Posts tagged with ‘depression’

Depression is a clinical illness characterized by prolonged feelings of grave sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Depression occurs when those feelings of sadness do not lessen overtime, and eventually prohibit the individual from functioning and participating in regular activities. The person’s depression becomes an interference—a mental obstacle that the individual is unable to overcome, causing him or her to lose interest in parts of their lives that were once important or enjoyable, such as relationships, hobbies, work, and social interactions.

Psychosocial Treatments Can Help Depressed Smokers Quit

People affected by major depression and other depressive illnesses are known to smoke on a greater number of days than their non-depressed peers, and also go through more cigarettes on any given day. In addition, depressed people commonly have an unusually hard time when trying to stop smoking.

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Mental Health Checklist for Parents With Teens

Hormonal children are no more stable than a hormonal adult, perhaps worse. They’re on an emotional roller coaster that can change at a moment’s notice. But at what point should watchful parents take action?

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The Relationship Between Alcoholism and Depression

For many people, the relationship between alcohol and depression is obvious. Their problems with alcohol began in an attempt to self-medicate their depressed mood. After all, a few drinks can make anyone forget their problems – at least temporarily. It can also make them feel better about their situation – until its intoxicating effects wear off and reality hits. This can create a vicious cycle, exacerbating both the depression and the alcohol abuse issue – and the alcohol abuse can easily turn into an addiction.

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Alcohol Abuse Can Lead to Depression

You had a fight with someone at work and in order to get it off of your mind and to numb your troubled emotions, you decided to drink. Unfortunately, this pattern of stressful situations being handled with alcohol could signal that you are depressed. Worse yet, the alcohol intended to whitewash your problems could actually be the source of depression. Full Story

Excessive Drinking Harms Function of Serotonin in the Brain

A recent Swedish study shows that serotonin, a vital brain neurotransmitter, has a role in developing and curing depression and chronic anxiety. While the neurotransmitter is empowered to regulate impulses and human abilities to sleep or to stay awake, it has been found that excessive drinking harms the function of serotonin in the brain in a short amount of time. Full Story

Correlation Between Foreclosures and Poor Mental Health

Economists expect the number of foreclosures to rise by the end of 2011. Already over 2.3 million have fallen into foreclosure since late 2007 when the recession began. According to a recent post on the website Third Age, people who are experiencing foreclosures or have already lost homes have worse mental health than those with fewer mortgage issues, say researchers. Full Story

Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse

Bipolar disorder is a mental health illness that causes a patient to cycle between periods of joyfulness (mania) and sadness (depression). How often, and how severely, a patient will cycle between the emotions varies from patient to patient. In some cases of bipolar disorder the symptoms will be so severe as to cause the patient to be unable to function in day-to-day life. It is one of the most debilitating mental health illnesses and has no known cure. Although medications can ease symptoms and reduce the severity of mood swings, bipolar patients are always at risk of relapse. Full Story

Original Antidepressants Suggest More Effective Treatment

Antidepressants can be a lifesaver for those who are struggling with depression. The problem is an individual generally needs to be on the medication for three to four weeks before it becomes effective. Now, a Science Daily release reports that aside from ketamine, another medication has been identified as a rapid producer of an improvement in mood: scopolamine.

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Depression Not Good for Your Health

The habit of smoking is often defined as the most preventable cause of death. Now, new research suggests that depression puts an individual at risk of death as much as smoking – which could open up a whole new set of problems for those who suffer from the condition.

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The Link Between Addiction and Suicide

Each year, more people die from suicide than by any other form of violence, including war, terrorist activities, and homicides, an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) said recently, in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day. Nearly 1 million people committing suicide annually, making it the 10th leading cause of death worldwide.

Of those who attempt suicide, about half use alcohol or illegal drugs to do so. Of those who successfully take their own lives, 25 percent were abusing drugs and/or alcohol at the time of their death. For those who suffer from addiction, it’s important to understand that suicide rates increase among those who abuse alcohol and/or drugs, putting users at a greater risk of death. ] Studies show that 50 percent of teens that commit suicide have a history of alcohol and drug use.

Fortunately, suicide is preventable, according to Brian Mishara, president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). In areas that are targeted with prevention campaigns, suicide rates do decline.

Suicide can also be triggered by depression, which often co-occurs with substance abuse disorders. This is why it’s so important to treat any co-occurring disorders that may arise among those suffering from substance abuse disorders. If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol or drugs and is having suicidal thoughts, it is imperative to seek help immediately.