15Feb

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a long-term, severe mental illness that impacts a person’s ability to think, act, express emotions, perceive reality, and interact with others. Schizophrenia can be the most persistent and incapacitating major mental illness, despite not being as common as other similar conditions.

Schizophrenia patients frequently struggle to function well in relationships, at work, in the classroom, and in society. They might be fearful, withdrawn, and show signs of disconnection from reality. Although there is no cure for this chronic illness, it can be managed with proper care.

Schizophrenia is not a split or multiple personalities, unlike what the general public thinks. Psychosis, a sort of mental disorder when a person cannot distinguish between the real world and their imagination, is a component of schizophrenia. People with psychotic disorders occasionally become detached from reality. The world may appear to be a tangle of perplexing ideas, pictures, and noises. They may act in a very peculiar and even startling manner. A psychotic episode occurs when a person experiencing it loses touch with reality and has an abrupt shift in personality and conduct.

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What Is Schizophrenia?

Each person’s level of schizophrenia is unique. Some people only experience one psychotic episode in their lifetime, while others experience multiple episodes throughout the course of their lifetimes while maintaining a largely regular lifestyle. Others might gradually experience increased difficulties with their ability to operate, with little progress in between full-blown psychotic episodes. In cycles known as relapses and remissions, the symptoms of schizophrenia appear to deteriorate and improve.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental condition that has an impact on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Schizophrenia sufferers may appear to have lost all sense of reality, which can be upsetting to both them and their loved ones. Participating in regular, everyday activities may be challenging for someone with schizophrenia, but there are effective therapies available. Many persons who receive treatment are able to participate in school or the workforce, become independent, and value their connections with others.

 

10Feb

Types Of Depression

It’s typical to feel sadness from time to time, but if you experience it frequently and it interferes with your everyday life, you may be suffering from clinical depression. It’s a condition that you can manage with medication, therapy sessions, and lifestyle adjustments.

Depression can take many different forms. Some are brought on by life events, while others are brought on by chemical changes in the brain.

Regardless of the source, the first thing you should do is express your concerns to your doctor. To determine the sort of depression you are experiencing, they could suggest that you speak with a mental health professional. This diagnosis will help your doctor choose the best course of action.

Bipolar Disorder

A person with bipolar illness, which is frequently referred to as “manic depression,” experiences mood swings that vary from intense bursts of “up” energy to depressing lows.

In the low phase, significant depressive disorder symptoms will be present in you.

Your mood fluctuations may be controlled with medication. Whether you’re going through a high or low point, your doctor might advise taking a mood stabiliser like lithium.

Three medications have received FDA approval to treat the depressive stage:

  • Seroquel
  • Latuda
  • Olanzapine-fluoxetine combination

Sometimes, doctors will recommend additional medications for bipolar depression that are not approved by the FDA, such as the anticonvulsant lamotrigine or the atypical antipsychotic Vraylar.

Because there is no evidence from studies that traditional antidepressants are more effective than a placebo (a sugar pill) in treating depression in patients with bipolar illness, these medications are not always advised as first-line therapies. Additionally, some conventional antidepressants may raise the possibility of a “high” phase of the illness or speed up the frequency of experiencing additional episodes over time in a small percentage of bipolar disorder sufferers.

Additionally, psychotherapy can support you and your family.

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Major Depression

Major Depression

Your doctor might refer to this as a “major depressive illness.” If you experience depression on most of your days of the week, you may have this type.

Other signs you may experience include:

  • A decline in enjoyment or interest in your activities
  • Gain or loss of weight
  • Inability to fall asleep or difficulty staying asleep during the day
  • Restless and irritated feelings, as well as extreme sluggishness and slowing of the body and mind
  • Being worn out and drained of energy
  • A sense of worthlessness or guilt
  • Difficulty focusing or making decisions
  • Visions of suicide

If you have five or more of these symptoms on a daily basis for two weeks or more, your doctor may determine that you are suffering from serious depression. Depression or a loss of interest in activities must be at least one of the symptoms.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Major depression that most frequently occurs in the winter when the days are shorter and you receive less and less sunlight is known as seasonal affective disorder. Usually, it disappears in the spring and summer.

