Giving yourself strength

It's okay. It's common to feel this way

You’re not alone in feeling like this. Many people struggle to cope at one point or another and going through a range of emotions during this time is common. You can contact Samaritans any time you like or you might also want to speak to someone else you trust like a family member, your GP or arrange to see a counsellor.

You are never alone

When people are going through a tough time they often experience negative thoughts about themselves and feel they have no-one to turn to.
Even if you don’t have family or friends close by, you are never alone. Samaritans volunteers are here for you every day of the year, round the clock.

These feelings may not last forever

Everyone feels low at some point in their lives and if you’re struggling to cope it may be difficult to see beyond your current situation. Talking about how you’re feeling can help put things into perspective and help you to feel more positive about the future.

­­Identify trigger situations

There are all sorts of reasons why you may be finding it hard to cope. Often it’s due to a combination of things.
Perhaps you're going through:

• relationship and family problems
• loss, including loss of a friend or a family member through bereavement
• financial worries
• job-related stress
• college or study-related stress
• loneliness and isolation
• depression
• painful and/or disabling physical illness
• heavy use of or dependency on alcohol or other drugs
• thoughts of suicide.

There are lots of things you can do to help yourself

• Make time for yourself, relax and do things you enjoy
• Eat healthily; get plenty of sleep and exercise
• Spend time with people you love
• Talk about your problems with people you trust
• Be proud of what you’re good at, as well as aware of what you struggle with
• Pay attention to what you’re feeling.

If you’ve stopped doing things you usually love, you’re tearful, not eating or sleeping properly, drifting from people close to you, taking alcohol or drugs to cope or self-harming, then talk to us, or someone you trust.

Talk to Samaritans

Sometimes it’s hard to talk to family or friends. You may not want to burden those close to you or you might feel ashamed or find it difficult to ask for help. Samaritans offers a safe, confidential place to talk – we’ll never judge or tell you what to do.

Source:http://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/what-speak-us-about/signs-you-may-be-struggling-cope/giving-yourself-strength?gclid=CNmE3Mf-480CFclsGwodjGUIBg 

Get Motivated to Work Through Depression

When you’re feeling depressed, people around you may not completely understand what you’re going through. One of the common misconceptions is that depression is simply a lack of motivation, says Simon Casey, PhD, author of Secrets to Emotional Wealth and founder and CEO of Emotional Mastery International.
“Unfortunately, many people believe that people who are depressed lack motivation, and they assume that’s the cause of their depression,” says Casey. “They also believe that the depressed person needs to just ‘snap out of it.’ In reality, motivation requires desire and positive, creative energy. Depressed people often lack those two key requirements. Trying to motivate a depressed person by encouraging them to go out, get active, and have fun often fails.”
How to Get Motivated During a Depressive Episode
Having trouble getting motivated is actually a depression symptom all on its own, adds Gabriela Cora, MD, managing partner of the Florida Neuroscience Center and a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. So it’s not surprising that you may have trouble figuring out what motivates you during a depressive episode.
“When someone has depression, it’s about more than just finding motivation,” explains Dr. Cora. “Usually, the person needs professional help and medication to get to the bottom of their illness. It’s not as simple as just finding a hobby that they can be passionate about.”
Finding the Motivation to Get Back on Track
Getting motivated when you’re going through a depressive episode can be challenging, but there are guidelines you can follow to help transition out of your depression, says Cora. Here are some suggestions that may help:

• Get out of bed. Just getting out of bed is a good first step. When the depressive episode is really bad, sometimes motivation starts with recognizing even the smallest steps as mini victories. Simply get up, take a shower, get dressed, and view it as a positive first step toward your goal.
• Get some exercise. Exercise is a proven mood booster, so once you get up and get out of bed, take the next step and make yourself exercise to further break out of that “no-motivation” mindset.
• Break tasks and goals into small steps. Sometimes breaking down what you want to accomplish into smaller, more achievable goals will give you the motivation you need. “For example, a writer could just commit to doing a paragraph at a time, rather than an entire article,” suggests Cora. “By breaking it down this way, you feel like you are accomplishing something.”
• Rely on your family. Most people with depression know their families love them and care for them, but during a depressive episode, it’s easy to lose sight of that fact. If you feel the urge to withdraw, resist it and reach out to your family for help. “A strong family unit is essential when it comes to dealing with a depressed person,” says Casey. “They will provide much-needed support as well as ‘tough love’ to encourage you to work through it in a safe environment.”
• Build on any positive developments. Finding motivation during a depressive episode is undoubtedly tricky, but one strategy is to remain as optimistic and positive as possible. Look for subtle signs, such as colors looking brighter or music sounding better to you, says Cora. Then, push yourself further in that positive direction, and encourage friends and family members to help push you too. Gradually, you may begin to recapture your lost motivation.

