Transcript Depression and Stress Management

Depression and Stress Management
Dr Walid Sayed ABDELKADER
Head of Preventive Medicine and Primary Care
division
International Medical Centre
Cairo – Egypt
June 2009
imceg.com
Depression
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What is depression?
Symptoms of depression.
Types of depression.
Causes of depression
Management of depression
What is depression?
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Depression is a "whole-body"
illness, involving your body,
mood, and thoughts. It affects the
way you eat and sleep, the way
you feel about yourself, and the
way you think about things.
Symptoms of depression
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Changes in Thinking
Changes in feeling
Changes in Behavior
Changes in Physical Well-being
Symptoms of depression
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Changes in Thinking
1-you may experience problems with
concentration and decision making.
2-Some people report difficulty with short term
memory.
3-some may forget things all the time.
4-Negative thoughts and thinking are
characteristic of depression.
5-Pessimism
6-Poor self-esteem, excessive guilt and selfcriticism are all common.
7-Some people have self-destructive thoughts
during a more serious depression.
Symptoms of depression
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Change in feeling
1-You may feel sad for no reason at all.
2-No longer enjoy activities that were found
pleasurable.
3- Might lack motivation, and become more
apathetic.
4- May feel "slowed down" and tired all the time.
5-Sometimes irritability is a problem.
6- Difficulty in controlling your temper.
7-In the extreme, depression is characterized by
feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Symptoms of depression
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Changes in Behavior
1-Some people do not feel comfortable with others
2-Social withdrawal is common.
3- Some have experience of a dramatic change in
appetite, either eating more or less.
4-Some people complain about everything, and act
out their anger with temper outbursts.
5- Sexual desire may disappear, resulting in lack of
sexual activity.
6- In the extreme, people may neglect their
personal appearance, even neglecting basic
hygiene.
Symptoms of depression:
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Changes in Physical Wellbeing
1-Chronic fatigue
2-Spending more time sleeping, is common.
3-Some people can't sleep, or don't sleep soundly.
4-These individuals lay awake for hours, or awaken many
times during the night, and stare at the ceiling.
5-Others sleep many hours, even most of the day,
although they still feel tired.
6- Many people lose their appetite, feel slowed down by
depression, and complain of many aches and pains.
Symptoms of depression:
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Sad, empty mood
Anxious
Hopelessness
Feeling worthless or helpless
Loss of interest in things you
once had interest in
Low sex drive
Decreased energy
Headaches
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Decreased concentration
Diminished memory
Change in sleeping
patterns
Change in appetite
Weight loss/gain
Suicidal or morbid
thoughts
Easily irritated
Digestive disorders
Causes of depression
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Chemical imbalances in the brain
Run in families
Low self-esteem
Environmental factors
Individual factors
Diagnoses for depression
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determined by:
the intensity of the symptoms.
the duration of the symptoms.
the specific cause of the symptoms, if that
is known.
Types of depression
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Major depression
Dysthmic disorder
Unspecified depression
Adjustment disorder, with depression
Bipolar depression
HOW TO HELP YOURSELF
IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED
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Set realistic goals in light of the depression and assume a reasonable
amount of responsibility.
Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you
can as you can.
Try to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better
than being alone and secretive.
Participate in activities that may make you feel better.
Mild exercise, going to a movie, a ballgame, or participating in religious,
social, or other activities may help.
Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better
takes time.
It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has
lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition—change jobs, get
married or divorced—discuss it with others who know you well and have
a more objective view of your situation.
People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better
day-by-day.
Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is
part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to
treatment.
Let your family and friends help you.
Individual Approaches to
Managing Stress
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Exercise :
People of all ages are walking, riding bicycles,
attending aerobic classes, practicing yoga,
swimming, playing tennis.
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Diet :
Diet plays indirect role in stress management. Foods
with high sugar content stimulate or prolong the
stress response and high-cholesterol foods
adversely affect blood chemistry.
Individual Approaches to
Managing Stress
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Relaxation :
The relaxation response reverses the stress
response in the human mind –body system.
When it is practiced; the individual sits peacefully in a comfortable chair in quiet location.
All tight clothing is loosened before the person
becomes completely still. The individual allows 20
to 30 minutes to pass while he is in this quiet
state. Once the relaxation period is completed,
the individual opens his eyes fully and sits
peacefully for a minute or two before getting up.
Practitioners of medication and relaxation
exercises claim that it reduces their heart rates,
blood pressure and other physiological indicators
of stress.
Individual Approaches to
Managing Stress
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Opening up :
We all experience traumatic events in life. A
healthy response to these moments or
periods of personal crisis is to confide in
others.
Individuals who wrote once a week about
traumatic events had healthier outlooks and
lower absenteeism.
Individual Approaches to
Managing Stress
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Professional help:
Sometimes people have problem coping on
their own and they seek professional help or
clinical counseling. People who want this
kind of help can choose among psychological
counseling, career counseling, financial and
family counseling, physical therapy, medical
treatment, surgical intervention and stress
debriefing.
References
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1 Blehar MD, Oren DA. Gender differences in depression.
Medscape Women's Health, 1997;2:3. Revised from: Women's
increased vulnerability to mood disorders: Integrating psychobiology
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2 Ferketick AK, Schwartzbaum JA, Frid DJ, Moeschberger ML.
Depression as an antecedent to heart disease among women and
men in the NHANES I study. National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2000; 160(9): 1261-8.
3 Frank E, Karp JF, Rush AJ (1993). Efficacy of treatments for major
depression. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 1993; 29:457-75.
4 Lebowitz BD, Pearson JL, Schneider LS, Reynolds CF, Alexopoulos GS,
Bruce MI, Conwell Y, Katz IR, Meyers BS, Morrison MF, Mossey J,
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5 Robins LN, Regier DA (Eds). Psychiatric Disorders in America, The
Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, 1990; New York: The Free Press.
6 Rubinow DR, Schmidt PJ, Roca CA. Estrogen-serotonin interactions:
Implications for affective regulation. Biological Psychiatry, 1998;
44(9):839-50.
7 Schmidt PJ, Neiman LK, Danaceau MA, Adams LF, Rubinow DR.
Differential behavioral effects of gonadal steroids in women with and in
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8 Vitiello B, Jensen P. Medication development and testing in children
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