How Poor Nutrition Can Worsen the Effects of Depression

While depression is a condition of the mind, having a diet full of good nutrition can play a part in helping you work through the problem. Without the proper nutrition in our diets, we increase the risks of illness and disease, as well as an increase in symptoms of depression.

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless. If these feelings persist for more than two weeks, then you are most probably depressed. Not only are there emotional and mental factors involved with depression, there are physical ones as well. In addition, there are nutritional factors that can have a great impact on depression and how you feel about yourself and life.

How does nutrition affect depression?

Nutrition can have a lot to do with the onset or exacerbation of feeling depressed. We have all heard of comfort foods. These are foods that make us feel better when we feel bad.

You may not be feeling so hot emotionally, so in order to feel better you might grab a carton of your favorite ice cream or chocolate bar. Do this enough times and you begin to gain weight. By gaining weight, your self esteem and body image take a nose dive, resulting in the symptoms of depression to increase. As your depression worsens, you turn to these comfort foods more often and the situation continues to plummet.

Prevention:

If you have already been diagnosed with depression, you must continue to take your medication as prescribed. You can also make some lifestyle changes that will help to decrease symptoms if depression by taking better care of yourself. Lets start with diet and nutrition.

Getting proper nutrition:

It is well known the benefits of eating a well balanced diet. To do that you need to know what foods are contained in a healthy diet. A nutrition rich diet that may help decrease depression symptoms includes:

- Fresh vegetables and fruits, raw or steamed

- Lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, and fish

- Whole grain carbohydrates such as breads and pasta.

- Beans, peas, and other lentils

- Low fat dairy products

- Avoid foods high in cholesterol or salt

- Drinking plenty of fluids for proper hydration, as well as to flush out impurities in the body.

You may want to talk to your doctor about nutritional supplements to increase vitamins and minerals to your diet. These will help boost how the body functions, as well as helping the brain to perform to the best of it's ability.

Your brain works best when it is fueled by good nutrition. Make sure your diet is healthy and you will be helping your brain overcome the effects of depression.

Agitated Depression - Is There a Cure?

You may have heard of agitated depression, but you may not be sure what exactly it is. Basically this type of depression is a type of clinical depression in which patients have deal with restlessness as well as irritability. This is the term that is used for those who have depression when agitation is very prominent, and this is a very severe type of depression. Usually it is those who are elderly or those in middle age years that go through this type of depression.

While often people who go through depression feel very fatigued and laid back, there are others that are very irritable, angry, and agitated. This is what is being referred to when it comes to agitated depression. Although agitation can occur with other forms of depression, it is given this name when the agitation involved is very severe. However, there are no reasons to think that this type of depression is really different than other types of depression in most ways.

When it comes to agitated depression, there are several things that patients must show in order to be diagnosed with this type of depression. First of all, they must be having a major episode of depression. They must show symptoms like psychic agitation, tension on the inside, crowded thoughts, racing thoughts, or motor agitation. When they have at least two of these symptoms when going through an episode of depression, it is considered to be agitated depression.

There are a variety of different ways that this agitated depression may be expressed in patients. Some may pace a lot, others may shout out or start complaining. Others cannot sit still, some pull hair, rub their skin or clothes, keep talking all the time, or may go around wringing their hands all of the time.

Agitated depression is very serious, and it definitely does need to be treated. There are some drugs out there that are often used to treat this type of depression, but drugs are not always going to be the best option. For many people, drugs only cover up the problem, never really solving the problem at all. Instead of going with drugs, natural treatments can be used to treat this type of depression.

Natural options are available to treat agitated depression, and they are worth trying out. Instead of dealing with depression as well as medications and their side effects, natural options can bring relief that lasts long term. If you or someone you know are dealing with agitated depression, then you owe it to yourself to learn more about the natural treatments out there today.

Why Depression Is Contagious And What To Do About It

If your spouse or partner is down in the dumps, you are at risk of catching the same mood. This is particularly so if the mood lasts for more than a few days or is associated with a clinical condition.

Should you find yourself slipping under, you need to know why depression is contagious and what to do about it. The reality is you can pick up on your partner's mood cues and follow them to your own detriment.

You can also end up doing your partner, and your relationship together, more harm than good.

Why depression is contagious and what to do about it will hinge a bit on how serious the condition happens to be. A passing bad mood shouldn't be a concern, but long-term depression can cause real issues. It does help to understand this clinical condition a little more.

About Depression

Depression is a serious medical condition that involves a long-term sense of being down. People with depression tend to be sad, feel hopeless, may harbor feelings of guilt and may even consider suicide.

Feeling "blue" for a short time is not clinical depression. When symptoms of isolation, helplessness and sadness last for several weeks at a time clinical depression may be to blame.