Depression is a serious illness, and focusing on a goal, a hobby, or even a strong family unit to get you through it may not be enough. Treatment of depressive episodes frequently require medication and counseling from qualified mental health experts to help you rekindle the motivation you need to get back to a better quality of life.
Source:  http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/major-depression/find-motivation.aspx

Does depression require hospitalization?

A study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics has analyzed the difference between day hospital and inpatient stay in depression. Depending on the severity of depression, patients may be treated at different levels of care with psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medication. While several previous studies compared the efficacy of different levels of care for psychotherapy of personality disorders, sufficient data is lacking for the comparison of day-clinic and inpatient psychotherapy for depression. The current pilot study evaluates the feasibility of randomization in a routine hospital setting and compares preliminary efficacy for day-clinic and inpatient psychotherapy for depression.

Of 144 incoming patients who met inclusion criteria, 44 patients agreed to participate. Of these, 97.7% had a major depressive episode, 1 patient was primarily diagnosed with dysthymia. Comorbid diagnoses included anxiety (45.5%), somatoform (13.6%), obsessive-compulsive (6.8%), and personality disorder (33.3%).
After the initial assessment, patients were randomized to either the day-clinic or inpatient setting and treated for 8 weeks with multimodal psychotherapy. The therapy unit combines inpatient and day-clinic treatment, therapeutic staff is the same for both treatment arms. Both groups received equal amounts of psychotherapeutic interventions. The psychopharmacological antidepressant treatment followed the German national treatment guidelines for depression. In order to be representative for routine clinical practice, no further specifications with regard to psychopharmacological medications were made for the study.
At admission, 22 patients (50%) were taking antidepressant medication. Within the completer sample, 11 patients (31.4%) had a change in antidepressant medication during treatment. Antidepressants were reduced or terminated for 6 patients (17.2%) and increased or started for 4 patients (11.4%). One patient had a change of drug class. At termination, 51.4% of completer patients were taking antidepressant medication. There were no differences between groups for change during therapy or medication at termination. Change of medication was not related to initial depression severity and beginning or increasing medication was not significantly related to symptom reduction.
Depression severity decreased from baseline to the 4-week follow-up. There were no differences between day-clinic and inpatient psychotherapy concerning change over time. In addition, response and remission rates are reported descriptively. Eight inpatients (50% of completers) and 6 day-clinic patients (35.3% of completers) were classified as responders. In both groups, 3 patients (16.7% of inpatients, 17.7% of day-clinic completers) reached remission.
These results may encourage the incorporation of a scientific evaluation in routine clinical settings. Also, the findings suggest that it may be beneficial to consider different levels of care for the treatment of severe depression. Finally, the results call for further research in larger samples in order to test for moderator effects. As inpatient psychotherapy is more expensive than day treatments, it will be crucial to find out who benefits more in each setting.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140706083943.htm

How to beat depression – without drugs

Up to 20% of the UK population will suffer from depression – twice as many as 30 years ago, says Steve Ilardi. Photograph: Rob Lewine/Getty/Tetra

Dr Steve Ilardi is slim and enthusiastic, with intense eyes. The clinical psychologist is 4,400 miles away, in Kansas, and we are chatting about his new book via Skype, the online videophone service. "I've spent a lot of time pondering Skype," he says. "On the one hand it provides a degree of social connectedness. On the other, you're still essentially by yourself." But, he concludes, "a large part of the human cortex is devoted to the processing of visual information, so I guess Skype is less alienating than voice calls."

