Depression, anxiety and stress have always been around in our society. However, since 1990 they have tripled and on the increase. These have now surfaced as chronic medical conditions. They are a handicap to the sufferers because their thoughts, moods and bodies are all affected. It is of utmost importance that proper depression anxiety stress treatment is implemented. Depression can make people feel sad and prevent them from functioning normally. Other symptoms include panic attacks, sleeplessness, edginess, hallucinations and excessive drowsiness. These symptoms if not treated can last weeks, months or even years.

Generally people affected by depression, anxiety and stress are given prescribed depression anxiety stress treatment anti-depressants to treat these mental disorders. The most popular and well known drugs are Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Luvox and Prozac. Very often these prescribed depression anxiety stress treatment medications have side effects and harmful when used over long period. These anxiety and depression treatments are habit forming and sometimes they could even aggravate the conditions. Brain tumors, suicide, psychosis, abnormal bleeding and violence have been revealed to have links to the use of such antidepressants.

However, appropriate depression anxiety stress treatment can help those who suffer from these mental conditions. It is therefore crucial to find an effective treatment as depression is a recurring illness. The development of depression and anxiety is a combination of chemical imbalances and other factors.

Prescribed antidepressant drugs work for about 30% of those who are affected by these mental conditions. Researches have been investigating possible natural depression treatment alternatives that are both effective and safe to these drugs. For centuries natural herbs have been used to treat depression, anxiety and stress. The use of such alternative depression treatment herbs to give relief to these mental conditions have been endorsed by many medical doctors.

Natural antidepressants are becoming more and more popular as a treatment for mental illness. Many anxiety and depression treatments do not pose any withdrawal symptoms or side effects. Natural antidepressants are the alternatives to depression anxiety stress treatment drugs as they are more effective, less expensive and less intrusive. They are without side effects and can be used by everyone. These natural depression treatments can be safely used over long period. They are able to prevent relapses in the future and also to treat the existing symptoms.

Passion flower and l-tyrosine are some of the ingredients found in such natural depression anxiety stress treatment products. These components are well known in helping to promote serotonin,endorphins and other neurotransmitters in the brain. An extract from Griffonia simplicifolia known as the plant 5-HTP, is another natural source of herbal remedy for depression. Within a few short months these natural depression treatment products can alleviate these life destroying mental conditions. The anxiety and depression treatments correct the body's chemical imbalances by getting to the root of the problem. These alternative depression treatment products are generally very reasonably priced and can be obtained without a doctor's prescription.

A lot of money has been spent on clinical studies regarding medical drugs. Natural remedy for depression products have been medically approved to be 100% safe for long term use. More research and time could be spent on such natural relief for anxiety products as depression, anxiety and stress are a debilitating illness. Natural depression treatment products is the preferred solution if you or someone you known are currently suffering from these mental ailments. Remember these natural antidepressants have so much more benefits over the dangerous medically prescribed depression anxiety stress treatment drugs such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.

Many people are pre-disposed to depression because of their own biological makeup making their risk of suffering from this condition much greater then those who do not share these risk factors. There are four main biological factors that can increase a persons risk for depression and these include (1) genetic factors, (2) biochemical factors, (3) alterations in hormonal regulation and, (4) sleep abnormalities.

Genetic Factors

Studies done with twins have shown that genetic factors play a role in the development of depressive disorders. There have been a number of studies done that show that the average rate of shared mood disorders among identical twins is 45% to 60%. This means if one twin suffers from depression, or any other mood disorder, there is a 45% to 60% chance that the other twin will also be affected. Contrast this with fraternal twins where the percentage falls of drastically to only 12%.

Moods disorders are inheritable for some people. This also means that those who are genetically susceptible to mood disorders can have an earlier age of onset, a greater rate of suffering other disorders in addition to depression and an increased risk of recurrent illnesses. However, any genetic factors that are present must interact with environmental factors for depression to develop.

Biochemical Factors

The brain contains billions of neurons and is a highly complex organ. There is a lot of evidence that points to the idea that depression is a biological or chemical disorder where central nervous system neurotransmitter abnormalities are a probable cause of clinical depression. These neurotransmitter abnormalities may be the result of inherited or environmental factors, or even of other medical conditions, such as cerebral infarction, hypothyroidism, AIDS, or substance abuse.

