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DEPRESSION

The word depressed is a common everyday word. People might say "I'm depressed"when in fact they mean "I'm fed up because I've had a row, or failed an exam, or lostmy job", etc. These ups and downs of life are common and normal. Most peoplerecover quite quickly. With true depression, you have a low mood and othersymptoms each day for at least two weeks. Symptoms can also become severe enoughto interfere with normal day-to-day activities.

About 2 in 3 adults have depression at some time in their life. Sometimes it is mild orlasts just a few weeks. However, an episode of depression serious enough to requiretreatment occurs in about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men at some point in their lives.Some people have two or more episodes of depression at various times in their life.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Depression, quite contrary to sadness leaves a feeling of emptiness, inability toperform even normal activities, helplessness and a sense of general worthlessness.Depression is often associated with specific signs and symptoms and these largelyinclude but are not restricted to.

1. Feeling of hopelessness: A depressed individual often is pushed to feel that lifecannot get any better and that nothing can be done to make the situation goodor better.

2. Erratic sleep pattern: Extreme sleep patterns such as insomnia or oversleeping,disturbed sleep or waking up at odd hours of the night are examples of erraticsleep patterns.

3. Loss of appetite: When an individual gains or loses over 5% of body weight ina month or lesser, it could be a symptom of depression.

4. Self loathingAngerIrritabilityLack of energyInability to focusUnexplained body achesGeneral fatigueRecklessness Thoughts of suicide.. etcare often characteristic signs of depression.

Treatment for depression is important and immediate. Depression treatment centershave emerged not just because depression is a part of life or the occasional blues mayleave us feeling upset. The centers and their intervention techniques have becomesignificant because depression, anxiety and other by-products have begun to causeextensive damage to the human body and mind. When depression goes to an extentthat it impedes your normal routine and prevents you from normal functioning, itneeds intervention. There cannot be a standard methodology since the causes todepression are as unique as the personality of individuals.

Depression in Women

The universal fact on which depression treatment centershandle depression in women is based on the premise that effectsof depression on women cannot be compared to that on men.There are striking differences that are often dependent uponcauses of depression in women and patterns of symptoms. Thecauses can be usually categorized under reproductive hormones,societal pressures and even a woman’s response stimuli to stress.

Depression can have lasting debilitating impact on social life,relationships, career and also on yourself and hence treatmentsneed to be immediate.

Differences in behavior and attitude of Women and Men

Proficient Anxiety and Depression treatment centers can demonstrate the strikingdifferences in depression between Women and Men. When depressed,

• Men tend to blame others for their condition whereas Women associate theircondition with themselves and feel guilty.

• Women feel sad and worthless as opposed to Men who feel angry and irritabledue to a bruised ego.

• Women get scared easily but men are excessively guarded.

• Women try to stay away from conflicts as much as possible and Men areusually inclined to get into conflicts.

• Women tend to eat more, sleep more and also gain weight during depression.But the same cannot be said of Men since they tend to find solace in alcohol,sports and sex.

Causes of Depression in Women

• Depression treatment centers have classified causes of depression in womenunder the specific categories.

• Premenstrual problems in some women are mild but some others have extremeproblems.

• Pregnancy and infertility have been identified as two of the most commonreasons for depression in women. Both have their own associated reasons whythey cause depression.

• Postpartum depression usually tends to subside in a few weeks after child birthbut some women observe extreme reaction.

• Menopause is yet another common cause. Health problems are also potentialcauses of depression.

Besides the above most common problems, women undergo treatments for anxietyand depression due to

• Body image issues

• Marital discord

• Family responsibilities

• Discrimination issues

• Financial problems

• Death.. etc.

Understanding the reasons for depression helps to deliver the right treatmentapproach to ensure speedy recovery and long lasting results. Treatments must beoffered in order to help them snap out of the problem quickly. Also, setting offrelapse is an important need.

Types of Depression

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression should not be confused with 'baby blues' which a mother mayfeel for a very short period after giving birth. If a mother develops a major depressiveepisode within a few weeks of giving birth it is most likely she has developedpostpartum depression. Postpartum depression can start any time within a year ofgiving birth. Experts believe that about 10% to 15% of all women experience thistype of depression after giving birth. Sadly, many of them go undiagnosed and sufferfor long periods without treatment and support.

Major depressive disorder

The Major depressive disorder victims suffer from a combination of symptoms thatundermine their ability to sleep, study, work, eat, and enjoy activities they used tofind pleasurable. The Disorder can be very disabling, preventing people fromfunctioning normally. Some experience only one episode, while others haverecurrences.

Dysthymic disorder

Victims of Dysthymic disorder/Dysthymia will suffer symptoms for a long time,perhaps as long as a couple of years, and often longer. People affected with theDisorder may find it hard to function normally and feel well.

A person with the Disorder might also experience Major depressive disorder, once,twice, or more often during their lifetime. Dysthymic disorder can sometimes comewith other symptoms. For a person to be diagnosed with the disorder he or she musthave experienced a combination of depressive symptoms for at least 2 years.

