Depression and Job Loss

Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks are very similar and in some ways interconnected.

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps.

Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. A true clinical description is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time.

Symptoms Include:

-Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping
-A dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss
-Fatigue and lack of energy
-Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt
-Extreme difficulty concentrating
-Agitation, restlessness, and irritability
-Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities
-Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
-Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Low self-esteem is common with depression. So are sudden bursts of anger and lack of pleasure from activities that normally make you happy, including sex.

A Mood Disorder May Be Brought On By:

-Alcohol or drug abuse
-Childhood events like abuse or neglect
-Chronic stress
-Loss Of A Job
-Death of a friend or relative
-Disappointment at home, work, or school (in teens, this may be -breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or- parents divorcing)
-Drugs such as sedatives and high blood pressure medications Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis
-Nutritional deficiencies (such as a lack of folate and omega-3 fatty acids)
-Overly negative thoughts about one's self and life, self blame, and ineffective social problem solving skills
-Prolonged pain or having a major illness
-Sleeping problems

Mood Disorders And Alcohol Abuse

Alcoholism and depression go hand in hand. Each can lead to or reinforce the other.

A mood disorder is a common cause of alcoholism as the depressed person seeks a way out of their problems or a relief from insomnia. Unfortunately, alcohol is itself a depressant, so the problem is only compounded.

Anxiety can be temporarily relieved by alcohol, but this may lead to repeated intake and addiction.

Alcohol Upsets Chemical Balances

Those suffering from a mood disorder will often turn to alcohol in an attempt to make themselves feel more in control. They are therefore far more likely to develop a dependency on alcohol than non-depressed individuals.

In addition, the affect that heavy drinking has on the central nervous system is likely to be even more detrimental to the wellbeing of depressed people than non-depressed individuals.

This is due to the fact that alcohol may further upset chemical balances in the brain and thus promote the onset of depressive episodes.

For this reason, health care practitioners often advise those who are predisposed to depression to abstain from drinking altogether.

The Following Self-Care Steps Can Help:

-Get enough sleep.
-Follow a healthy, nutritious diet.
-Exercise regularly.
-Avoid alcohol, marijuana, and other recreational drugs.
-Get involved in activities that make you happy, even if you -don't feel like it.
-Spend time with family and friends.
-Try talking to clergy or spiritual advisers who may help give meaning to painful experiences.
-Consider prayer and meditation as ways to relax or draw on your inner strengths.
-Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, which you can get from cold-water fish like tuna, salmon, or mackerel.
-Take folate (vitami
B9) in the form of a multivitamin (400 to 800 micrograms).

If you have moderate to severe depression, the most effective treatment plan will likely be a combination of counseling and medication.