Q. What is depression?
Being clinically depressed is very different from the down type of feeling that all people experience from time to time. Occasional feelings of sadness are a normal part of life, and it is that such feelings are often colloquially referred to as "depression." In clinical depression, such feelings are out of proportion to any external causes. There are things in everyone's life that are possible causes of sadness, but people who are not depressed manage to cope with these things without becoming incapacitated.
As one might expect, depression can present itself as feeling
sad or "having the blues". However, sadness may not always be the
dominant feeling of a depressed person. Depression can also be experienced as
a numb or empty feeling, or perhaps no awareness of feeling at all. A depressed
person may experience a noticeable loss in their ability to feel pleasure about
anything. Depression, as viewed by psychiatrists, is an illness in which a person
experiences a marked change in their mood and in the way they view themselves
and the world. Depression as a significant depressive disorder ranges from short
in duration and mild to long term and very severe, even life threatening.
What causes depression?
Despite 35 years of research antidepressant drugs still cause adverse side effects Depression is big business |
The group of symptoms which doctors and therapists use to diagnose depression ("depressive symptoms"), which includes the important proviso that the symptoms have manifested for more than a few weeks and that they are interfering with normal life, are the result of an alteration in brain chemistry. This alteration is similar to temporary, normal variations in brain chemistry which can be triggered by illness, stress, frustration, or grief, but it differs in that it is self-sustaining and does not resolve itself upon removal of such triggering events (if any such trigger can be found at all, which is not always the case.)
 |
Depression and Stress Hormones The most common drugs used today to treat depression focus their attention on the brain chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine. Increasing evidence, however, now indicates that another player in the brain, corticotropin-releasing factor, should share the spolight. Studies have shown that abnormally high activity of this stress hormone is present in many cases of depression. Furthermore, research shows that drugs that block the action of corticotropin-releasing factor have the potential to lift the dismally low spirits of the depressed. The new insights help explain how depression arises and may lead to new options for prevention and treatment. |
Instead, the alteration continues, producing depressive symptoms and through those symptoms, enormous new stresses on the person: unhappiness, sleep disorders, lack of concentration, difficulty in doing one's job, inability to care for one's physical and emotional needs, strain on existing relationships with friends and family. These new stresses may be sufficient to act as triggers for continuing brain chemistry alteration, or they may simply prevent the resolution of the difficulties which may have triggered the initial alteration, or both.
The depressive brain chemistry alteration seems to be self-limiting
in most cases: after one to three years, a more normal chemistry reappears,
even without medical treatment. However, if the alteration is profound enough
to cause suicidal impulses, a majority of untreated depressed people will in
fact attempt suicide, and as many as 17% will eventually succeed. Therefore,
depression must be thought of as a potentially fatal illness. Friends and relatives
may be deceived by the casual way that profoundly depressed people speak of
suicide or self-mutilation. They are not casual because they "don't really
mean it"; they are casual because these things seem no worse than the mental
pain they are already suffering. Any comment such as, "You'd be better
off if I were gone," or "I wish I could just jump out a window,"
is the equivalent of a sudden high fever;
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
 |
Symptoms of Depression An estimated one in ten Americans suffer from depression, an illness that affects both physical and mental well-being. Often chronic in nature, depression can be triggered by adverse life circumstances or occur simply "out of the blue." Frequently, a combination of genetic, psychological and environmental factors contribute to the onset of depression. |
The most common symptoms are set out below . If these have been experienced for more than two weeks it is essential to seek help. People may suffer from two or three of these symptoms but are unlikely to experience them all.
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Feeling useless, inadequate, bad.
Self hatred, constant questioning of thoughts and actions, an overwhelming need
for reassurance.
Being vulnerable and "over-sensitive".
Feeling guilty.
A loss of energy and motivation, that makes even the simplest tasks or decisions
seem difficult.
Self harm.
Loss or gain in weight.
Difficulty with getting off to sleep, or (less frequently) an excessive desire
to sleep.
Agitation and restlessness.
Loss of sex drive.
Finding it impossible to concentrate for any length of time, forgetfulness.
A sense of unreality.
Physical aches and pains, sometimes with the fear that you are seriously ill.
In severe depression, these feelings may also include:
Suicidal ideas.
Failure to eat or drink.
Delusions and/or hallucinations.
MORE INFORMATION
Depression is much misunderstood by the public, yet it affects many people of
all ages. It is estimated that one in five people will suffer from depression
at some point in their lives.
Depression is an illness where the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness,
linkled to the inability to concentrate, may make it hard for some people to
carry out normal daily activities.
Depression is an illness with a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms,
which sometimes make it hard to recognise and understand.
Personality may play a part in depression. Although anyone can become depressed
under particular circumstances, some people seem to be more vulnerable than
others. This may be because of things that have happened in childhood, such
as abuse, or because of our individual make up (including body chemistry).
