The rampant gun violence in the United States is often blamed on mental illness. The common perception is that only a deranged person can go on a killing spree. It remains the hottest topic for debate whenever there is a bloodbath in the country, such as the recent Las Vegas massacre. It might be possible that someone living with low mood for long and being unhappy with his or her life will take the drastic step of killing someone or committing suicide.

A National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) study of 2016 indicates that homicide or suicide offenders might have a history of depression. An older study investigated the link between the two and revealed that depression, and not mania, was responsible for violent crimes such as murder. Whether it is a premeditated attack or committed in the spur of the moment, someone with a history of depressive symptoms can relapse into aggressiveness that is not in sync with his/her personality. It only leads to regret later.

One such tragic incident that came to light recently involved William Scaccia Jr. who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression after his tenure in Iraq in the 1990s. Scaccia was charged with domestic violence and assault previously and he had tried unsuccessfully to buy a firearm. When he finally did, he shot his six-year-old son and himself. According to his wife, he was not in his right mind when he committed the heinous act.

PTSD, anxiety and depression are common in war veterans. Many war veterans returning from active duty find it extremely difficult to adjust to civil life. For some, the horrors of the war are hard to forget and they find themselves haunted by its memories. The odds of depression and other such mental disorders are elevated if there has been a family history.

Regulating firearm use in people diagnosed with depression

Depression is one of the commonest mental health disorders in the U.S. The most prevalent form of depression is major depressive disorder, which affects 16.1 million American adults, or nearly 6.7 percent of the total adult population in a given year. Depression affects not just a person’s overall health, but also impacts his or her productivity at work, school and home. It impairs social and personal relationships, making the individual feel worthless and hopeless.

However, a significant proportion of the population remains untreated. When certain risk factors such as substance abuse, traumatic past, disturbing environment at home, or bullying in school or work combine, the chances of a person committing crime are heightened. Statistics suggest that more people commit suicide with guns than those using it to kill others. This has been corroborated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report which mentioned that suicides by gun was responsible for about six of 10 firearm deaths in 2010, killing 19,392 Americans.

Suicide remains one of the leading causes of deaths in the U.S., and men are likely to take recourse to firearms to end their lives. Though other means such as overdosing on pills, hanging and poisoning are common, firearms are the most lethal. There is no turning back or reflecting at the last moment. When the trigger is pulled, the harm is irreparable. It is advisable to check a person’s criminal and health history before granting the license to use firearms as it may lead to deadly consequences.

Depression is treatable with timely intervention

Not all those who suffer from mental disorders cause harm to others. They should not be viewed as a threat to the society. Putting them behind the bars does not address the underlying problem and their mental health will deteriorate. One way to prevent suicides and murders at the hands of such people is by raising awareness about mental health and making health care services accessible to all. A timely treated condition will ensure a healthy life for the affected person. Depression is treatable provided one takes appropriate action on time.

In case the person is afraid to consult the doctor then the problem can get severe with the time and the result will be therapies. So, it is necessary to treat the problem on time to ovoid future problem s which will lead you to the therapies and medication to treat your problem. There are various types of treatments that can help you to overcome the problem of depression and live your life in normal and enjoyable way. If in case, the problem is severe then you need to take the treatment as soon as possible because more severe depression sometimes can make the problem severe which cannot be handle by the doctor. Here in this article, we have explained a few types of depression treatment.

Conversation therapy – This treatment is also known as talking therapy and is used to treat mild to severe type of depression. The treatment is very effective as it helps the person to get rid of depression and problems of life that contribute to their illness to regain the sense of control in the mind. The treatment is for all the people belonging to different age group.

Electric current treatment – In this treatment, an electric current is used to attack in the brain of the patient by releasing the chemicals inside the brain which make communication between the nerves. This treatment is only used if the person is suffering from severe problem.

Medications – You cannot rely only on the medicines although they can provide relieve to you, but they are not suitable for long time. The treatments like exercise and therapy are also very effective provide by rehab gambling addiction and are often used by the doctors as they do not give any kind of unwanted side effects. If in case, you are taking medicines then keep in mind that it can work well only for mild to moderate problem of depression. The medicines are used to treat the problem related to depression and the doctor can suggest your various medications based on the problem and symptoms.

