have you ever thought of committing suicide? Do you feel your life is hopeless? Does your happiness affect your behavior extremely? Are the people around you often times freak out and say you're acting weird? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have the so called Bipolar Disorder. These few questions are taken from the Bipolar Quiz. In order to figure out whether you have been suffering from the disorder, you have to take the thorough test.

If you think that Bipolar Disorder only affects a portion of the population, you thought wrong. It actually affects more than five million Americans to date. Could you be one of them? Taking the Bipolar Quiz will certainly figure that out.

What exactly is Bipolar Disorder? It is sometimes known as manic depression or bipolar depression that affects the mood swings, energy, and functionality of an individual. The unusual shifting of moods or poles makes someone experience either extreme mania or severe depression.

Sometimes the doctor can mistakenly identify Bipolar Disorder with clinical depression disorder because the patient shows the first signs of extreme depression at first. Unknowingly, the doctor prescribes anti-depressant drugs that will help aggravate the mania symptoms of the Bipolar Disorder. If this happens, the patient will experience uncontrollable shifting to the extreme mania state. So before going to the doctor, it is of utmost importance that you take the Bipolar Quiz. You may also choose to ask your doctor about the possibility of you having the Bipolar Disorder instead of just concluding your condition with clinical depression.

Without figuring out your condition in its early stages, your personal relationships, your job or school performance will be the ones to suffer because of your extreme ups and downs. Normal people around you may not understand what you're going through since you yourself don't know either. Your mood swings can last for a few hours, to a few days, to several weeks, and even long months. Bipolar Disorder is an alarming state of the mind that's why you have to take action now.

The first step you need to take is the Bipolar Quiz. When the online results show that you have indeed Bipolar Disorder, the next thing you have to do is consult your doctor about it. Don't worry, it is a treatable disease. You just need to take the first step in conquering it.

Depression - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Depression is a serious illness that has been around probably since man began walking the earth. There are symptoms that could indicate you are depressed. There are causes or triggers that cause depressed feelings. There are also a variety of treatment options available. You can discuss your symptoms with your doctor and together determine the proper course of treatment for you specific needs.

Symptoms of Depression

A person who is suffering with Depression has a deep sadness that they can't explain and just won't quit. Sleep and appetite changes, too little or too much of either may occur. Irritability and mood swings are also symptoms. They may feel like they are moving in a similar way to slow motion replays. Loss of interest in activities, friends, and family may be exhibited. The sex drive may decrease. In some severe cases one might neglect hygiene and even eating.

Causes/triggers of Depression

Loss is a huge trigger for many. It could be loss of loved ones either in divorce or death. Loss of a job, loss of a promotion at work, and financial losses can all trigger or cause symptoms of Depression to erupt. Moving or having a friend move away can also trigger depressive episodes. Traumatic events such as serious injury, chronic illness, war, and currently terrorist's attacks all can and have triggered Depression in many people.

Treatment Options

Medications such as anti-depressants are commonly prescribed for many cases of Depression. These medications fall into four classes; each of them are very effective and they each work on the chemicals in the brain in their own way. The problem with them however, is that they have some side effects that could put a patient at serious risk.

Medical procedures such as ECT- Electroconvulsive Therapy which is done by delivering electric shocks to the patient through electrodes on the head resulting in a seizure. The patient receives anesthesia and a muscle relaxer prior to the procedure thus reducing the intensity of the resulting seizure.

When the patient comes out of it they are confused and remember nothing surrounding the procedure. Repeated treatments could result in permanent memory loss, recurring seizures, and movement disorders. TMS- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is done by passing a magnetic coil that receives short currents at regular intervals over the scalp of a patient the current penetrates the skull to the brain, stimulating the nerve cells. This is experimental but has great potential as becoming a precise tool for treating other brain disorders.

Nutritional Supplements can also be effective treatments and include multi-vitamins and herbal supplements. Though they may work alone nutritional supplements might be even more effective when paired with other therapies. Vitamins for Depression include the B-complex vitamins. The B vitamins help with cell metabolism including red blood cells preventing Anemia. Multi-vitamin supplements include minerals such as Iron and Zinc.

Herbal supplements are blend special herbs, vitamins and minerals as well as other nutritive substances known to alleviate Depression symptoms.