Antidepressants can be beneficial if you have SAD. So too can light therapy. You must spend 15 to 30 minutes per day seated in front of a special bright light box.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder is the name for depression that lasts for two years or longer. Previously called as dysthymia (low-grade persistent depression) and chronic severe depression, these two disorders are now referred to by one word.

You might experience signs like:

  • The way you eat has changed (not eating enough or overeating)
  • Excessive or insufficient sleep lack of energy or weariness
  • A low sense of self
  • Difficulty focusing or making decisions
  • Having no hope
  • Psychotherapy, medicine, or a mix of the two may be used to treat you

Persistent Depressive Disorder

 

9Feb

Schizophrenia Pronunciation

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that causes a person to lose the ability to connect their thoughts, feelings, and actions, which causes them to withdraw from reality and close relationships.

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What Is Schizophrenia

 

8Feb

Panic Disorder

When there is no immediate danger or obvious reason, a panic attack is a rapid bout of great terror that results in significant physical symptoms. Panic attacks can be extremely terrifying. You might believe you are losing control, experiencing a heart attack, or even going to pass away when panic attacks strike.

Many people only experience one or two panic attacks throughout their lives, and the issue usually goes away when a stressful circumstance is over. However, if you’ve experienced frequent, unanticipated panic attacks and have endured protracted periods of continual anxiety about an attack, you may be suffering from a disease known as panic disorder.

Even if panic attacks don’t pose a life-threatening threat, they can nonetheless be terrifying and have a substantial impact on your quality of life. However, treatment is often highly successful.

What Is Panic Disorder

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Panic Disorder Symptoms 

Typically, panic episodes start abruptly and without warning. Anytime, whether you’re driving, at the mall, fast asleep, or in the middle of a business meeting, they can happen. You could experience panic episodes infrequently or regularly.

Although there are different types of panic attacks, symptoms often peak within minutes. After a panic episode, you could feel exhausted and worn out.

Some of these symptoms or indicators are frequently present during panic attacks:

  • Unreality or a sense of remoteness
  • A feeling of imminent calamity or doom
  • Fear of losing control or passing away
  • A hammering, rapid heartbeat
  • Sweating
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Throat discomfort or shortness of breath
  • Chills
  • A hot flash
  • Nausea
  • Cramps in the abdomen
  • Chest discomfort
  • Headache
  • Unsteadiness, faintness, or dizziness
  • The feeling of numbness or tingling

The tremendous worry that you will experience another panic attack is among the worst aspects of them. You can be so afraid of experiencing panic attacks that you steer clear of circumstances where they might happen.

Panic Disorder Causes 

Although the exact cause of panic episodes or panic disorder is unknown, the following factors might be involved:

  • Genetics
  • Major anxiety
  • Temperament that is more vulnerable to anxiety or other
  • Undesirable feelings
    Various modifications to how certain brain regions work

At initially, panic attacks may strike unexpectedly and without notice, but over time, they are typically brought on by particular circumstances.

According to some studies, panic episodes may be a result of your body’s normal fight-or-flight reaction to danger. For instance, your body would respond automatically if a grizzly bear pursued you. Your breathing and pulse rate would quicken as your body braced for a potentially fatal circumstance. In a panic attack, many of the same responses take place. However, it is uncertain why a panic attack happens when there is no immediate risk.

Risk Factors Of Panic Disorder

More women than men experience the symptoms of panic disorder, which frequently appear in late adolescence or early adulthood.

