Depression Anyone?

Depression Anyone? Super Common. Depression and Obesity are very “Chicken & Egg.” Depressed because you are Obese? Or- Obese due to the Depression? Doesn’t actually matter. The short of it is, No matter how we view ourselves, Mood is the result of brain chemistry. Lose the weight, and Then have a run-in with the “Blues?” Still common.  Makes sense. The extreme rapid weight loss from WLS is a huge Change. Change of Lifestyle, Hormonal Changes, Change of self-Image, and Metabolic changes that can effectively Screw with brain chemistry like crazy. When we are sad, chemical neurotransmitters are released When we are happy, the same. And fearful, and stressed, etc, etc... Big Ole Bio-Chem Stew going on. It is the result of how we are stimulated And it is the cause of how we respond to stimulation. A year of talking through, working through emotional issues Will result in slow incremental brain chemistry changes, And we will begin responding to stimulation differently And our outlook and general mood can be raised. Or, Cut to the chase, Take a pill that does the same thing in a couple of weeks. I believe in “Better Living Through Chemistry.” Same with gardening. 2 approaches- I could slowly work the soil and remove insects manually And allow plant matter to de-compose into the soil To make it richer, Or, I can throw in a little Miracle-Grow and spray with pesticide. Which of the two makes sense? Call a Psychiatrist, share with them the numbers from the test score Explain “how you feel,” And he’ll hook you up with something To re-set your brain chemistry levels. Don’t resist because of Psyche-Doctor Stigma. If you had pain in your knee, you wouldn’t think twice about Taking something for it. So, pain in your Psyche? Same thing. Call the Doc. Get ‘er Done! No extra Points for just suffering in silence. Many people deal with anti-depression meds right through WLS Without it getting in the way of the surgery at all. If you need to mix a little vacation with the meds? Go For it. Be pro-active and get this fixed. You will be amazed at how much better the world is. Other “non-Med” things that will help? More Sunlight (release of hormones that help better, more restful/productive sleep) More Exercise, (elevates the mood through naturally adjusting neurotransmitters) More Laughter, (see funny movies and comedians, Laughter IS great for the psyche ) More Sex! (just a good thing always, like laughter and exercise in the Sun times 10) Life is Meant to be LIVED! Not Endured! From “Guide for Men” ---some Depression info--- __________________________________________ Depression is Quite Common Among Men::: Depression is a medical condition that affects 19 million Americans each year.  It is an equal opportunity illness, affecting all ages, races, and economic groups, and both genders. Men of any age can be stricken with depression, although the risk increases as men get older. It is estimated that 40% of men will suffer some degree of depression between the ages of 40 and 60. Depressed men sometimes deny they have problems because they are taught to "be strong," and depression may be perceived as a weakness. However, depression is not a weakness; it is a real disease, and it should not be left untreated. Remember, if you are a man with depression, you are not alone.  Help is available. What Depression is::: Everyone gets sad sometimes—a brief blue mood, disappointments, grief after losing a loved one. Depression, though, is different. Depression is not just a case of the blues; it is a serious medical illness often caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Much like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, depression is a disease that requires medical treatment. Otherwise, depression can last months or, in some cases, years. If left untreated, depression can worsen the symptoms of other illnesses, lead to disability, or increase the risk of suicide. The suicide rate triples for men in midlife, and increases seven times in men over the age of 65. Having a history of depression makes the risk of suicide 78 times higher. Compared with depressed women, depressed men are more likely to experience: *Shame and fear of admitting "weakness" *Impatience, irritability, and restlessness *Anger and hostility toward family, friends, and others *Alcohol abuse * Problems with sleep The symptoms of male depression are different from the classic symptoms most of us associate with depression. Men are more likely to act out their unrecognized and denied feelings of depression. Some Signs and Symptoms of Depression::: There are several signs and symptoms that can help a healthcare provider determine if a man has depression. If you (or someone you know) have had at least 5 of the following symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day for more than 2 weeks, professional help should be sought: *Feelings of sadness, depressed mood, and/or irritability *Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, such as hobbies or spending time with family/friends *Changes in weight or appetite (Ya Think?) *Changes in sleeping pattern *sleeping too much or not being able to sleep at all *Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness *Inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions *Constant fatigue or loss of energy *Restlessness or decreased activity *Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death Important note: if you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare provider, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local suicide hotline. What Depression is Not::: Depression is not something to be ashamed of. Men need to understand that telling loved ones or healthcare professionals about symptoms of depression is not a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw. "Toughing it out" in silence benefits no one. In fact, telling people that you are having symptoms of depression is an extremely important first step to getting help...and getting better. Some Risk Factors for Depression in Men::: *Family history of mood disorders *Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol *Personal history of mood disorders *Chronic health problems such as cancer, heart disease, or HIV *Separation or divorce *Decreased sexual potency *Occupational stress As a man enters midlife, more of these stressful factors can potentially come into play, leading to a greater risk for developing depression. Good News: With Proper Treatment, More Than 80% of People with Depression Can Improve:: There are two main treatments for depression—counseling, and medication.  For some men, either treatment alone may be sufficient.  For others, the most effective therapy is a combination of the two. Counseling, or psychotherapy, is often called "talk" therapy, and it comes in many forms. Basically, psychotherapy is aimed at helping a person develop new ways to cope with problems and to identify and understand more about depression and how to avoid it in the future. Psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions. The process may take some time before it is effective. Antidepressant medications works by helping to correct the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These medications may take several weeks to be effective, but hey work well and are generally safe. There are three main groups of antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). SSRIs are the newest class of antidepressants. They help to relieve the symptoms of depression by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to influence mood. Fortunately, the side effects from many antidepressant medications are generally mild and often go away over time. For more information about side effects, talk with your healthcare provider. That’s what I had on my hard drive...… And- Just for those curious, there is the “Wakefield Questionnaire for Depression.” http://www.jaxmed.com/articles/mental-fitness/wakefield.htm It is a Blunt tool to check indicators of Depression. Best Wishes- Dx

