Depression
What is depression?
Depression is a common problem that affects men and women of all ages, as well as children and teens. It is more than just the normal, temporary feelings of sadness and moodiness that come with the ups and downs of life. Depression can range from minor problem to a major, life-threatening illness. Fortunately, effective treatments are available for most people who suffer from depression.
What causes depression?
Depression is probably caused by a combination of factors, including the genetic traits that a person inherits from his or her parents. Most major depressions involve problems with chemical messengers (neuro-transmitters) in the brain. The amount of stress in a person life and the way a person copes with stress also contribute to depression. Ongoing depression affects a person body, mind, and social behaviors
Many things can trigger depression, including:
- Drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs.
- Having a major illness or injury.
- Grieving the death of a family member or friend.
- Going through major life changes (loss of a job, divorce, children, leaving home, retirement).
- Being under long-term stress, such as having a family member with a chronic illness.
- Taking certain medications or having certain health conditions.
- Having recently had a baby (post-partum depression).
What are the symptoms of depression?
Major depressive disorder, commonly referred to as "depression," can severely disrupt your life, affecting your appetite, sleep, work, and relationships.
The symptoms that identify depression include:
- Constant feelings of sadness, irritability, or tension decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies
- Loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
- A change in appetite, with significant weight loss or weight gain
- A change in sleeping patterns, such as difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
- Restlessness or feeling slowed down
- Decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
- Thoughts of suicide or death
How is depression treated?
Antidepressant medications work for many people—they can make you feel better, and can improve or completely relieve your symptoms. But sometimes people have unrealistic fears or expectations about them. Some hope to feel better overnight; others worry that medications will change their personalities in ways they won't like. Both extremes are unlikely. The first step towards getting better and staying better is to take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Here are some treatment tips to keep in mind:
- It takes time for antidepressants to work. Although you may start to feel better within a couple of weeks, the full antidepressant effect may not be seen for several weeks. It is important to be patient and give the medicine a chance to work.
- Once you feel better, it is important to keep taking your antidepressant for as long as your doctor tells you to. Continued use, if recommended by your doctor, can help lower your chances of becoming depressed again in the future.
- Although some people only become depressed once, others—especially those who have been depressed before or have several risk factors—may need longer term treatment with medication.
- If you want to stop taking your medication, do so ONLY after discussing this with your doctor.
- Like many drugs, depression medications can cause side effects and interact with foods or other medications. Tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have and about other medicines you're using. If you experience drug side effects, contact your doctor right away.
Dietary supplement for treating Depression
Omega3 is sourced from pure New Zealand deep ocean cold-water fish. Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) are essential elements in human nutrition.
Improve depression and symptoms of other mental health problems. The brain is remarkably fatty: In fact, this organ is 60% fat and needs omega-3s to function properly. Now researchers have discovered a link between mood disorders and the presence of low concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in the body.
Apparently, omega-3s help regulate mental health problems because they enhance the ability of brain-cell receptors to comprehend mood-related signals from other neurons in the brain. In other words, the omega-3s are believed to help keep the brain's entire traffic pattern of thoughts, reactions, and reflexes running smoothly and efficiently.
Clinical trials are underway to further investigate whether supplementing the diet with omega-3s will reduce the severity of such psychiatric problems as mild to moderate depression, dementia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Interestingly, the oil used to help the child with a degenerative nerve disorder in the popular film Lorenzo's Oil was an omega-3 fatty acid.
Colostrum is made from the best quality New Zealand bovine colostrum. it helps support the immune function and growth factors and provides positive effects for health and well being.
Most people benefit from taking cow colostrum as an every day immune system enhancer, but in particular people suffering from Leaky Gut Syndrome, Candida, Stomach Ulcers, Acne, Arthritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis as well as being much in demand by athletes for building muscle. Colostrum contains growth factors that help to slow the aging process in anybody who takes it. It also helps to stimulate wound healing, cartilage and nerve regeneration, which is helpful in cases of Multiple Sclerosis, Guillain Barre Syndrome and its variants.
EPO contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), GLA prompts the brain to produce a specific type of prostaglandin called prostaglandin E, which works to prevent withdrawal symptoms such as depression and seizures by indirectly protecting the liver and nervous system.