Imagine the feeling of emptiness in life, and the feeling of nothing matters anymore. Countless people feel this way every day. A 21- year- old male felt this way and wondered if there was ever “victory over depression” (“Depression Stories” 1). At the beginning of his story, he talks about spending four years attempting to find joy. He felt like happiness was hiding from him, and as long as he kept searching it would keep on hiding. As quoted, “Like a tiger trying to catch his tail, I felt my search was not going to end well” (“Depression Stories” 1). Pleasure was what he was pursuing. His lifestyle completely changed, and he had only one rule. As quoted, “If it brought me pleasure, go for it; if it was not pleasurable, forget it” (“Depression Stories”). Eventually, he came to a place where he had an empty, meaningless life. Finally, he came to the conclusion about joy not being able to be obtained. He eventually was drained because his realization of lasting happiness not being possible brought him despair. His desire of his life became fainter while the monster, misery, had grown larger. As said, “Depression starts out seemingly harmless; a feeling of discontent -- a sense that something was lacking” (“Depression Stories”). Depression eventually became stronger, and it took on some dangerous qualities. He was not aware of where he was going, but the deeper depression took him the more dangerous it became. Death was the only way he felt he could get out because he was way in over his head. As quoted, “It’s like the Venus flytrap plant that draws the insect into its lethal caress. The poor insect goes willingly, unaware that the plant is more than it appears to be” (“Depression Stories”). He compares the Venus ... ... middle of paper ... ...., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "Antidepressants: What You Need to Know About Depression Medicines." HelpGuide.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "Depression ." NIMH. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec 2010. "Depression Stories - Is victory possible?." Life Challenges. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "Depression Treatment: Therapy. Medication, and Lifestyle Changes that Can Help." HelpGuide.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "Depression: Treatment With Electroconvulsive Therapy." FamilyDoctor.org. American Academy of Family Physicians, May 2010. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "Psychotherapy for Depression." The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 1995. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "St. John's Wort and Depression." National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010. "Understanding Depression: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Help." HelpGuide.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010.
Williamson, J. S. (2008). Depression. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 88(1), 18-18, 24. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/235187495?accountid=27965
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Unlike Naomi, Eric does not respond to drug therapy. Therefore, instead of a drug therapy, Eric receives the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or brain stimulation often an effective treatment for patients like Eric with severe depression who does not respond to a drug therapy. By shocking the brain, the ECT manipulates the brain’s chemical imbalance produced by the social-cultural stress experience. But after eleven ECTs in a month, Eric cannot function because of the temporary side effects of memory loss and confusion affecting his concentration to play the viola and his well-being. Then after four months of receiving ECT treatment, Eric returns to normal social functioning as a musician. Six months later, Eric is still playing the viola and has had no recurrence of his
Mayo Clinic staff. “Depression (major depression).” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2013. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
?What is the role of ECT in the treatment of mania?? Harvard Mental Health Letter. June 1997.