Social care – The problem can be treated by making more social connections as the doctor’s state that the more social connection you have the less prone you are to depression. So, you can talk to your friends and family members about your problem.

In case you are suffering from depression or drug addiction problem then you can consult rehab gambling addiction that can help you to get rid of drug addiction or depression problem.

For people who are depressed, massage for depression is not a cure but may help lessen some of the symptoms and support recovery.

About Depression

Depression is a brain disorder, and research has shown that the brains of depressed people look and act differently from the brains of people who aren't depressed. The causes of depression are not well understood, but most likely involve a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors.

Depression comes in many types. For example, major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally in daily life, while dysthymia is a milder, usually long-term, depression where a person can still function but probably isn't living a normal and full life. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which usually affects people during the winter months, is also a type of depression.

Often the most obvious symptom of depression is an overwhelming feeling of sadness, but depression has many other possible symptoms that vary depending on the type of depression and the individual. Common symptoms include:

• Appetite changes
• On-going physical problems, such as aches and pains, headaches, or digestive problems that don't improve with treatment
• Fatigue
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness, or irritability
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Loss of interest or pleasure in life, including lack of sexual desire
• Trouble concentrating and making decisions.

The two most common depression treatments are medication and psychotherapy. Another treatment, primarily used for SAD, is light therapy, which involves exposure to a strong artificial light that mimics sunlight.

Massage for Depression

Touch is important to human beings – babies die without touch. Lack of touch may even contribute to depression. And, if a person is depressed, massage may help.

First, dealing with depression presents a lot of stress, and relaxation is one of the best benefits of massage. Depression can also lead to muscle tension and pain that massage can help relieve.

Beyond helping a person relax, massage may reduce the body's production of stress hormones, such as cortisol and norepinephrine, and may also increase the body's production of pain-killing endorphins and mood-altering serotonin. Studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami have shown:

• Lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol immediately after massage.
• Increased serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin levels, helping elevate a person's mood, after massage.
• Increased production of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces stress and promotes relaxation, after massage.

These effects may occur because the skin and muscles contain many millions of nerve receptors that are linked to the nervous system. Touch and massage can stimulate the nerve receptors, causing the release of chemicals in the brain.

The benefits of massage for depression are further supported in a review , published in the March 2010 Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. The authors reviewed 17 studies of massage for depression and concluded the studies supported the ability of massage therapy to significantly lessen symptoms of depression.

Plus, a great benefit of massage therapy is that it rarely has side effects, when received from a trained, qualified massage therapist. People who want to try massage for depression should always let their massage therapist know about their condition and other treatments and tell other healthcare providers that they are receiving massage.

Anxiety, depression and irritability are common symptoms for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The hormone progesterone inhibits the functioning of serotonin, a hormone responsible for regulation of moods. It also impacts the functioning of the amygdala, which is responsible for responding to environmental cues, controlling emotions, improving memory and imbibing survival instincts.

Though most women experience some form of PMS, such as bloating, severe pain and body ache, some may experience a more chronic form, known as "PMS on steroids" or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The symptoms are so severe that women living with it have contemplated ending their lives. Apart from the severe pain, PMDD is marked by depression, confusion, low self-esteem and self-loathing.

Though initially PMDD's existence was met with skepticism, it is now included in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Many women have taken umbrage over this labeling as they consider that it would not benefit those with the condition, rather perpetuate the stigma associated with the disorder. For a correct diagnosis, the following three criteria should be met:

• The symptoms should be in accordance with the menstrual cycle for a minimum of two successive months.
• The severity should be such that it disrupts normal day-to-day activities.
• Depression, which is critical to this condition, should be reported in the days of ovulation leading to the first day of the period.

Suicide in women is more likely to happen during the second half of their menstrual cycle. However, according to Dr. Ulla Botha, a senior lecturer and psychiatrist at the department of psychiatry in University of Stellenbosch, the occurrence of suicidal thoughts is more in women who have had a prior instance of depression. She says, "It is true that patients who already suffer from depression and possibly already have suicidal thoughts can definitely experience a worsening of their symptoms as a result of mood fluctuation caused by PMS."

