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When an Illness Leads to Depression: Alternatives for Treatment

I came home from vacation with a sinus infection. It hit me hard! Congestion, facial pain, pressure, and fatigue. Now a week later, I do feel better, but I'm fatigued, my limbs feel heavy, my body aches. I am feeling overwhelmed with so much to do yet, I am unmotivated to do anything, and I'm sad, so sad. The question is, am I still sick or is this depression?

It is not uncommon for a person to feel depressed after a time of being ill. And, it is common for illness to follow a bout of depression. I believe the two are linked. In order to be diagnosed with "clinical depression" the symptoms must be present for two weeks or more. There is also a distinction between depression and normal sadness, which comes and goes with life. Then there are those times when you feel these symptoms for no reason.

I was diagnosed with clinical depression in the mid 90's and suffered through treatment for almost two years trying various medications along with psychotherapy. I finally found relief through alternative health care including chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, reiki, homeopathy, and nutrition including supplements. I now live most days without any symptoms. But there are times when the symptoms return, like a bad case of the flu, particularly after an illness like a sinus infection for example. Here are the symptoms of depression and some suggestions on things that may help.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression is a whole body illness with more symptoms than just an unhappy mood. You can usually determine where sadness comes from but those suffering from depression can't always determine a logical reason for those dark feelings.

Depression symptoms include cloudy thinking, having a difficult time concentrating, and being forgetful. For some, there will be issues with appetite, either having no appetite or binging with comfort food. Sleep can be affected, either not sleeping enough or sleeping (or wanting to sleep) all the time. Symptoms also include a loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities and there can be feelings of guilt, hopelessness, feeling overwhelmed and in extreme cases thoughts or consideration of death or suicide. Physical complaints may include loss of energy, fatigue, headaches, stomach upset and unexplainable aches and pains. What can be done to treat these symptoms?

Suggestions to alleviate the symptoms of depression

All of the possible treatments for depression cannot be covered in just one short article and these suggestions are just a start to all of the treatment options for anyone suffering from a depressed mood. If you or someone you care about shows signs of depression and they are not going away please seek professional assistance, either from your doctor, a counselor, or other health care practitioner.

Medication is helpful for the treatment of depression but there are many side effects to such treatment. Consult your physician or a psychiatrist to discuss anti-depressant options. This article intends to discuss alternative treatment for the symptoms of depression.

Psychotherapy

There are many different approaches to psychotherapy that are beneficial in the treatment of depression including
cognitive behavioral therapy (your thoughts can influence your mood), Interpersonal therapy (focuses on past and present social roles and interpersonal interactions), and Psychodynamic therapy (focuses on unconscious processes). Other treatments include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET). It's important that you find the right therapist who has the right tools with the right training. It's recommended that you call and interview several professionals before starting your therapy.

A professional therapist can help an individual:

* Identify triggers that contribute to a person's depression
* Identify strengths, goals, and strategies to manage their depression
* Identify cognitive distortions and negative thinking patterns that contribute to depressed feelings
* Identify activities that will bring pleasure back into the depressed person's life
* Provide support and comfort through the most difficult times

In addition, research shows that the risk of future depressive episodes increases after the first diagnosis. Ongoing therapy may help to reduce that risk.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) using needles, acupuncture points and meridians in the body, focuses on treating specific symptoms presented by each individual. Acupuncture treatments are known to have a calming, mood elevating effect and therefore are effective in the treatment of depression. The National Institutes of Health founded a study in 1998 at the University of Arizona looking at the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of depression. Indications from this study linked significant reductions of depression symptoms to those who received depression-specific acupuncture. Acupressure (without needles) is also effective in the treatment of depressive symptoms.

Other alternative forms of treatment for the symptoms of depression include chiropractic treatment, meditation, Yoga, aromatherapy, homeopathy, supplement support, Reiki, and massage therapy. Make sure you seek a qualified practitioner when trying these and any treatments.

Other actions to take when you are depressed

Limit your consumption of alcohol, reduce/eliminate sugar from your diet, eat a healthy balanced diet including fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat. Take a walk. Exercise is known to increase endorphins that trigger a positive feeling in the body, making a depressed person feel better. Get some sunshine. Shorter and cloudy days create a hormonal change in many people creating a syndrome known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Stay connected with family and friends (don't isolate) but hang out with emotionally healthy people and avoid toxic people that bring you down. Do not oversleep but make sure you get enough sleep.

Lastly, if you are depressed or if someone you know is depressed, there is no reason you have to go through it alone. Call a friend, speak with your pastor, consult a doctor or speak with a counselor. There is help available and there are many effective treatment options to choose from. You don't need to suffer. Please reach out for the help you need.