Herbs such as Chamomile, Valerian, and Milk Thistle are just a few of the herbs contained with in the supplement.

In order to be guaranteed the most potent, safe, effective, and pure supplements they should have been put through a lot of testing. The metabolism of the ingredients' at the molecular level is tested as are the interactions of the ingredients. They should be made to meet pharmaceutical standards of manufacturing.

Conclusion

Depression is an illness marked by sadness, lethargy, and sleep/appetite issues among other symptoms. There are treatments available such anti-depressant medication, psychotherapy, medical procedures like shock therapy Electroconvulsive Therapy- ECT and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Herbal supplements are just one of the nutritional supplements that can benefit depression. Do research and consult with your doctor before adding anything to your health regimen.

Are You a High Functioning Depressive?

If you work long hours, suffer from insomnia, and find yourself suffering from anxiety, unable to relax unless actually working, you may actually be suffering from a high functioning depressive disorder.

This type of depression doesn't yet have an "official" name - but has become increasingly common since the 1990's. Typical of its victim:

• Contract work with no benefits or self-employment

• At least 3 periods of unemployment within the last 15 years

• Financial difficulty

• No time for leisure or hobbies

• A family to look after financially

Granted, the nature of jobs has changed completely since the early 1990's. The sort of guaranteed 9-5 job, with benefits, long tenure, pensions, vacation time and weekends and evenings guaranteed free has turned out to be a universal phenomenon peculiar only to those who served in World War II - and the generation immediately after it.

The rest of North America's population now has to scramble for existence.

This has given rise to great entrepreneurship and ingenuity - but also great stress. "We are probably seeing the most stunning multitude of high functioning depressives this world has seen in decades," says former counselor, Susan B.

What many of these high functioning depressives are turning to, however, is natural therapies. As quickly as this type of disorder mushroomed, so too did the realization that these work habits are not healthy.

6 Popular Natural Tactics

Among successful anxiety and stress release tactics reported on an entrepreneur's forum:

• Massage

• Reiki treatments

• Natural ingested remedies

• EFT

• Biofeedback

• Behavior Modification

There is a particular stress nowadays on diet as an aid to curing depression. It's recognized that B vitamin deficiencies may have a large part to play, particularly among vegetarians, since the body can only absorb vitamin B12 from meat. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been reported to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. These can be found mostly in tuna, salmon and flax seeds. However, this is one case where ingested in food, levels may be inadequate in counteracting depression and anxiety. Supplementing your diet with a recognized Omega-3 fish oil or Evening Primrose oil may prove more effective.

3 Tips In Overcoming Insomnia and Depressive Anxiety

The biggest 3 tips in overcoming insomnia and depressive anxiety:

• Don't drink coffee, tea or cola after 4 p.m.

• Use timers to signal when tasks are to be completed

• Eat or drink a light snack containing L-Tryptophan

Not drinking caffeine after 4 has been reported as the single most effective remedy for insomnia caused by this type of depressive disorder, followed by the L-Tryptophan containing snack. (Dairy, poultry or nuts should do the trick.)

Using a timer to "cue" you as to when to "switch off" - but there are too many people abandoning this technique, ignoring the timer alarm and pushing through to keep working. However, if you stick with this method long enough for it to become a habit (6 weeks, according to an unrelated NASA experiment), it can actually make a difference.

(Can anyone say "Pavlovian Conditioning?";-) )

Good Luck and may healing find you.

Depression - A Test To Know If You Have One

Self depression test is just like a boon for those who want to know whether they have depression. The test is a great way to analyze the traces of depression in an individual. This is usually known as self-test.

Everyone experiences some amount of depression in one's life. However, for some people, the amount tends to increase with time. When this amount increases to a great extent, it is not normal. The stage affects a lot in a person's mental and physical status.

When it comes to the normal blues, these are sometimes triggered by anything from a particular thing someone had seen, said, thought or feared. Sometimes, these blues occur without any valid reason, warning or explanation. This is the time where one just waits for the bad period to just pass by quietly.

However, if you are keen on knowing whether you have serious depression, it is a wise idea to go for some kind of self tests. These self depression tests will explain you clearly about whether you have a serious depression or plain blues.

