Home Remedies for the Treatment of Depression
Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders. This may vary from feelings of slight sadness to utter misery and dejection. It brings together a variety of physical and psychological symptoms which together constitute a syndrome. Each year over 17 million American adults experience a period of clinical depression.
Depression is the most unpleasant experience a person can endure. It is far more difficult to cope with than a physical ailment. The growing complexities of modern life and the resultant crisis, as well as mental stress and strain in day to day living, usually leads to this disorder. It also arises out of the monotony and drudgery of a daily routine, without any meaningful variation in urban life. Suicide is the major risk in extreme cases of depression.
Impact of Depression:-
* Adversely affects the lives of families and friends.
* Disrupts the lives of millions of people.
* Reduces work productivity and absenteeism.
* Causes tremendous emotional pain.
What are the symptoms of depression ?
The symptoms of depression may vary from person to person, and also depend on the severity of the depression. Depression causes changes in thinking, feeling, behavior, and physical well-being.
It is not always easy to diagnose depression clinically. The most striking symptoms of depression are feelings of acute sense of loss and inexplicable sadness, loss of energy and loss of interest. The patient usually feels tired and lacks interest in the world around him. Sleep disturbance is frequent. Usually the patient wakes up depressed at 4 or 5 in the morning and is unable to return to sleep. Other disturbed sleep patterns are difficulty in getting off to sleep on going to bed at night, nightmares and repeated waking from midnight onwards.
Some of the common symptoms of depression includes :-
* A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
* Sadness
* Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
* Difficulty concentrating
* Aches and pains (such as recurrent headaches)
* Difficulty making decisions
* Crying easily or crying for no reason
* Thoughts of death or suicide
Types of depression are :-
* Hypomania depression
* Agitated depression
* Cyclothymia depression
* Major Depression
* Dysthymic Disorder
* Neurasthenia depression
* Bipolar Disorder
* Manic Depressive Disorder
* Postpartum Depression
What are the causes of Depression ?
Depleted functioning of the adrenal glands is one of the main causes of mental depression. Irregular diet habits cause digestive problems and lead to the assimilation of fats.
The excessive and indiscriminate use of drugs also leads to faulty assimilation of vitamins and minerals by the body and ultimately causes depression. The use of aspirin leads to deficiencies of vitamin C and antacids can cause deficiencies of calcium and vitamin B. Diabetes, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and weakness of the liver resulting from the use of refined or processed foods, fried foods and an excessive intake of fats may also lead to depression
Natural Home remedies for the treatment of depression.
* Steep 1/2 ounce each of finely chopped poplar bark and gentian root in two pints of water for fifteen minutes. Boil and add 1/2ounce each of agrimony and centaury. Simmer for ten minutes, cool, and strain. You can add honey for sweetener if you desire. Take three or four tablespoons before meals.
* Take a tablespoon amla juice with 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg powder three times a day.
* Mix equal parts of kava, lemon balm, valerian root and St. John’s wort. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of herb mix. Drink 1 cup three times daily, one hour after meals.
* Drink tea with 1/4 teaspoon powdered cardamom seeds.
* Crush cloves and add to sage, camomile or peppermint tea and a dash of ginseng powder to lift mild depression.
* Take one teaspoon tincture of Saint-John’s-wort leaf and ½ teaspoon tinctures of licorice root, ginseng root, lemon balm leaf and ashwaganda leaf (if available). Combine ingredients (if you do not or cannot drink alcohol, buy glycerine instead of tinctures). Take 1 dropper ful 3 times a day.
Milly
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/home-remedies-for-the-treatment-of-depression-1026932.html
Sleep disorders usually have their roots in a medical problem or a prescription drug taken to treat a disease. The common diseases leading to sleep disorders are cardiovascular, neurological, mental, kidney, and gastroesopheal disorders as well as arthritis.
1. Cardiovascular Disorders
The most common cardiovascular disorders that cause sleep disorders are coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Both these disorders can cause obstructive sleep apnea.
Congestive heart failure is characterized by the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to satisfy the requirements of the body. As a result of this, blood accumulates in the veins leading to the kidneys, and the resulting edema inflicts a lot of damange to the organs of the body.
