Depression can be caused by any number of things in the body. Poor nutrition is often a cause for depression. People who eat extensive amounts of processed foods don't get the materials required for appropriate bodily action. This can include problems with brain function and the nervous system. For some people, pesticides (which can leave a residue on food) and things that are added to food like sugar replacements can be toxic and can induce serious problems within the body.

Additionally, food allergies can cause depression. People who are allergic to wheat have been known to report depressive symptoms as a result of consuming that food. Regulation problems of the hormone system can also be a cause of depression. Stress, toxins, poor diet, and exercise can change hormone levels and lead to mood swings. Stress, more specifically, secretes excessive hormones in the body, causing difficulty with brain processes. Sleep difficulties can also lead to depression. Most people require eight to ten hours of sleep each night. Getting too much or too little sleep changes the body's natural rhythm. There are many possible culprits including bedroom lighting, noise, and stress. Whatever the problem, though, it can change the body's natural mood. Exercise increases endorphin release in the body and prevents depression. Those who don't exercise are thirty percent more likely to suffer from depression than those who do. Whatever the cause of your depression, it needs to be treated. However, medical doctors are most likely to prescribe drugs like Prozac to treat your illness. While medications like Prozac can be necessary at times, they can also have serious side effects like anxiety and violent behavior.

Perhaps one of the best ways to treat depression is through natural medications. While it is necessary to eat well and exercise while taking any of these, they will help in the long term. One natural solution to depression is St. John's Wort. This medication has few side effects and has been shown to assist with depression, apathy, sleep disturbances, anorexia, and feelings of worthlessness. Another helpful herb is Gingko. This can improve circulation, which, in turn, means more blood reaching the brain. That helps to detoxify your body. 5-HTP is also quite helpful in treating depression. It can raise serotonin levels which can cause rising levels of endorphins and other neurotransmitters that are changed when the brain enters a depressive state.

In addition to natural medications, vitamin and mineral therapy can be quite helpful. Many vitamin deficits have been shown to contribute to mood difficulties. Vitamin B6 deficiencies have been shown to be a contributor to depression. Folic acid deficiency can cause depression, insomnia, anorexia, forgetfulness, hyperirritability, apathy, fatigue and anxiety. Vitamin B12 absences have been known to cause postpartum depression. Vitamin C loss causes low levels of serotonin. Poor levels of magnesium can cause poor attention, memory loss, fear, restlessness, insomnia, tics, cramps and dizziness. Supplementation of any of these vitamin and mineral losses can help heal depression.

There are a few other natural ways to heal depression. A focus on nutrition has been shown to lower depression levels in some patients. You should follow several guidelines to create a well balanced, nutritional diet. First, try to consume two and one half cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit each day. When making your selections for each day, be sure to choose a good variety. Select from all five vegetable subgroups at least four times per week. You should eat at least three ounces of whole grain products each day. At least half of your grain intake should be whole grain based.

Milk should also be part of a healthy diet. Consume at least forty-eight ounces of low fat milk or milk products on a daily basis. Your total fat intake should only be between ten and thirty percent of your calories. Most of the fats you consume should be in the form of unsaturated fats, as saturated fats can do much to damage your health. Meat, poultry, dry beans, and milk or milk products should all be lean, low-fat, or fat-free. Less than ten percent of your calories should come from saturated fats, and you should always try to avoid trans-fatty acid. Fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be a regular part of your diet as should potassium rich foods. Alcoholic beverages should only be consumed in moderation.

One final way to heal depression is through regular exercise. Choose an activity you enjoy, and then stick with it. Try to exercise twenty minutes per day, three days per week. This will help detoxify your body and increase levels of important neurotransmitters in the brain, thus banishing depression.

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While this is not a powerful drug, in the sense that it won't bring you a quick recovery, but it does have excellent long-term results. Nevertheless, studies have proven that if a person is suffering from mild to moderate depression taking a minimum of 300mg of St. Johns Wort, three times a day, will dramatically help a person. Other studies have shown that 1800 mg per day is more effective. Either way, this is equivalent to taking between 0.4 and 2.7 mg of an antidepressant medication daily. This is why in some countries, such as Germany, St Johns Wort is actually prescribed far more commonly than synthetic antidepressant medications when it comes to treating depression. Most likely, the effectiveness of this herb is due to its involvement in inhibiting Serotonin reuptake, which is what conventional SSRI antidepressants actually do. The major active constituents in this herb include hyperforin, hypericin, flavonoids, tannins, and possibly a few other biologically active constituents.