Natural means to relieve anxiety and depression

Though antidepressants are the most common way of treating depression, there are certain natural remedies to control the stress and discomfort. Some of these are listed below:

Emotional freedom technique (EFT): It includes acupuncture therapy, where one can release pain and discomfort by tapping sensitive areas of the body. Unlike traditional acupuncture therapy, this does not make use of needles. It focuses on tuning mind with emotions.

Nutritious diet: Eating fresh and organic foods generate positive emotions. A well-balanced diet comprising essential nutrients and minerals keeps the energy flowing. Dark chocolate is also a mood lifter but it should be eaten in moderation. Women should avoid caffeine, alcohol and white flour during those days.

Nature walk: Nature is the best healer. Taking a walk in the serenity amidst trees and streams is delightful to the mind and releases negative thoughts.

Art of letting go: PMS or PMDD symptoms might be indications that the body needs more care and love. Due to their multiple roles, women often feel the pressure of modern living more than men. At times, it is better to let go of certain things instead of striving to be perfect in all areas.

Sometimes, anxiety and low mood could be a result of thyroid malfunctioning. It is advisable to get the check-up done to correctly diagnose the underlying problem. Overweight women who are less active physically are also more likely to suffer from severe PMS.

Get treated for depression at the earliest

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that it is quite possible for 85 percent of menstruating women to exhibit at least one PMS symptom. However, PMDD is rare. In case a woman feels acutely depressed or has suicidal thoughts during the monthly cycle, it is essential to approach a therapist at the earliest. There are effective remedial measures to tackle the problem and help cope with the pain and mood swings.

A nationwide survey of teenagers in the United States has revealed a rise in fear and despair among them, with one in seven admitting to the misuse of prescription drugs. Since 2007, there has been a rise in the number of teenagers reporting feelings of dejection and despair. Suicidal tendency and absenteeism in school have gone up due to the fear of bullying and violence. The trend has been noteworthy in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in high schools.

Countrywide, one out of five students reported facing bullying at school, one in 10 females and one in 28 male students reported having been subjected to forced sexual activity. Dr. Jonathan Mermin of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which conducted the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, said that the life of an adolescent can be challenging. However, a huge number of students admitting to persistent feeling of hopelessness and 17 percent contemplating suicide tell the sad state of affairs.

In 2007, 28 percent of teenagers reported to have suicidal feelings, which rose to 31 percent in 2017. Similarly, 14 percent of teens made suicide plans in 2017 as against 11 percent in 2007. The survey, conducted every two years, involved 15,000 high school students across 39 states. It asks questions pertaining to a wide range of activities and attitudes.

There were some positive observations as well. Compared to a decade ago, fewer teens reported indulging in sexual activity, consuming alcohol or taking drugs like marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. Since the question related to prescription opioid was asked for the first time, the researchers couldn’t tell if the one in seven exhibited an increase or a decline.

The executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors and a social worker, David Harvey, said that irrespective of the absence of a comparison, these figures suggest that opioids must be contributing to the lesser explored impact on the lives of adolescents. For example, opioid use could be contributing towards the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in this age group.

Harvey pointed out that in 2007, at least 62 percent of teens reported having used condoms the last time they had an intercourse compared to 54 percent of teens in 2017. This decline along with the use of prescription drugs signals towards a teenager’s susceptibility to STDs like HIV and Syphilis. As many as 39 percent of students had sex in 2017 compared to 48 percent in 2007.

There was also a decline in the percentage of students encountering sexual dating violence from 10 percent in 2013 to 7 percent in 2017. This, along with a decline in the intake of alcohol and drugs, represented the wiser choices made by the students. The experts suggested that family support, especially the parental attention can make a lot of difference in an adolescent’s life. Further, an increased access to mental health and substance abuse resources can also make a lot of difference. Schools can contribute by offering coping skills and bystander intervention training.

Among the LGBT teens, there was increased incidence of risky behavior as their sense of physical and emotional well-being is threatened. In comparison to 2015, a higher number of gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers reported having been raped. They also reported having missed school because of their concerns regarding their own safety.

Dealing with the double whammy

Teens are impressionable. They are at a juncture where they can fall prey to drugs easily which can have an impact on their mental health. On the contrary, they can resort to addictive substances to deal with their mental problems. Such a simultaneous occurrence of these problems is termed as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis, which requires immediate intervention.

