Postpartum Depression In Fathers
Any mother can picture the first moment they bring their newborn into the world and the breathtaking experience of taking the newborn home along with all the changes and responsibilities of becoming a new mother. Based on a variety of reports, postpartum depression affects new mothers up to 70% to 80% about the first week of giving birth and in a good number of cases quickly passes away. There are nearly 13% of moms who do suffer from clinical level postpartum depression, which lasts for longer periods of time. The reality is that this is a normal condition for countless women resulting from fast hormonal fluctuations and changes parenthood produces, but did you realize that postpartum depression can also happen in males? If this is the situation, how many males can pick up this disease?
While there have been a lot of explorations on the condition in women, postpartum depression affecting males is a factual incident and more frequent than everyone would have ever known. Based on a number of articles, postpartum depression in males ranges from 10% up to more or less 25%, which makes it clearly as bad if not worse than in women.
Because postpartum depression in males is a disease which has received little interest, there are fewer places males can truly turn to for assistance. Another known fact is if males do feel signals of postpartum depression, they are also less prone to talk about their disease as voluntarily as women would and more often less disposed to inquire about professional help. The most possible rationale this is the basis is because males would feel at a disadvantage when they present their weakness and may be embarassed of the disease, resulting in not treating the disease and allowing it to grow worse.
Causes
A range of studies done since 1980 through 2009 yielded some fascinating results showing that about a quarter of the males examined developed depression within three to six months. Surprisingly, several of the sufferers were first-time fathers. It has been hypothesized that the rationale most first-time fathers pick up this condition is because of the many adjustments and anxieties of their new parenting position. Also noted was that both parents conditions might directly have emotional impact on the others and trigger depression for the first-time father if the woman has postpartum depression. The reasons postpartum depression affects first-time fathers is mostly speculative at this time even though investigations have been performed as far back as 1980, the origins of the illness in first-time fathers were not researched in depth.
Symptoms
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The signs of illness in first-time fathers are similar to women but there are distinct differences. Usually, women would feel worthlessness, sorrow and anxiety and more often than not, so do first-time fathers, but distinct differences consist of a translation of feelings of sorrow to abandonment, anger and touchiness. Though these signs have been observed, results are still unsettled and more research needs to be done in this area to comprehend it. Postpartum depression in first-time fathers is a terrible disease and more often than not can result in ruining the family relationship with both the youngster and the mother. First-Time Fathers genuinely ought to recognize their disease and not be afraid to try to find treatment alternatives right away.
Identification And Treatment
As discussed previously, first-time fathers tend to be more ignorant of the disease than women who are able to discuss unreservedly of their disease. Because this is the case, it ought to be up to the woman or other family members to identify the signs of the disease and discuss with the man about his disease and make him aware of the disease. Once he acknowledges the disease, he should be open to treatment and should talk with his physician who can point him to the appropriate path for treatment. Treatment for postpartum depression may include psychiatric therapy and drugs or a combination of both. The quicker you try to find treatment, the earlier you can get on your way to a quick recovery and help you on your way to a normal happy life with your family.
Green Lipped Mussel Depression Treatment
Nowadays, depression is one of the world’s most common psychological disorders. Anyone who’s suffered from it, or knows someone who’s suffered from it, will understand how frustratingly debilitating it can be. Antidepressants are the most common way of treating it. But is there a natural alternative? What about green lipped mussel depression remedy?
The problem with treating depression is that there are actually many different types of the illness. Some people even experience anxiety and panic disorders along with their depression. This makes it more difficult to effectively address.
But what is the underlying cause of depression? As we know, it’s got little to do with “depressive thoughts”. People suffering from depression can’t just snap out of it by changing their thought process. There is usually an underlying imbalance in the brain that’s a significant contributing factor to depression.