Answer the following questions to do self depressions test:

a)

Are you feeling totally withdrawn from pleasures of life? This is actually the most accurate self depression's test. All you require to do is to try out something that you are aware of and used to give a lot of happiness in earlier days.

This may be anything from your favorite movie, hobby, shopping venture etc. in case, you find out that all these things do not have anything to do with your pleasure now, then this is definitely a sign of serious depression.

b)

Have been forgetting a lot of things off late? Remember that depression tends to cause hiccups in your memory and you would come to know that certain things are completely wiped out from the memory. The often leaves you totally baffled. This is another test that works towards providing you exact results.

c)

Is it becoming difficult for you to skip at night? Or have you been sleeping very little during the night? If yes, then it may be due to a lot of coffee or stimulants. Why do you like coffee or stimulants too much? If you don't have an answer for this, than the self depression test is going to provide you a great answer for it.

d)

Have you lost your appetite lately? There are times when one does not feel like eating. This is normal. However, if it becomes a common affair, the self depression test, confirms that it is a 'yes'.

e)

In case, your answer to all the questions mentioned above is in 'yes', then you are definitely suffering from a serious depression. Here, it is really important for you to get some hold or yourself and go for a professional help.

f)

There are some other tests you may go for. One of the most popular tests remains the gold berg test. This test was designed by Dr. Ivan Goldberg. The test consists of some eighteen questions. Each question is supposed to be answered by the individual. The use of a sliding scale of responses is mandatory. This actually shows how they have felt during the week that has just gone by.

As soon as all the questions are answered, scores are added for the final score wherein each score has a specific significance. The final score settles whether you are depressed or not.

Take the Depression Test

Depression can come in many forms and in many levels of potency to the individual and the scary thing is that you might be suffering from some form of depression and not even know about it. What you need to do when you are not sure whether or not you have depression is to take the test and it will let you know whether or not there are any grey areas you should be addressing about your own personality matrix.

Depression is a serious condition and when it spills over to a clinical condition, then people have to sit up and take notice. It is no longer than a simple emotional disorder, but a progressive mental disorder that can be characterized by known signs and symptoms. Causes of depression can range far and wide, but normally, you should look at the bio psychosocial process within the body. This is actually a holistic theme that is placed on all the body's natural functions and looks at the psychological and social, as well as the normal processes in the body and how these can affect and bring about serious cases of depression.

One of the major causes of depression is from the vulnerability of the psyche, or the diatheses that has been caused by stressful events in life. There is also a study that looks at the interaction between nurture and nature, and how a schematic experiential factor can be the major driving and continuity factor that drives major depressive disorders. In the end of the day, we all know the signs and symptoms of someone who is depressed, but what of people who are merely depressed at times. These are the beginning signs when the condition would start to gnaw away at the spirit and perhaps build up in the subconscious.

You should do all you can to avoid this and you need to take a mental status examination, the only known way to spot the signs of clinical depression in the mind. What it is really is a series of tests and procedures that assess the mind and the state of mind of a patient in a psychiatric environment. The purpose of the MSE or mental status exam is to really look at the behaviour, the mood, the thought process and the cognitive insights of the individual, and help to ascertain if there is in fact any sort of depressive or any other mental disorder in the mind.

Data here is actually collected through two main ways, which can be either direct or indirect, and they come from a battery of biological testing, questions, social information schemes and focused psychological tests. This is a good way for anyone to ascertain whether or not they have any debilitating condition in the mind. So, if you are not sure whether or not you have depression, or just a passing phase, then take the depression test and find out for yourself. Any move to detect and take away clinical depression at an early stage is good.

Depression Test - Are You Depressed?

If you feel like you could be suffering from depression, it may be a good idea to take a depression test. This depression test is not definitive and can not diagnose depression, but if any test symptoms relate to you, you should investigate further and seek help from a professional. Read on to take the depression test now...

• Part 1) Your mood. Do you... Feel sad? Feel Irritable? Have a lack of self worth and self hate? Feel as though there's no point to life? Fact: Did you know that genetics play an important part in depression. After you have completed the depression test check to see if anyone else in your family suffers from depression. Suggestions: Did you know that exercise is a great way to lighten your mood. Make sure you exercise regularly, this could range from a long walk in the country to an hours workout in the gym.
  