Why Depression Is Contagious

Medical researchers have found that people who are around others with clinical conditions tend to mimic the symptoms. Essentially, the old saying misery loves company comes into play.

Although depression isn't technically "contagious" in the way a cold is, it can have people who are exposed to it acting in a similar manner.

Why depression is contagious and what to do about it is a matter of mind over matter for the other partner in a relationship.

"Catching" this condition happens because the actual sufferer's mood can and will impact the partner. After all, people are emotionally invested in their partners. When one is sad, the other tends to feel empathy. It just makes sense.

While the non-affected partner may not actually acquire the clinical condition, that person's mood and overall attitude can mirror the affected partner's rather closely.

Living with a person who suffers from depression can take a toll on everyone in the picture.

Combating The 'Spread' Of Depression

There are very good reasons why non-affected partners need to know why depression is contagious and what to do about it. The truth is there are many things that can be done so the condition doesn't "spread."

Partners who wish to help themselves and their loved one can try these things:

Getting treatment for the impacted partner - If clinical depression is suspected, medical advice is almost always a must.

Facing this condition alone can be extremely difficult. This is especially so if the symptoms are appearing in both parties. Medications, counseling and other measures can make a very big difference.

Trying to remain positive - While it can be very difficult to remain positive while living in a home with a depression sufferer, it is important.

Controlling your own mood can help you maintain your identity and may even ease the road to recovery for the impacted partner. Focus on positive aspects in life and try to retain control over your own emotions.

Using positive affirmations - Why depression is contagious and what to do about it is vital to understand to maintain your own psychological health in the face of illness.

Partners who suffer from depression or other clinical conditions might not be as supportive as you might like during the illness. To keep yourself up, try using positive affirmations. These can keep you grounded and help you retain control over yourself.

When clinical conditions are an issue, it's important to understand why depression is contagious and what to do about it. There are steps you can take to maintain your own mood and your health. Doing so is important.

After all, no one is responsible for your happiness except you. With patience and understanding, you can work through the issues you face.

Caffeine May Make Depression Worse

There has been an extensive debate on whether caffeine has an overall positive or negative effect on people. The same is applicable to the effects that this chemical compound has on one of the most common psychological conditions, depression. Several studies have suggested that caffeine may reduce serotonin production and make the condition worse while others claim the opposite.

The results of various studies on the effect of caffeine on serotonin and, in turn, on depression have been inconclusive. There have also been studies that show no direct correlation between the intake of this chemical compound and the production of this neurotransmitter in the brain. However, it has been found that caffeine may affect serotonin production and depression in general indirectly in a number of ways.

This chemical compound, naturally found in coffee and other plants, has been shown to have a mild to moderate effect on the overall functioning of the brain. It makes you more alert and allows you to have better concentration for longer. As you consume coffee, or other beverages containing this chemical compound, your body adjusts to the effect they have on the brain and accepts it as natural.

If you suddenly stop taking this chemical compound, the effect on the brain can be adverse. The levels of the different chemical compounds in the brain, including serotonin, may drop and make your depression considerably worse. Withdrawal symptoms include greater irritability, fatigue and headaches which may be new to you and make your general physical and psychological condition far worse. In this respect, the general consumption of caffeine can provide for the aggravation of depression, especially if you consume large amounts of coffee and/or caffeinated drinks.

Caffeine maybe linked to night's sleep, which in turn, is linked to depression. Many people consuming caffeine have sleeping problems, such as inability to fall asleep quickly and waking up frequently during the night as well as poor sleep, in general. It has also been found that in many depression patients anxiety and depression symptoms pick up during the night and cause sleep problems. This comes to suggest that the consumption of coffee and similar beverages may aggravate some of the most serious depression symptoms. It can lead into more serious sleep problems, fatigue and drowsiness during the day.

Even though some studies suggest this chemical compound may reduce the risk of cancer and nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, it is considered to have an adverse general effect on the health, especially when consumed in large amounts. Caffeine consumption can increase the blood pressure and, in turn, lead to permanent heart, blood vessel, liver and kidney damage. Heart problems as well as other health problems can make depression worse, causing greater anxiety and increasing the feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness.

In conclusion, there is no solid scientific evidence that caffeine lowers serotonin levels in the brain while it is actually being consumed. However, this chemical consumption may affect the serotonin and other chemical compound balances in the brain indirectly especially if you stop your caffeine intake for any reason.

7 Ways to Overcome SAD

Today, I catch a glimpse of the sun and I turn my face to it. If you live in the Midwest, feeling the warmth of it is significant. But if you are noticing a bit of tiredness as the seasons change or if you find yourself eating or sleeping more now that the temperatures have dropped and darkness falls earlier, you may be experiencing SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

While not all of us develop the "winter blues" many of us do and often it can be debilitating. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression which can bring on lethargy and fatigue, as well as oversleeping, social withdrawal, loss of energy, and difficulty concentrating. Here is a definition from the Wikipedia:

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer, repeatedly, year after year. The US National Library of Medicine notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up."

