Terrie

Although I've never suffered from Depression due to Diabetes, since
I was dxd. so young I guess, I have talked with many who do suffer
from it who have Diabetes. Not forgetting of course, that sometimes
Life's circumstances can cause Depression without any illness. So you
have to get to the root of your own Depression. If you cannot analyze
your-self then a Professional may certainly be helpful.


Depression

Friday, February 09, 2007

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Depression affects a person's thoughts, moods, feelings, behavior and even physical health. People once thought that depression was "all in the head" and that if a person really tried, he or she could simply "snap out of it." But doctors now know that depression is not imagined, and it cannot be easily treated solely through self-care. Depression is a medical disorder with a biological and chemical basis and should be taken seriously.

The new depression self-assessment tool on MayoClinic.com can help people become better informed about their risk of depression. While the assessment can't provide a definitive diagnosis, it can help evaluate a person's mood, so he or she can seek treatment if needed.

MayoClinic.com also features a new depression guide to help users understand which treatment may be best, and what options they might want to discuss with their physician. This new guide offers a wealth of information regarding standard treatments; new, emerging and nontraditional options; which treatments are recommended for mild depression and which may be more effective for severe depression; as well as information on side effects associated with treatment and how to balance any negatives with treatment's benefits.

Causes of Depression

Depression has no single cause. The illness often runs in families. Experts believe a genetic vulnerability combined with environmental factors, such as stress or physical illness, may trigger an imbalance in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and result in depression. Imbalances in three neurotransmitters — serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine — seem to be linked to depression.

Scientists don't fully understand the link between imbalances in neurotransmitters and symptoms of depression. It's not certain whether changes in neurotransmitters are a cause or a result of depression.

Factors that contribute to depression include:

Heredity. Researchers have identified several genes that may be involved in disorders associated with certain types of depression. But not everyone with a family history of depression develops a disorder, and people who have no family history of these disorders can become depressed.

Stress. Stressful life events, particularly a loss or threatened loss of a loved one or a job, can trigger depression.
Medications. Long-term use of certain medications, such as some drugs used to control high blood pressure, sleeping pills or, occasionally, birth control pills, may cause symptoms of depression in some people.

Illnesses. Having a chronic illness, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer or Alzheimer's disease, is linked to a higher risk of developing depression. Having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), even mildly, also can cause depression.

Personality. Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being overly dependent, self-critical, pessimistic and easily overwhelmed by stress, can make people more vulnerable to depression.

Postpartum depression. Commonly, mothers feel mild distress that usually occurs a few days to weeks after giving birth. During this time, women may have feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, irritability and incompetence. Postpartum depression is a more serious condition that can also affect new mothers.

Hormones. Women experience depression about twice as much as men, which leads researchers to believe hormonal factors may play a role in the development of depression.

Alcohol, nicotine and drug abuse. Experts once thought that people with depression used alcohol, nicotine and mood-altering drugs to ease depression. But using these substances may actually contribute to depression and anxiety disorders.

Regardless of the cause, depression is a serious condition that can be treated.

javis

I may say that I suffer from depressions everyday. I don´t know if it`s caused entirely by diabetes, but I´m pretty sure it plays a big role. It has been only a year since I´m dxd and I´m not accustomed to it.
So many work issues and troubles are always making me feel angry and depressed. And sometimes I can´t manage to be in a very bad mood that affects my relationship with others, specially my girlfriend, who is my best support.

The way we live everyday (at least in my country) is the main reason that I can´t get out of the depressing state. We live to suffer.

Cheers,

Javier

Terrie

Hey Javis:

Good to see you but not Good to see you sad. Any
chronic disease can cause depression in most People
since it causes an imbalance in the brains' chemicals.

I mentioned I didn't get depression from Diabetes but
I did get depression from another chronic disease I got
hit with when I was 24. That was Bad. It felt like I
was a ghost of my former self just dragging through Life.

I don't know what it's like in your country since I've only
seen a few shows on tv about it. It seems like most countries.
You have the rich, middle income, poor and homeless. Of
course, you's probably work harder for your money although
some jobs in other countries are pretty bad. Okay, it's not
fair to compare. You could be right.

It's just that I see on the news so many depressed People and
a lot of them have no diseases. Just bad job, bad credit, bad
addictions, small income, bad bosses, bad partners.....including
here in North America.