• Part 2) Your physical state/health. Have the following things changed... Your apatite, has it increased/decreased? Your sleeping pattern, has it changed drastically are you sleeping more or less than normal? Are you less energetic, do you feel fatigued? Fact: Breaks up, financial problems, and big changes in your life can all bring on depression. Suggestions: Take it easy. Try not to pile too much onto your plate at once, and make sure you don't change too many things in your life at once.
  


• Part 3) Your social interaction. Do you... Find it hard to concentrate? Find it hard to make important decisions? Feel like you don't want to leave the house? Feel like you have withdrawn from your normal life? Fact: If you suffer from an existing medical condition it may be contributing to your depression. In addition, if you're severely depressed this may contribute to any illness that may already have. Suggestions: Once you have taken this depression test you should see your doctor and discuss the results and your depression. If depression goes untreated it can worsen.
  


• Part 4) Your emotional state. Do you... Feel like you have lost interest in life? Have feelings of guilt? Feel like life is passing you by? Have suicidal thoughts? Fact: Most people with depression never seek help. As soon as you have taken this depression test get some help. Suggestions: If you take just one positive step towards getting help you will start to feel a whole lot better.

Depression test results: If you feel like some of the statements in the depression test relate to you and the way you are feeling at the moment, you may be suffering from depression. Make you you seek professional help and get a diagnosis. If you would like some further information on depression and depression tests some more help click on the links below.

Depression Test

Many people who are suffering from depression may not even be aware of it. The chances are that if you have been feeling sad or unhappy for more than just a couple of weeks and have lost interest in most of the activities you used to enjoy to the extent that your daily routines are now being affected, then you could be suffering from some form of depression.

There are many symptoms associated with depression and not everyone will experience the same ones nor with the same degree of intensity. Consequently, diagnosing and treating depression can be problematic as it is important to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms such as an underlying medical condition, substance abuse, or normal responses to say, bereavement, that of course will result in feelings of sadness and despondency but which are not considered true depression.

One way of finding out if you could be suffering from depression is to take a depression test. Depression tests are often used by health professionals in the first instance to assess whether depression is indicated, and if so, how severe the depression might be.

There are many tests available but one of the most popular is the Goldberg test.

The Goldberg Test

This test was designed by Dr Ivan Goldberg and consists of 18 questions, each of which are answered by the individual using a sliding scale of responses based on how they have felt during the previous week. Once all the questions are answered, the scores (in brackets) are added up to give a final score and an indication of whether depression is likely. This test can also be useful to check periodically to see if the symptoms of depression are improving or getting worse as any change of 5 points or more in either direction is considered to be significant.

Sliding scale of responses

Not at all (0)

A little (1)

Somewhat (2)

Moderately (3)

Quite a lot (4)

Very much (5)

Questions

1 I do things slowly

2 My future appears hopeless

3 It is hard for me to concentrate on reading

4 The pleasure and fun has gone out of my life

5 I find it hard to make decisions

6 I have lost interest in things that used to be important to me

7 I feel unhappy, depressed and sad

8 I feel agitated and unable to relax

9 I feel tired

10 It takes a lot of effort for me to do simple things

11 I feel guilty and I deserve to be punished

12 I feel like a failure

13 I feel numb and lifeless, more dead than alive

14 My sleep is disturbed; I'm sleeping too much or too little

15 I spend time thinking HOW I can commit suicide

16 I feel trapped or confined

17 I feel depressed even when good things happen to me

18 I have lost weight or put it on without being on a diet

Scoring

If your score was less than 9 then depression is not indicated.

Between 10 and 17 - possibly some minor depression

Between 18 and 21 - maybe on the verge of depression

Between 22 and 35 - minor to moderate depression indicated

Between 36 and 53 - moderate to severe depression possible

Over 54 - possibly suffering from severe depression

The Beck Depression Inventory Test

Another popular test is the Beck Depression Inventory test often used by mental health professionals. This test is based on 21 self-reported questions that correspond closely to the symptoms of depression as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition. Each response is based on how the individual has felt over the previous two weeks. All of the responses to the questions are identified by a score of 0, 1, 2 or 3, which are then added together at the end to give a final score.