Specific neurotransmitters in the brain are believed to be related to mood altered states. It was initially believed that the two main neurotransmitters involved were serotonin and norepinephrine. With new research though it is now thought that depression results from the dysregulation of a number of neurotransmitter systems in addition to serotonin and norepinephrine. The dopamine, acetylcholine, and GABA systems are also believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression.

Alterations in Hormonal Regulation

Although there is still inconclusive evidence that hormones can play a role in depression. The most studied neuroendocrine characteristic that relates to depression has been hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical axis. Evidence of increased cortisol secretion is apparent in 20% to 40% of depressed outpatients and 40% to 60% of depressed inpatients. Results of a dexamethasone suppression test are abnormal in about 50% of patients with depression, which indicates hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical axis. However, the findings of this test may also be abnormal in people with obsessive-compulsive disorders and other medical conditions. Significantly, patients with psychotic major depression are among those with the highest rates of nonsuppression of cortisol on the dexamethasone suppression test.

Sleep Abnormalities

Sleep electroencephalogram abnormalities may be evident in 40% to 60% of outpatients and up to 90% of inpatients during a major depressive episode. People prone to depression tend to have a pre-mature loss of sleep, slow delta wave sleep and altered rapid eye movement (REM) latency. The phase of REM sleep associated with dreaming occurs earlier in two thirds of people with bipolar and major depressive illnesses. This sign is referred to as reduced REM latency and is consistent with the expected manifestation of an inherited trait. Reduced REM latency and deficits in slow-wave sleep typical persist following recovery from a depressed episode. Data also suggests that depressed patients without this sign are not likely to respond to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, which suppress early REM sleep.

There are many factors that contribute to depression, many of which are biochemical in nature. Those that are biologically induced can be treated with different prescription drugs but as with anything relating to human emotion and chemical makeup answering one question as to why brings up more questions that remain unanswered.

Depressive Disorder is a mood disorder that by a number of estimations, impacts about 17.1 million individuals in the United States.  Recognizing the reasons for and symptoms of this condition are the beginning steps to seeking help and feeling better.

Reasons for Depressive Disorder

There are different reasons for Depression.  Clinical Depression may be an interim illness and take place just one time in a individual's life or it can be a continuing and continual condition.  However, if a person has a single experience of Depressive Disorder, the likelihood that they will have Depression again at some period during their lifespan increases.

Situational Depression is a reaction to tough events.  If an individual is faced with being fired or needing to move and they are feeling upset or aggravated, they may find themselves feeling depressed.  More often than not, these feelings of being low and blue pass soon or even after a few weeks, life goes back to normal. 

Still, if depressive feelings continue for several weeks or even months, the depression  may be chemical in nature.  Chemical Depressive Disorder occurs when neurochemistry is altered and the person is not able to react normally.  Chemical Depressive Disorder frequently happens in families and may be traced generationally.  Another cause of Chemical Depression is brain injury.  What might start outas a circumstantial Depressive Disorder may advance into a Chemical Clinical Depression if the situation continues over a long period of time.

One of the influences on Chemical Depressive Disorder is an alteration in neurochemistry. This can happen not only from brain injury, but also from malady or in reaction to stress.  The three neurotransmitters that determine emotions are serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.  These chemical substances rise and fall during the day and can even be influenced by lack of rest, lack of exposure to sun and changes in hormonal levels.  Currently, it is not known if variations in these neurochemicals result in Clinical Depression or if extended Clinical Depression causes changes in neurochemistry levels.  One theory is that long-term Depressive Disorder is a maladaptive coping mechanism to uncomfortable feelings and life events which becomes permanently imprinted on the brain.

Signs

Signs of Depression include feeling gloomy almost every day, not enjoying activities that used to be pleasant, weight variations, changes in sleep, feeling unsatisfied or difficulty thinking, troubles with concentration, feeling tired or run down.  Depressive Disorder can also result in feelings of worthlessness and even suicidal ideation.

In order to be treated by a doctor, symptoms of Clinical Depression must cause  meaningful distress and disability and be present for at least two weeks.  Additionally, mourning due to the recent passing of a loved one is not normally interpreted as  Depressive Disorder that is treated with medicine.

