More About Depression And Illness

Suffering A Stroke And Feeling Hopeless

Getting severely depressed after having a stroke is not unusual. When my mother had her first massive stroke and I went to the hospital, tears were flowing down her face and she kept telling me, 'I don't want to live'. My mother was always a very proud, independent woman. She did not want to depend on anyone. She was depressed and very angry. Nurses did not want to come into her room because she would not play the game and act grateful because she was unhappy. No one discussed depression with me, not her doctor, not her neurologist. But I knew how bad it was. The depression had to be treated if my mother would ever get rehabilitated.

People who have a stroke need very much attention and love. They feel helpless and hopeless. Recently a neighbor of mine had a stroke and when I went to the hospital, she too was crying and so sad. She is a widow who prides herself on being independent at age 86. The problem with her situation is that she was depressed for at least a year prior to the stroke since her husband had died. When the stroke hit her it was double trouble.

Treatment for depression can shorten the rehab process, lead to quicker recovery, and save health care costs. It makes so much sense that it's hard to believe that doctors don't seem interested in explaining this to family members right up front. Depression is something that stroke victims deal with a large majority of the time. Even though stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. Some of the disabilities that can result from a stroke include paralysis, thinking problems, speech problems, emotional difficulties, fatigue, and daily living problems. Many people require psychological help after a stroke. Depression, anxiety, frustration and anger are common in stroke victims. It depends on the person and what his or her life has been like so far. If you know someone who has had a stroke, you know recovery is a slow and long lasting process.

If you or your loved one has a stroke, be prepared for damage to that person's self image and self esteem. It is very common for stroke victims to feel they have no future. Make sure that anti depressants are part of the program for anyone you care about who has a stroke. Insist that the doctor find the right combination of meds. Maybe it will take some time but you and your loved ones are worth it. Depression can be treated in addition to whatever other illnesses a person might have, including stroke. If you think you may be depressed or know someone who is, don't lose hope. Seek help

Depression and Parkinson's Disease

It is very sad to know that at least half the people with this disease experience depression. First they are the victim of one horrible disease, and then they suffer from depression. The person who has it, their families, friends, and doctors so often misinterpret the warning signs of depression and just think it is part of the other disease. Men in particular do not want to say that they are depressed as a result of this illness.

Symptoms of these two illnesses tend to overlap each other. Not enough research has been done on relationship between these two illnesses. People with depression who have Parkinson's disease have a different symptom group than those without Parkinson's. The Parkinson's profile includes higher rates of anxiety and sadness without guilt or self-blame.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive disorder of the brain. It affects the motor system, but also thinking and emotion. It results from the loss of brain cells that control movement. The four primary symptoms of Parkinson's are: trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; stiffness of arms and legs, slowness of movement, and poor balance and coordination. Plus it causes difficulty walking and talking.

Anything which can help these victims and lift their sprits is needed ASAP. Antidepressants can be extremely helpful for anyone dealing with Parkinson's. Treating depression can help anyone feel better about and cope better with their illness. Doctors of Parkinson's patients need to devote the time and energy to finding the right prescription and right dosage. Be sure you insist that the doctor is "on it" and the help is given. As usual, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't hesitate to demand the care you need.

Depression can and should be treated when it co-occurs with other illnesses. Untreated depression can delay recovery from it or worsen the outcome. If you or someone you love has Parkinson's disease, don't give up and don't lose hope. Depression is a treatable disorder of the brain. Depression can be treated in addition to Parkinson's. Get the help you need, even if you have to demand it.

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10 Key Signs of Depression

Let me say at the outset - depresssion is nothing to be ashamed of or to feel guilty about. It afflicts millions of people. For most of us it is a mild form that causes no long term problems but, for millions of other people, it can be a chemical imbalance or a mental disfunction that can have dire consequences. How can you know the difference?

Sad Light Box

SAD or seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that percolates into people in the winter months. Though the spread is effective from the month of September, it generally assumes worrying proportions between December-February. The reason is simple. Daylight hours are shorter in winter. In absence of regulars dose of sunlight, the hypothalamus begins to suffer (it is the heat and temperature receptor). This causes feeling of gloom and sadness.

What is Endegenous Depression?

Depression can affect anyone at any time. There are many types of depression and this article talks about endogenous depression and how you can get online counseling help. In most cases, a person who appears to suffer from a type of depression will often have a reason for it. In other words, the depression has been brought on or encouraged by an event, or something has happened to that individual, either in their youth or adulthood, that they have not been able to deal with.

Stories Of Life After Depression

With depression, when it happens, it's the same way. You can't just return to your old ways of dealing with stress and use the same coping skills that got you depressed in the first place. It's time to see what your priorities are and what needs your attention most.

Some Therapy Options For Depression

This therapy deals with how you relate to other people in your life. It focuses on how you communicate and express you feelings. Your social skills are seen at the key to understanding why you are having trouble in your life. You need to learn how to become more self assertive and positive, making eye contact, and rehearsing what you will say or do in a situation.

Some Causes Of Depression

Stress in general can contribute to depression. There are stresses involving work, maintaining a home, caring for children, financial, and sexual problems. As people get older there is the stress of dealing with elderly parents. With jobs being shipped overseas, no one has a great sense of job security. Depression will tend to hit you the hardest if you are separated or divorced. This makes sense because there is always a sense of loss, of failure, even if you both agree that you will do better apart.

Seeing The Signs Of Depression

How can you get a real feel for what depression is? Most people who get depressed for the first time have a hard time realizing what it is. As a matter of fact, it is often someone close to you who asks what is wrong, what is going on. This sort of makes you think that yes, there is a problem and there are things which are going wrong.