A lot of effective, intelligent and creative people suffer from depression and
yet make an outstanding contribution to life. Often, information about their
depression is only revealed after their death, as people misunderstand the illness.
Amongst such people are Florence Nightingale and Sir Winston Churchill, who
used to call depression his "black dog". Depression can effect anyone
and does not reduce your value as a human being.
How may I measure my depression? |
The items below refer to how you have felt and
behaved **during the past week.** For each item, indicate the extent to which it is true, by circling one of the numbers that follows it. Use the following scale: |
0 = Not at all 1 = Just a little 2 = Somewhat 3 = Moderately 4 = Quite a lot 5 = Very much |
| 1. I do things slowly..............................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 2. My future seems hopeless...............................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 3. It is hard for me to concentrate on reading.....0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 4. The pleasure and joy has gone out of my life..0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 5. I have difficulty making decisions...................,0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 6. I have lost interest in aspects of life that used to be important to me...................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 7. I feel sad, blue, and unhappy............................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 8. I am agitated and keep moving around............0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 9. I feel fatigued.....................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 10. It takes great effort for me to do simple things......................................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 11. I feel that I am a guilty person who deserves to be punished........................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 12. I feel like a failure...........................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 13. I feel lifeless--more dead than alive...............0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 14. My sleep has been disturbed: too little, too much, or broken sleep.....................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 15. I spend time thinking about HOW I might kill myself...............................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 16. I feel trapped or caught...................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 17. I feel depressed even when good things happen to me.........................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
| 18. Without trying to diet, I have lost, or gained, weight...................................................0 1 2 3 4 5 |
It is important for people to know that:
Depression is an illness that can affect anyone at any age.
It is not connected with and does not develop into insanity
ANXIETY
 |
Heart Palpitations - Gone! Shortness of Breath - Gone! Anxiety Attacks - Gone! Sleepless Nights - Gone! Fear of Social Situations - Gone! Inability to Relax - Gone! Worry, Worry, Worry - Gone!
Instead you'll have. . .
Personal Self-Confidence... Top Performance on the Job... Relaxation in Social Settings... Ability to Have Fun Again... Belief in Yourself... Peaceful Sleep... Daily Joy and Serenity.. |
.Cranial electro stimulators offer a non-drug therapy for
the treatment of ANXIETY, DEPRESSION and INSOMNIA. CES has been used in numerous
countries around the world for over 30 years. It involves the application of
mild microcurrent electrical impulses to the head via electrodes applied behind
the ears or by means of ear-clip electrodes
CES should be used under direction of a licensed health care practitioner. Individual
results will vary, but many patients report significant improvement of their
Stress-Related Symptoms over a period of 2 to 3 weeks daily use.
FREQUENCY AND DURATION: Optimal CES treatments are 60 minutes once daily or 30 minutes two times daily for the first three weeks. In some studies 40 minutes 1 time per day, five days per week has been found to be adequate. For chronic conditions many patients find CES is actually more effective when used every other day. After first two weeks of daily treatment application may be reduced to maintenance level ranging from one 20-minute application every other day to one 20-minute application every three days. Treatment should not be discontinued as ineffective until 2 weeks of twice daily applications have been completed.
PRECAUTIONS: Optimally CES treatment should be applied in early hours after awakening and while in relaxed and quiet environment. Normally it is best not to use CES within three hours of bedtime. Exercise caution when driving or operating machinery for one hour after treatment. Do not apply electrodes directly over the eyes or the carotid sinus area (upper side of the neck below the ear and behind the jaw). Do not sleep during CES treatment
Cranial Electrotherapy, a Profound Alternative Therapy
 |
ANXIETY & Cranial Electrotherapy Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) has been used as a treatment
for anxiety in several parts of the world for over a quarter of a century.
American medicine has only recently begun to realize its use as a safe
and effective treatment. Studies show that Cranial Electrotherapy treatment
yields highly significant reductions in anxiety, whether the patients
were in a psychiatric setting, a scholastic setting, an outpatient setting,
or an in-patient general hospital setting. Further, while many different
kinds of anxiety have been studied, as measured by the six different
psychological measuring instruments found in these studies, they all
responded significantly to CES treatment. |
.
 |
DEPRESSION Studies show that reactive depression (that which results from acute
changes in the patients life situation such as a job change or divorce)
is decreased after 6 days of Cranial Electrotherapy treatment. More
deep seated depression (endogenous) in some cases required 3 or more
weeks of daily treatment. For this reason, many physicians routinely
prescribe a minimum of 2 weeks to a month of daily Cranial Electrotherapy
treatments in depressed patients, since it is frequently difficult to
gauge the type or depth of depression with great accuracy. |
 |
INSOMNIA |
Because Cranial Electrotherapy was originally called 'Electrosleep'
in European countries, many earlier American studies were designed to learn
whether or not such small amounts of electric currents would actually put people
to sleep. That is, just as 50ma of current - called 'electro-anaesthesia' -
put an individual into anesthesia so that surgical procedures could be performed,
1ma of Cranial Electrotherapy current was assumed to put them into a normal
state of sleep if 'Electrosleep' worked.