The likelihood of having panic episodes or panic disorder may be increased by a number of factors, which include:

  • Panic disorder or panic attacks in the family
  • Significant life stressors like a loved one’s death or critical sickness
  • An upsetting occasion, such as a sexual attack or a serious accident
  • Significant life changes, like being divorced or having a baby
  • Smoking or consuming too much coffee
  • Maltreatment inflicted physically or sexually throughout infancy

Risk Factors Of Panic Disorder

Whenever To Visit A Doctor

If you experience the signs of a panic attack, get medical attention right away. Although extremely painful, panic attacks are not harmful. However, panic attacks can be challenging to control on your own, and they might worsen if left untreated.

If you are unsure of the source of your symptoms or believe they may be related to another significant health issue, such as a heart attack, it is crucial to see your primary care provider for an evaluation.

 

7Feb

Great Depression, Great Depression 1929

The 1929–1939 Great Depression was a global economic depression that affected all countries. The industrialized Western world had never before faced a depression of such length and severity, and as a result, economic institutions, macroeconomic policy, and economic theory underwent significant changes. Despite having its roots in the United States, the Great Depression had a profound impact on nearly every nation in the world, leading to sharp drops in output, high levels of unemployment, and acute deflation. No less startling were its social and cultural repercussions, particularly in the United States, where the Great Depression was the country’s greatest period of hardship since the Civil War.

Economical Background

There were significant regional differences in the Great Depression’s timing and severity. In contrast to Japan and parts of Latin America, where it was milder, the Depression was notably prolonged and severe in the United States and Europe. It may come as no surprise that a variety of factors contributed to the worst economic depression the world has ever known. The United States’ economic output declined due to declines in consumer demand, financial panic, and poorly thought-out government policies. The gold standard, which connected nearly all nations in the world in a network of fixed currency exchange rates, was crucial in spreading the American downturn to other nations. The removal of the gold standard and the subsequent monetary expansion were major contributors to the Great Depression’s recovery. The Great Depression had a significant impact on the economy, resulting in both severe human misery and significant shifts in economic strategy.

Great Depression

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Timing And Seriousness

In the summer of 1929, the United States had a typical recession before the start of the Great Depression. However, the downturn significantly worsened in late 1929 and persisted until early 1933. Real output and prices both dropped sharply. The United States saw a 47 percent fall in industrial production during the downturn’s height and a 30 percent decline in the real gross domestic product (GDP). The index of wholesale prices fell 33%. (such declines in the price level are referred to as deflation). Although there is some disagreement regarding the validity of the data, it is generally accepted that the unemployment rate at its peak was higher than 20%. When compared to the Great Recession of 2007–2009, which saw the country’s real GDP shrink by just 4.3 percent and its unemployment rate reach a peak of less than 10 percent, the Great Depression in the United States severity is made more obvious.

What Led To The Decline?

The primary driver of the Great Depression in the United States was a drop in consumer spending, often known as aggregate demand. This decline in demand caused a decline in production as a result of manufacturers and retailers observing an unplanned increase in inventories. Over the course of the Depression, the causes of the reduction in American spending varied, but they all added up to a massive drop in aggregate demand. The gold standard played a significant role in spreading the American slide to the rest of the world. But a number of other reasons also had a role in the slump in different nations.

Society And Culture During The Great Depression

The 1930s were the most horrific decade of the 20th century for people all across the world. Economic chaos, the growth of authoritarianism, and the impending (or ongoing) war were among the horrors of the decade. Nevertheless, different regions of the world have distinct methods of remembering the decade. The 1930s will always be remembered by Americans as the decade of the Great Depression. Bank panics eroded confidence in the financial system, while unemployment lowered confidence in the future. The Great Plains saw the greatest drought in contemporary American history in 1934. The entire region was transformed into a massive Dust Bowl by windstorms that stripped the topsoil from millions of acres, resulting in catastrophic levels of agricultural and livestock destruction. Around 2.5 million people left the Plains states as a result, many of them heading for California, where the lure of sunshine and a better life frequently came afoul with the reality of insufficient, low-paying work as migrant farm laborers.

