Depression Without Sadness: Alternative Presentations Of Depression In Late Life.

By Pedro Toledo

Depression is one condition that many people encounter today. It can be caused by a wide variety of factors surrounding the person. It can be caused by one's job, family, friends and even finances. Consequentially, it has many different adverse effects as well. Although it affects the way people live their lives, people disregard its presence. However, just like other conditions, depression can worsen if not addressed.

Genetic factors: According to WHO, it has been consistently observed that depression tends to run in families. For the uninitiated, genes are like computer chips within our body that hardwire or pre-program us towards certain physical or physiological predispositions. The BlackDog Institute (Australia) suggests that "the genetic risk of developing depression is about 40%, with the remaining 60% being due to factors in the individual's own environment". For example, in 2003, a New Zealand study suggested a certain gene - responsible for the transportation of serotonin - in conjunction with a serious life stressor was responsible for depression (Caspi A et. al. Science 301: 386-389). At the time, this was heralded as a significant breakthrough in the understanding and treatment depression.

Maybe the most difficult problem about treating depression and its symptoms is that people are not really aware they are having depression, and they feel as if it is all part of their own shortcomings to feel the way they are feeling. They blame themselves for what is happening and they don't like to talk about it at all.

For instance, a 2005 study suggested that there is very little scientific evidence that depression is caused by a biochemical imbalance, despite it commonly and frequently being presented in the media as fact (Lacasse JR, Leo J: Serotonin and Depression: A Disconnect between the Advertisements and the Scientific Literature). The results of studies conducted and withheld by pharmaceutical companies were examined. According to the researchers, the chemical imbalance theory, which was formulated in the 1960's, was based on the observation that mood could be artificially altered with drugs, rather than a direct observation of any chemical imbalances. The reality is, "researchers know very little about how anti-depressants work, there is no test that can measure the amount of serotonin in the living brain, no way to know what a low or normal serotonin level is - let alone show that depression medication fixes these levels". An example commonly used is, "while antidepressant drugs increase levels of serotonin, this doesn't mean that depression is caused by a serotonin shortage. After all, aspirin may cure a headache, but it doesn't mean that headaches are caused by an aspirin deficiency" (helpguide.org/mental/medications_depression.htm).

Surrounding ones self with positive things and keeping an optimistic attitude at all times is also another practical way to overcome depression. The principle behind this technique is to attract all positive things and thoughts. Getting rid of the pessimism and letting the positive energy in can have an enormous effect on the way one sees things.

Resorting to the practical and natural ways to get rid of depression instead of using medications is far more effective in the long term. Natural and practical remedies to depression lead to self improvement without the costs and without the hassles. - 29881

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