Depression

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Depression
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Symptoms

• Sad, anxious or "empty"
• Hopelessness
• Worthlessness
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once
  pleasurable
• Fatigue
• Cant concentrate
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Thoughts of suicide
• Headaches and other aches and pains

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Depression and other illnesses

• Anxiety
• OCD
• Drug/alcohol abuse

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Causes of Depression

• Brain chemical imbalance
• Chemicals that transmit back and forth between
  brain cells are out of balance
• Serotonin
• Trauma
• Prolonged subjectivity to hardship or difficult
  life experiences

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Treatment for Depression

• Cognitive Therapy
• change pessimistic ideas
• Alter unrealistic expectations
• Change overly critical self-evaluations
• Recognize which life problems are critical and
  which are minor.
• Problem solving therapy changes
• Coping skills

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A Case Study of Cognitive Therapy
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A Case Study of Cognitive Therapy

• ACTION
• Always find something to do to feel better.
• Catch the positive.
• Think about it as a problem to be solved.
• Inspect the situation.
• Open yourself to the positive.
• And Never get stuck in the negative muck.

ACTION
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A Case Study of Cognitive Therapy

• Sense when the the Muck Monster is around
• emotion detectives
• look for clues in their brain, body and behavior
  that indicate the onset of depression.
• They keep a take action list
• Three specific activities that they find
  enjoyable
• Successful coping strategies are written down in
  their Catch the Positive Diary.

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Treatment for Depression

• Exercise. Regular exercise provides natural, mood
  lifting chemical changes in your body. (Yoga!)
• Nutrition. Regular, balanced diet is important
  for both your physical and mental health.
• Sleep. Get the right amount of sleep!
• Social Support. Talk to friends and family  
• Stress Reduction. Manage and reduce stress.

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MedicationsTricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
(MAOIs)Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) alter amount of serotonin in the
brainSerotonin and norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitors (SNRIs) - increase availability of
the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine.
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Women and Men With Depression

• Women more likely to suffer from depression
• Men more likely to not get help

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Depression and Its Stigmas

• Fear of being judged
• Fear of being labeled crazy
• Do not want to rely on medication to get well
  (viewed as weak)

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Philosophy and Depression

• The Dalai Lama
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v_QvVaZfFDKw