There's no denying the fact that natural cures for depression are the most effective long term, as well as the safest. Depression is an enormous problem for humanity, and many are profiteering from this problem, but leaving you worse off.

What treatment is best at curing the problem? There is no single answer for everyone to this problem, but there are areas that you need to consider before making a choice.

1. Everyone suffers from 'down' periods in their life from time to time. It's part and parcel of being an adult in today's fragmented society. Knowing you will bounce back in time does help. By asking people to leave you alone at these times can help you recover more quickly.

2. Adults feel this more than most children. That is a key to look upon life more through a child's eyes. Children don't worry about the future, they enjoy the now. So learn to enjoy the now. If you can learn to flip out of the burden of your life and into the joy of being who you are now, this may be enough to lift you up and out of the feeling. Then you can flop back into your responsibilities feeling renewed and energized.

3. Understand that the society you live in is unhealthy. Humanity is far from perfect. We are still on a journey. Depression may be because you are trying too hard to fit in to an unworkable system. Listen to the inner you instead. Learning to trust what your inner wisdom is always trying to tell you can make you feel uplifted.

4. Put on some stirring music that makes you giggle, laugh or jiggle around. Children express themselves easily, without any embarrassment. Learn to be more like them at these times.

5. When you appreciate that depression is all about your lack of resolving an emotional upset, possibly in the long distant past, you can start to make inroads on resolution. Depression can be too hard to handle on your own, but when you get good homeopathic treatment, you'll be supported as well as be resolving the cause.

Homeopathy is a powerful but gentle natural and complete modality of health care. It can help you cure your mental and emotional upsets as easily as it can your physical health problems.

There is an illness all around me in modern society that seems to be spreading like the Black Plague once did in Europe so long ago. It’s called depression, have you heard of it? Has it affected you? The more I look, the more I see it in so many people in my life, including myself. Depression sucks. It’s a real drag, and I mean real drag. It is different from the feelings of unhappiness that all humans have to deal with in their lives. It is being in a solitary prison where you are the only one who can see the walls; you are the jailor, the guard, and the prisoner all rolled into one. Sounds like fun huh? Well, we better become more aware of it because there are certain aspects of contemporary life that are causing more and more souls to lock themselves up, some believing that they have no hope of ever finding the key out.

If you look up depression on the Internet through a Google search query you will find a lot of different ways and means to manage or treat the problem. There are Eastern and Western approaches, psychological and spiritual; today there are 15,400,000 links about the subject. It seems to be on everybody’s mind and yet we don’t give it the general social awareness that we do for other illnesses. This is probably because there are so many stigmas around faults with the human mind. Broken bones and cancer we can understand or at least think we do; but we touch on a soft spot when we find a problem with that infinitely complex, helpful, magical device we call the brain.

Recently I went to a public talk by a world famous Psychologist named Dorothy Rowe who was selling her new book, ‘Depression: The way out of your prison”. I’m not going to tell you that she has all the answers, but I did like the different approach that she took to the illness. She’s not against modern medication, but she feels that it can be only part of the solution. Of course there are types of intense clinical depression that need certain chemicals to rebalance the brain to a ‘normal’ working order, but for all depression she feels that the focus could be shifted from a management to a prevention paradigm.

Dr Rowe focuses on the assertion that depression comes when one’s structure of interpreting the world around you has been affected by some deeply negative occurrences (usually in one’s youth). Her theory suggests that if a certain event happens to one hundred people, they will all probably interpret the experience in an individual, different way; the perceived ‘reality’ having been a resulting construct from one’s life experiences. For example: Let’s say you get fired from your job. Just about everyone is going to feel a general unhappiness and grieve over the subsequent period. However, many people have built positive, optimistic ways of seeing life and will just go on and feel as though the layoff was another necessary step or a momentary setback on the way to their life’s goals and dreams. “Whatever doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.” is a common sentiment from this type of personality.

However, a person who is prone to perceiving the world around them as threatening and dangerous (maybe their parents never gave them positive affirmations as a child, or even put them down emotionally) may believe that the loss of this job is a relative ‘destruction’ of their world, their safety, their confidence. This is where the illness of depression can dig its sharp teeth in. This is a pretty mellow analogy; in reality some people have gone through hellish childhoods filled with abuse, neglect and addiction. When this type of person then has to deal with the loss of a loved one or relationship break-up, you can imagine that they would be much more prone to perceiving the experience as deeply negative. Dr. Rowe believes that these constructed structures of perceiving what happens to you can be altered, thus giving rise to a new way of seeing reality. The main idea is based around the idea that we must learn to change the ways in which we see ourselves.

