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| | Notices | Welcome to PTSD Forum. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a life threatening, debilitating disorder that can break down a sufferer’s body through anxiety and stress. Further it poses a significant suicide risk resulting from the brains neurological imbalance and chemical depression. Sufferers often live in denial, thus this community is aimed at helping PTSD sufferers help themselves through others experiences, guidance and education. We are here for the sufferer, spouse and families surrounding PTSD. Spouses and family are too often forgotten in this equation, and often they receive all the worst that PTSD has to offer. If you're involved in any way with PTSD, get registered and help yourself now. Non-active members will eventually be deleted. If you are not a sufferer, carer or someone within the mental health industry, and active, then there is little reason for you to be a member of this forum. Non-active members with zero posts are deleted periodically during the year. |  | 
30-04-2006, 12:25 PM
|  | Administrative Editor PTSD | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,128
| |  Understanding Types of Depression & Treatment
Definition- Clinical Depression is an emotional, physical and cognitive state which is more intense and long-lasting, and which has more negative effects on a persons day-to-day life.
- Robs us of finding meaning in life.
- Inhibits personal growth.
Types of Depressive Illness- Unipolar mood disorders
- Mood swing one direction > Down
- Reactive; stressful events; gradual
- Major Depression
- BiPolar mood disorder
- Season affective disorder (SAD)
Symptoms (5+)- Depressed mood.
- Suicidal ideation or self-harm.
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
- Loss of interest and pleasure, including sex drive.
- Lack of motivation.
- Sleep disturbance.
- Decrease or increase of appetite or weight.
- Psychomotor retardation and agitation.
- Tiredness and loss of energy.
- Inability to concentrate or indeciseveness.
Causative Factors- Some biological predisposition
- Life events
- Cognitive distortions (thoughts)
- Ineffective use of coping skills
- Problem solving skills (helplessness)
- Assertiveness
- Self award (self reinforcement)
Neurotransmitters- The brain lacks chemicals responsible for mood.
- Norephinephrine, seretonin, dopamine
- They regulate sleep, appetite, pain, etc.
- Carry messages between nerve cells.
- Only part of the problem.
- Not the same for everyone.
- The role of stress.
Co-Existing Conditions- Panic disorder
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Alcohol and substance abuse.
- Seeming benefits
- Depressant
- Agoraphobia.
- Social phobia.
Associated Physical Conditions- Physical illness (epilepsy, cancer)
- Pharmacological (steroids, amphetamines, sedative withdrawal)
- Endocrine (hyper or hypothyroidism, diabetes, cushing's disease)
- Viral infections (hepatitis, AIDS, influenza)
- Neurological (MS, parkinson's, head trauma, stroke)
- Hormonal imbalance (postnatal, menopause)
Normal Depression- Feeling blue, sad, down, normal upsets.
- Attitude: pessimistic or optimistic.
- Depression and creativity.
- Grief and loss.
- Life circumstances, ie. poverty or loneliness.
- Normal life changes, ie. puberty, childbirth and menopause.
Myths- "Pull yourself together"
- "Snap out of it"
- Weak and/or mentally incompetent
- No visible problem
- Someone has "caused" the depression
- Unforgivable sin or being punished
Treatment- Medication
- Counselling
- Supportive counselling
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Group therapy
- Problem solving training
- Assertiveness
- Couples therapy
- [SIZE=-1]Electro-Convulsive Therapy ([/SIZE]ECT)
- Self-help
Self Help- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Assertiveness: say NO
- "Pleasure days"
- Use of "time out"
- Reward yourself
- Decrease self criticism
- Enhance self esteem
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