Once in a while feeling down is a natural part of the human experience.  Even so, ongoing feelings of Depression may be signals of a more serious Chemical Depressive Disorder and should be handled by a doctor.  If you or someone you care about is showing the symptoms of ongoing Clinical Depression, please seek assistance.  There are excellent treatment options and assistance is available for the asking.

The concept of depression is broad and encompasses a number of different phenomena. The term is used in the vernacular to refer to a simple "blue" mood. In a medical sense it can label anything from a long-lingering feeling of hollowness to a critical situation ending in a suicide.

The simple "down mood" or "bad hair day" really isn't depression at all. It's merely the experience of normal human emotions in response to external and internal factors. Every case of being sad or lonely is not an example of depression. Low feelings are normal and even healthy. Depression refers to more severe cases where those negative feelings take hold and have a more serious or lasting influence on one's well-being or ability to function.

There are three types of depression, all of which share that similarity. One is known as dysthymia. Dysthymia is a chronic, low-grade depression that lasts over a long period of time. This type of depression is "sneaky" and may not be spotted easily. Its long-lasting nature allows one to "adjust" to its symptoms somewhat, making a depressed mood seem like the normal every day nature of things.

Dysthymia sufferers have the overall quality of their lives undermined by depression, often without realizing it. They may think they are simply dour people or that life is inevitably something less than enjoyable.

Those with dysthymia are able to function with a high degree of normalcy, but are constantly nagged by feelings of sadness, despair, loneliness and related emotions.

Situational depression can have more severe symptoms. This is the form of depression that rears its head in direct response to external circumstances. Any number of traumas or trying events can trigger a bout of situational depression. The death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, for instance, may produce intense and temporarily debilitating depressive symptoms.

The key to differentiating situation depression from its clinical counterpart is the temporary nature of the symptomology and the fact that it can often be traced back to a specific cause. One should note that traumatic events can also herald the onset of clinical depression, however.

Those suffering from situational depression may find life very difficult for a period of time. They may feel agitated or nervous, have disruptions in sleeping habits, or experience other common depressive symptoms. However, the problem usually passes as the individual learns to cope with the problems that triggered the episode.

Clinical depression is more severe. If one experiences symptoms that interfere with regular functioning for a period longer than two weeks in length, they may be suffering from clinical depression. Clinical depression can last indefinitely and can be quite devastating.

The hallmark of clinical depression is the inability to enjoy almost any aspect of life. In some cases, the sufferer may even begin to consider suicide as an alternative to continuing on in their depressed state. Symptoms can run the gamut from a vague sense of unease to utter and complete hopelessness.

Interventions are usually required for one to overcome clinical depression. These can involve the use of psychotherapy, prescription antidepressants and other strategies aimed at solving the problem. Those who do not seek treatment for this condition may find the problem literally fatal in the long run. Fortunately, these methods can often be successful in helping one overcome the dreaded symptoms of clinical depression.

Depression is a growing problem, and as the epidemic continues to grow, it only makes sense for all of us to gain a better understanding of the disease. The World Health Organization posits that by the year 2020 depression will be second most devastating disease facing humanity, second only to heart disease in its impact. Depression touches the lives of most everyone and all of us should develop a stronger appreciation of what separates depression from simply having a "lousy week."

Although the term "depression" may encompass many things in popular use, in a strict sense it refers to one of the three variations mentioned in this article. Dysthymia, situational depression and clinical depression represent the three primary types of depression. They share a great deal in common, but can be differentiated from one another by the severity of their symptoms and their longevity.

Depression is a common disorder in every one. This happens when we miss something or someone really we need. This is considered as one of the chronic disease as if the person goes deeper then he is addicted to many problems or the diseases to his body.

Ya truly to say this life is filled with some good times and some bad times, happiness and sorrow, ups and downs. But we feel very bad when we are not getting the thing which is needed. But if this prolongs for more time then it makes up difficulty in the functioning of our daily life. Our life will be filled with blues and we are addicted to the clinical depression a serious and which is away from the common medical illness. But this clinical depression is a common, real and a curable one.

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Some of the basic facts for this clinical depression are major depressive disorder, maniac depression and dysthymia, a milder. This depression is in such way that the common people loose their daily pleasure which in turn to the complicated in their medical conditions and sometimes even make turn themselves to suicide. This is caused to any one without the difference of age and or race or sex or health condition. It is not a normal part of life. Many people think that this depression is not a serious illness and they can be cured without any medical treatment.