Currently, there is a lack of studies in regards to whether or not this therapy causes significant damage to the brain. Correspondingly, there is little research done in regards to how great relapse rates are and how long the treatment can truly last. Consequently, many people have abstained from receiving treatment to avoid any possibility of impairment or reversion. However, it has not been denied nor confirmed that ECT directly causes the aforementioned results. Moreover, many theories created to downplay electroconvulsive therapy’s effectiveness are being brought back into the spotlight, including one that attributes ECT’s success to brain damage. Breggin states, “More recently [Harold] Sackeim and Sackeim with a team of colleagues have covertly revived the principle that a therapeutic response depends upon the degree of brain damage and dysfunction” (par. 17). Although this theory was made to discredit ECT, there has been no research done to disprove its accuracy. Furthermore, because of a lack of research, when a new study such as this comes out, many people believe it right away no matter how erroneous it may actually be. More research on ECT is desperately needed to see if these theories are factual or not. As a result of these truths or fallacies, the therapy can be improved upon
Kaplan, Brian, “Antidepressants and Our ‘Brave New World’.” Dr Brian Kaplan RSS. 24 Jan. 2012. Web. http://drkaplan.co.uk/2012/01/homeopathy/antidepressants-evidence-and-our-%E2%80%98brave-new-world%E2%80%99
Depression is an incredibly serious matter that affects many people around the world. It is fairly common for many people to experience depression in some sort of way after a tragic event, such as the death of a family member or the severing of a long-term relationship. In fact, some may argue that these feelings are indeed appropriate for the time being. However, for some individuals, these feelings of despair and stress can last for weeks at a time or longer. While some who are not dealing with depression may interpret the feelings and the mindset of those who are struggling with major depression as a case of “the blues”, depression is undoubtedly a serious condition when left to itself without any type of support or medication. Depression
Antidepressant are a form of pharmacotherapy treatment developed to treat the symptoms of major depression. Antidepressants are used for many other types of conditions including anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, dysthymia, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, and substance abuse, pain syndromes, gastrointestional disorders. Antidepressants usually require several weeks to notice significant effects. There are no antidepressants or any medication that is completely free of adverse effects. This article explains that the adverse effects of antidepressant can decrease compliance and slow down the rate of recovery. It is important for one to take note of potential side-effects before choosing the best antidepressant to suit their personalized needs. Statistics show that about 28 percent of patients sto...
One out of every 20 Americans will become depressed this year. This is obviously a very major and serious problem. St. John’s Wort’s main ingredient, hypericin, is what appears to help alleviate mild to moderate depression, although not much is known about whether or not it proves helpful in severe depression. Hypericin is the red pigment of the plant and it seems to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and the breakdown of the brain’s neurotransmitters and is also a SRI, serotonin reuptake inhibitor. However, according to Jean Carper in Miracle Cures, “recent research finds hypericin less potent an antidepressant than the whole plant extract itself, suggesting the herb’s complex mixture of chemicals, including xanthones and flavonoids, also are critical in the plant’s pharmacological benefits”.
Depression is an illness within itself that affects the “whole body”. (Staywell,1998) The body, feelings, thoughts, and behavior are all immensely altered when someone is depressed. It is not a sign of personal weakness, or a condition that can be wished or willed away. For some people depression is just temporary, but for others it can last for weeks, months and even years.
Depression is a mental health condition which is widely recognised as one of the most common conditions for which people seek and receive care. There are many specific nursing problems which are encompassed by the medical term “depression” and these include physical, cognitive and behavioural patterns. Successful treatments of depression are psychosocial interventions which aim to identify and challenge a depressed persons pessimistic attitudes and beliefs and which promote an individuals’ participation in rewarding activities in an attempt to reduce any negative behaviours. The aim of this essay is to identify specific nursing problems which are encompassed by the term “depression” and relate these to a patient whom the author had met whilst out on clinical placement who had been given a medical diagnosis of depression. It is also the aim of this essay to discuss different psychosocial interventions and how effective these are in assisting a patient in their road to recovery.
Herbal remedies have been used throughout the world for thousands of years and recently their use has become popularized in America. People tend to view herbal remedies as being safer then prescription drugs because they are believed not to contain chemicals or cause side effects. St. John’s Wort is an herbal remedy, which prevents the destruction of seratonin, a natural anti-depressant, is often used to treat depression. Due to the increasing interest it St John’s wort, as well as in other herbal remedies, there has been a great deal of research done recently in the effectiveness and safety of this herb in regards to depression.
Depression is an touchy and continually changing subject. Having depression can be a confusing and frustrating thing to deal with. Becoming depressed and having to seek help can be a stressful and complicated process, that can only further increase his or her’s depression, however depression is a terrible, but common mental illness, that can be treated and maintained with the help of others.
Price, L. O., Charney, D. S., Goodman, W. K., Krystal, J. H., Woods, A. N. & Heninger, G. R. Clinical data on the role of serotonin in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. Journal Clinical Psychiatry, April 1990, 51: 44-50. (cited as 5)