Psychotic Depression

When severe depressive illness includes hallucinations, delusions, and/orwithdrawing from reality, the patient may be diagnosed with Psychotic depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is much more common the further from theequator you go, where the end of summer means the beginning of less sunlight andmore dark hours. A person who develops a depressive illness during the wintermonths might have SAD. SAD symptoms go away during spring and/or summer.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder used to be known as Manic Depression. It is not a common as others.A patient with bipolar disorder experiences moments of extreme highs and extremelows. These extremes are known as Manias.

Worst Face of Depression

Human emotions have become more powerful, wild and worse. Gone are the days ofpeople suffering from depression and other sorts of stress disorders committingsuicide. Blind shootouts at public particularly at school students are increasing.

Competitive world have erased human patience and emotions have started toexplode. Kindly visit the nearby depression treatment centers for your as well asothers safety. You would lost your mind when depression deteriorates and wouldn’tbe in a situation to analyze and realize what is happening with you, around you andbecause of you. Do check with depression treatment centers once there is a hint ofmental stress.

Treatment for Depression

Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is based on the idea that certain ways of thinkingcan trigger, or fuel, certain mental health problems such as depression. A cognitivebehavioral therapy center helps you to understand your thought patterns. Inparticular, to identify any harmful or unhelpful ideas or thoughts which you havethat can make you depressed. The aim is then to change your ways of thinking toavoid these ideas. Also, to help your thought patterns to be more realistic and helpful.Cognitive behavior therapy centers aim to change any behavior which is harmful ornot helpful. CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. Inshort, CBT helps people to achieve changes in the way that they think, feel andbehave.

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Why Cognitive Behavior Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been identified as one of the most effective forms oftherapy in depression treatment and several depression treatment centers in theworld adopt Cognitive therapy for obvious reasons.

1. Treating mild to moderate depression

Cognitive therapy works as quickly and effectively as anti-depressant medicines totreat mild to moderate depressive conditions. And in the long run, studies haveshown that cognitive therapy works better than anti-depressant medications to evenhandle severe forms of depression.

2. Preventing relapses

Cognitive therapy is not a temporary approach that helps a person rid off hisdepressive thoughts. When practiced regularly, the skills learnt help to preventrelapses. A relapse is very common and characteristic of depression. Cognitivebehavioral therapy has shown to replace medications to prevent relapses.

3. Minimizes lingering symptoms of depression

Even after successful treatment, individuals may experience some symptoms of thecondition like sleeplessness, nervousness and less debilitating signs. However, thesecan create trouble in the long run. But an effective center for cognitive therapy hasthe ability to cut down such residual symptoms however mild they can be.

Owing to its high rate of success and speed in treating the condition, Cognitivetherapy has been identified as one of the most cost-effective forms of therapy.Depression treatment centers deliver and observe positive results in weeks ratherthan months or years unlike other therapy approaches. Cognitive therapy can work inisolation for some people, but in some others, a combination of anti-depressantmedications with therapy has been identified to demonstrate success. Even thephysical symptoms of depression have been shown to improve with Cognitivebehavior therapy effectively.

CBT based “Attacking Anxiety and Depression” program

There are several thousands of depression treatment centers in the country. Butdetermining the right kind of treatment can make a lot of difference. The MidwestCenter for Anxiety and Depression has spent substantial time in obtaining data frommyriad mediums and has designed a tangible, credible and powerful program“Attacking Anxiety and Depression” that promises to reclaim lives. The program isbuilt on the proven and successful principle of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Thisprinciple has been identified world over as a significant and effective mechanism todeal with the troubles of stress and anxiety. This therapeutic approach is based on thepremise that human feelings are controlled by thoughts, beliefs and internalconversations. And behaviors are a direct outcome of these thoughts and beliefs.Determining these existing thought patterns and replacing the negative thoughts withpragmatic and positive ones serve as long term solutions to solving stress relatedtroubles.

Treatments for anxiety and depression are long term and it is for this reason the reliefprogram is friendly that people can incorporate themselves in their lives. Mediumssuch as audio lessons, guidebooks, personal coaching sessions and carry along cardsemphasize the efficacy of the program. More importantly, the anxiety and depressiontreatment center for cognitive behavioral therapy offers a 14 day free trial periodduring which an individual can make use of the program to determine positivechanges.

The anxiety and depression treatment center for cognitive behavioral therapy hasover the last three decades helped millions of people handle stress. The program is atherapeutic approach to wellness for relieving negative emotions, thoughts andbehaviors. The quantum of research and efforts that have contributed to theconception of the program has been colossal. Hence, there is no wonder that theprogram has managed to help reclaim lives of over a million people. Initiallyconceived in 1983, the program has undergone subtle but effective nuances in makingit full-proof. The program has been conceptualized to offer long term and permanentresults and thereby equipping individuals to handle themselves better duringsituations that are potential depression and anxiety causing agents.

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