This depression also enters the life in such a way that it makes difficult for a person to work, to study, eat and enjoy once the pleasurable activities. This does not occur once it can occur any times in life. But the treatment is needed for it so that it may not become serious illness.

There are some types of depression like major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder and others. But the conditions of the health changes in these types of depression disorder.

Some of the symptoms of this depression are:

persistent sad, anxious or empty mood,

feeling of hopelessness, pessimism,

feeling of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness, loss of interest in the hobbies and the activities that were once enjoyed,

decreased energy, fatigue, slowed down,

difficulty in concentrating, making decisions, remembering

insomnia that is early morning awakening and over night sleeping

appetite or weight loss/ weight gain

thoughts of suicide or death, and also sometimes attempts to suicide also

restlessness or irritability

Some of the other conditions are headache, digestive disorder or chronic pain.

This depression can be completely stopped and get safe treatment from herbal and natural supplements are mist power full and miracle cure for depression

There are many causes for this depression. This depression may start at any place that is at family, working place, school or at any place. In some of the families this depression seems to occur generation after generation or the people who does not have any family history of depression. But this depressive disorder is associated with the changes in brain structure or brain function. People who have low self- esteem or who think that they are stressed by this world then these people are more vulnerable to this disease. In recent years the researches have shown that the physical changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes as well. If the person is suffering with any of the chronic disease then he is surely addicted to this depression.

It is said that the man if he is addicted with sadness and gloom then he is at initial stage. But this must not go deeper as he will become abnormal from his daily activities. So, he should get treated at its initial stage. He may get upset for the small things but these should not contribute as a major part for his depression disease. There is good news for this disease that it can be healed with the proper treatment given by the physician whom you consult for the treatment.

This clinical depression is a treatable disease. Many people have who ever have been suffered by this disease are healed. The treatment depends on the condition, pattern and severity of the illness, its persistence and the history of the illness. If it is in its initial stage it would be alleviated than it turns into serious reoccurrence. IF you are suffering with the symptoms of the clinical depression then it is must that this should be treated by a physician or a qualified mental health profession before it takes a long way for curing of it. This clinical depression can be cured with the counseling if needed. But if it is really higher then it is better to turn your attention towards the natural and herbal treatment which have been proved as miraculous and marvelous improvements in heal of the suffer. These natural remedies are good as they do not harm and treat us as soon as possible.

The primary thing what you can do is you can consult the doctor as early as possible. The check ups that are needed should be regularly as it should be narrowed at its first stage. Keeping oneself with enthusiasm and being away with the tiredness. To have confidence in doing the works which are daily activities or others? This depression can be helped when we encourage the people to get active in their work, thinking and all the factors. He should have a loved atmosphere that can cure the disease.

Situational depression could be called "Sometimes life sucks, and it just gets you down." The description would be accurate, but it would be making light of a serious condition. Situational depression can be every bit as debilitating and painful as clinical depression or manic depression.

The difference between situational depression and other types of depression is that situational depression, as its name suggests, is caused by life's situations, or life events. In other words, situational depression is brought on by life.

Sometimes challenging life events, such as the loss of a loved one, a divorce, the loss of a job, the failure to reach some important life goal or any other event that a person sees as bad or terribly upsetting, can cause depression. Situational depression, for instance, commonly occurs after a trauma like a serious car accident or a house fire.

The life event that triggers situational depression can vary in severity. What will cause situational depression in one person won't cause it in another. A teenager, for instance, who suffers an illness which requires a medication that causes her to gain 40 pounds might fall into a situational depression because of her weight gain. A middle-aged person gaining the same amount of weight might be bothered by the gain but won't become depressed.

The length of a situational depression generally is determined by the how the sufferer perceives the crisis. In other words, if the sufferer thinks the problem is big, depression is far more likely to result. For example, a person who fails to get a job he applied for might depressed for a day or two. A person who loses a parent may be depressed for weeks, months, or years. Big losses generally cause longer periods of depression.

Situational depression symptoms are very similar to clinical depression symptoms. This is why it can be difficult to determine whether a depressive episode is clinical or situational. After looking at the situational depression symptoms, the best way to figure out whether the depression is situational or clinical is to do a life event inventory. Find out if some event was especially disturbing or upsetting.

Look at various life events and if you suspect they might be the cause of situational depression, ask yourself how you felt before the event and how you felt after. This can help you determine if your depression is situational or clinical.