The answers to the questions are intended to give an indication of how a person views how they are functioning psychologically and physically, and how they appear to be coping on a daily basis. For example, responses will give an idea of:

o How sad you are feeling

o How you view the future

o If you feel like a failure

o Your level of satisfaction from activities

o If you feel guilty

o If you feel deserving of punishment

o How disappointed you are in yourself

o If you often blame yourself

o Whether you have thoughts of suicide

o How often you cry

o If you feel irritated and annoyed a lot of the time

o How much interest you have in other people and social situations

o Your ability to make decisions

o How you view yourself and your appearance

o Your ability to carry out your work

o Your sleeping patterns

o Your energy levels

o Your appetite

o Any weight fluctuations

o If you are fearful or worry about physical symptoms and health

o If you have lost interest in sex

Conclusion

It's important to remember that no test, no matter how good it is, can give you a reliable diagnosis. If you think you or someone close to you are experiencing symptoms of depression then you should seek professional advice either from a GP or other health professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate help. Your GP will be able to discuss symptoms with you in much more detail and will be able to identify other factors that might be influencing how you are feeling. Once an accurate diagnosis is made then treatment options can be discussed that will help get you back to how you used to be.

Depression Quiz - Great Way to Help Determine If You Suffer From Depression

If you want to learn more about depression, or if you want to ascertain whether you are suffering from it, then you can use a depression quiz.  It helps us to ascertain whether we are suffering from this disease in the first place or not, and once the fact has been established, and it is found that depression is present, then the depression quiz also helps us ascertain the exact type and symptoms experienced.

Depression Quiz does not help to gauge the depth of the disease that a person may be experiencing. However, it is very helpful for diagnosis also for judging the state of mind of the person. If you show your doctor the result of the quiz, he/she will be able to know the present state of your mind, assess the disease's depth and prescribe the measures needed to combat it. Therefore, a depression quiz serves more as an awareness generation tool, which helps you familiarize yourself with the most important facts and some of the main symptoms of this disease.

Depression Quiz is a somewhat like a set of questionnaires. The answer to the questions gives you an idea whether you are suffering from mild, severe, acute or chronic depression. In fact, you can even assess whether you are actually suffering from the disease, by undertaking this kind of quiz. You can use a checklist of the disease's symptoms and put a 'tick' mark across the specific symptom which you experience or simply say "Yes" to the question you feel rightly explains the way you feel. If you have answered 'YES' to at least three of the questions then you may be suffering from acute depression.

Though elderly people and women are more susceptible, this disease can affect any one. Teenage depression is very common in present world. Signs of teenage depression include -

• Loss of interest in day to day activities


• Poor concentration with school work as well as with other things


• Changes in the eating and sleeping habits


• Irritability, anger, restlessness and hostility


• Withdrawing from society


• Thoughts of death or suicide

Usually, the depressed feelings get washed away as the relevance or magnitude of the problem which triggered the disease fades away. But if it persists for more than four weeks it may be an indication of clinical depression and may call for medical intervention.

Signs of clinical depression include:

• Feeling tired and fatigued


• Unable to cope with life anymore


• Insomnia


• Social phobia


• Constantly feeling irritable


• Loose perspective; not realizing that what one is experiencing is abnormal


• Thoughts of suicide and often feeling that death is the only solution for freedom from the shackles of life

If a person feels he/ she is suffering from this disease, then he/she can take a depression quiz. The result of the quiz should not be taken as a diagnosis, it actually pin points the state of our mind or mood. If you feel that you or your loved ones are suffering from this disease do not hesitate to take this quiz and show the results to your doctor.

By keeping this information in mind, you can begin to see why a depression quiz can be so helpful in getting a proper diagnosis. Just by doing a little more research, you should have a greater understanding of this disease and also give you a little more peace of mind.

Depression Test - Do I Have Depression?

It's not the easiest thing in the world to diagnose, after all, we all feel down from time to time. Especially after we suffer a loss of some kind. So what makes the difference between having 'the blues' and having depression? In this article we'll explore the line between these two mood states.

Although it can be difficult to differentiate, the one main difference between these two mood states is that depression lasts longer and can lead to a significant loss of interest in life activities that the person used to find interesting or enjoyable. Symptoms can also include (but are not limited to);

Excessive fatigue, sadness and crying for no reason, pain in the body, trouble sleeping, excessive negative thought patterns, a feeling of pessimism, avoidance of physical activity or exercise, overeating or under-eating and weight gain/loss, excessive anger, moodiness, frustration and sometimes thoughts of self harm or planning to self harm.