Such studies discovered that while Cranial Electrotherapy does not necessarily
"put a person to sleep", it does accomplish some very therapeutic
changes in the sleep patterns of people who complain of insomnia. The studies
below show that whether measured by the patient's own ratings, psychiatrists
ratings or by electroencephalograph or polygraph recordings before and after
Cranial Electrotherapy treatments, the following effects of CES in insomnia
can be expected:
1. Sleep onset latency is reduced. That is, once a person has retired for the
evening, the amount of time it takes him to actually fall asleep is reduced
from one to two hours or more to the more normal twenty minutes or less.
2. The number of awakenings during the night are reduced. That is, while most
insomniacs awaken three or more times during the night and have difficulty falling
asleep again, those treated with Cranial Electrotherapy typically awaken no
more than once or twice following therapy, with most reporting no awakenings.
Furthermore, after awakening, they return to sleep much more promptly than before.
3. Cranial Electrotherapy treated patients spend more time in stage four sleep
following CES treatments. That is, patients spend more time in the deepest,
most restful stage of sleep than they did prior to Cranial Electrotherapy treatment.
It should be noted that some patients who have deprived themselves of REM sleep
- the stage during which dreaming occurs - by taking drugs or alcohol as a sleeping
aid, sometimes spend the first two or three nights in unusually vivid dream
states when first starting CES treatments. This is considered another indication
of the therapeutic effectiveness of Cranial Electrotherapy in that persons are
known to become increasingly disorganized mentally, some even to the point of
psychotic-like symptoms, when they do not engage in the normal amount of dreaming.
4. Finally, it was discovered that many patients receiving Cranial Electrotherapy
treatments report feeling more rested when they awaken in the morning following
Cranial Electrotherapy treatments.
Treatment parameters: While some patients begin to respond after the second
or third day of treatment, others do not have their best response with fewer
than 24 days of treatments lasting from 15 minutes to 1 hour. The beneficial
effects have been measured in some experimental groups for as long as two years.
Some people with insomnia have a habitual pattern of responding to situational
stress with an interruption in their sleep patterns. The best results are obtained
when Cranial Electrotherapy is used each time unusual stressors occur in their
life situations that would ordinarily cause poor sleep. The Cranial Electrotherapy
device user is thereby trained over time to expect a good night's sleep no matter
what stressful interruptions occurred in the normal flow of daily life.
 |
ADDICTIONS |
Foremost among the treatment problems among chemically dependent
persons is the need to help them through the psychologically and physically
demanding period of withdrawal. The body reacts to the depressed physical state
engendered by alcohol and other drugs with a rebound stress reaction. This reaction
commonly includes states of extreme anxiety, depression, and insomnia, for which
Cranial Electrotherapy treatment is known to be effective.
Underlying the addictive state is an insidious and progressive destruction of
normal brain functioning including an often incapacitating memory loss, inability
to process information involving abstract symbols, and other dysfunctions associated
with the organic brain syndrome, and advanced condition which is known as Korsakoff
psychosis.
Studies on the use of Cranial Electrotherapy in chemical dependencies are among
the best controlled and well designed research in the U.S. They indicate that
Cranial Electrotherapy is a highly effective adjunct to methadone withdrawal
in heroin addicts, significantly shortening the time to symptom - free withdrawal
when compared with methadone alone, and significantly lowering withdrawal anxiety
as measured by the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale.
Further, the anxiety and depression accompanying and following withdrawal of
both alcohol and other drugs in polydrug abusers is significantly reduced when
patients receive Cranial Electrotherapy as a post withdrawal treatment.
Most importantly, perhaps, is the finding that Cranial Electrotherapy treatment
halts and significantly reverses brain dysfunction in these patients as measured
on seven different psychological scales of cognitive function, bringing many
such functions back to the level of the pre-addiction state in the majority
of patients studied.
Another problem in the treatment of chemically dependent persons is frequently
recurring 'dry withdrawal' in which the individual suffers withdrawal symptoms
within several weeks, then again in several months. The phrases used to describe
these phenomena are a 'dry drunk' followed by the 'dry withdrawal'. These psychological
states lead to high recidivism rates among these individuals as they return
to treatment after "falling off the wagon".
Cranial Electrotherapy is now thought of as one of the most effective, non-drug
treatments for these periods of withdrawal, and a patient who has a personal
Cranial Electrotherapy unit available should be able to use it to prevent a
full-blown withdrawal reaction at such times. By doing so he can reduce the
need for additional medical treatment in a clinic or hospital setting, and will
be less likely to resort to alcohol because of the discomfort accompanying these
withdrawal states.