Just because situational depression doesn't have a chemical/physical cause doesn't mean it's less serious. If you suspect you're depressed because of a life event, explore depression treatment options for your situational depression.

There are three main categories of depression disorder. They are known as Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Depression Disorder and Major Depression Disorder. Of the three mood disorders Major Depression Disorder is the most severe. This disorder may also be called Severe Depression.

In Severe Depression the cause can be a single traumatic event in your life. It could even be the result of many personal disappointments and problems in your life. Sometimes it is possible to develop Severe Depression without any traumatic events or life problems. Still other times people who suffer from Chronic Depression can go into Severe Depression as a result of a traumatic event.

The symptoms of depression are also present in Severe Depression. They are however more intense than normal depression symptoms. For most people who suffer from Severe Depression, they can either have a recurring Severe Depression episode or their Severe Depression may occur only once in their lifetime and never reoccur again.

Recurring Severe Depression is where the individual will have periods of Severe Depression that are followed by periods of depression. After these bouts of depression are finished, they will be able to live at least several years without any episodes of depression. They may have another episode of Severe Depression which can arise due to some traumatic event. In a single episode of Severe Depression the symptoms occur due to a major traumatic event in the individual's life. Once medical treatment has taken effect, the Severe Depression will not occur again in their lifetime.

In general the medication that is prescribed for Severe Depression is anti-depressants. There are several types of depression medications that are used for Severe Depression. These medications include Tricyclics, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors, Noradrenergic and Serotonergic anti-depressants, Serotonin 5-HT (2) Receptor Antagonists, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Bupropion.

The other type of treatment that works for Severe Depression is that of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The best method of treatment is that of medication combined with cognitive therapy. The therapy is used to treat the psychological aspects of Severe Depression while the medication will treat the symptoms of Severe Depression.

The intensified symptoms of Severe Depression include restlessness, irritability, insomnia, oversleeping, fatigue, thoughts of death, suicide, early morning waking, pessimism, hopelessness, weight loss or gain, and a change in appetite

These symptoms coupled with any traumatic incident or an accumulation of life problems can trigger either recurring Severe Depression or episodic Severe Depression. Both types of Severe Depression need to be treated as the consequences can be life threatening. Should you suspect that you may be having Severe Depression then you should get immediate medical help.

As any doctor or mental health specialist will tell you there are different types of depression. Each of these depression types will manifest themselves in the person in completely different forms. Currently there are some well documented types of depression that various people in the world are afflicted with. Also each of the depression disorders can have similar and different symptoms.

Since each of the depression types vary the severity of their symptoms and the level of persistence can be different for each sufferer. The main types of depression are Major or Unipolar Depression, Chronic or Dysthymia depression, and Manic or Bipolar Depression. Besides the main depression types there are subdivisions of these disorders. As the different types of depression have a completely different effect on each person, the method of treatment must also be individualized.

With Major depression the symptoms are the same as depression, they are however more intense than normal depression symptoms. These symptoms will interfere with the daily activities of the individual. The work, study, eating and sleep patterns can become disturbed. The person will not be able derive any pleasure from their earlier activities. The depressive attacks of Major depression can be debilitating and the quality of life becomes noticeably poorer.

In Major depression the episodes can be either single occurring or recurring. A single occurring episode will vanish after the treatment has taken effect. For a recurring Major depression there will be a phase of Major depression followed by depression. These bouts of depression are followed by perhaps several years of normal depression free life. The attacks can then occur without any warning.

Chronic depression is less severe than either Major depression or Bipolar depression. The symptoms are life long. A person who has Chronic depression can still carry out their lives without any interference from the symptoms. There is a strong possibility of double depression occurring to the individual. Double depression is a mixture of Chronic depression and Major depression.

Bipolar depression is not as common as the other types of depression. The mood swings of this depression are cyclic. That is there are periods of euphoric highs and sad, worthless lows. There are times when the mood changes can be very rapid and dramatic. The symptoms of Bipolar depression include being overactive, having lots of boundless energy, loss of good judgment, feeling invincible amongst others.

All of the depression types have different ways of reacting with different individuals. Each of these depression symptoms need to receive the right sort of treatment. Therefore you should consult a doctor to have your depression diagnosed and treatment begun.

