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Definition Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. But true clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended time. See also depression in the elderly and adolescent depression. Alternative Names Blues; Discouragement; Gloom; Mood changes; Sadness; Melancholy Considerations Depression is generally ranked in terms of severity -- mild, moderate, or severe. The degree of your depression, which your doctor can determine, influences how you are treated. Symptoms of depression include: Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping A dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss Fatigue and lack of energy Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt Extreme difficulty concentrating Agitation, restlessness, and irritability Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness Recurring thoughts of death or suicide Low self esteem is common with depression. So are sudden bursts of anger and lack of pleasure from activities that normally make you happy, including sex. Depressed children may not have the classic symptoms of adult depression. Watch especially for changes in school performance, sleep, and behavior. If you wonder whether your child might be depressed, it's worth bringing to a doctor's attention. The main types of depression include: Major depression -- five or more symptoms listed above must be present for at least 2 weeks, but major depression tends to continue for at least 6 months. (Depression is classified as minor depression if less than five depressive symptoms are present for at least 2 weeks.) Dysthymia -- a chronic, generally milder form of depression but lasts longer -- usually as long as two years. Atypical depression -- depression accompanied by unusual symptoms, such as hallucinations (for example, hearing voices that are not really there) or delusions (irrational thoughts). Other common forms of depression include: Postpartum depression -- many women feel somewhat down after having a baby, but true postpartum depression is rare. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) -- depressive symptoms occur one week prior to menstruation and disappear after you menstruate. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) -- occurs during the fall-winter season and disappears during the spring-summer season. Likely to be due to lack of sunlight. Depression may also occur with mania (known as manic-depression or bipolar disorder). In this condition, moods cycle between mania and depression.
Depression is more common in women than men and is especially common during the teen years. Men seem to seek help for feelings of depression less often than women. Therefore, women may only have more documented cases of depression. Common Causes Depression often runs in families. This may be from heredity, learned behavior, or both. Even with a genetic predisposition, it is usually a stressful or unhappy life event that triggers the onset of a depressive episode. Depression may be brought on by: Disappointment at home, work, or school (in teens, this may be breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or parents divorcing) Death of a friend or relative Prolonged pain or having a major illness Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis Drugs such as sedatives and high blood pressure medications Alcohol or drug abuse Chronic stress Childhood events like abuse or neglect Social isolation (common in the elderly) Nutritional deficiencies (such as folate and omega-3 fatty acids) Sleeping problems Home Care If you are depressed for 2 weeks or longer, you should contact your doctor, who can offer treatment options. Regardless of whether you have mild or major depression, the following self-care steps can help: Get enough sleep. Follow a healthy, nutritious diet. Exercise regularly. Avoid alcohol, marijuana, and other recreational drugs. Get involved in activities that make you happy, even if you don't feel like it. Spend time with family and friends. Try talking to clergy or spiritual advisors who may help give meaning to painful experiences. Consider prayer, meditation, tai chi, or biofeedback as ways to relax or draw on your inner strengths. Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, which you can get from cold-water fish like tuna, salmon, or mackerel. Take folate (vitamin B9) in the form of a multivitamin (400 to 800 micrograms). If your depression occurs in the fall or winter months, try light therapy using a special lamp that mimics the sun. Many people try a popular over-the-counter herb called St. John's Wort. Some studies do suggest that this herbal remedy may be helpful for mild depression, but not moderate or severe. Be aware that St. John's Wort has potential drug interactions and should NOT be taken with prescription antidepressants, birth control pills, protease inhibitors for HIV, theophylline, warfarin, digoxin, reserpine, cyclosporine, or loperamide. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about trying this herb for mild depression. If you have moderate to severe depression, the most effective treatment plan will likely be a combination of counseling and medication. Call your health care provider if Call 911, a suicide hotline, or get safely to a nearby emergency room if you have thoughts of suicide, a suicidal plan, or thoughts of harming yourself or others. Call your doctor right away if: You hear voices that are not there. You have frequent crying spells with little or no provocation. You have had feelings of depression that disrupt work, school, or family life for longer than 2 weeks. You have 3 or more depressive symptoms. You think that one of your current medications may be making you feel depressed. DO NOT change or stop any medications without consulting your doctor. You believe that you should cut back on drinking, a family member or friend has asked you to cut back, you feel guilty about the amount of alcohol you drink, or you drink alcohol first thing in the morning. What to expect at your health care provider's office A complete history, a psychiatric interview and a physical examination will be performed to try to classify your depression as mild, moderate, or severe and to see if there