Health Watch: what is depression?

[RedSea]

Health: What is depression?

 

 

Depression is a mood disorder that causes you to feel sad or hopeless for an extended period of time. More than just a bout of "the blues" or temporary feelings of grief or low energy, depression can have a significant impact on your enjoyment of life, your work, your health, and the people you care about.

 

 

 

Depression affects people differently. Some feel down for extended periods of time; for others the feelings of depression come and go. If you have short episodes of mild

 

depression, you may be able to continue to work and take care of daily activities. However, if you do not seek some form of treatment for your depression, you are at risk for getting more depressed or becoming physically ill. In severe cases, depression can cause people to become incapable of communicating, unable to do routine activities, or suicidal. In these cases, it is essential to seek medical attention.

 

People with depression may be reluctant to seek help because they feel that it is a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw or that they should be able to "pull out of it" on their own. We now know that depression, like other medical conditions, has a chemical and biological basis. Treatment for depression is safe and usually effective even for severely depressed people.

 

 

Depression may be triggered by stressful life events, other illnesses, certain drugs or medications, or inherited traits. Although causes of depression are not entirely understood, we know it is linked to an imbalance in brain chemistry. Once the imbalance is corrected, symptoms of depression generally improve.

 

What are the symptoms?

 

Depression is more than just the normal, temporary feelings of sadness and hopelessness associated with difficult life events. Common symptoms include:

 

Depressed mood.

Inability to enjoy activities.

Problems concentrating.

Poor memory.

Difficulty making decisions.

Changes in eating habits.

Weight gain or weight loss.

Changes in sleeping habits.

Difficulty going to work or taking care of your daily responsibilities.

Feelings of guilt and hopelessness; wondering if life is worth living (common).

Slowed thoughts and speech.

Preoccupation with thoughts of death or suicide.

Complaints that have no physical cause (somatic complaints) such as headache and stomachache.

 

 

 

All of these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life. Even if you don't have major depression, if you have experienced a few of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks you may have a less severe form of depression that still requires treatment.

 

 

 

How is it treated?

Depression is usually treated successfully with professional counseling or antidepressant medication. Often a combination of the two is most effective. People with depression usually can be treated as outpatients, but in severe cases a period of hospitalization may be necessary.

 

 

If you have mild or moderate depression, you may be diagnosed and treated by your family health professional and a therapist or psychologist. If you have severe depression or other psychological disorders or do not respond to treatment, a psychiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems, may be helpful.

 

Let your health professional know if you suspect that you have depression, because it is often overlooked. If you are diagnosed with depression, you and your health professional can decide on the best treatment. The earlier you are treated, the more quickly you will recover. 1

 

How common is depression?

 

If you have symptoms of depression, you are not alone. In the United States, an estimated 15% of people will have depression at some point in life, and chances of becoming depressed are even higher for certain people. For example:

 

Women experience depression twice as often as men, although men are more likely to commit suicide as a result of depression. 2

Separated or divorced individuals, especially men, are more likely than married people to become depressed.

People who have a serious illness are more likely to suffer from depression.

 

P.S, are YOU depressed,if not sure but think you are,take the this quiz. Risk of depression:

 

"Healthwise"

 

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[Pujah]

I think people who get depressed or cannot function without popping anti-depressant have no faith. It must be a character fallow

[RedSea]

^I couldn't agree with you more.In this world we live in today,especially these western Coutries,it's rather difficult for one to avoid depression or stress,however the best PROVEN treatment of that is by reading the Quran and making sure that you stay on course,the straigh path.

 

If you can read the smallest passage of the Quran once a day/night,twice/three times a week,then such symptoms won't apply to you IA.

 

However,it's important for one to remember that they are Muslims,being Muslim is the best gift that can be given to anyone,it's gift that is so expensive,only given to those whom Allah likes...so be happy,because you are a MUSLIM>

 

thanks,

[Reality Check]

Originally posted by Ridwaan:

^I couldn't agree with you more.In this world we live in today,especially these western Coutries,it's rather difficult for one to avoid depression or stress,however the best PROVEN treatment of that is by reading the Quran and making sure that you stay on course,the straigh path.

 

If you can read the smallest passage of the Quran once a day/night,twice/three times a week,then such symptoms won't apply to you IA.

 

However,it's important for one to remember that they are Muslims,being Muslim is the best gift that can be given to anyone,it's gift that is so expensive,only given to those whom Allah likes...so be happy,because you are a MUSLIM>

 

thanks,

There are plenty of people that read the Quran, and have depression.

[Che -Guevara]

^^^Do you have the stats to back that or are you just saying it?

[RedSea]

Reading is also different from being sincere,it's all about your intentions,if you are not sincere with your mindset when you are reading the Quran then it will be just words which you utter..meaningless.Just like prayers are accepted from some,although they are praying,but they may not be accepted,because some key requirements are missing,that is the case in everything.

 

Moreover,if you read the Quran to obey Allah and for the sake of wanting to be accepted by Allah,then there is huge possiblity that Allah will ease your pain and suffering IA.

[Strawberry_Xu]

I have family members who suffer from manic depression, and frankly I find it insulting when people presuppose a lack of faith as a cause for this condition. I understand the Quran is the most comforting thing we have, but remember the reading you take from it depends also on your dispostion. A very close relative of mine reads the Quran every day, she is deeply faithful and yet there are times when she wants to die or remove herself from the world, and finds that the Quran sometimes confirms her pessimistic view of the world.

