Depressants are drugs that decrease the nervous system's activity. The nervous system uses many types of molecules, called neurotransmitters, to send signals back and forth throughout the body. Most drugs that are depressants exert their effects...
Psychology Information Online reports that women suffer from depression twice as often as men. This is true when they are young and also in the later adulthood years. Depression often crops up during or after menopause because of hormonal changes...
Depression is a serious problem that can be difficult to understand. According to the Help Guide Organization, there are a number of symptoms that can indicate the presence of depression, including constant fatigue, mood swings, severe changes in...
More than just "the blues,” clinical depression represents a serious illness that in some cases results in suicide. If you feel depressed, seek treatment as soon as possible. Doctors often advise medication and psychotherapy for...
Clinical depression should always be addressed with your doctor and might require medication. Mild depression, however, can be treated with lifestyle changes, including dietary changes. Even if you're taking medication, certain changes can help...
Depression and lethargy are two unique health problems, although lethargy may often accompany your depression. The World Health Organization states that depression is a common mental disorder associated with the following problems: low mood,...
Depression, the most common mental disorder, is an illness that has an effect on both the individual and the family. Someone who is depressed may have thoughts of worthlessness, suicide and guilt or not have any hope. They lose interest in...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is a condition that causes extreme feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness for weeks or months at a time. It can interfere with your ability to function normally and...
Depression is not merely a state of mind--it is not an illness someone can snap out of when they choose. Its causes are complex, and often it is a combination of causes responsible for this disorder, according to Depression.com. While all causes...
Long-term depression generally refers to a condition called dysthymia. The chief hallmark of dysthymia is the duration of depressive symptoms. Adults are considered to have long-term depression if symptoms last for two or more years. Children and...
Depression not only affects your mood, it also has a negative impact on your physical health. Depression can cause a series of physical events leading to other diseases, both acute and chronic. Depression is often unrecognized or under-treated,...
More than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, according to Psychology Information Online. While this disorder has a variety of stages, or classes, not everyone who is diagnosed will experience...
Nearly 16 percent of Americans have depression at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness or despondency that can last more than...
Depression is an illness in which feelings of sadness, grief and despair overwhelm your emotional well being. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder affects 14.8 million adults in the U.S. When symptoms of...
Positive thinking does produce favorable results for people who keep their mind in good shape. People who think positively have an optimistic view of life that affects their health and well-being, the Mayo Clinic explains. Thinking negatively can...
Depression is an illness in which symptoms such as sadness, sleep difficulties, a sense of purposelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities and appetite changes detract significantly from your life. Numerous factors increase your risk...
Depression is a disorder that involves negative moods, such as sadness, frustration and anger. Though it's normal to experience these feelings on an occasional and temporary basis, those with depression struggle with them on a longer-term basis...
Weight lifting improves your muscle tone, increases bone density and may even raise your metabolic rate and promote weight loss. In some cases, it may even improve the quality of your sleep, says Dr. Miriam Nelson, author of "Strong Women Stay...
Many people take supplements in an effort to treat emotional symptoms, but you can get all the nutrients you need from your diet alone. Some foods are especially rich in vitamins and minerals that have been associated with decreased risk of...
Depression refers to an immobilizing sadness, not necessarily related to an external cause, which may last for several days or weeks at a time and inhibits day-to-day functioning. By contrast, anxiety is characterized not as sadness, but rather as...
Anxious depression is a condition where anxiety and depression symptoms co-exist. As a result, many cases of anxious depression can be severe, according to a 1998 article in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry." Treatment is also a problem, as it...
A healthy appetite can promote sufficient food and nutrient intake, emotional satisfaction and physical wellness. Though most people experience occasional, temporary loss of appetite, severe cases may indicate an underlying condition, such as...
Watching your mother grieve the loss of a loved one can be a painful and exhausting journey. It's only natural that you want to relieve some of her sorrow and emotional burden by helping her, but be cautious with the approach you choose. Grieving...
While many factors can cause humans to feel sad for variable periods of time, true depression is a psychiatric symptom that has clear chemical origins. Research on depression and in the field of neuropsychology has revealed that low levels of...
When children and adolescents remain sad and down for extended periods of time and when their moods begin to affect their normal day-to-day activities, they may be suffering from a medical illness called depression, report doctors at the American...
Depression is a disorder which involves a chronic feeling of sadness, a loss of hope and a disinterest in doing activities that used to be enjoyable. It is a complicated disorder with links to genetic history, obesity and even diet. While some...
Depression is more than simply feeling down for a few days, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Depression, or a depressive disorder, is present when these feelings interfere with the normal functions of daily life and cause pain...
Dealing with a depressed family member never comes easy, but when depression affects your mother, the roles flip, and you have to become the responsible one. Depression can cause your mom to feel extremely sad or irritable, have problems eating...
If your friend has confided in you that he is depressed, he likely feels that you are a good and trustworthy friend with which he can share his feelings. Symptoms of depression include sleeplessness or oversleeping, feeling tired, experiencing no...
Chronic fatigue syndrome covers a group of poorly understood diseases of the central nervous system leading to fatigue. Learn about chronic fatigue syndrome, including treatments and symptoms, in this health video.
