Why is it so hard to find reliable truthful depression info? One reason is that the disorder is not completely understood and another reason is that there are powerful interest groups who want to give partial and incomplete information on this illness which is now so widespread in to-day’s society.
Depression information shows that about 19 million Americans suffer from depression in one form or another in any one year. The economic costs and human costs are almost inestimable. The forms of depression are many and varied in their duration and severity. They may range from a bi-polar disorder where the patient swings dangerously from elation to a deep depression. They may suffer from dysthymia which is a less severe form and which tends to be chronic. Many patients suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which is a mild depression caused by the shortage of sunlight in the winter season. Because depression info is not easy to find or because of the stigma attached to it, there are many cases which go undiagnosed and worse, untreated.
Medication has made great advances but there is still an aura of mystery about how these drugs known as SSRIs actually work on the brain. The newest drugs are concentrating on the noreadrenaline neurotransmitter and this is giving promising results in not only enhancing mood but also in increasing drive, motivation and energy. It is too early to make any statements on the efficacy of any of these drugs and indeed the long term effects of the older type of drugs such as the Trycyclics are clouded in mystery except that the drug companies have admitted that they were very toxic! The side effects are well documented however and anybody considering taking these medications should ask the doctor what the side effects are likely to be as they can range from an increase in suicidal thoughts to binge eating. This is another reason why it is so important to have truthful depression info readily available.
In cases of severe depression and where a patient just cannot tolerate these drugs, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) has been tried with some success. The patient is given an anesthetic and electrodes are placed on the head and electrical impulses are sent but the patient feels nothing at all. What is happening here is that the patient is having a sort of seizure which is very short lived.
Other forms of less invasive type of treatments are holistic types of treatments which can range from self help to homeopathy and alternative healing which are not at all addictive and are much more efficient in the long term as a cure. Why? It is simply because by changing lifestyle and relying on herbal remedies, the patient is not sedated and there is no risk of addiction. Again this sort of depression info is not so easy to find. These herbs as mood enhancers are well known and have passed all the safety tests although there may be some minor side effects. This depression information is not easy to find because of the powerful lobbies who are protecting their interests.
Want to learn where you can get more objective depression info ? Robert Locke has written extensively on Mental Health for many years.
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