is an underlying, treatable cause (such as alcohol abuse or an underactive thyroid). Hospitalization is usually recommended if suicide seems possible. Expect some exploration of the issues and events associated with your feelings of depression. Your doctor will ask you about: Your depressive moods and other associated symptoms (sleep, appetite, concentration, energy). Possible stressors in your life, and support systems in place. Whether thoughts about ending your life have ever crossed your mind. Drug and alcohol use, and about the medications you are currently taking, if any. Treatment will vary according to the cause and severity of your depressive symptoms, as well as your personal preference. The most effective therapy for moderate or severe depression is a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. For mild depression, counseling and self-care measures without medication may be enough. If you are taking medications for other purposes that could cause depression as a side effect, these may need to be changed. DO NOT change or stop any of your medications without consulting your doctor. For people who are so severely depressed as to be unable to function, or who are suicidal and cannot be safely cared for in the community, psychiatric hospitalization may be necessary. Prevention Healthy lifestyle habits can help prevent depression, or lessen the chances of it happening again. These habits include eating properly, sleeping adequately, exercising regularly, learning to relax, and not drinking alcohol or using drugs. Counseling may help you through times of grief, stress, or low mood. Family therapy may be particularly important for teens who feel blue. For elderly or others who feel socially isolated or lonely, try volunteering or getting involved in group activities. The Healthline Site, its content, such as text, graphics, images, search results, HealthMaps, Trust Marks, and other material contained on the Healthline Site ("Content"), its services, and any information or material posted on the Healthline Site by third parties are provided for informational purposes only. None of the foregoing is a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Healthline Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Please read the Terms of Service for more information regarding use of the Healthline Site.
Acupuncture for Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Fatigue. There are about 8 million Americans that are afflicted with depression. It is the main cause of suicide which claims over 30,000 lives each year in the US. Some estimates state that about 20% of people will suffer a major episode of depression during their life. The western antidepressant drugs such as Effexor, Paxil, Elavil, Zoflot, Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Trazodone can be beneficial by focusing on maintaining the serotonin levels in the brain. But, in addition to the side effects, the patients need to take them all the time. Acupuncture, combined with Chinese herbs, can be a very effective alternative to treat depression, anxiety, stress-induced fatigue and emotions swings resulting in long-term benefits. The difference with acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment is that these treatments treat the root cause of the disease-the internal imbalance caused by the exposure to external stress. Such stress, if not treated, can cause energy "blockage" or changes of the neurotransmitters such as a decrease of brain concentration of the serotonin levels-resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, poor sleep, fatigue, and eventually, depression. When the proper diagnosis is made, the result can be astonishing. For example, a lady in her early 30's with severe depression was brought in by her friend who was concerned that her friend had been having thoughts about "jumping off a bridge". She had been having other suicidal thoughts and could not be left alone. She was treated with acupuncture only once. Tears came out of her eyes during the treatment. She has been fine ever since. Not all patients have such a dramatic experience. Most patients with chronic depression and fatigue may not have suicidal thoughts. Most of them do have anxiety, poor sleep and stress. Dr. Lee has refined a unique selection of acupuncture points and Chinese herbal combinations to treat the root cause of these symptoms. Patients can experience relief in 3 to 6 visits. When patients with depression receive acupuncture, they generally experience improvement in the reduction of anxiety, insomnia, as well as more energy, and over all well-being. Best of all there is no side effect from acupuncture treatments. On top of these benefits, once patients get well, they will remain well even when they stop taking the herbs and acupuncture treatments.
One question patients often ask is that how can acupuncture for depression be effective in the long run when stress is, and always will be, part of our daily life? The answer is the Acupuncture for Depression Protocol, passed down by Dr. Lee's family in the past 2 generations, focuses on treating the root cause of the imbalance so that our body will be able to handle the stress better or maintain the physiological balance better in times of stress. In short, this Acupuncture for Depression Protocol will bring our body above the stress from the state of under the stress. Clinical studies on acupuncture for depression:
47 patients diagnosed
as having clinical depression 5-6 months mean duration were randomly assigned to
receive either acupuncture or medication Elavil.
Using Hamilton Depression Scale and The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) rating in both groups. No between-group difference were detected. The CGI index also found significantly fewer side effects in the acupuncture group. Benefits of Acupuncture vs. Drugs --Fast result: 3 to 6 visits or 1 to 2 weeks of time with Acupuncture for Depression Protocol instead of 1 to 3 months with antidepressant drugs. --No side-effects, no drug dependence, no addiction. --Lasting relief after completing the Acupuncture for Depression Protocol. --Cost saving in the long run. --Better mood and a sense of well-being.
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