An emerging school of thought, supported by a number of scientific studies, is that a deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids has a lot to do with it. These days, many people’s diets are lacking in the foods necessary to supply the body with the Omega 3-fatty acids that it requires. Every function in the body needs Omega-3 fatty acids, but the body can’t make them itself. Instead of taking in good Omega-3 fatty acids (from foods such as oily fish) people are getting a lot more bad Omega-6 fatty acids (from foods such as refined oil), which is detrimental to health.
One of the consequences of Omega-3 deficiency is impaired brain functioning, which can even be resistant to the most powerful antidepressants.
The largest clinical study on people with severe unipolar depression (also known as major depression) was completed in 2010 by Dr. François Lespérance of the Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier at the Université de Montréal (CRCHUM). It was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. It took place over for years, from October 2005 to January 2009, and involved 432 participants. The results were very encouraging, but only on patients whose depression wasn’t accompanied by anxiety.
Therapies to Heal Chronic Depression
Clinical depression is an illness or a temporary state of mind that can be efficiently treated. It badly affects a person’s lifestyle and transforms it into complete chaos. In acute state of depression, a person feels extreme stress and secluded. He/she may also observe constant lowering of mood. It is often accompanied by multiple physical and psychological disorders that can obstruct day- to-day activities of clinical depression patients.
Depression has a variety of known and unknown symptoms that can severely affect anyone in different ways, depending upon the symptoms. The generic symptoms of depression are characterized by the feelings of extremely sad or worthlessness, metal turbulences, loss of energy and motivation, feeling low all the time, loss of appetite, physical aches, misbalanced thinking, loss of concentration, and mood swings.
There are a number of causes of depression such as:
- Depression can be a hyperactive reaction to a distressing problem caused due to sudden feelings.
- Depression can be due to neuro-biological disorder
- Depression can be a part of an acute illness baked by bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
- Depression can be related to societal concerns or abrupt failure in deeds
- Depression can be due to sudden feeling of excitement
- Depression can be due to self-loathing behavior or inability to respond to certain situations
Depression treatments assist in reducing the chronic symptoms of depression. Treatments may include a blend of medication, healing therapies, individual therapies, as well as community support.
Medication
Medication is by far the most adopted and acclaimed method to minimize and eliminate the symptoms of depression. Proper medication and treatment help regain psyche soundness. There are certain medications that directly foster brain chemicals to substantially restore the chemical balance that subsequently control the symptoms of depression.
Individual therapy
Individual therapies are considered the most significant treatments that can reduce the depression conveniently and re-engineer the natural balance in body and mind respectively. Depression therapists talk with the person facing depression. They discuss patient’s feelings, evaluate the level of depression, monitor their actions, reactions, and indulge them in the creative and intuitive thinking. This approach reduces the level of depression. Depression therapists include psychologist, counselors, clinical therapists, mentors, or motivators.
They can also suggest other therapies, tools, tips, techniques like video therapies, yoga practices to win the complicated situation. In addition, they can also recommend the absolute therapies that help to balance body, mind, and spirit. These experts properly diagnose people for other critical depressive symptoms and further suggest appropriate solutions to successfully cure depression.
Take Time to Listen to a Depressed Person
During our walk in the park Sunday afternoon, Sam (my dog) and I noticed an older gentleman seated on a bench by himself, watching the picnickers and volleyball players having fun. The man didn’t look like he was having fun. Sam and I couldn’t tell if he looked depressed or not; it was hard to discern exactly what state of mind he was in without asking, but to our discredit we didn’t ask. I am ashamed of that.
I thought about letting Sam nose up to the man because Sam is so danged cute and friendly he can make friends with almost anyone. The memory of that man sitting all alone like he was still haunts me.
Depression is no laughing matter, even though a psychologist friend and I used to joke around about him giving me depression screening to find out why I was so glum – usually because of money or my love life. Statistics show that 16 million people in America suffer from depression. Severe depression too often leads to suicide, the 10th leading causes of death in the United States. Nearly 35,000 people commit suicide every year.
I’ll never forget the day my mom came home from one of her housecleaning jobs and told me that the teen-aged son of the homeowners – a kid I knew from school – had drunk a can of a plumbing cleaner then shot himself with a shotgun.