1. The Depression Cure: The Six-Step Programme to Beat Depression Without Drugs
2. by Steve Ilardi
3. 

Social connectedness is important to Ilardi. In The Depression Cure, he argues that the brain mistakenly interprets the pain of depression as an infection. Thinking that isolation is needed, it sends messages to the sufferer to "crawl into a hole and wait for it all to go away". This can be disastrous because what depressed people really need is the opposite: more human contact.
Which is why social connectedness forms one-sixth of his "lifestyle based" cure for depression. The other five elements are meaningful activity (to prevent "ruminating" on negative thoughts); regular exercise; a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids; daily exposure to sunlight; and good quality, restorative sleep.
The programme has one glaring omission: anti-depressant medication. Because according to Ilardi, the drugs simply don't work. "Meds have only around a 50% success rate," he says. "Moreover, of the people who do improve, half experience a relapse. This lowers the recovery rate to only 25%. To make matters worse, the side effects often include emotional numbing, sexual dysfunction and weight gain."
As a respected clinical psychologist and university professor, Ilardi's views are hard to dismiss. A research team at his workplace, the University of Kansas, has been testing his system – known as TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Change) – in clinical trials. The preliminary results show, he says, that every patient who put the full programme into practice got better.
Ilardi is convinced that the medical profession's readiness to prescribe anti-depression medication is obscuring an important debate. Up to 20% of the UK population will have clinical depression at some point, he says – twice as many as 30 years ago. Where has this depression epidemic come from?
The answer, he suggests, lies in our lifestyle. "Our standard of living is better now than ever before, but technological progress comes with a dark underbelly. Human beings were not designed for this poorly nourished, sedentary, indoor, sleep-deprived, socially isolated, frenzied pace of life. So depression continues its relentless march."
Our environment may have evolved rapidly but our physical evolution hasn't kept up. "Our genome hasn't moved on since 12,000 years ago, when everyone on the planet were hunter- gatherers," he says. "Biologically, we still have Stone Age bodies. And when Stone Age body meets modern environment, the health consequences can be disastrous."
To counteract this Ilardi focuses on the aspects of a primitive lifestyle that militate against depression. "Hunter- gatherer tribes still exist today in some parts of the world," he says, "and their level of depression is almost zero. The reasons? They're too busy to sit around brooding. They get lots of physical activity and sunlight. Their diet is rich in omega-3, their level of social connection is extraordinary, and they regularly have as much as 10 hours of sleep." Ten hours? "We need eight. At the moment we average 6.7."
So we should all burn our possessions and head out into the forest? "Of course not," Iladi shudders. "That would be like a lifelong camping trip with 30 close relatives for company. Nobody would recommend that."
Instead we can adapt our modern lifestyle to match our genome by harnessing modern technology, such as fish oil supplements to increase our intake of omega-3. All well and good. But I can't escape the feeling that the six-step programme seems like common sense. Isn't it obvious that more sleep, exercise and social connectedness are good for you?
"The devil is in the detail," replies Ilardi. "People need to know how much sunlight is most effective, and at which time of day. And taking supplements, for example, is a complex business. You need anti-oxidants to ensure that the fish oil is effective, as well as a multivitamin. Without someone spelling it out, most people would never do it." Ilardi practises the programme himself. He's never been depressed, he tells me, but it increases his sense of wellbeing and reduces his absentmindedness (his college nickname was "Spaced").
It all makes sense, but will I try it myself? I don't suffer from depression, but wellbeing sounds nice. I'm not so sure about the fish oil, but I might just give it a go.

Enjoy the sunshine, get plenty of sleep – and be sociable

▶ Take 1,500mg of omega-3 daily (in the form of fish oil capsules), with a multivitamin and 500mg vitamin C.
▶ Don't dwell on negative thoughts – instead of ruminating start an activity; even conversation counts.
▶ Exercise for 90 minutes a week.
▶ Get 15-30 minutes of sunlight each morning in the summer. In the winter, consider using a lightbox.
▶ Be sociable.
▶ Get eight hours of sleep

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/19/beat-depression-without-drugs

Being depressed and angry as a teenager can affect your love life 25 YEARS later

Teenage blues and anger can taint a person's love life a quarter of a century later, according to a new report.

A study is helping to crack the code to happiness by exploring the long reach of depression and anger over more than two decades.

The study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, followed 341 people for 25 years.

It found that negative emotions they may have suffered as young adults can have a lasting grip on their relationships well into middle age.

The fact that depression and anger experienced during the teenage years clung to people - even through major life events such as marriage, careers and having children - was surprising.

University of Alberta researcher Matthew Johnson, said: 'We assume, or hope, that high school experiences fade away and don't necessarily resonate 25 years later.

‘The fact that symptoms of depression and expressions of anger can endure over many large events in life shows how important it is to deal with mental health early.

‘Sometimes, problems don't just dissipate. How you grow and change over those early years becomes crucial to future happiness.’

The research, drawn from a larger study which began in 1985, surveyed 178 women and 163 men through their transition to adulthood from age 18 to 25.

It then studied them again on their perceived stress levels at age 32, and on the quality of their intimate relationships at age 43, to find out whether anger or depression they may have felt as young adults was still affecting those bonds.

+2

People who experienced a lot of negative emotions when they are teenagers can be more likely to divorce

The findings point to the importance of recognising that early mental health does influence couple relationships and that, in turn, can have social costs later on - such as divorce and domestic violence.

As individuals, people can help themselves by ‘recognising the fact that where they are in their couple relationship now is likely shaped by earlier chapters in their lives,’ Dr Johnson added.

‘It's not only your partner's current behaviour or your current behaviour shaping your relationship, but the story you bring with you.’

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2623324/Being-depressed-angry-teenager-affect-love-life-25-YEARS-later.html

Untreated Depression

Untreated clinical depression is a serious problem. Untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses.