 

 

6Feb

What Is Depression?

A mood disorder is a condition that incorporates depression. Anger, unhappiness, or failure feelings that interfere during daily activity are some common descriptions.

As per the WHO website: – Globally, the total number of people with depression was estimated to exceed 300 million in 2015, equivalent to 4.3% of the world’s population. In India, the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 revealed that nearly 15% of Indian adults need active intervention for one or more mental health issues and one in 20 Indians suffers from depression. It is estimated that in 2012, India had over 258 000 suicides, with the age-group of 15-49 years being most affected./span>

Although sadness after a traumatic event in life or grieving following the loss of a beloved one both have specific characteristics in common with depression, these emotions are distinct from each other. While sorrow frequently does not, depression frequently does involve self-hatred or low self-esteem.

Usually, feelings of emotional pain are accompanied by pleasant sensations and happy recollections of the deceased while someone is weeping. Sadness is a continuous sensation in major depressive disorder.

Depression manifests itself differently for each person. Your everyday tasks could be hampered, causing you to lose time and reduce production. Relationships and some long-term medical disorders may also be affected.

Depression can lead to specific conditions, such as:

This is important to realize that having sadness occasionally is a healthy component of life. Everyone endures unhappy and troubling things in life. But if you frequently feel depressed or hopeless, you may be suffering from depression.

Without the right treatment, depression is regarded as a dangerous medical illness that might worsen.

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Symptoms Of Depression

Depression might be more than simply a continuously depressed or “blue” feeling.

A major depressive episode can manifest in a number of ways. Some influence your body while others influence your mood. Additionally, symptoms might continue or come and go.

Test For Depression

No single test exists to identify depression. However, based on your symptoms and the results of a psychological assessment, your healthcare professional can make a diagnosis.

They typically probe you with a series of inquiries concerning your:

Moods, hunger, sleep habits, level of activity, and thoughts
Your healthcare provider may also perform a physical examination and request blood work because depression has been connected to other health issues. Sometimes depressive symptoms might be brought on by thyroid issues or a vitamin D shortage.

It’s critical to not disregard depressive disorder symptoms. Seek medical assistance if your mood doesn’t get better or grows worse. There is a chance of difficulties with depression, a significant mental health condition.

Complications might include trusted sources:

  • self-harm
  • drug usage disorder
  • suicidal thoughts due to social isolation
  • panic disorders
  • loss or increase in weight
  • relationship difficulties
  • a physical hurt

General Symptoms And Signs (Depression Symptoms, Symptoms Of Depression )

The symptoms of depression vary from person to person. The degree, regularity, and duration of symptoms can all vary.

You may have depression if you have experienced some of the warning signs and symptoms listed below nearly every day for at least two weeks:

  • feeling depressed, worried, or empty
  • feeling useless, cynical, and hopeless
  • crying a lot feeling upset, irritated, or furious losing interest in
  • activities and pursuits you once found enjoyable
  • reduced energy or weariness
  • the trouble with concentration, memory, or decision-making
  • moving or speaking more slowly, having trouble falling asleep,
  • waking up early, or staying up late, and experiencing changes in appetite or weight
  • persistent physical discomfort with no apparent cause that does not improve with treatment (headaches, aches or pains, digestive problems, cramps)
  • Self-harm, suicide attempts, or death-related ideas

Who Is Most Prone To Depression?

Nobody is immune to depression, regardless of age, gender, or situation. Depression affects over 16 million Americans each year.

Depression may affect women more frequently than it does males. Additionally, having at least one depressing episode in your life is more likely if you have certain medical conditions or genetics.

Is It Possible To Stop Depression?

By getting adequate sleep, maintaining a nutritious diet, and engaging in regular self-care practices like yoga, meditation, and exercise, you can help prevent depression.

If you’ve previously struggled with depression, you could be more prone to do so again. Get treatment if you are experiencing symptoms of depression. You can recover more quickly with care.