An unknown factor in the development of depression after childbirth

Posted on April 27, 2020

It has long been known that postpartum depression is often observed in women who have just become mothers. Among the main causes of this condition are changes in the hormonal background, psychological aspect, and genetic tendency.

Meanwhile, according to the conclusions of British experts, it is inattentive and even rude on the part of the spouse during the bearing of the child can also be considered one of the most basic causes of postpartum depression.

The study involved more than ten thousand women who recently gave birth to children.

Participants were asked questions about cases of violence and rudeness in the family during their pregnancy. In conclusion, the authors asked about the presence or absence of depression after childbirth.

It was found that by an eighteen-week period, more than five percent of women were abused by their spouses, and three percent suffered from assault.

Then, after the baby was born and after reaching the age of eight weeks, postpartum depression was noted in mothers in ten percent of cases. Among those women who were abused and abused during gestation, more than a quarter suffered from the painful phenomenon.

Scientists conclude that violence and rudeness in relation to a woman bearing a child significantly increases the risk of her developing postpartum depression after the baby is born.

Pears strengthen nerves

Posted on April 23, 2020

Medical studies have shown that people working in offices need to eat pears. The fact is that pears provide the body with protection against such “office” diseases as nervous disorders and insomnia, chronic fatigue and depression.

Nutritionists around the world agree that the pear is an excellent natural digestive system detoxifier. Such a useful property of a pear is determined by the content of a large number of vitamins and plant fibers in it. A pear not only cleanses the body, but also improves the appearance, energizes, restores strength.

Some will say that office work is simple. But doctors disagree with this, proving their point by highlighting in a separate category of diseases characteristic of office workers. Among these diseases, it is nervous disorders that occupy the leading position. 

Nutritionists and neurologists advise eating at least a few pears a day, and on an empty stomach. For better assimilation, it is recommended to drink the pear eaten with water or unsweetened warm tea. Pear – a fruit not only delicious, but also extremely beneficial for health and mood. But it is good health and good mood that are the key to a person’s high performance. This conclusion should be taken into account by managers who wish to increase labor productivity.

Carbonated drinks can cause depression

Posted on April 19, 2020

 A new study found that those who drink a fairly large amount of sweetened soda and fruit drinks — whether dietary or regular — have an increased risk of developing depression. Energy drink lovers, on the other hand, have a slightly lower risk of making psychological problems.

Previous studies have shown that drinking sugary drinks may be associated with a higher prevalence of depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental disorders. But this study was the first prospective study, that is, it studied people for a number of years.

From 1995 to 1996, the consumption of drinks such as soda, tea, juices, and coffee was estimated in a survey that involved 263,925 adults. About 10 years later, researchers interviewed participants and it turned out that since 2000 a total of 11311 people have been diagnosed with depression. At the same time, people who drank more than 4 cans or cups of soda per day are 30% more likely to develop depression than those who did not drink soda. The risk of developing depression was higher in those who drank diet Coke.

Researchers acknowledge that this study does not prove a causal relationship. In other words, it may turn out that people who are depressed tend to drink more soda.

The study also found that people drinking coffee seemed to be slightly protected from depression. People who drank 4 cups of coffee a day were approximately 10% less likely to develop depression than those who did not drink coffee.

“However, the consumption of sweetened drinks has been associated with several adverse health effects,” study author Dr. Chen Honglay said. “Avoid frequent consumption of these drinks.”

Nerve Stimulation in Severe Depression

Posted on April 15, 2020

Doctors say that patients with severe depression who do not respond to standard antidepressant therapy benefit from the use of an electronic stimulator.

As a result of a study by scientists at the University of St. Louis School of Medicine in Washington, during which there was a preliminary scan of the brain, scientists identified processes in the brain during stimulation, which showed how the device affects depression. Researchers have found that vagus nerve stimulation leads to changes in brain metabolism before patients begin to feel better.

“Previous studies involving a large number of people have shown that treatment with vagus nerve stimulation in patients with resistant depression yields results,” said the first author of the study, Charles R. Conway, MD, associate professor of psychiatry. “But little is known about how this stimulation works to alleviate depression. We focused on certain areas of the brain known to be responsible for depression.” The Conway team examined 13 people with resistant depression. Their condition did not improve after many months of treatment with five different antidepressants. Most of them were in a similar condition for at least two years, but some patients even had clinical depression for more than 20 years. All participants underwent surgery, during which they had a device inserted into them to electronically stimulate the left vagus nerve. After activation, the device produces a 30-second electronic stimulation of the vagus nerve every five minutes. To establish the effectiveness of treatment at the brain, the researchers performed positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain before stimulation, and then 3 and 12 months after the start of stimulation. In the end, nine out of 13 subjects experienced improvements in the treatment of depression. “We saw very big changes in brain metabolism that took place long before any improvement in mood,” says Conway. “This process, which is taking place, resembles adaptation. The brain begins to function differently. Then the patient’s mood begins to improve. Although patients did not stop taking antidepressants for several months after the stimulants were implanted, many of those who responded positively to the device’s functioning eventually were able to stop taking the medication. “

Antidepressants do not cause growth retardation in children

Posted on April 11, 2020

 Despite concerns that antidepressants taken during pregnancy may affect the growth and development of babies, a small new study finds no difference in size between one-year-old babies who were and were not exposed to drugs.

Drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, which include fluoxetine (sold as Prozac) and citalopram (Celexa), have been associated with premature birth and low birth weight. But their effect on the growth of children in infancy has not been studied.

Untreated depression also does not seem to affect the development of the child. This is important because the fastest growth of a child occurs in the first year of life – which creates the basis for the growth and formation of a person as the rest of life.

Scientists examined 97 pregnant women without depression, 46 – sitting on antidepressants and 31 – with depression, which was not treated with drugs. Their children were measured and weighed four times during the first year of life. Almost 20% of women taking SSRIs gave birth prematurely – before the 37th week of pregnancy – compared with 10% of women in untreated depression and 5% of women without depression.

However, neither depression nor SSRIs were associated with less weight, shorter body length or smaller baby’s head size after two weeks, three months, six months and one year.

Previous studies have shown that babies who are exposed to SSRIs tend to have more problems right after birth. Depression itself was associated with the risks of psychological development of the child. However, the choice to take or not take antidepressants during pregnancy remains the woman’s personal decision. Each should consult with its physician and weigh all the risks and benefits in its own unique case, the scientists added.

7 strategies to completely defeat depression

Posted on April 7, 2020

 Combating depression can be effective in 90 percent of cases. Psychotherapy usually acts as the basis of treatment; the doctor prescribes other methods of treatment as necessary.

1. Psychotherapy.

No scientist has proven that depression is completely a brain disease divorced from the patient’s life. In any person, the disease is rooted in unresolved emotional conflicts from the past. A good psychotherapist will be an invaluable resource in the fight against the disease.

2. Medicines.

Psychotherapy and medications work together more powerfully than individually. Medicines today can save lives. However, a knowledgeable psychopharmacologist should prescribe them. It is better if it will be the same doctor who carries out psychotherapy.

3. Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Magnetic impulse treatment of certain parts of the brain is a very powerful treatment for depression. Many patients who do not respond to medication will respond to TMS.

4. Ketamine infusions.

Providing patients with ketamine only twice a week for 45 minutes is a very powerful way to quickly treat depression. This procedure works especially well for those who do not benefit from medication.

5. Therapy in bright light.

Exposure to waves that mimic sunlight (without ultraviolet rays) can significantly reduce symptoms of depression.

6. Vitamins and supplements.

Anyone who is depressed and has no contraindications to taking magnesium, vitamin D, and fish oil should consider this option. However, before adding any supplement to the diet, you need to consult a doctor.

7. Electroshock therapy.

ECT has come a long way. Now it is painless, well tolerated and leaves most people without significant memory deficits.

If your doctor does not use a comprehensive strategy to treat depression, it is best to get rid of him or her.

10 ways to deal with postpartum depression

Posted on April 3, 2020

Having a baby can make you feel emotionally depressed and depressed. One minute the young mother is beside herself with joy and love for her baby, and the next one has eyes wet with tears. This is a woman’s common reaction to having a baby called postpartum depression, a disorder that affects one in seven mothers, according to a recent study in the JAMA Journal of Psychiatry.

Any woman may experience postpartum depression, but women who often experienced anxiety or depression during pregnancy are at greater risk.

Of course, with postpartum depression it is better to talk with a professional who can make an accurate diagnosis and offer medications and therapy. However, there are also things that any woman can do now to feel better. Here are 10 ways to deal with postpartum depression.

1. Trust your instincts

If you feel that something is wrong, then you should take your feelings seriously and share them with someone. “Finding the right place to give you support is the very first step,” said Karen Kleiman, a licensed clinical social worker and executive director of the Post-Birth Stress Center.

2. cry

Your hormones have full strength during the third trimester, and after giving birth, your body tries in every possible way to return them to normal life. “One of the ways your body makes hormones is through tears,” said Dr. Kimberly Sittel, an assistant professor at Buffalo and author of The Postpartum Mood Disorders.

3. Breastfeeding

But: only if you can or want to. According to a recent study, women who breast-feed for two to four months are less likely to suffer from the disorder.

4. Get enough sleep

With a newborn baby, this may sound like a dream, but sleep plays a very important role in the development of postpartum depression. At the very least, try to go to bed at the same time as your child and forgive sometimes help from loved ones.