Clinical depression, also known as major depression, is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. Clinical depression affects the way you eat and sleep. It affects the way you feel about yourself and those around you. It even affects your thoughts.

Recommended Related to Depression

What’s So Hard About Taking a Pill? People With Depression Know

Antidepressants, especially when combined with talk therapy, generally help people recover from depression. Symptoms begin to improve within weeks for the majority of people taking antidepressants. And people who take antidepressants long-term -- up to 36 months -- have a relapse rate of only 18% compared to 40% for those who do not. But if they work so well, why do so many people stop taking antidepressants within a few weeks of starting them? Or skip doses when they start to feel better? There...

Read the What’s So Hard About Taking a Pill? People With Depression Know article > >

People who are depressed cannot simply “pull themselves together” and be cured. Without proper treatment, including antidepressants and/or psychotherapy, untreated clinical depression can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.

How does untreated clinical depression affect physical health?

There is mounting evidence that clinical depression takes a serious toll on physical health. The most recent studies exploring health and major depression have looked at patients with stroke or coronary artery disease. Results have shown that people with major depression who are recovering from strokes or heart attacks have a more difficult time making health care choices. They also find it more difficult to follow their doctor's instructions and to cope with the challenges their illness presents. Another study found that patients with major depression have a higher risk of death in the first few months after a heart attack.

How is sleep disrupted by untreated depression?

One of the most telling symptoms of clinical depression is a change in sleep patterns. Though the most common problem is insomnia (difficulty getting adequate sleep), people sometimes feel an increased need for sleep and experience excessive energy loss. Lack of sleep can cause some of the same symptoms as depression -- extreme tiredness, loss of energy, and difficulty concentrating or making decisions.

In addition, untreated depression may result in weight gain or loss, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, and irritability. Treating the depression helps the person get control over all of these depression symptoms.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/untreated-depression-effects

Teen Depression: A Guide for Teenagers

Learn Tips and Tools for Helping Yourself or a Friend

The teenage years can be tough, and it’s perfectly normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. But if these feelings don’t go away or become so intense that you can’t handle them, you may be suffering from depression. The good news is that you don’t have to feel this way. Help is available and you have more power than you think. There are many things you can do to help yourself or a friend start feeling better.

In This Article:

• What depression feels like
• When teen depression turns deadly
• Talking to your parents
• What you can do to feel better
• Helping a depressed friend

  What depression feels like

When you’re depressed, it can feel like no one understands. But depression is far more common in teens than you may think. You are not alone and your depression is not a hopeless case. Even though it can feel like depression will never lift, it eventually will—and with proper treatment and healthy choices, that day can come even sooner.

Signs and symptoms of teen depression

It's hard to put into words how depression feels, and people experience it differently. There are, however, some common problems and symptoms that teens with depression experience.

You constantly feel irritable, sad, or angry. Nothing seems fun anymore, and you just don’t see the point of trying. You feel bad about yourself—worthless, guilty, or just "wrong" in some way You sleep too much or not enough. You have frequent, unexplained headaches or other physical problems.

Anything and everything makes you cry. You’ve gained or lost weight without consciously trying to. You just can’t concentrate. Your grades may be plummeting because of it. You feel helpless and hopeless . You’re thinking about death or suicide. (If this is true, talk to someone right away!)

Is your friend depressed?

If you’re a teenager with a friend who seems down or troubled, you may suspect depression. But how do you know it’s not just a passing phase or a bad mood? Look for common warning signs of teen depression:

• Your friend doesn’t want to do the things you guys used to love to do.
• Your friend starts using alcohol or drugs or hanging with a bad crowd.
• Your friend stops going to classes and afterschool activities.
• Your friend talks about being bad, ugly, stupid, or worthless.
• Your friend starts talking about death or suicide.

When teen depression turns deadly

If your feelings become so overwhelming that you can’t see any solution besides harming yourself or others, you need to get help right away. And yet, asking for help when you’re in the midst of such strong emotions can be really tough. If talking to a stranger might be easier for you, call 1-800-273-TALK in the U.S. to speak in confidence to someone who can understand and help you deal with your feelings. To find a suicide helpline outside the U.S., visit Befrienders Worldwide.

Coping with suicidal thoughts

In the meantime, the following suggestions can help get you through until you feel ready to talk to someone:

• There is ALWAYS another solution, even if you can’t see it right now. Many kids who have attempted suicide (and survived) say that they did it because they mistakenly felt there was no other solution to a problem they were experiencing. At the time, they could not see another way out, but in truth, they didn’t really want to die. Remember that no matter how horribly you feel, these emotions will pass.
• Having thoughts of hurting yourself or others does not make you a bad person. Depression can make you think and feel things that are out of character. No one should judge you or condemn you for these feelings if you are brave enough to talk about them.
• If your feelings are uncontrollable, tell yourself to wait 24 hours before you take any action. This can give you time to really think things through and give yourself some distance from the strong emotions that are plaguing you. During this 24-hour period, try to talk to someone—anyone—as long as they are not another suicidal or depressed person. Call a hotline or talk to a friend. What do you have to lose?
• If you’re afraid you can’t control yourself, make sure you are never alone. Even if you can’t verbalize your feelings, just stay in public places, hang out with friends or family members, or go to a movie—anything to keep from being by yourself and in danger.