Given the frequency and popularity of alcohol consumption around the world and the fact that alcohol depletes vitamin B5, deficiency of the vitamin may be a lot more common than we thought. In this article, SKinB5 takes a look at the correlation between alcohol consumption, vitamin B5 deficiency and depression.

Symptoms of vitamin B5 deficiency are fatigue, chronic stress, and depression. Vitamin B5 is needed for hormone formation and the uptake of amino acids and the brain chemical acetylcholine, which combine to prevent certain types of depression.

An important function of vitamin B5 is that it aids the body in alcohol detoxification. It is also needed to counteract stress and to maintain a healthy nervous system. A study showed that vitamin B5 speeds up liver detoxification of acetaldehyde after alcohol consumption. This is very important for those who consume excessive alcohol because acetaldehyde appears to be a major chemical in the toxic process that accompanies long term alcohol use. Vitamin B5 is required in increased amounts in liver disease and in those who use alcohol excessively.

Alcoholism and Depression

Biochemical depression has certain symptoms that distinguish it from the depression stemming from negative life events. Heavy drinking is a major contributor to biochemical depression. You are likely to be biologically depressed if:

- You have been depressed for a long time despite changes in your life

- Talk therapy has little or no effect; in fact, psychological probing

- You don't react to good news

- You awaken very early in the morning and can't get back to sleep

- You cannot trace the onset of your depression to any event in your life

- Your moods may swing between depression and elation over a period of months in a regular rhythm (this suggests bipolar, or manic-depressive, disorder)

- Heavy drinking makes your depression worse

Depression, like the other emotional problems, often has biochemical roots that stem from the destructive effect of alcohol on the chemistry of the brain. Research has verified the relationship between biochemistry and depression. Autopsies of people who have committed suicide have revealed biochemical disruptions that are unique to suicidal depression.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency and Depression

The effect of nutritional deficiencies on brain chemistry can cause depression, anger, listlessness, and paranoia.

One of the most dramatic cases of vitamin and mineral deficiencies involved a man who had been arrested four times for drunken driving but continued to drink daily. He was thirty, divorced, and living alone. He rarely ate more than one meal a day, usually fast food or junk food. He lived on coffee, cigarettes, and beer. Paul confided that he was probably going to lose his sales job because he could no longer motivate himself. He blamed all of his troubles on depression. There were so many aspects of his lifestyle that suggested a real depletion of the natural chemicals he needed to recover from alcoholism and depression.

The man was diagnosed and given B-complex shots, and he remarked that his doctor must have injected him with an amphetamine! The effect of restoring these life-giving substances was dramatic. He also made many lifestyle changes that contributed to his recovery, but one of the most important was the replacement of certain key natural substances that helped relieve his depression.

Vitamin B5 (and B-Complex Vitamins)

Vitamin B5 and the B-complex vitamins are essential to mental and emotional well-being. They cannot be stored in our bodies, so we depend entirely on our daily diet to supply them. B vitamins, particularly vitamin B5 which are easily destroyed in cooking and modern food processing, are destroyed by alcohol, refined sugars, nicotine, and caffeine-the very substances that most alcoholics consume almost to the exclusion of everything else. Small wonder that deficiencies develop.

Here's a rundown of recent findings about the relationship of B-complex vitamins to depression:

- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): Symptoms of deficiency are fatigue, chronic stress, and depression. Vitamin B5 is needed for hormone formation and the uptake of amino acids and the brain chemical acetylcholine, which combine to prevent certain types of depression.

- Vitamin B (thiamine): Deficiencies trigger depression and irritability and can cause neurological and cardiac disorders among alcoholics.

- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): In 1982 an article published in the British Journal of Psychiatry reported that every one of 172 successive patients admitted to a British psychiatric hospital for treatment of depression was deficient in B2.

- Vitamin B3 (niacin): Depletion causes anxiety, depression, apprehension, and fatigue.

- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): Deficiency can disrupt formation of neurotransmitters. Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme needed for conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and phenylalanine and tyrosine to norepinephrine. I have discussed the relationships of these neurotransmitters to depression earlier in this chapter.

- Vitamin B12: Deficiency will cause depression.

- Folic acid: Deficiency is a common cause of depression.

Vitamin C

Continuing vitamin C deficiency causes chronic depression, fatigue, and vague ill health.