I personally have seen a man who shot himself and a man who hanged himself. Those are not pretty or comforting sights.
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I don’t know about you, but I feel like I need to be less reluctant to approach people who are sitting alone looking glum. Even though a person sitting alone might believe he wants to be alone and might tell me pretty adamantly that he wants to be alone, I know better than to totally believe him unless he’s obviously working on his personal computer or has his Ipod screwed into his ear. And Sam is such a great ice-breaker.
I think most people who are glum or depressed just need somebody to listen to them. They don’t want you to bore them with your yakety yak. They don’t want you to solve their problems. They generally aren’t seeking advice, although one guy I got into a conversation with in line to buy our car license tabs told me about his marital troubles then asked me what I would do. I bought my car tabs and got the heck out of there is what I did. People just need to vent sometimes.
I have found out the most wonderful things about people just sitting down and listening to them. I’ll never forget the time I thought an old guy was a building janitor and found out he was a retired university math professor.
I’m pretty sure the people I’ve listened to really appreciated it when I just shut my pie hole and let them talk. We don’t very often get the chance to talk to someone who really listens.
The Second of Four Practical Strategies for Lifting Depression
Depression is about feeling different than normal. Having jet lag after long flights, and even space flights by astronauts, also have something in common. It is not feeling balanced, or in harmony. The same goes for people with dyslexia or ADHD. There is one interesting resource called balancing music, and it can also be effective for depression.
Peak Performance Music, as it is called, was composed as smooth flowing music by a young musician on a hot summer weekend. He composed it in this balancing frequency, and it was scientifically fine tuned in a sound studio.
It has been tested and displayed many times on an EEG machine, to actually balance out all the brainwave patterns, while someone has earphones on, listening to this ppm.
– NASA uses the same frequency for all their astronauts, otherwise they come back very sick.
– Many students use it from kindergarten, right up to university, helping them to focus and increase lateral thinking.
– People with dyslexia are able to read normally when hearing this ppm in the background, or with headphones.
– ADHD children quickly normalise their behaviour.
This peak performance music, is therefore quite scientific, and pure music therapy. How it may possibly work with depression is that there are no extremes of brainwave patterns. Anyone showing any extreme emotion or feeling or thought, will usually display high amplitudes of Theta or Delta brainwave patterns. This is unbalanced if their alpha or Beta ones are much lower. ADHD children usually have very high delta and very low beta, in comparison. This presents as being over active and perhaps naughty, but they are just over sensitive, as high delta brainwaves indicate. Psychics, dolphins and animals such as cats, dogs, and horses also have high levels of Delta, indicating their high sensitivity and intuition. Brain damaged people, who can not communicate or reason with logic, usually have high delta and theta, and very low beta brainwaves.
Depression also will undoubtedly display some strong imbalance of brainwave patterns. This may be purely due to just having strong feelings or emotions. Normally brainwave patterns may balance out, but not if you are in a constant depressed mode. This is also why people take drugs, illicit or legal, and intense exercise and chocolates, to help rebalance.
While depression can have many medical issues involved, such as inflammation of brain cells, natural, complementary remedies can still be useful as a safe and cheap first aid. This ppm is very effective while you listen to it, so its best feature is probably to use it in conjunction with visualisation or deep memory programming. Its deep relaxation and balancing properties are perfect for putting positive, happy thoughts into deep memory, and so enhancing the release from depression.
Can Anger and Depression Really Trigger Your Lower Back Pain?
My most recent article addressed the challenge that arises with naming a condition and offering it as a diagnosis to a patient. When a person is labeled, they often feel they are sentenced to a field of pre-existing outcomes and a prognosis for recovery that is attached to such a diagnosis. This field is generated by what the person already has heard or knows about their condition, from what their friends or relatives have told them and what they have read about it in magazines; on the internet etc. It is as if they have stepped into a new constellation and things shift from a personal, intimate and unique relationship with what is happening in their body to being part of something much larger. It is as if they have been initiated into a special new club.