If we can learn to accept ourselves with all our faults and imperfections, and realize that if we are doing our best to be a loving and giving person everyday, then we can see ourselves as being worthy, and that all is well. Then if someone else treats us badly, ignores us, or says we aren’t good enough, we can know and acknowledge that they are the person with the problem and that we don’t necessarily need their affirmation or acceptance. We can then wait for positive people to come into our lives, as like attracts like. Soon enough we will find that there is a group of people that will stand by our side and support us when things get bad because we do the same for ourselves and for them.

One of the most powerful insights I had from this experience was the sheer number of people in the room for Dr. Rowe’s speech. Each and every one had been or known someone close who had been depressed at one time in their life, thinking that they were completely alone in the world. When you see a big group of people together whom have all felt alone, you might just see into the true paradox of reality? If everyone who got depressed realized that it is a common occurrence, and connected to others in similar cases, it definitely could be a step towards healing. Could the Internet take a leading role in this process?

Your oral health is of crucial significance for a number of reasons. It is not only responsible for offering you a great smile but it also has a significant impact on your overall health.

Among the various conditions that oral health is related to like heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, respiratory infections and much more, depression is one of the most important ones. This one happens to be a mood disorder that affects a large number of people on a daily basis. It is a complex mental illness that can be caused by a number of factors. The external factors include a traumatic life experience while the internal factors include a family history of this condition or brain chemistry or something else.

Depression is one of the conditions that can change your entire lifestyle. It is much more than just feeling sad. It not only disrupts sleep and concentration but it also disinterests people about performing their daily chores like taking care of their mouth or dental health.

On the other hand, the severe periodontal disease also has a significant impact on some of the systematic ailments and depression is one of them. The oral health behaviour and quality of life are also affected by this.

Apart from that, this persistent feeling of dejection and oral health have a relation through the changes in saliva in case of the depressed patients. If the flow of saliva decreases because of depression then it can give rise to several oral health issues like increase in the dental decay and other pathological health issues.

Here are some ways in which depression and oral health are interlinked. Just read on.

• Chronic Pain Enhances Depression – It is not quite uncommon for people who experience pain to become depressed. It can happen that one refrains from going to the dentist and suffers from pain for a longer period of time. Not only that, it may also happen that your mouth is suffering from one issue after another as you are undergoing genetic disposition of cavities and practising poor oral hygiene. Under such circumstances, you should also be aware that you are more prone to develop depression if you undergo dental pain for an extended period of time. To prevent this you need to visit the dentist regularly.
• Periodontal Disease Risk Is Enhanced by this Mental Illness – The level of circulation of cortisol gets enhanced by depression. With it the risk of periodontal disease also increases.
• Fillings Can Deteriorate the Condition – Metal bound together by mercury is what constructs the amalgam fillings. Mercury happens to be a toxic substance and at times, the fillings can leak the mercury as a liquid or gas. Depression happens to be one of the symptoms of mercury poisoning. Although most patients do not undergo any such problem, if you are suffering from this mental condition then you should not discard this as the source. You should then be tested for mercury poisoning. Once the amalgam fillings wear down they should be replaced with composite ones.
• Temporomandibular Disorders Caused by Depression – This mental ailment can give rise to temporomandibular disorder that can hamper the movement of jaw and can give rise to pain.
• Antidepressants Affect Oral Health – You should be aware that the medications for the mental condition like the anti-depressants can give rise to dry mouth. The susceptibly to bad breath, gum disease and bad breath also gets enhanced because of that. You may have to use fluoride toothpaste and drink more water to control this. Apart from that, you also have to take medications properly for enhancing the flow of saliva.
• Smiling Can Assist in Controlling Depression – The stress hormone can be decreased by smiling more often as it elevates mood. But if you are not satisfied with your smile you are less likely to smile often. Your dentist should be able to guide you about how you can improve the smile which will boost your confidence and as a result of that you will smile more.