For more suggestions and advice on how to handle suicidal impulses

Read: If You’re Feeling Suicidal

Above all, do not do anything that could result in permanent damage or death to yourself or others. Remember, suicide is a "permanent solution to a temporary problem." Help is available. All you need to do is take that first step and reach out.

Talking to an adult you trust about teen depression

If you are suffering and don’t know where to turn...

In the U.S., call the Nineline.org hotline for children and teens at 1-800-999-9999. It’s free, confidential, and available from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Eastern Time, seven days a week.
In the UK, call the Childline.org.uk helpline for children and teens at 0800 1111.
In Australia, call the Lifeline.org.aus 24-hour helpline at 13 11 14.
In Canada, call the KidsHelpPhone.ca helpline at 1-800-668-6868.

It may seem like there’s no way your parents will be able to help, especially if they are always nagging you or getting angry about your behavior. The truth is, parents hate to see their kids hurting. They may feel frustrated because they don’t understand what is going on with you or know how to help.
Many parents don’t know enough about depression to recognize it in their own kids, so it may be up to you to educate them. You can refer them to this site, or look for further information online. Letting your parents know that you are feeling depressed will probably motivate them to get you the help you need.
If your parents are abusive in any way, or if they have problems of their own that makes it difficult for them to take care of you, find another adult you trust (such as a relative, teacher, counselor, or coach). This person can either help you approach your parents, or direct you toward the support you need. If you truly don’t have anyone you can talk to, refer to our resources at the end of this article. There are many hotlines, services, and support groups that can help.
No matter what, talk to someone, especially if you are having any thoughts of harming yourself or others. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do, and the first step on your way to feeling better.

The importance of accepting and sharing your feelings

It can be hard to open up about how you’re feeling—especially when you’re feeling depressed, hopeless, ashamed, or worthless.
It’s important to remember that everyone struggles with feelings like these at one time or another. They don’t mean you’re weak, fundamentally flawed, or no good. Accepting your feelings and opening up about them with someone you trust will help you feel less alone.
No matter what it feels like, people love and care about you, and if you can muster the courage to talk about your depression, it can—and will—be resolved. Some people think that talking about sad feelings will make them worse, but the opposite is almost always true. It is very helpful to share your worries with someone who will listen and care. They don't need to be able to "fix" you; they just need to be good listeners.

What you can do to feel better: Tips for depressed teens

Beating depression, one day at a time

You can’t beat depression through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key to depression recovery is to start with a few small goals and slowly build from there. Read Dealing with Depression

Depression is not your fault, and you didn’t do anything to cause it. However, you do have some control over feeling better. Staying connected to friends and family, making healthy lifestyle decisions, and keeping stress under control can all have a hugely positive impact on your mood.
In the meantime, you might need therapy or medication to help you while you sort out your feelings. Look into your treatment options with your parents. If medication is being considered, do your research before making a decision, as some antidepressants used for adults can actually make teens feel worse.

Try not to isolate yourself

When you’re depressed, you may not feel like seeing anybody or doing anything. Just getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult, but isolating yourself only makes depression worse. Make it a point to stay social, even if that’s the last thing you want to do. As you get out into the world, you may find yourself feeling better.
Spend time with friends, especially those who are active, upbeat, and make you feel good about yourself. Avoid hanging out with those who abuse drugs or alcohol, get you into trouble, or who make you feel insecure. It’s also a good idea to limit the time you spend playing video games or surfing online.

Keep your body healthy

Making healthy lifestyle choices can do wonders for your mood. Things like diet and exercise have been shown to help depression. Ever heard of a "runners high"? Exercising releases a rush of endorphins, which makes you feel instantly happier. You actually get a rush of endorphins from exercising, which makes you feel instantly happier. Physical activity can be as effective as medications or therapy for depression, so get involved in sports, ride your bike, or take a dance class. Any activity helps! Even a short walk can be beneficial.
As for food, an improper diet can make you feel sluggish and tired, which worsens depression symptoms. Your body needs vitamins and minerals such as iron and B-vitamins. Make sure you’re feeding your mind with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Talk to your parents, doctor or school nurse about how to ensure your diet is adequately nutritious.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

You may be tempted to drink or use drugs in an effort to escape from your feelings and get a "mood boost," even if just for a short time. However, substance use can not only make depression worse, but can cause you to become depressed in the first place. Alcohol and drug use can also increase suicidal feelings. In short, drinking and taking drugs will make you feel worse—not better—in the long run.
If you’re addicted to alcohol or drugs, seek help. You will need special treatment for your substance problem on top of whatever treatment you’re receiving for your depression.