This field exists energetically around those that are in the disease club. Those that are new to the club, it is premised, can be influenced directly and indirectly by other members of the group by the development of a “morphic field” that surrounds it. This is the term coined by researcher Rupert Sheldrake, PhD., biochemist, plant physiologist and author of numerous books including Seven Experiments That Could Change the Worlds and The Sense of Being Stared At. His hypothesis is that a particular person, plant or animal that is belonging to a certain group, which has already established its (collective) morphic field, will tune into that morphic field. The particular form will read the collective information through the process of morphic resonance, using it to guide its own development. This development of the particular form will then provide feedback to the field of that group, thus strengthening it with its own experience, resulting in new information being added. This may explain how a collective of peoples’ thoughts and actions can affect others indirectly. Perhaps The more people that contribute to the field the greater its potential influence, which can be either encouraging or fear promoting.
What does all this have to do with back pain? First, it is important to understand the extent to which back affects us as a society. It has been reported that over 80% of adults in the US will suffer a debilitating episode of it. Back pain is the number one cause of absenteeism from work in the US and health care costs for it are well over 60 billion dollars per year. This is a big problem. In this article I am going to go out on a limb to discuss an extremely controversial point of view, that of John Sarno, MD, the author of Healing Back Pain and Mind Over Back Pain. I mentioned him briefly in my last article but found his work worthy of further exploration.
Dr. Sarno, after supervising a medical rehab hospital clinic for over twenty years, found, in his opinion, that the true cause of most back pain ultimately is the result of unexpressed emotions such as anxiety, anger and fear that result in the harmless condition that he named Tension Myositis Syndrome, or TMS. He explained that this underlying and often asymptomatic condition can be triggered by physical traumas or stressful life situations. It is his belief that rarely is back pain truly caused by well-known conditions such as herniated discs, strains, bursitis, arthritis, etc., but are instead really caused by this pre-existing tension in the body. He defines tension as the emotions that are generated in the unconscious mind and that, to a large extent, remain there silently just waiting to be triggered by some every day type stressful event.
The notion that unexpressed emotions can lead to physical symptoms is certainly not a new idea. It is well accepted that there is some causal relationship between stress and hypertension, tension headaches, many digestive and skin disorders, insomnia and many more. Sarno takes this idea much further than would be comfortable for even the most open minded physician or practitioner to accept. His “treatment” of a wide variety of chronic back pain patients (after ruling out the small percentage of patients requiring surgery) ultimately became a mandated four hour of instruction that included two things. First, the objective was to gain knowledge and understanding of the cause of the pain resulting from subconscious and repressed emotions. Second, it required taking the actions required to change the brain’s behavior.
This would mean changing the conversation one has in their brain about their pain and behaviors, finding ways of becoming aware of the underlying emotions, mandating a return to all previous physical activities and unlearning of all of what he calls the “medical mythology” of ideas about what causes back pain (everything from the idea that there is a wrong way to bend and lift, that a hard mattress is better than a soft one, that you should sit in a particular way, etc.).
He also reached a point where he recommended the abandonment of all physical treatments of any kind which would
further embed in the patient’s mind that the pain problem is a physical or structural issue that requires physical treatment. Therefore, no physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, medications, etc. were to be prescribed for his patients.
As I said at the beginning, this is a controversial and radical point of view, one that certainly threatens the existence of multiple established professions; including my own, that view back pain as a primarily physical entity. However, I find myself in agreement with Dr. Sarno on several of his hypothesis. I do find clinically that unresolved emotions often underlie pain episodes that I treat as a chiropractor. The metaphors are often so obvious, as when someone in their family is being a “pain in their neck” or a “pain in their derriere”. When patients come in feeling pressure at work and lower back pain, it’s as if they feel the weight of the world on their back.