 

That might not be right, and it might be slightly irrational, but someone who is clinically depressed doesn't always have the advantage of a neutral point of view. It's a sickness. Reading the Holy Quran could be helpful, of course, but it could just as easily backfire on its own, and end up confirming the dark world view they are already experiencing.

 

That's why you just can't assume that someone who's depressed simply doesn't have any faith in Allah, or that just by being a Muslim, one is automatically immune to any illness of the mind.

[Abu-Salman]

...

[Abu-Salman]

How could an upright believer, occupied with Salats and various forms of Dikr, be more depressed through reading Qur'aan sincerely, is this not the supreme oxymoron?

 

Is it possible to have a sense of lack of purpose and unnecessary suffering while at the same time pondering with faith on the most clear and comprehensive explanation of the creation's purpose, including humankind, and the unimaginable reward awaiting upright believers who endure trials patiently and support each other in faith and obedience?

 

At any rate, many psychologic and their associated medical symptoms are directly linked with lack of sense of purpose and this sense of unneccessary suffering compounded by Western solitary lifestyle condemned by Islam (marriage, strongly encouraged, have a protection role, alongside benevolence and generosity);

there are also some other cases which may have other additional causes such as Jinns possesion ect...

[Xalimopatra]

Djib-If someone is clinically depressed they are 'ill' maa garatay walaal?The chemical balancement of their maskax is not of neutral composition.I'm not talking about someone who is upset with themself and gets into a rut I'm talking about someone who has not chosen to feel this way.

 

What Xulaxu said is pretty straightforward.What's the need for all this to'ing and fro'ing and labelling.

It's best not to act pompous and unempathetic over certain issues when the issues and are clear and straightforward.

 

What about people who suffer from depression as a side effect to medication ect?I guess they are feeling like their life is of little purpose(!)

Come on now walaal you cant tell me 'those' kind of depression sufferers have or jin or the like(Acudubilah mina shaydanrajim)Please elaborate.

[Resistance]

FYI Islam recongines depression and many an ayats and Hadiths cover this area and how best to deal with it.

 

Any Muslim ( or any being for tat matter ) needs to read 'Don't Be Sad' by Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni .. an excellent book for any occsation, wheather feelings stressed or satified with your life.

[Strawberry_Xu]

Originally posted by Djib-Somali:

How could an upright believer, occupied with Salats and various forms of Dikr, be more depressed through reading Qur'aan sincerely, is this not the supreme oxymoron?

 

Is it possible to have a sense of lack of purpose and unnecessary suffering while at the same time pondering with faith on the most clear and comprehensive explanation of the creation's purpose, including humankind, and the unimaginable reward awaiting upright believers who endure trials patiently and support each other in faith and obedience?

 

At any rate, many psychologic and their associated medical symptoms are directly linked with lack of sense of purpose and this sense of unneccessary suffering compounded by Western solitary lifestyle condemned by Islam (marriage, strongly encouraged, have a protection role, alongside benevolence and generosity);

there are also some other cases which may have other additional causes such as Jinns possesion ect...

I already mentioned that such behaviour might even be irrational, but you are disregarding the fact that anything you read is tainted by your state of mind.

 

For example: A woman is severely depressed, often feels that the world isn't worth the suffering it inflicts, as a result she doesn't find any joy in life. Then she picks up the Holy Quran and reads a passage that speaks of the temporary nature of the world, that holding onto worldly things is pointless.

 

She will then take this to mean that anything in this life is pointless. She fulfills her obligations regardless, but the life that you and I so enjoy, she finds is just a means to an end. Like you said, merely trials to test one's reward for the afterlife.

 

Who are you to say she isn't enduring her trials like a faithful believer? She knows Allah is testing her, she is obedient to his commands, but she finds no joy in it. Instead she seeks refuge in the Quran, hoping for death so that she may shed the trappings of this life.

 

In the meanwhile, she has to go on living, hopeless and joyless while this world lasts.

 

--------------

This is just an example of how one's state of mind colours anything it comes into touch with. The point isn't that depressed people have no sincere faith; the point is that unlike all you well-adjusted people, they need help in finding some happiness and the ability to tolerate life positvely instead of negatively.

 

Maybe they need to learn how the Quran can help them find joy in this world. They could benefit from someone helping them find out how Islam can guide one to happiness about the conditions of this life.

 

However, to dismiss their religious sincerity out of hand and assume that their mental condition is a result rather than the cause of their world view is completely unhelpful.

 

After all, nobody chooses to feel this way.

[Strawberry_Xu]

Thanks for recommending that book Hizb, I'll check it out.

 

On a slightly different note, does anyone know of Islamic psychologists? Or more specifically, someone who provides therapy which combines Islamic guidance and psychotherapy? Someone based in the UK would be more helpful.

[Valenteenah.]

Somalis, ey?

[Abu-Salman]

If someone is clinically depressed they are 'ill' maa garatay walaal?The chemical balancement of their maskax is not of neutral composition

 

Physical nature of depression, as well as others mental conditions and more fundamentally brain functioning, remain obscure;

hence, experts attribute it prevalents pathologies to natural physiological & chemical imbalances, environmental factors, partially to heredity, or life experience and personal mindset ect according to one's subjectivity and some concomitant researchs, naturally biaised, as an agreed upon paradigm for the neuro-psychology field is yet to be found and, moreover, direct experimentation is unpractical.

 

Sorry if I sounded too crude but I felt the Qur'aan was accused of triggering depression;

the poster didn't precise that a superficial reading of some separate ayaats was in question here.

 

Therefore, we should excercise utmost caution when raising such issues...