YOUR HEALTH: Stimulate your depression
Treatments include counseling, medications, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, to stimulate the mood-regulating parts of the brain.
"Not all patients respond to the medication or to the neuromodulation," explained Dr. Francisco Romo-Nava, a physician scientist at the University of Cincinnati's Lindner Center of HOPE.
Dr. Romo-Nava and his colleagues are studying a new way to treat mental health disorders.
The neuroscientists are testing a device that delivers stimulation to a patient's spine.
Dr. Romo-Nava says the stimulation will improve the feedback in the central nervous system that is sometimes disrupted when a person has a psychiatric disorder.
For now, patients undergo spinal stimulation for 20 minutes, three times a week, for eight weeks.
"The kind of stimulation that we use is very well tolerated," he explained.
"The most frequent description is like a tingling sensation
Researchers say this stimulation therapy could be the first step to developing better treatment for some patients.
Dr. Romo-Nava was granted a patent for the stimulation method that utilizes transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
He says his research team is trying to determine how often, and how long, patients should undergo the stimulation for the best results.
Between 80% and 90% of people with depression respond well to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
A new form of magnetic brain stimulation relieved symptoms of severe depression in 90% of participants in a study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
The researchers are conducting a larger, double-blinded trial in which half the participants are receiving fake treatment and are optimistic it will prove to be similarly effective in treating people whose condition hasn't improved with medication, talk therapy, or other forms of electromagnetic stimulation.
Finding The Right Medication To Help Battle Depression
Depression treatment can be very intimidating to someone who suffers from it or to somebody trying to help a sufferer. It can easily lead to a bit of information overload because of all of the resources available. Below are some tips to assist you in getting all of this information organized to where everyone can start feeling better.
Get out of the house and socialize. Get involved in activities outside the home and meet people. Even calling on friends and family can help. Let them know about your struggles with depression, and ask for their help. Have them call you out when you start displaying negativity, and to praise or compliment you when you act positively.
A great way to deal with chronic depression is to keep positive. Negative thinking plays an important role in depression, so combat this a with strategy of positive thinking. Depressed people minimize positive qualities, talents, and accomplishments, whereas happy people focus on a majority of the good in life.
If you are feeling depressed, and you have the means, consider adopting a pet. Even a small pet such as a rodent can give you the feeling that someone else depends on you each day. Having a pet is especially helpful for beating depression if you live alone, since it means you don't come home to an empty house.
If you suffer from depression, it is important to acquire interests and activities to keep your mind stimulated. Taking part in activities is crucial for mental health, as it increases self-esteem and helps to keep your mind off of negative thoughts and emotions. All depressed people should attempt to take up a hobby that gives them joy.
Understand and know that you are not insane, but depressed. Depression is the way the body tells us that something is wrong or out of balance with our body. The world around us is an insane place and our bodies react to this insanity by making us depressed. This does not mean that we are insane, it just means that you are a natural being living in an insane world.
If you are depressed, it would be best for you not to hang around other depressed people. As the old saying goes, misery loves company. The last thing you need is someone rationalizing and promoting your misery. If you hang out with other depressed people, you will be down in the dumps forever, barring any kind of recovery.
When and if you are feeling suicidal you should do everything in your power to remind you that this is all in your head. If you even begin to entertain the idea of killing yourself you should immediately contact someone that you trust and ask them to come and talk you down.
Keep your mind active through puzzles, games, and other challenges. The more time you leave yourself idle, the more time you'll have to dwell on negativity. If you keep busy, you'll feel more accomplished, and you won't be spending your days thinking about everything that's gone wrong. Focus on positive, uplifting activities at which you can be successful.
Dress well each and every day. It is very easy to feel depressed dressed in old ratty clothes. When you don't dress happy, then you may not feel happy. Wear nice clothing every day. Put on makeup and go that extra mile to make yourself look good. This will make you feel as good as you look.
Know your depression level. Some people are only mildly depressed, others have a much more serious case. Many people suffer from mild to severe depression, without realizing they're depressed. Mild depression is known as "the blues" or where you feel a bit sad, whereas moderate depression negatively affects daily life. Clinical depression actually changes someone's behavior, causing them to withdraw from normal day to day life. Letting your doctor or therapist know how you feel is critical.
Take care of things that you have listed as to-do tasks. Even the simple act of finishing a few chores can do wonders for your spirit and your positive nature, giving you a sense of pride and accomplishment as you can check items off your to-do list. Even if it is a minor task, you will find that it feels great to mark it off your list.
If you have been prescribed a medication that you feel comfortable taking, you should not feel embarassed to TMS Therapy for depression take it. People who have heart problems or lung problems are sure to take their medicine and the same should be true for people who have head problems, it is there as a way to help you.
This article can tell you how to get out of your slump, rut, or any other description you may have for depression. Most people fall into depression because they don't feel like they have anyone around them to understand. This article will try to help you understand that you're not alone. In fact you aren't even the minority. Everyone experiences emotions like regret or depression, but the manner in which people deal with their emotions decides whether they are "depressed".