I have seen the power of the metaphor and physical manifestation of emotional pain very personally, especially in the use of EFT, a powerful energy psychology technique that involves the use of stimulating certain acupuncture points through tapping. Several years ago I “strained” my back after heavy lifting in the garden and was in severe pain. My wife offered to work on my pain using EFT. I went along with it and begrudgingly I had to admit that my pain was gone after 15 minutes of working on a resentment issue that I had recently been stewing on prior to hurting myself. I refused to admit at first the possibility that this had even the remotest chance of being connected but I do know this connection to be true.
I also know that pain itself creates a host of emotions that serve to keep itself in place. Examples of these emotions are patients that feel anger towards their body because they feel that it has somehow betrayed them, are fearful of a recurrence of pain that arises when they begin to feel better, have anxiety and sadness over what they can and cannot do physically with their children, or stress over how their pain will affect their ability to work and possibly result in loss of income. All these feelings lead to a host of thoughts, beliefs and behaviors that create its own morphic field that make recurrent episodes of pain more likely.
On the flip side, research shows objective evidence of physical effects of things we do to our bodies that may promote lesser well-being, like prolonged sitting raising the pressure in discs, that bending, twisting and lifting creates significant torsion under which lumbar ligaments are under the greatest strain, and that scar tissue resulting from injury repair is stiffer and more vulnerable to injury than un-injured tissue. Research has shown the effectiveness of clinical treatments, including spinal manipulation, for acute lower back pain far exceed placebo. Many studies have shown physical treatments that have resulted in greater relief of symptoms when compared to placebos, so how does a doctor balance both perspectives? How do we promote health by educating a patient so that they are empowered to make choices supported by current research as well as not create a state of fear and anxiety that causes them to lead a diminished life of trying to avoid any situation that may cause them harm?
For me, it means finding a way to include both perspectives. It is my responsibility to understand that there may be both physical and emotional components to every patient’s pain. It is always my intent to be skillful in addressing all potential causes with a patient. It is my vision to always create a path or program that is tailored to the individual that empowers them to expand their physical and emotional life expression as a result. Finally, it is my challenge to assist them in gaining greater perspective so that they can see the opportunity they have to make whatever behavioral and cognitive changes needed in order to facilitate true healing in their body which is much more than just having found relief from their pain.
I wish to end my thoughts with an offering of gratitude for the courage of Dr. Sarno, who was ahead of his time when he spoke out as an isolated voice in his era for the inseparable marriage of the mind and body. The idea that what we think and feel affects our body’s responses and vice versa is no longer a wild hypothesis; it has its own growing morphic field that is being supported by a large body of scientific data.
Guidelines to Vitamins That May Relieve Depression
The disabling condition commonly termed depression is often described by feelings of profound sadness and an intense sense of hopelessness. Like many common descriptions of illness, depression is an umbrella that covers a wide range of similar symptoms and underlying causes. It may be caused by stressful events, significant losses, chemical imbalances and a host of other things.
People suffering from depression tend to withdraw from the world, are often quite irritable, lose interest in things once enjoyed, suffer from a myriad of sleep disorders like insomnia or being unable to get out of bed. Often these symptoms are accompanied by thoughts of doing harm to self or others including suicide. Depression is a serious condition but it is not untreatable and today there are many options available to those that suffer.
Yes, there are a lot of ways to treat depression. Behavioral changes can be learned that may remove the source of the depression. Medication, talk therapy and changes in diet, especially removing sugar and starchy carbohydrates from the diet, along with exercise are often effective in helping to control depression. Adding vitamins to one’s daily routine may also have a profound impact on symptoms, especially when the underlying cause is related to vitamin deficiencies.
Vitamins have been shown to have an effect on one’s moods. The vitamins of the B-complex are known to balance emotional and mental response. Since these vitamins cannot be either stored or manufactured by our bodies, we are wholly dependent on our daily food intake and any supplemental vitamins we take to replenish our supply.
Vitamins are destroyed by alcohol which metabolizes into sugar, carbohydrates which also metabolize into sugar and refined sugar which is already sugar. Caffeine and nicotine may also have a negative impact on the destruction of vitamins. Is it any wonder that many people are vitamin deficient?