The above are some of the ways in which depression and oral health are interlinked. So now that you know, you should take proper care of your oral health and also look out for symptoms of depression and do not shy away from seeing the doctor if you are experiencing any of it. This way you can lead a healthy and happy life where you can smile more often with confidence and take the world in your stride.

Unipolar depression definition: Unipolar depression is a term that is used to refer to when a person changes from being depressed to being manic and vice versa. What separates it from depression is that unipolar depression concentrates on studying the lows of a person may have experienced. It is also called major depression and the most common characteristics of people suffering from unipolar depression are constant feelings of sadness or lack of interest in outside stimuli. What this means in return is that a person will separate themselves from others and will end up feeling even sadder.

STATISTICS

Many studies have been carried out about the condition of unipolar depression. The numbers differ based on various factors such as gender and even age. A study that was conducted by The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that in the US alone, the condition affects 20-26% of women and 8-12% in men. Many may argue this is not a huge number but it is a representation of some members of the society most of whom have failed to undergo treatment for their depression. It is clear from the statistics that women are more prone to be affected by depression as opposed to men. There are many reasons for this one of them being post-traumatic stress.

The median age to contract depression has been shown to be 32 years. This is according to a report that was released by the US Census Bureau in the year 2005. I am sure by now those numbers have increased significantly due to among other many factors the hard economic factors.
Other sections of the population that are more prone to depression are those living with HIV / AIDS, those who have suffered from heart attacks in the past and those who have been diagnosed with cancer. It is not all gloomy and there is good news for all those who are suffering or those who will be affected in the future. The National Institute of Health has made findings show that 80% of patients suffering from unipolar depression get their condition managed using the many different types of treatments that are available.

CAUSES

There are different reasons why unipolar depression occurs. We will try to look at some of them.

* Genetics is one of the greatest reasons why depression occurs in individuals. People who have come from a family with a history of people suffering from depression are at a higher chance of suffering themselves and the same can also be said for those without any predisposition to depression genes.

* Changing of sleeping schedules- Sleeping is a very important activity as it helps our minds and the whole body to relax. Not sleeping deprives your body and mind of the most needed time to rejuvenate. You should not change your sleeping time as this will be sending mixed signals to your body. You will find it hard to sleep and this will be so bad for your mental health.

* Other factors include social factors such as when one loses a job, lack of a standing in the society.

TYPES OF UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION

There are different causes of unipolar depression and are caused by different factors and will, therefore, need a different approach in even treating. However, one of the most common pointers is lack of interest in what you initially had interest in. They last for the different amount of times. Some of the types include;

* Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) -As the name suggests, this is a type of unipolar depression that occurs at particular times in the year. It has been noted to affect people mostly during the winter when people do not go out more often due to the cold. Therapists treat this condition with light therapy.

* Psychotic depression-this is characterized by believing or seeing things that are too far from reality. This mainly is common with people who have gone through depression in the past.

* Postpartum depression- This is common in women who have just recently become new mothers. It is caused by hormonal imbalance in the woman. Women find it hard to deal with their changing body conditions and some wonder whether they will be able to raise the child as is expected of them. Parents who have adopted children can also suffer from this as they wonder whether they will be able to raise the child well.

* Melancholic depression- patients who suffer from this type of unipolar depression exhibit the most adverse signs. They include massive weight loss and isolation which is dangerous as it can lead to committing suicide. Moodiness, feelings of unworthiness and social anxiety are also indicators of this type of depression.

* Catatonic depression- this can be characterized by problems with motor coordination. The patient finds it difficult to move. The condition makes it even harder to be treated as it threatens the life of the person. The person will, therefore, find it hard to carry out their normal day to day activities.

UNIPOLAR VS BIPOLAR DEPRESSION

There is a very thin line between unipolar and bipolar depression and we are going to look at it. The most common type of depression is bipolar depression. The difference between the two is that in unipolar depression, the patient only has lows while in bipolar depression, the patient experiences both highs and lows.

SYMPTOMS OF UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION

If you have noticed these signs and symptoms in your life lately or in the life of someone you know, it is best you visit a psychiatrist because this is pointers you are depressed. People suffering depression will not even note they are suffering. It takes someone to point it to them.