There are several ways to overcome this seasonal phenomenon:

• Eat right. Omega 3 oils found in fish improve symptoms of SAD.


• Light therapy, although an experimental treatment. It mimics outdoor light and causes a biochemical change in the brain which can lift your mood. 


• When symptoms become severe, a medical professional may prescribe anti-depressant medication or other psychiatric medicine. 


• Psychotherapy is a method of talk therapy, it helps in conveying feelings.


• Find others for support. A network of support is that shoulder to lean on. 


• Read a motivational book or engage in music.


• Sleep well and keep a regular schedule.

Remember SAD is temporary. Mayo Clinic believes that light therapy offers a chance to regain the happier mood that one may lose to seasonal affective disorder. "Light therapy, also called bright light therapy or phototherapy, has been used to treat seasonal affective disorder since the early 1980s. Many mental health professionals now consider light therapy to be standard treatment for seasonal affective disorder. However, light therapy hasn't been officially approved as a treatment by the Food and Drug Administration because of a lack of definitive evidence about its effectiveness in clinical trials. Results of some clinical trials have shown light therapy to be effective - and in some cases even more effective than antidepressants - while other research has shown that it's not effective. In addition, most studies have lasted less than six weeks. You can purchase a light therapy box over-the-counter, which means you don't need a prescription. However, check with your doctor before trying light therapy to make sure it's appropriate for your situation."

We are not alone. Statistically, as many as half a million people in the United States may have winter-onset depression. Another 10% to 20% may experience mild SAD. SAD is more common in women than in men and although some children and teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn't start in people younger than 20 years of age.  The good news is SAD is treatable.The following coping skills will ease the symptoms: 

• Stick to a treatment plan. Make you home as bright as possible.


• Get outdoors on sunny days and soak up the sun.


• Exercise regularly, aerobic and resistance exercise improves the condition significantly. 


• Rest and relaxation, practice yoga or visualization.


• Practice stress management, socialize regularly and take a trip if your schedule allows.

SAD need not be your grey day mainstay. Anything that gets the blood flowing will improve your condition. So when the day turns grey, play! It is just what the doctor ordered, just what you need, just in time.  

Health Insurance Coverage For Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a unique affective syndrome marked by severe pathologic mood swings from hyperactivity and euphoria to sadness or depression. Some patients suffer from acute attacks of mania only. In many patients, manic episodes emerge over a period of days to weeks. Untreated episodes can last as long as 8 to 12 months, with some having an unremitting and unpredictable course.

Bipolar disorder is surprisingly common, affecting 3 million people within the United States, however it is difficult to diagnose. The disease is equally prevalent in both females and males. Females are more prone to have depressive episodes while males experience more manic episodes comparatively speaking. Approximately half of all patients with this disorder have difficulties in work performance and psychological functioning.Onset of the conditions usually occurs or manifest between the ages of 20 through 30, however symptoms have been reported in late childhood and early adolescence.

Contrary To Popular Belief Not All Applicants With Bipolar Are Turned Down For Health Insurance.

There is sufficient evidence statistically proving that insuring a patient with Bipolar Disorder does comprise a higher medical loss ratio for the insurer, negatively impacting its financial prowess while retaining assumed liability by absorbing the cost of an expensive regime of healthcare treatment divided equally between prescription medication usage and behavioral lifestyle contingencies.

Problem Number One: The Drugs.

Widely used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Lithium proves highly effective in relieving and preventing manic episodes. The drug curbs accelerated thought processes and hyperactive behavior without the sedating effect of antipsychotic medicine. In addition, it may prevent the recurrence of depressive episodes, however it is still ineffective in treating acute depression.

Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range, so treatment must be initiated cautiously and the dosage adjusted slowly. Therapeutic blood levels must be maintained for 7 to 10 days before effects appear; therefore, antipsychotic medications often are used in the interim for sedation and symptomatic relief. Because lithium is excreted by the kidneys, any renal impairment necessitates withdrawal of the drug.

Valproic Acid is an alternative to Lithium for those who do not tolerate it. It is especially helpful in rapid cycling courses of Bipolar Disorder. Carbamazepine is helpful in the treatment of mania but it is not formally approved by the Food and Drug Administration for Bipolar Disorder. Anti Depressants occasionally are used to treat depressive symptoms however these drugs may trigger a manic episode.

Medications to treat Bipolar Disorder are expensive and constitute a lot of contraindications that can lead to many co-morbidities leaving the insurer to pay the tab.