 

Yep!  -  except the suicidal thoughts. 

Go Get it Fixed Running Man! Suks not to enjoy the New Size! Best Wishes- Dx

 

As usual,..excellent and timely stuff.  The Dr is IN! Thanks for the info, encouragement, direction, and test link to prove to our fragile masculine egos if we may be at risk.   I must admit, while I am sure it is a chemical imbalance or fluctuating thing, I am making the effort to figure it out before going to professionals as I went to professionals in the early 90's and got some bad ones milking insurance that really screwed me up before two sessions with a good one that hit the nail on the head and really helped me out. Haven't need that since but have had some real periods of being down since surgery and the nutrient balance is so evident to me know whereas befoer ai would just bury everything in 2 for $3 cheeseburgers and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream,...with a diet Coke.  I am almost enjoying the frustration of dealing with the emotions ai use to bury in food or emotional eating but it is killer sometimes.  It is like the lows are lower but the highs are higher too. Anyways,...you advice is execellent as usual.  Thanks for putting this info out here as this emotional stuff seems to have hit a nerve many of us experince.  

I appreciate the post, but in my case it's hereditary.  It runs  in my father's family.  I have several relatives who suffer from depression and others  who are bi-polar (formerly called manic-depressive).  I sincerely hope that my nephews and niece don't end up with either one.  My brother has depression and I'm bipolar but our father didn't have either one.  He had two bi-polar siblings.

Bob, I have a collogue who suffers from Life-Long Bi-Polar Depression. Same as his Dad and an aunt on his mom's side of the family. He finally got his “Med-Mix” just right about a year ago And says he feels better than he can recall in his whole life.  He said the side effects in the past were so bothersome that he Nearly didn’t think it was “worth it.” Now he has lower side-effects and steady mood/ frame of mind. I don’t know what his drug (s) are, but it seems that they are working great. Hope all is working out for you too. Once you can get back to exercising /swimming, That should improve overall sense of well being. My walking / running does it for me. Best Wishes- Dx

 

THEY told me i had A Fib, so I lost 50lbs, and couldn't get wls, got the a fib cured, well maybe, but one of the causes, not a common one, variable electrolytes, will always be there for me, so I got over the depression, now the psych says I'm depressed over my medical condition and wants to increase my compensation, I delighted, and gaining weight, and qualifying for wls, and getting sicker. what the *^%*^&?