Ask for help if you’re stressed

Stress and worry can take a big toll, even leading to depression. Talk to a teacher or school counselor if exams or classes seem overwhelming. Likewise, if you have a health concern you feel you can’t talk to your parents about—such as a pregnancy scare or drug problem—seek medical attention at a clinic or see a doctor. A health professional can help you approach your parents (if that is required) and guide you toward appropriate treatment.
If you’re dealing with relationship, friendship, or family problems, talk to an adult you trust. Your school may have a counselor you can go to for help, or you may want to ask your parents to make an appointment for you to see a therapist.

Helping a depressed friend

Depressed teens typically rely on their friends more than their parents or other adults in their lives, so you may find yourself in the position of being the first—or only—person that they talk to about their feelings. While this might seem like a huge responsibility, there are many things you can do to help.

• Get your friend to talk to you. Starting a conversation about depression can be daunting, but you can say something simple: "You seem like you are really down, and not yourself. I really want to help you. Is there anything I can do?"
• Know that your friend doesn’t expect you to have the answers. Your friend probably just needs someone to listen and be supportive. By listening and responding in a non-judgmental and reassuring manner, you are helping in a major way.
• Encourage your friend to get help. Urge your depressed friend to talk to a parent, teacher, or counselor. It might be scary for your friend to admit to an authority figure that there is a problem. Having you there might help, so offer to go along for support.
• Stick with your friend through the hard times. Depression can make people do and say things that are hurtful or strange. But your friend is going through a very difficult time, so try not to take it personally. Once your friend gets help, he or she will go back to being the person you know and love. In the meantime, make sure you have other friends or family taking care of you. Your feelings are important and need to be respected, too.
• Speak up if your friend is suicidal. If your friend is joking or talking about suicide, giving possessions away, or saying goodbye, tell a trusted adult immediately. Your only responsibility at this point is to get your friend help, and get it fast. Even if you promised not to tell, your friend needs your help. It’s better to have a friend who is temporarily angry at you than one who is no longer alive.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen_teenagers.htm

Study links steroid-dependent asthma to depression

People with severe asthma who rely on prednisone are more than three times more likely to be depressed than those with severe cases who don't use prednisone and those with mild to moderate asthma, according to a new study from The Netherlands.
Prednisone-dependent asthma patients "deserve" screening for depression and anxiety, the authors say, both to alleviate their suffering and possibly improve their physical health through mental health treatment.
"There's a well-established connection with asthma, as well as chronic illness in general, and higher reports of depression than the general population," Dr. Rebecca Hashim told Reuters Health.
Hashim, an attending psychologist at Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, was not involved in the study.
Prednisone is a steroid anti-inflammatory medication used to treat asthma attacks, often among people with severe symptoms.
Previous research has linked steroid use to depression and other mood problems. And links in both directions have been found between depression and the severity of asthma symptoms.
To examine depression risk among asthma patients, Dr. Marijke Amelink, from the department of Respiratory Medicine at the Academic Medical Centre at the University of Amsterdam, and Dr. Simone Hashimoto, of the Institute of Psychiatry at Leiden University in Leiden, recruited 187 patients.
Among the patients, 67 had severe prednisone-dependent asthma and 47 had severe non-prednisone dependent asthma. Another 73 patients had mild to moderate asthma.
People in the three groups were similar, although prednisone-dependent patients tended to be older, with greater limitations in their ability to breathe.
All patients answered questions about depression and anxiety, as well as questions designed to detect personality traits that could contribute to their risk of mood issues.
The researchers found that patients with severe prednisone-dependent asthma were 3.4 times more likely to be depressed than non-prednisone dependent patients with severe asthma, and 3.5 times more likely to be depressed than patients who had mild to moderate asthma.
The prednisone-dependent patients were also 2.5 times more likely to have anxiety compared to patients with mild to moderate symptoms, but there was no significant difference when compared to those with severe non-prednisone dependent asthma.
The Dutch researchers didn't find any significant differences in personality traits among the participants.
In their report in the journal Respiratory Medicine, the authors point out that non-prednisone-dependent asthma patients had depression and anxiety scores that were similar to those of the general public, while the prednisone-dependent patients had scores similar to patients with other serious medical conditions.
Hashim said the increased risk of depression might be due to the stress of the treatment, rather than severity of illness. This would be similar to other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, that require complex daily treatment regimens.
"It's not really disease severity so much, but I think what it does speak to is the level of maintenance required," she said, "It reminds you of your illness all the time."
Having long-term untreated depression or anxiety can potentially lead to further illness, especially if it affects patients' ability to take care of their health.
"The more depressed you are, the less likely you're going to be to be able to take care of these responsibilities," she added.
Hashim said it's important for doctors to be screening for depression, adding that caregivers and loved ones can go along on the office visits to express their concerns to their doctors.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/us-steroid-dependent-asthma-idUSBREA161AT20140207

Do I have an anxiety or depression disorder?