* A lot of negativity.
* Feeling restless.
* Isolation.
* Feeling exhausted all the time.
* Suicidal thoughts.
* Rapid weight gain or loss.
* Loss of focus.
* Change in sleep patterns.
* Agitation.
* Alcohol and drug abuse.
* Excessive anger.
* Energy drain.
* Loss of energy.

UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION TREATMENT

Based on the type and extent of your unipolar depression your psychiatrist can recommend different types of unipolar depression treatment. The type of treatment will also be determined by how your body reacts to it. The most common treatment for unipolar depression includes;

* Anti-depressant drugs- this should not be bought on the counter but it is recommended you visit a qualified psychiatrist who will give you a prescription for the best drugs to use.

* Psychotherapy- this is a good alternative to using anti-depressant drugs. This is done by having a one on one session with the patient and trying to get to the root of the problem. The psychiatrist works backward to help the patient understand where their problems started and come up with solutions by helping them understand it is not their fault this happened.

* Electroconvulsive Therapy- there has been opposition to the use of this treatment but it has not been proved to cause problems. It has been found to be effective and very fast in treating unipolar depression. Patients who are acting out due to depression, those who are not reacting well to anti-depressant medicines find this treatment effective for them. The final decision as to whether to use this type of treatment will be made by the psychiatrist in consultation with the patient's family.

* Yoga- this is a long-term method of dealing with unipolar depression- it helps in replacing negative energy with positive thinking.

* Increasing your creativity- patients should avoid staying idle as this will worsen their condition. They should engage in activities that interest them.

* Walking- taking a walk in a park or forest as you take in fresh air and admire beautiful surroundings will help get rid of your negative thoughts and instead concentrate on the positive things happening around them.

* Regular exercise- When you exercise, your body releases feel-good hormones which helps get rid of the feelings of unworthiness. It is also a good distraction to being idle and the patient will have less time for negative thoughts.

UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION TEST

After noticing you have symptoms of unipolar depression, then the next stage is to take a test to ascertain whether or not you are suffering from the condition. The test can be carried out online without the need of a qualified person. Just go online and answer a series of questions then you will get a score.

CONCLUSION

Unipolar depression is a condition that is becoming common by each passing day due to the changing economic pressures and subsequent pressures of life it brings. It is a serious condition that needs immediate attention because it can mean the difference between life and death. There is good news for patients. The condition is treatable and 80% of the population who have been treated have resumed back to their normal life. Visit your psychiatrist to advice you on the best mode of treatment.

What is major or clinical depression?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a condition characterized by signs and symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Depression is common and often goes undiagnosed, because, the onset of the first episode of major depression may not be obvious if it is gradual or mild.

According to the DSM-IV – a manual used to diagnose mental health conditions.For a major depressive episode a person must have experienced at least five of the nine symptoms below for the same two weeks or more, for most of the time almost every day, and this is a change from his / her prior level of functioning. One of the symptoms must be either (a) depressed mood, or (b) loss of interest.

a. Depressed mood. For children and adolescents, this may be irritable mood.

b. A significantly reduced level of interest or pleasure in most or all activities.

c. A significant loss or gain of weight (eg, 5% or more change of weight in a month when not dieting). This may also be an increase or decrease in appetite. For children, they may not gain an expected amount of weight.

d. Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia) or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia).

e. Behavior that is agitated or slowed down. Others should be able to observe this.

f. Feeling fatigued, or diminished energy.

g. Thoughts of worthlessness or extreme guilt (not about being ill).

h. Ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions is reduced.

i. Frequent thoughts of death or suicide (with or without a specific plan), or attempt of suicide.

To be considered major depression:

Your symptoms aren't due to a mixed episode – simultaneous mania and depression that can occur in bipolar disorder

Symptoms must be severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others

Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else, such as drug abuse, taking a medication or having a medical condition such as hypothyroidism

Symptoms are not caused by grieving, such as temporary sadness after the loss of a loved one

Treatment

Although major depression is a serious mental disorder that profoundly affects an individual's quality of life. It is highly treatable. Many types of treatment are available. Medications and psychotherapy are very effective for most people. Some studies have shown that antidepressant drug therapy combined with psychotherapy has better results than either therapy alone.

Medications

Medications include:

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)

Atypical antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Psychotherapy

There are several types of psychotherapy that have been shown to be effective for depression including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps to identify negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on the interpersonal context and on building interpersonal skills.