Stress Relief Blog

We all have days when we’re “down in the dumps.” Moods change depending on everything from the day’s weather to a song playing on the radio. Most people chalk up these down days as just a part of life. And for most people, they cope.

However, when the “blues” hit and don’t leave, when you’re trying to cope with depression, life becomes more difficult and, if you do experience depression, you’re far from alone. Let’s look at the stats on depression.

Statistics on Depression

” In the U.S., 9.5% of the adult population (age 18 or older) experiences depression at some time during any given year.

” An Australian study showed that everyone, at some point, will be affected by depression, figures comparable to statistics from other industrialized, high-pressure countries.

” Women are more likely to experience depression. 30% of women are depressed. For decades, men were thought to experience depression at half the rate of women but more recent testing indicates that the numbers for men are significantly higher. (They just don’t talk about it because it’s viewed as a sign of weakness.

” Only two out of 10 depressed people seek treatment, despite the fact that long-term depression can harm physical health.

” Figures show that depression costs U.S. industry more than $50 billion dollars in lost productivity as more and more employees take “mental health” days.

Standard Treatments for Depression

Standard medical practice looks for the quick fix - the magic pill to solve the problem or provide a cure. And the pharmaceutical industry has come up with a number of medications that have shown varying degrees of success in addressing the problem.

Anti-depressants like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil have helped some people – 35-40% of patients.

That means as many as 65% of depressed people won’t find relief through conventional medical treatment – a startling statistic.

Psychotherapy has shown limited success with more than 80% of patients falling back into depression, even as therapy continued. In addition, cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) are expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars and many patients continue therapy for years. Some are lifers.

What Causes Depression?

Chronic depression can be caused by many factors. Emotional trauma, especially during the childhood years, can lead to a lifetime of depression along with its associated symptoms of fatigue, lack of motivation and drive and social isolation.

Depression is also caused in adulthood by the loss of a job or the death of a spouse. Divorce and other emotional upheavals contribute to chronic depression. Poor health, financial problems and the stresses of modern life all add up to a potent cocktail of stressors. And stress, over a period of time, leads to depression – a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.

In rare cases, depression is caused by hormonal imbalances within the body. Men and women do experience mood swings as the body’s endocrine system produces more or less of a specific hormone throughout the month and throughout a lifetime. However, it’s important to note that many people who assume their depression is simply a part of their body’s natural bio-rhythm rarely have mood swings based on hormonal imbalance. Most frequently, depression comes from external, not internal, forces.

What works?

There have been numerous studies done on the subject of what actually works in alleviating depression.

” Good, solid supportive relationships are critical to combating chronic depression. Developing a good support system enables depressed patients to rely on others for a sympathetic ear and on-going support.

” An understanding of the causes of depression has also shown to deliver positive results. As people change their attitudes about depression, and are no longer fearful of admitting it to friends and to themselves, depression becomes less severe.

” Understanding that depression can be controlled and managed – without medication. Stress management techniques, such as neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), have shown positive, long-term results in patients who undergo this client-centered therapy.

” Improving self-esteem and building self-respect have also been shown to improve the limiting aspects of depression.

” Exercise works. A brisk walk in the morning causes the brain to release endorphins – naturally produced chemicals that create a feeling of well-being.

” Meditation – even for short periods of time each day – have been shown to decrease the effects of depression. Meditation relaxes the body, mind and spirit, providing a clearer perspective on feelings and their causes.

” Owning a pet has been shown to relieve depression. Today, many nursing homes keep a “house” cat for patients to enjoy. Pets and other animals help eliminate depression.

There is hope. Hope everywhere you look. There are numerous treatment options available to you if you experience depression or bi-polar symptoms. However, these solutions won’t come to you. You have to seek them out.

Admitting there’s a problem is an important first step but it’s only step one. You have to become pro-active to find the right combination of therapies that work for you. It’s a process and it may take some experimentation to find the right combination of treatments. But don’t give up. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

And that light is your bright future.

** ‘If you’ve enjoyed this article, please be sure to forward it to a friend.” **

Cecil McIntosh, The EYC™ Stress Relaxation Expert with 14 years of experience helping Entrepreneurs like you, stay focused, get more done and find more time, so that you can live in the moment. He is a published author of many audio Relaxation Programs using accelerated learning approaches and a Teacher, NLP Trainer and life Coach. You can reach Cecil at cecil.mcintosh@gmail.com

Want to learn how to quickly attack or avoid depression? Or ** IS YOUR LIFE TOO BUSY … TOO MUCH STRESS? ** Do you want to find more time to enjoy stress relief? – Split Second Stress Relief

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