5. Review your time

All the time of a young mother, up to every minute should be correctly divided. Treat time with more realism and do not take on yourself more than what you really can do.

6. Find friends

Join a group of local mothers to provide moral support, the general organization of games and events, as well as just for communication.

7. Eat healthy foods.

A balanced diet that will give you energy, as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine, will help maintain a good mood.

8. Move and exercise

From movement and regular exercise, the level of endorphin rises, which can alleviate depression, so go to the gym or go for a walk with your child.

9. Lean on your partner

Tell your spouse how you feel and ask him to provide you with the support you need – this will help to cope with depression and improve your relationship.

10. Sign up for a massage

The key point in postpartum depression is the mom’s mood for screams and cries of the baby – anxiety appears, which also affects the baby. The result is a vicious circle. A course of professional massage will help get rid of anxiety and relax both mother and child.

Fighting Depression

Posted on March 30, 2020

Experts of all countries agree in one opinion: recently, depression has become almost the most common ailment that affects millions of people around the world (up to 20% in developed countries). Some even compare it with cardiovascular disease. Health services are seriously concerned about such statistics and seek to promote the widespread promotion of signs and methods of dealing with depression. Depression is considered a disease of the whole organism.

The main signs of depression are distinguished in various manifestations. Emotional manifestations are characterized by longing, despair, depression, depression, irritability, anxiety, lack of interest in the surrounding reality, decreased self-confidence, guilt. Physiologically, depression manifests itself in the form of changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, decreased sexual needs, pain, fatigue. A person who is depressed behaves passively, avoids contact in every possible way, and abuses alcohol or psychoactive substances. Mental manifestations are expressed in the form of difficulty in making decisions, distraction, gloomy thoughts about one’s life and the world as a whole, pessimism, sometimes in the form of thoughts of suicide. The specialist diagnoses and selects methods to combat depression in the presence of such symptoms for two weeks or more.

In most cases, depression is confused with manifestations of selfishness, bad temper, or pessimism. However, depression is not a sign of a bad mood, but a serious illness that needs to be treated. The sooner the fight against depression begins, the easier it is to cure it before it worsens and leads to suicidal thoughts. Nevertheless, many are afraid to contact a specialist, believing that they will be registered, forbidden to drive vehicles, condemn others, and also prescribe psychotropic drugs for treatment. About 80% of patients with depression seek medical advice from general practitioners and only 5% receive the correct diagnosis, and only a few are prescribed the right treatment.

Modern medicine analyzes depression from several perspectives: psychological, biological and social. The psychological factors of depression are called negative thinking, increased conflict in the family and environment, stressful events in life, as well as social isolation from those who can improve the mood of interlocutors. From the point of view of biology, the emergence of depression is facilitated by violations of neurochemical processes. The social factors of the formation of depression include a high pace of life, high competitiveness, difficult economic conditions, and uncertainty about the future.

A comprehensive approach is currently being used to combat depression, including biological therapy and psychotherapy. Drug treatment is used for all forms of depression and implies complete trust in the specialist and the drugs prescribed by him, regular medication and a detailed story about the state of life. Among the main medicines used by a patient with depression, antidepressants are considered. Modern medicine offers a wide variety of drugs, including those that have been used for more than half a century. The benefits of new generation antidepressants are better tolerance and safety in case of overdose. It should be remembered that the effect of such funds does not appear immediately, but gradually. The main difference between antidepressants and tranquilizers is the lack of addiction and withdrawal.

Psychotherapy is a serious addition to drug treatment, which implies an active role of the patient in the fight against depression. It is aimed at developing the patient’s skills of emotional self-regulation. There are three approaches to the treatment of psychotherapy: psychodynamic psychotherapy, behavioral psychotherapy, cognitive psychotherapy. Psychodynamic psychotherapy believes that the basis of depression is internal unconscious conflicts (for example, to be independent and require the support of loved ones). So the main goal is awareness of the conflict and the search for balance. Behavioral psychotherapy deals with the patient’s current problems and relieves symptoms such as passivity, monotony of lifestyle, isolation. Cognitive psychotherapy is a complex of the listed approaches, combining their advantages. They also resort to family counseling and group psychotherapy to combat depression. supporting loved ones is very important for people with depression.

Sense of anxiety

Posted on March 26, 2020

A constant sense of anxiety does not allow a person to enjoy life, the world becomes gloomy. Pessimistic mood does not leave alone. Constant voltage exhausts. Anxiety often seems unfounded, but it provokes first of all a fear of uncertainty. An unpleasant sensation is characteristic of people of any age who too often forget that anxiety is a subjective perception of the surrounding reality.