This article includes a short, simple depression test below;

Place a number 1-4 next to the questions 1 - 18. Here is the key;

1 = Not at all 2 = Some of the time 3 = Most of the time 4 = All of the time 

1. I do things more slowly than usual.

2. My future seems completely hopeless.

3. It is difficult for me to concentrate on reading or other activities.

4. All of the pleasure and joy has disappeared from my life.

5. I have great difficulty in making decisions.

6. I have lost interest in activities/things that used to be important to me.

7. I feel sad.

8. I feel agitated and can't sit still.

9. I feel fatigued.

10. I have to use much effort to even do simple things.

11. I feel that I am a bad person and I deserve to be punished. I feel guilty.

12. I feel as though I am a failure

13. My vitality is gone.

14. I have trouble sleeping.

15. I think about how to kill myself.

16. I feel as though I am trapped.

17. Even when good things happen to me I feel depressed.

18. I have lost or gained weight for no obvious reason.

Now add up the numbers. The higher the score the more likely it is that you may be suffering from depression.

Another depression test is that old faithful; you intuition or 'gut feeling'. In other words if you really suspect that you might have depression and you have felt this way of some time then it is more possible.

Many doctors will tell you that depression is an illness that must be treated with medication, although there are a number of other viewpoints on this. Personally when I went through depression I was reluctant to take medication and sought out alternative, natural methods. These worked well for me and has worked for countless others also. Whether or not you try medication or more natural methods is of course completely your call.

Once you have completed a depression test and found that you might be suffering you may wish to speak to a therapist, psychologist or counselor for some further assistance and treatment options.

One fresh approach that has been getting great results is called the 'mindfulness and acceptance approach. ' Having been through depression myself, I am a strong believer in this and have based my website and educational products on these techniques.

Whatever path you choose, it's good to bear in mind that things are never hopeless. Thousands upon thousands have recovered from even deep depression and therein lies the proof that it is very possible to overcome.

For further information on overcoming depression visit: www.depression-help-fast.org

Depression Quiz For Teens - Spot Teen Depression Before It's Too Late

This depression quiz for teens may finally be able to help you decide if your teenage son/daughter is suffering from depression. All you have to do is follow the simple instructions and answer all of the depression quiz for teens questions to find out if your child is displaying classic depressed symptoms.

Answer the follow depression quiz for teens questions...

Part 1) Health and physical symptoms. Depression doesn't only affect your emotional state, but it can also affect your health. Simply answer yes or no to the following questions...

Has your teenager suddenly lost or gained weight?

Are they eating less/more than usual?

Are they noticeably sleeping more/less than usual?

Does your teenager show signs of lethargy and have no or little energy?

Have you any reason to believe that he/she is self harming?

Now move onto part 2 of the depression quiz for teens...

Part 2) Social interaction. One of the tell tale signs of depression is a reduction in social interaction. Simply answer yes or no to the following depression quiz for teens questions...

Does he/she show a definite lack of interest in hobbies, interests or activities?

Is your teenager more irritable, angry and hostile than usual?

Does he/she show a decreased lack of motivation and enthusiasm?

Has your teenager stopped spending time with friends?

Now move onto part 3 of the depression quiz for teens...

Part 3 - Emotional state. Your teenagers emotional state will be most affect by depression, look closely for changes in their personality. Simply answer yes or no to the following Now move onto part 2 of the depression quiz for teens questions...

Is he/she spending a large amount of time alone in their room (more than usual)?

Is your teenager displaying signs of sadness and hopelessness?

Have you noticed that he/she is finding it harder to concentrate?

Have you noticed that he/she has been crying for no reason?

Depression quiz for teens results: Most teenagers will display some or all of these symptoms at some point during their teenage years, but if you answer more than half of these questions as a YES you should take some action.

Recommendations: Talk to your son/daughter, be sure to keep an eye on them, read some more on the subject to make sure you are well informed, think about arranging counselling sessions, talk to your doctor and above all don't push them to hard.

I hope that this depression quiz for teens has helped you determine if your son/daughter may be suffering from depression. If you would like some more information on depression help then please click on the links below.