Coronary heart disease is characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries that carry blood to the heart, leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis.
2. Endocrine Disorders
Sleep disorders are also the result of endocrine malfunction such as thryroid disorder and diabetes. Diabetes affects the way in which the body stores and uses carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. People who do not manage and control their diabetic condition often suffer from restless leg syndrome.
The hormones released by the thyroid gland regulates the energy levels of the body. A person suffering from hyperthyroidism sweats profusely at night and is unable to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.
3. Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease are also responsible for sleep disorders.
Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system. It’s symptoms include difficulties in movement, tremors, unstable posture, slow movements, stiffness in the muscles, and difficulties in walking. Parkinson’s disease causes sleep disorders such as sleep onset insomnia and REM sleep behavior disorder.
Alzhiemer’s disease impairs the intellectual functions of the brain and causes dementia. It also causes a sleep disorder called fragmentation.
Epilepsy affects the normal electrical functions of the brain and leads to short, sudden changes in it that are recurrent. People suffering from epilepsy are more likely to suffer from insomnia.
Usually, stroke is associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
4. Respiratory Disorders
Those suffering from a respiratory disorder such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma usually suffer from an accompanying sleep disorder such as insomnia and sleep fragmentation.
The air passages of those suffering from asthma are inflamed. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is a group of respiratory disorders that cause untold damage to the lungs and lead to difficulties in breathing.
5. Mental Disorders
People suffering from psychological disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, depression, and schizophrenia also suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep fragmentation.
6. GERD
In gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, the juices in the stomach flow back into the esophagus, and this leads to sleep fragmentation.
7. Kidney Disorders
In most kidney disorders, the kidneys are unable to filter the waste substances from the blood. They are also unable to maintain a proper balance between salt and water. Such a kidney disorder could lead to insomnia and restless leg syndrome.
8. Arthritis
The intense pain suffered by arthritis patients drives away sleep, resulting in insomnia.
If a sleep disorder is due to a medical condition, the medical condition should be treated first, not the sleep disorder. When the primary cause of a sleep disorder is succesfully treated, it disappears, and the patient finds that he or she can enjoy good sleep.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/8-physical-conditions-that-can-cause-sleep-disorders-739584.html
While your diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder may leave you feeling relieved on one hand because you finally know what is wrong, but more worried on the other, know that you are on the right path. Once your doctor or therapist has diagnosed your disorder, you can gain the knowledge you need to learn to deal with your disorder. Along with suggesting some lifestyle changes, your doctor may start you on a regimen of medicine to help control your symptoms.
There are several medicines available to help Bipolar Disorder, but in order for them to be effective, they must be taken exactly as your doctor prescribes. Here are some of the Bipolar medications your doctor may prescribe. The first medication used to treat Bipolar Disorder, and still prescribed today, is Lithium.
First used in the 1950′s, Lithium was not actually approved for use in Bipolar disorder until the 1970′s. Once your doctor prescribes Lithium, it will probably take about one week to start working and may take up to three weeks before you feel the full benefits. Along with its mood stabilizing abilities, Lithium users may also experience hair loss, thyroid problems and swelling. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medicines to help with the side effects of this Bipolar medicine.
Another type of Bipolar medicine often prescribed to help stabilize moods includes medicines originally formulated as anticonvulsants. These include drugs such as Depakote or Tegretol. Like Lithium, these drugs may also take up to three weeks to completely control your Bipolar symptoms.
Reported side effects include mild stomach cramps, hair loss, and sleepiness or grogginess during the day. The higher your medication dose, the more problems you may have with daytime sleepiness. Users of these medicines often report turning to coffee to help counteract this side effect.
A newer class of drugs now being used to treat the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder is called the psychotropic medicines. There are several drugs in this class that will help reduce chance of experiencing a manic phase and may even bring about a remission in your symptoms. The Bipolar medicine in this class offers a lower risk of weight gain as well as a lower risk of developing diabetes than some other treatments.
One note of caution about most Bipolar medications – they can be very dangerous to pregnant women. If you are a woman who wants to become pregnant or has just become pregnant, tell your doctor. He or she can help you to assess the risks to you and your baby and together you can decide how to progress with your treatment.