Minerals

Deficiencies in a number of minerals can also cause depression.

- Zinc: Inadequacies result in apathy, lack of appetite, and lethargy. When zinc is low, copper in the body can increase to toxic levels, resulting in paranoia and fearfulness.

- Magnesium: Symptoms of deficiency include confusion, apathy, loss of appetite, weakness, and insomnia.

- Calcium: Depletion affects the central nervous system. Low levels of calcium cause nervousness, apprehension, irritability, and numbness.

- Iron: Depression is often a symptom of chronic iron deficiency. Other symptoms include general weakness, listlessness, exhaustion, lack of appetite, and headaches.

- Manganese: This metal is needed for proper use of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Since it also plays a role in amino-acid formation, a deficiency may contribute to depression stemming from low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Manganese also helps stabilize blood sugar and prevent hypoglycemic mood swings.

- Potassium: Depletion is frequently associated with depression, fearfulness, weakness, and fatigue. A 1981 study found that depressed patients were more likely than controls to have decreased intracellular potassium. Decreased brain levels of potassium have also been found on autopsies of suicides. You can boost your potassium intake by using one teaspoon of Morton's Lite-Salt every day.

The Safety of Supplements

Vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins discussed above are all water soluble. This means that they can't accumulate in your body or be stored for future use. Amounts above and beyond your current nutritional needs are dumped into your urine. As a result, there is no danger of overdose.

Unlike water soluble vitamins, minerals can be stored in your tissues. Therefore, please do not exceed the recommended therapeutic doses, since accumulation of minerals in the body can be dangerous.

SkinB5 contains vitamin B5 and zinc, so whilst treating your acne, it can help prevent alcohol related depression and support mental health.

Are you depressed? If you are bothered by fleeting feelings of sadness, well, that is part of life. We are all affected by the little highs and lows that result from winters that last too long or a week when nothing goes right. But when you experience more severe feelings of sadness, and they last for more than two weeks, is it a good idea to ask your doctor to give you a depression test.

Depression is not uncommon in U.S. society. Approximately 20.9 million adults or 9.5 percent of the population age 18 or older will experience depression in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Before making a diagnosis of depression, doctors will judge the severity of a patient's symptoms, how many symptoms one has and how long they have experienced those symptoms. The National Institute of Mental Health published a list of a number of symptoms that medical professionals look for when they are trying to make a diagnosis of depression for a patient. Doctors base their diagnosis based on the results of a depression test that reveals the symptoms on this list as well as other factors.

There are several things you should consider when deciding whether you need to receive a depression test. Has someone in your family ever suffered from serious depression? Depression can be a hereditary condition. Mental health experts estimate that between 40 and 70 percent of depression cases are hereditary. This means that if a parent, grandparent, sibling or other close relative has ever suffered from depression, you are more likely to experience depression also, though this doesn't mean you will definitely ever become depressed.

Have you experienced a traumatic or significantly stressful event in your life recently? If you are having a hard time getting over such an event, you may want to have a depression test. Events such as the death of a loved one, or an event as stressful as divorce has the potential to trigger a severe depression, especially if you have family history of depression, but even if you don't.

Are you a woman? Women are more likely than men to become depressed but will often not receive a depression test because their symptoms are overlooked. Approximately 25 percent of all women experience symptoms of depression that are severe enough to require treatment. Women who have just given birth or who are nearing or have already experienced menopause are more likely to experience depression and should be particularly aware of their health at those times.

Do you have persistent feelings of severe sadness? Doctors giving a depression test will want to know if your have experienced profound helplessness, pessimism, worthlessness, anxiety, fatigue and irritability, or have entertained thoughts of suicide.

Are you having trouble sleeping? The symptoms a doctor will look for when giving a patient a depression test include whether the patient is suffering from insomnia, having difficulty sleeping through the night, wake up during the night and can't return to sleep, oversleeping in the morning or sleeping too much during the day.

Are you experience significant aches and pains that won't go away? While most people think that depression is characterized only by mood swings and feelings of sadness, chronic pain is also a symptom of depression and part of a medical depression test. Digestive disorders or persistent headaches or other chronic pain that isn't caused by some other illness and doesn't respond to treatment after two weeks could be a sign of depression.

If you have experienced several of these symptoms for more than two weeks, it is in your best interest to see your health care provider for a depression test to determine if you require treatment.