Problem Number Two: The Uncertainty.

As far as the behavioral contingencies there is only one plausible way to evaluate the risk assessment appropriately which is to utilize a questionnaire screen against electronic medical records.
Applicants diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder are sometimes insurable but require careful screening to determine the extent and severity of their condition. Here are some useful tips on answering underwriter questionnaires successfully to get approved without inevitable riders and exclusions.

Health Insurance Underwriting Questions.

(1) When was the applicant diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: As a general rule the date is not as important as there is no definitive period of medical clearance for this condition as a guideline. What underwriters are really looking for here is if there was an incidence requiring hospitalization. If being hospitalized was not documented then most likely there will be no formal request for medical records from the physician who made the diagnosis official. In this case the farther back it was diagnosed the better.

(2) When was the applicant's last acute episode?

Answer: The insurer is primarily concerned on gauging or measuring estimated probabilities of inpatient and outpatient stay. If there is such a medical history on file then there is a frame of reference to go by as far as calculating cost and determining an appropriate rate. If there was an incidence call the physician and ask him or her to document notation in the record of progress before submission of the application.

(3) What medications are being used to treat the applicant and how well are they working?

Answer: Pharmaceutical databases have a registry on file with prescription medication usage, dosage, and frequency consumed on each patient so a good idea is to terminated the prescription and have the physician give the quantities during the office visit.

(4) Is the applicant gainfully employed and living independently?

Answer: The underwriter wants to know if there are any other factors affecting the applicant's insurability. A simple employment verification will usually be all that's required to confirm an applicant is responsible enough to pay premiums and not indulge to often in deviant behavior. Prior notice to the employer of a possible interrogation from the health insurance company is a prudent measure.

These techniques have worked many times to get approved for a major medical heath insurance plan with applicants diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. If you or some one you know has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and is facing difficulty in obtaining quality health insurance, please visit our website at http://www.health-insurance-buyer.com and leave your contact information. One of our licensed agents will contact you at your discretion and help you with all your needs.

The Different Types of Bipolar Diseases

Bipolar disorder is also called bipolar mood disorder, manic-depressive illness, manic depression, bipolar affective disorder and manic-depressive disorder. People with the disorder experience unusual shifting of energy, mood, behavior and the ability to function normally. These mood swings are from high periods of mania to low episodes of depression. The disorder can be either mild or severe and the mood swings can be frequent or infrequent. Depending on the symptoms manifested by the person affected, the disorders can be diagnosed according to its different types such as bipolar disorder 1, bipolar disorder 2, cyclothymic disorder and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified.

# 1 Bipolar Disorder 1

Most people suffering from this type of disorder, sometimes called bipolar 1 disorder, experience both the mania and depression. This type of disorder is distinguished from disorder 2 in terms of the duration and severity of the manic phase, which could last anywhere from weeks to a couple of months.

# 2 Bipolar Disorder 2

People with this type of disorder suffer from periods of severe depression that is occasionally accompanied with episodes of mild mania known as hypomania. No delusions are experienced in bipolar disorder 2 but there is still impaired mental functioning.

# 3 Cyclothymic Disorder

People with cyclothymic disorder experience alternate attacks of mild depression and hypomania. It lasts longer than the disorders 1 and 2 with no break in the manifestation of symptoms but is not as severe.

# 4 Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)

This type includes those symptoms and features that don't meet any of the categories of bipolar disorder, such as very rapid alternation between depressive symptoms and manic symptoms, recurrent episodes of hypomanic phase without depression, and hypomanic episodes that are associated with chronic depression.

Of all the types of disorders, bipolar 1 disorder is the most severe type. If left untreated, it will possibly have a high rate of recurrence. It has an estimated rate of about 15% death risk by suicide. Also, it is considered as the third leading cause of death among people aged fifteen to twenty-four years old. It tends to run in families and is a lifelong disorder. Aside from being a hereditary disorder, other factors that can cause this type of disorder are certain illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, brain tumor, and multiple sclerosis, and certain environmental factors such as giving birth, stressful life events, sleep deprivation, stimulants, electroconvulsive therapy, antipsychotic medication and antidepressant medication.

Symptoms

Since disorder 1 involves both the manic and depression phases, the symptoms are just the common ones such as unusual happiness and sadness, grandiose delusions, change in eating and sleep patterns, pressured speech and suicidal attempts.

Bipolar 1 Treatments

Most commonly used medications used to control the symptoms of this type of disorder are anti-psychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. Other medications may also be prescribed to help manage restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia. Psychotherapy is also the treatment of choice in some cases.

Having a bipolar disorder, especially bipolar disorder 1 is something that should not be taken for granted since it can really lead to death due to suicide if left untreated. Prompt treatment should be sought once the symptoms occur.