There are many types of Bipolar medicine on the market today. While some may produce desirable results in one patient, they may not help another. Some may find the side effects of one medicine intolerable while they do not affect another. Only by working together with your doctor and therapist you can find a medication that best suites you and best controls your symptoms.
Riley Hendersen
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/finding-the-right-bipolar-medication-for-you-119418.html
Bipolar disorder which is otherwise commonly known as manic depression is a terrible disease, which hampers the personality of a person. These symptoms affect the daily and regular routine of an individual. Mania and depression are the most evident symptoms of a person suffering from such a disease. This diseases normally lasts for a long period of time, these extremes in individual disrupt the emotional aspect, which includes non responsiveness of events. When an individual is diagnosed by such a disorder the main concerns are suicide and psychosis.
The reasons behind a bipolar disorder
The reasons behind a victim affected by this disorder could multiple and a combination of causes. These disorders are divided into factors concerning psychological and biological. These multiple causes act together to result in this disorder in most people. Bipolar disorder in other words refers to a chemical imbalance which affect’s an individual’s brain. As the level of such chemicals rise it results in mania. And when the level of these chemical drops it normally results in depression
The symptoms of a person suffering from a bipolar disorder
Some of the symptoms that medical science has discovered are
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Epilepsy or seizures
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Bleeding or blood clot in the brain commonly classified as head trauma
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Tumor in the brain.
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A critical condition affecting body organs and brain.
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Diabetes
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Feeling of wanting to suicide
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Depression and terribly mania
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Mood swings
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Social Phobia
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Panic disorders
Bipolar disorder in circumstances is a terrible disorder. It is also sometimes dangerous. It also is a main concern for loved ones of a victim. But the good news is, it is treatable with proper medical care and treatment. One can recover from a bipolar disorder to his normal state.
minnietimpsonqh
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/bipolar-disorder-1237730.html
Bipolar disorder is technically a type of depression, but is quite different than the mental image you may have of typical depressive symptoms. Bipolar depression, as the name suggests, consists of two opposite behaviors that somehow co-exist in the same person. There is no cure for this condition, but it does respond well to treatment. It will require management throughout a person’s life, much like heart disease or diabetes.
The key feature of bipolar disorder is severe mood swings from deep depression to mania. The lows experienced are very similar to major depression. Depressive episodes commonly last about 14 days. A quick upward shift in mood marks the beginning of a manic episode. Along with this improvement in mood comes increased energy, decreased need for sleep and a burst of productivity. This may be accompanied by a feeling of euphoria. Sufferers of bipolar disorder rarely seek treatment during manic episodes.
However, while the patient may sense productivity and energetic activity, others view it as being dangerous and out of control. Manic episodes usually include becoming very talkative, extremely excitable and active to the point of exhaustion. There is also a tendency to engage in risky behaviors.
Bipolar disorder is a complex condition that is remarkably difficult to diagnose. People often endure this condition for years before being properly diagnosed. Although the cause is related to brain chemistry, the disorder tends to run in families, indicating a genetic link. The disorder is recurrent–meaning that once a person experiences a manic episode, there’s a 90 percent chance they will experience another one.
The primary treatment for bipolar disorder is medication. A combination of medications seems to be the most effective treatment. Antidepressants, anti-psychotics, mood stabilizing agents and anti-convulsants are commonly prescribed to stop the wide mood swings that characterize this disorder. During a lifetime of treatment, it is expected that medications will need to be adjusted or changed altogether. One single prescription is unlikely to work the same way all the time. Psychotherapy is used in some cases, but is rarely effective without medication.
If left untreated, bipolar disorder can be particularly dangerous. From 15 to 17 percent of untreated cases end in suicide (compared to about 10 percent of untreated major depression sufferers).
Like most forms of depression, there is nothing that the individual sufferer did to deserve or cause bipolar disorder. There should be no stigma or embarrassment attached to having the condition. The most important thing is to seek treatment and begin managing the disorder as soon as possible.
Jan Howard
http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/bipolar-disorder-457000.html