Thiamine or Vitamin B-1 is known to be used by the brain to convert blood sugar into “brain” food. Insufficient B-1 and fatigue, irritability and anxiety and other symptoms of depression are the result. In addition, memory problems, loss of appetite and constipation may also be present. Sugars and carbohydrates are the most serious depletion agents when it comes to vitamin B-1.
Vitamin B-3 or Niacin deficiency can produce psychosis, dementia and more. While many processed foods contain Niacin, an anti-depression diet suggests that one not eat anything that comes in a box. Supplemental Niacin is a must in your daily intake of food. An additional benefit of Niacin is that it is really good for your heart.
Vitamin B-5 or Pyridoxine, processes the amino acids which are the building blocks for all proteins. Additionally, B-5 is essential for the body to maintain proper levels of serotonin, melatonin and dopamine, all of which help maintain chemical balance in the brain.
Vitaman B-12 is critical for the formation of red blood cells and a deficiency leads to problems with oxygen transport causing pernicious anemia. If present mood swings, paranoia, dementia, irritability, confusion and other disorders are often reported.
Folic Acid is needed to facilitate the production of Sadenosyl Methionine as well as DNA synthesis and should be taken along with B-12.
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-stress supplement and when taken along with a strong B-complex regimen is a significant stress reliever.
In addition to vitamin deficiencies, some mineral deficiencies such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron can lead to symptoms of depression and should be considered as a component of any depression relief therapy undertaken.
Depression Cures – Natural Cures For Depression
Overcome depression by the natural means.
Depression is a mood disorder caused and carried on by several factors, mainly environmentally, psychologically, biologically and genetically. It affects the person’s thoughts and actions, usually negatively and may impact the physical condition ultimately.
However it can be treated with or without medication. The depressed should always seek help from their trusted family doctor and consult if medication is needed.
Medication however is advisable depending on the condition of the depressed patient. But what i can offer you through this article are tips on how to overcome depression through the natural ways. It is done through adjusting one’s life back on track and getting rid of their bad habits, so this is what we call the therapeutic lifestyle change.
So through Therapeutic lifestyle change, we aim to overcome depression naturally by adjusting one’s life. One of the most important steps is to ensure that you consume the right food.
By consuming the right food means to increase your intake on healthy food and foods that will give your brain its sufficient nutrients so that it will function properly! Brain food is what we call them- such as omega 3 in fishes, antioxidants in nuts and teas. Only by having such nutritious food would your brain function well and especially at such a crucial period, take note to have better foods!
Next, step 2,is to be connected with the world, that refers to being connected with someone or something- animal perhaps! Because that would allow you to open up emotionally so that you will not have any withdrawal symptoms. This is crucial in making the depressed patient feel better and having a higher self-esteem as they are involved in a relationship now.
Step 3, is to get healthy sleep! It is very important for the person to get sufficient quality sleep so that he/she’s daily mood will not be affected. Bad sleep may cause mood swings to a person as proven scientifically, thus ensure that you are taking care of your health by sleeping soundly with no disturbance!
Step 4, you can try light therapy and that simply means being exposed to bright light as it is proven that it will lighten up your mood. As compared to one who is exposed to darkness daily, the one who is exposed to bright light or sunlight would appear to be more cheerful.
Step 5 is to stop rumination. Do not let your imaginations run wild! Or else your mind will be in a twirl and you will get confused with your own emotions. You can prevent your rumination by transferring your thoughts to something you enjoy doing. For example, fishing, swimming or cooking! This will occupy your mind and prevent unnecessary thoughts.
Lastly, step 6 is to get yourself to exercise! By doing anti-depressant exercises, such as jogging, badminton or even yoga as this not only improves your ability to think, your ability to respond, it also improves your sleep at night. By exercising sufficiently, 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time, you will be able to think clearly and react rationally.
These are 6 recommended approaches to overcome depression naturally, by adjusting one’s lifestyle.