So just to start, I'm generally a fairly happy person, or at least try to be. I'm a full time college student and have a handful of good friends. Almost everyone I really know thinks of me as someone with a lot of confidence and a positive attitude. They see me as very strong and together, but I don't really feel that way about myself. Though I try, in a lot of ways I'm just very terrified of everything. I always feel like I'm going to be rejected.. like I'm never going to be successful at the things I really want in life.. like a career or a relationship.

Even though I'm good at hiding it, I'm often very nervous when talking to people I'm unfamiliar with. Half of the time I don't even know what to say and just feel awkward. I can do one on ones.. but talking in front of a group or something, even just to introduce myself is terrifying. It's like I'm constantly nervous or worried.. and it's been getting worse. I feel like I'm always going to say or do something stupid..

On top of that, I have all these things I want to do in life.. all this passion.. I love art and creating things, and writing.. but have absolutely no self confidence about any of it even when my work is praised. For instance.. last quarter our class had to write and send an article to the editor of our newspaper. I wrote something on a current political issue that was going on at the time, and it was the only one to be published. I honestly thought it sucked and was embarrassed to even send it in. That's just an example, but I'm ALWAYS very harsh on myself to the point where I almost see no reason to proceed with the things I'm supposedly good at.

I have good days and bad days.. but sometimes my motivation level is so low and I feel so empty that I'd like to just isolate myself from everyone and everything. I don't know if I have a mental illness or something.. but I wanted to get someones take on this...

I grew up in a very bad household with an abusive drunken father who beat my mother in front of me for the first 6 or 7 years of my life. and then grew up with an alcoholic and completely unstable mother who blamed me for all of her problems. On top of it I'm physically "disabled".. so that doesn't exactly help matters. I can't help but wonder if that has a lot to do with my issues..

These days I just feel lonely most of the time.. yet in some ways I almost feel like that's the way I prefer to be, if that makes sense at all.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I described my feelings well enough or not. I guess if I had to break it down into a few sentences.. it feels like I always have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I almost never feel comfortable in my surroundings.. almost like a paranoia.. and it makes it so I feel like I can never really be happy.
Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140206000640AAuyzaI

Depression takes another young life; collegians are not immune: Anne Reeves

She was beautiful, brilliant and athletically gifted – the adolescent trifecta that most high school girls would trade almost anything to become.
In her first semester as a triple major at the University of Pennsylvania, the New Jersey dual-sports phenom was already a track star.
She was the third of five in a close-knit family, with lots of close friends. And when she leapt to her death from a Center City Philadelphia parking garage last week, she left a note and gifts for her parents and siblings.
Madison Holleran, 19, took her life on Jan. 17. Just five minutes before her death, she had been talking to friends about meeting them for dinner.
I can’t stop thinking about this lovely, talented young woman who seemed to have it all.
As a parent, you assume that once you get through the stress of SATs, campus visits, applications, and rejection letters, the worst is behind you. Your beloved is going to college. All their dreams are coming true. Their lives are just beginning.
But then something like this happens and you realize that your work is far from over.
I’m not going to start whining about how hard our collegians have it on those beautiful tree-lined campuses. How their lives are so difficult going to cool classes, foreign films, rousing sporting events and fun parties.
Geez, how can you be miserable at college? No job, flexible schedules, no parents. Nirvana! We’d switch places with those kids in a nano-second.

But sadly, there are more Madisons than we know. Good kids who are highly motivated, hardworking and determined. They’re the lucky ones, right?

She was beautiful, brilliant, and athletically gifted – the adolescent trifecta that most high school girls would trade almost anything to become.