Human consciousness cannot control the nervous system. A person does not always consciously feel the imminent threat, but the nervous system perceives everything and makes it aware of the danger. In some, the warning is expressed in an increase in heart rate, in some, bowel problems begin. Subconscious fear begins to manifest itself physiologically.

The main task of feelings of anxiety is to warn of a bad future event and give an opportunity to prevent this. At its core, it is like internal intuition, only focused on the perception of extremely negative moments. However, such emotions should have their own measure, otherwise the feeling of anxiety becomes too intrusive and prevents a person from living fully. With excessive anxiety, a person will already need a specialist.

Anxiety is most affected by people with depression. Various psychological injuries also allow a person to be at risk. However, the growing development of medicine and treatment methods allows us to study the problem of anxiety more deeply and find optimal solutions to cure it. The study of anxiety showed that feeling is the result of a person’s insecurity in his future. Simply put, a person does not see what awaits him next and does not feel stability. But, alas, it is not possible to predict your future. Therefore, it is quite natural that, as a solution to the problem of excessive anxiety, one can recommend a more optimistic view of the real world. After all, the unpredictability of tomorrow is interesting and exciting. The main thing is to see in it the possibility of good changes for oneself, and not a loss of stability.

The emergence of feelings of anxiety can contribute to complex relationships in the family, and the unstable economic situation in the country, and material difficulties. Anxiety arises before the exam, performance and other situations when a person does not know what to expect. However, a person is not able to psychologically feel this feeling constantly. Some people are easy to relate to such situations and look at things easier. Thus, they manage to maintain both internal balance and a positive outlook on the world. For a person who prefers to plan everything, think ahead, uncertainty brings strong emotions, as it contradicts their internal principles. The unforeseen situation is no longer being evaluated in terms of new opportunities and prospects. Even if a new event threatens a good outcome in the future, a person will still perceive it as a disruption of his plans and a loss of stability.

A sense of anxiety does not have a clear reason, unlike a feeling of fear. Therefore, it is not easy to cope with it. However, this feeling allows a person not to stand still, to develop and strive to achieve something. Attempts to avoid any risk are either pre-failure or involve a complete rejection of any initiative. It turns out the situation is like in the famous work “The Wise Gudgeon”. But excessive emotions should not be present either. They can not only lead a person to depression, paralyze from any activity, but also serve as a reason for contacting a specialist. As the saying goes: “Everything should be in moderation.”

Depression state

Posted on March 22, 2020

Events that happen to a person every day, and his reaction to them is reflected in the state of mind and health. Irritation or bad mood are natural companions of disappointment or dissatisfaction. All disappointments and dissatisfaction lead a person to a state of depression.

Depression can occur due to the loss, for example, divorce from a spouse, separation from a loved one, death of a loved one, dismissal from a usual place of work, etc. Depression is a normal reaction to life events of this nature. Most people over time manage to overcome this condition and return to normal life.

Depression can be aggravated due to the influence of certain factors.

– gender. Women are twice as susceptible to depression than the stronger sex. Most often, depression occurs due to changes in the hormonal background experienced by every woman during the period of gestation, the postpartum period and menopause. Many women are characterized by depression before and at the very beginning of their menstrual cycle.

– age qualification. The state of depression by people of mature age is often simply not noticed, since more attention is paid to their physical health. A state of depression can occur due to retirement, the death of a husband or wife, son or daughter, and the realization of physical inferiority.

– genetic predisposition. In the case when among relatives of a person there are states of depression, anxiety and neurosis, or other mental disorders, we can say that a person has a genetic predisposition to disorders of this nature. In addition, if one or both parents suffered from depression, then the risk of illness of the child increases immediately several times.

– aggravation of the state of depression is affected by frequent stresses and shocks, for example, dismissal from work, relocation of children, death of loved ones.

– Even such a seemingly insignificant condition as an incomplete secondary education can become an aggravating factor in the state of depression.

Signs of depression that indicate that a person needs help are different for each person. Depressed mood, lack of interest in life are considered common signs of a state of depression. More common signs of depression:

– unstable appetite or sudden jumps in weight;

– causeless irritability or, on the contrary, grave calm;

– constant fatigue and drowsiness;

– sleep disorders;

– inability to focus on something;

– a feeling of complete hopelessness;

– a feeling of helplessness;

– constant thoughts of death.

Due to the fact that mood swings are considered as normal behavior of adolescents and children, it is the states of depression that are conceived in them that remain out of sight of adults. States of childhood and adolescent depression are very complex processes that subsequently greatly affect the life of an adult. Timely non-stopped depression can lead to unpredictable and very deplorable consequences, including suicide attempts.

Although the disorder, which has real causes, is a normal reaction of the human psyche to what is happening, it is worth trying to prevent the subsequent states of depression. If you often experience depression, visit a psychologist, talk to him about this problem. Pay attention to sleep, food, work and rest.