And then there's Diabetes on top making you irritable, tired,
dizzy, can't think right, etc. when low on sugar then sleepy,
maybe nauseas, grumpy and foggy -brained when high. That
part is No Fair. Plus I know you're working your butt off like
my Brother did. But he made Good money and had a union
to complain to about breaks, etc. I don't know if you do.

I hope that you managed to get an anti-depressant if you need
it. That's if you are clinically depressed.

Sorry, I don't know how to help you Bud but don't punch anyone.
That'll come back and bite you. Have some cammomile(sp) tea(or
something similar)and just sit back and relax(no I did not say liquor )
for 1/2 hour after you get home. Tell your GirlFriend not to bother
you for 1/2 hour unless she wants to hug and kiss you.

Anyways, sorry for talking your ear off. If you want to talk, you
know you can pm me anytime. I'll get back to you. I promise to
totally depress you. Take Care Hun. This too will pass.

*Terrie*

javis

Thank you, Terrie

Every word.
You know how it could be.
Sometimes I reach home in a good mood and wishing to have a good dinner and to put my hands in my hobby for relax, but my sight can be a little blurred because of so many hours of computer, and my ideas weren´t so good because of being tired.
In that moment I start to feel the opposite.

I wish to have 36 hours days. That way I should have the time to do anything I have to do with the required time.

I know that things will be better in the future. Luckily, I have a girlfriend that is always helping me to overcome those bad feelings.

Cheers!

Javier

Terrie

Hey Javier:

It's Good to hear that about your GirlFriend. It makes things
so much easier when you have a supportive and caring Mate.

Wow Ya! Wouldn't we all like to have 36 hour days. Except if
we are having a bad day, of course. We wouldn't want it to
drag on. Like if your sky diving and end up hanging out of a tree.
We'd prefer a 12 hour day then.

What kind of hobby are you into? If you don't mind me asking?
I like to make things out of beads, paint(although I haven't done
any in a while...I need some inspiration), watching hockey games
(Go Sens!), play chess, puzzles, word games on the net, play
the piano, lots of things when I get the time. Helps a lot.

About your blurry vision, I hope that you are getting your eyes
checked by an Ophthalmologist at least every year now that you
have Diabetes.

Computers are certainly a pain on the eyes alright. You know it's
recommended to get up and walk around twice an hour(also A way
to help avoid DVT) or to look away from the computer for 5 minutes
every so often. Tired eyes usually aren't happy.

If my vision gets blurry, I check to see what my blood sugar is since
highs and lows can cause this, as you know.

Is your video card refresh rate high enough for you? If not, put it up
a bit more. Or do you have an LCD monitor?

Yes, things will be better in the future. Keep your chin up. YW!

*Terrie*

javis

Terrie,

I think that should be very hard to me to carry this disease without someone by my side like my girdlfriend. She´s always taking care of me and my symptoms.

My hobby is to make scale airplane plastic models. Those that comes in pieces with instructions and decals. I do that since I were a kid, but now I´m trying to make it more like a pro. But this requires time and dedication. It´s my main distraction, but also I enjoy soccer games in the TV, Reading is another thing I use to do. I enjoy to read history, mostly.

As you can see, all my activities, work, as well my hobbies requires an effort to my eyes. I will certainly have a check with an ophthalmologist soon.

OK, no more talking about depressions... it´s depressing me..

Let´s try to live a litlle better every day.


Cheers!

abcolin

For me this looks inevitable unless a person is very strong in his mindset. Personally too I tend to get depressed when I have a bad day as I already told about my BP rising during that time. Therefore its not surprising for people on hearing that they have been diagnosed with diabetes to be depressed. What I want to say is when people get depressed consequent to the trifle incidents, diabetes is a bigger problem isnt it?

__________________
Are all the antacid tablets safe?

Terrie

I do appreciate the scope of your comment in which it is
given.

I do not think that Depression is inevitable for everyone
because of Diabetes, as you somewhat noted. We are all
different and we can be affected differently by the same
disease.

If a Person is normally Happy with their Life, is not bothered
by the small weekly problems and/or understands Diabetes
with its treatment in relationship to their body then chances
are that Person will not fall into Depression.

Do not get me wrong. I do understand how many People
have and will get depressed because of Diabetes. They are
Human and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Some heavy weight
has been thrown upon them that is most likely not their fault
and something that is probably not shared by their *unpleasant*
co-worker, etc. Something that will affect the rest of their Life.
Life is not fair....BUT it is vital that they understand the disease,
treatment and how both affect them.

If a Person has Depression of any kind for any reason they should
discuss it with their confidant, Dr. or other.