But once they land on that strange territory, without the built-in support system of family and friends, they often become unmoored. The students you’d least expect to have trouble are the ones who struggle the most.
The pressure to succeed academically and socially is intense. Alcohol and drugs are prevalent. Even surrounded by thousands of people, they can feel absolutely alone.
Student-athletes face a double whammy, knowing they not only have to get good grades, but must also deliver for their teams.
Madison’s father told NorthJersey.com that his daughter had been depressed, but was getting counseling.
“She told me she was going to see a therapist [this was around noon] and she lied to me because she bought presents for everybody. She really planned this out, I think for months. She is such a perfectionist. She really is,” Jim Holleran said.
“There were no boyfriend issues, no drug issues, there was no mental illness background," said Bob Weckworth, a family friend.
“There is none of that, and on top of that, you had parents who weren’t pushing. Jim just said, ‘Maddie, you don’t have to go back, let’s reload and think this out.' But she was the one who wanted to go back.”
Depression and debilitating anxiety don’t discriminate – State College, Ivy League, small, mammoth. No one is immune.
Kathryn knows that all too well. Her beautiful, talented, athletic daughter started struggling during her junior year at a local high school.
“I would say she was a ‘typical’ teenager. Then suddenly with little warning, the waves started crashing on to shore,” said Kathryn, who did not want to use her real name.
“Relationships with friends and boys became more difficult and the struggle to ‘snap out of it’ became a daily battle. And at some point, I watched helplessly as my little girl was swept away by the undertow of depression and anxiety.”
During her senior year, the young woman committed to play field hockey in college. But one night she reached a low so low, her parents rushed her to the emergency room.
“I remember this odd feeling that we didn’t belong here came over me. We were taking up time and space in a place that was meant for those who were ‘really’ sick or hurt. But she WAS sick and she WAS hurt,” Kathryn said.
She was admitted to a pediatric psychiatric hospital that Kathryn said saved her daughter’s life. But the family did not discuss the situation with others. The stigma of mental illness was too great.
“I remembered thinking if she had surgery to repair a torn ACL, there would have been cards, flowers and hospital visits. If she were diagnosed with cancer, there would be fundraisers and benefit field hockey tournaments, but since it was mental illness there was silence,” Kathryn said.
“It’s not the kind of thing that you want shared in the halls of your high school, in fact, the fear was that it would be whispered behind her back if everyone knew. “
Kathryn’s daughter started college feeling upbeat and hopeful. But sidelining injuries early in the season sent her spiraling back down into depression. Today, the family takes it one day at a time.
“She is a warrior who battles every single day of her life. There is no day off or offseason with depression and anxiety,” she said.
“My hope for everyone else is that they will learn to recognize signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety and garner compassion and understanding for the impact that it has on the lives of those who are engaged in this silent battle.”
One of the downsides for us parents with “adult” children, 18 or older, is that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act denies us access to their health records without their written consent. So your child might be seeking treatment for a breakdown, but you wouldn’t know.
Some of our depressed kids turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. In one local graduating class, seven students have entered rehab programs.
We do whatever we can to give our kids the best and protect them from the worst. But often that’s not enough. We have to stop pretending they don’t get depressed, telling them “it’s all in their heads,” or to “buck up and get a grip.”
We have to remove the stigma of depression. And parents must be told when their children are talking about suicidal thoughts or feelings, no matter how old they are.
We can’t bear to lose one more child. And we shouldn't.
Source: http://www.pennlive.com/living/index.ssf/2014/01/depression_takes_another_young.html 

How Depression Speeds Up The Ageing Process

Suffering from depression can dramatically speed up the ageing process in cells, research has found.
Tests revealed that cells appeared biologically older in people who were severely depressed or who had suffered from the condition in the past.
Dutch researchers compared cell structures called telomeres in more than 2,400 people with and without depression.
Telomeres bracket the ends of chromosomes to protect cell's DNA being damaged, but they are shortened when cells divide and can indicate ageing.
On average people naturally lose between 14 to 20 base pairs of DNA in the telomeres each year, Everyday Health reported.
Telomeres of people who had ever suffered depression were significantly shorter by about 83 to 84 base pairs of DNA, than those of people who had never suffered from the condition.
Scientists said the difference indicates approximately four to six years of advanced ageing.
The differences in a measure of cell ageing called telomere length couldn't be explained by other harmful lifestyle factors, such as alcohol or smoking, the BBC reported.

The differences in a measure of cell ageing called telomere length couldn't be explained by other harmful lifestyle factors

Study author Josine Verhoeven from the VU University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands, and U.S. colleagues, found that the most severely and chronically depressed patients had the shortest telomeres.
The results were published in Molecular Psychiatry.

More...

• Half an hour's exercise each day prevents depression later in life, study reveals
• Men who turn into mid-life fitness fanatics may actually be HARMING their health

The findings come after a new study has shown that not only can light activity treat depression, it can actually prevent it.
Researchers looking at 26-years' worth of data have shown that people who exercise when they're young are less likely to become depressed as they get older.
The project, which analysed data from 30 previous studies, found that in 25 of them there was a link between lack of activity and being diagnosed with depression in later life.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, recommends around 20-30 minutes of light activity, such as walking or gardening, every day.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2504758/How-depression-age-sufferers-speeding-ageing-process-cells.html#ixzz2kXahYrEx