Whether or not you are suffering from depression, you can also follow the steps in therapeutic lifestyle change so as to have a more healthy life!
What Is Depression? Getting to the Root of Depression
Often clients will come through the door after suffering from depression for a large proportion of their adult lives. As we explore the depression and where the depression may have come from, many questions are thrown up.
Every thought, feeling and emotion arises for a reason and depression is no different. If a client can ask themselves what is depression? and work out the meaning of their depression, I believe they will be one step closer to coming to terms with the depression and subsequently will start to come through it.
It is important for a person to reflect on why they do what they do, why they think the way they think and why they feel the way they feel.
Useful questions to ask when experiencing a depressive episode are:
Where are the feelings coming from within me?
What are these feelings saying to me?
Where do my reactions come from?
What part of me is being triggered right now?
It can be useful within the therapeutic setting, for the client to question why they are feeling depressed at this point in time and to question what the depression is attempting to change in their life.
A person experiencing a depressive episode will often withdraw from their work, family and friends. Yet, depression can be functional and often serves a very important purpose. The person will retreat into solitude; give up their daily routines and interests whilst spending hours thinking about the depression. Days will go by as they lose themselves in the darkness and become consumed by their thoughts.
In this place, which at first may feel hopeless, a person can begin to ponder the deeper questions in life, and think about how they have lived and continue to live their life. If a person can sit with the questions, explore the possibilities and begin to generate answers, they can begin to make changes to the way they live their life and life may renew itself in a whole new way. This approach to depression initiates change, as the person relates to their depression in a completely accepting and positive way.
Depression may weave in and out of a person’s life, it may come as a reaction to a life event or it may always be a part of a person’s make-up. Whatever the root cause of the depression, you have a choice in how you approach it, what meaning you attach to it and how you go forward with it. You may not be able to change what is but you can change your attitude towards it.
The Influence of a Solid Support System on Clinical Depression
Think for a moment how you feel during a depressive episode. Do “helplessness”, “hopelessness”, and “loneliness” come to mind? If so, that also seems to be the consensus of many people in the depression forums where I spend some of my time.
Depression has a way of creating a psychological “catch-22.” Your negative feelings cause you to isolate yourself, yet the more you avoid others, the more depressed you feel and the more you withdraw. So what do you do?
Consider for a moment that as humans we are social animals. Our brains are hardwired for social interaction. Therefore, no matter how difficult it might be for you, having a personal connection to those who understand what you are going through and who will help or support you through depressive episodes can be extremely therapeutic. That dynamic is found in a strong or solid support system.
A solid support system consists of a mix of people whose common objective is to offer positive support to the person battling depressive episodes. Your support system can include family, friends, co-workers, spiritual workers, people in the mental health field such as therapists, support groups, and even your doctor. Every person within your support system should be trustworthy, loyal, understand your depression and offer unconditional positive regard relative to your situation.
The support that they can offer includes but is not limited to encouraging you to take your medication, exercise, maintain a healthy diet, keep your therapy appointments, and maintain a daily schedule.
The benefits of a strong support system include:
1. Significantly reduces stress – Your stress will begin to subside when you find that you can confide in people who care about you as they listen to what you have to say and offer suggestions or ideas about dealing with your depression. So go ahead and vent without fear of being judged.
2. Increases self confidence and self esteem – If you are part of a support group, you will be given the opportunity to listen to the issues that other people face with their depression. You will also be given the chance to offer any ideas you may have on how they can overcome their issues. As you progress, you’ll feel more valued, important, and loved.
3. Reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness – One of the most important benefits of a support system is that you will always have someone to talk to and participate with in social activities.
Keep in mind that establishing a support system will take some time. So in order for you not to feel so overwhelmed, which could intensify your depression, you may want to start building your support system one person at a time. Make sure to ask your doctor or therapist for help to get you started. Also remember that while you need support, you do not need to be enabled. Never expect anyone within your support system to do something for you that you need to do for yourself otherwise your recovery will be hindered, perhaps significantly.