This supplement can be taken as an herbal tea (this is made from its flowers and roots), which has a pleasant, although somewhat bitter, taste. It can also be taken in the form of a pill or capsule. It will take at least one week to see any improvement in a person's condition. The nice thing is that this treatment can be continued for a long period of time since the herb usually does not have any side effects. However, if you are on other medications (i.e. cancer drugs, HIV drugs, or contraceptive pills), you will need to check with your doctor prior to taking St Johns Wort since this herb can strongly interact with these other medications. For instance, one type of reaction that you may encounter is skin sensitivity when you are in the sun. Therefore, when taking this supplement you should stay out of the sun as much as possible.

When everything is taken into consideration, medical doctors strongly feel that St Johns Wort is a safe and effective herb that can be used to treat mild to moderate forms of depression.

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1. Environmental factors
The most obvious cause in this area is the reaction to an event, oftentimes the reaction to the loss of something or someone significant to that person's life. While this loss may sometimes be as obvious as the death of a loved one or moving from one state to another (this is especially true for children). At other times it may be less obvious like being dismayed over how you see your career going. A person may also become depressed whenever they feel as though they have become stuck in a monotonous lifestyle with nothing new to look forward to. Even when a person feels as though they have no control over their lives, they may become depressed. Other common causes of depression include: domestic disputes, financial difficulties, and the inability to express your feelings.

2. Psychological factors
There are times when depression is related to, or triggered by, an internal process. For instance, if you have a pessimistic outlook on life, or if you are suffering from a lack of self-esteem, then you may become depressed. Sometimes an illness, or a change in the illness, can lead to depression. Some studies have also shown that depression may be a "natural" part of a cardiovascular disorder.

3. Physiological factors
There is now a diathesis-stress model of depression, which is widely accepted. Included within this model is also clinical depression. Whenever you look at this model, you can clearly see how underlying personality types have some amount of influence upon how a person's mood is affected by the events in their lives. Nevertheless, doctors are still studying the social, psychological and biological anatomy of depression. This is a difficult study to undertake since the casual relationship with biological biological variables is unknown, thus making it hard to pinpoint the condition's roots.

However, there are definitely some general physiological factors worth considering. These include: Genetics (Some doctors hypothesize that there is an inherited disposition towards depression.); Neurochemistry (Some doctors think that there is a possibility that high levels of stress hormones, coupled with low dopamine levels, will lead a person to become depressed.); Sleep patterns; Female hormone imbalance (i.e. PMS or menopause); Testosterone imbalance in males; The use of such medications as corticosteroids; A chronic illness such as diabetes or hypothyroidism; Seasonal factors such as a lack of sunlight, which is definitely a contributing factor to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Any of these aforementioned factors can cause depression. While they may act alone, a lot of times they will combine together to contribute to the cause of depression. If you have any of these factors present in the life of you or a loved one, you can now understand the reason for your depression.

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1. Mono-polar depression (also known as dysthymic disorder)
This type of depression consists only of depressive symptoms. In mild cases of mono-polar depression there is no interference with an individual's ability to work or their ability to participate in social activities. (These minor cases are known as "dysthymic disorder.") However, in more severe cases of mono-polar depression, these areas can be affected.

2. Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive disease or cyclothymic disorder)
A person with bipolar disorder has periods of depression that alternate with periods of elevated mood level. The periods of depression are known as the depressive phase while the periods of elevated mood level are known as the manic phase. While a person is in the manic phase they show symptoms of increased mental and physical activity. They also tend to sleep poorly and have problems concentrating whenever they are in the manic phase. Sometimes a person may only have a mild form of bipolar disorder. In such cases, this mild form of bipolar disorder is known as "cyclthymic disorder."

3. Manic disorder
This disorder is actually believed to be the same as bipolar disorder, but the depressive state simply has not occurred yet. Manic depression is characterized by an abnormally elevated mood. This mood is accompanied by unrealistic optimism, lack of sleep, and hyperactive behavior.

4. Depression caused by physical disease
Sometimes a physical disease such as hypertension, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, stroke, and Cushing's syndrome can cause the symptoms of depression. Diseases such as these are actually the most common cause of depression. However, this type of depression can also be triggered by a lengthy illness such as the flu. Another disease that often contributes to depression is hypothyroidism, wherein a person lacks thyroid hormones and thus has a slowed metabolism.

5. Postnatal Depression
Oftentimes, women go through a period of depression after giving birth to a baby. This is due to the fact that the birthing process is both physically and mentally exhausting. Therefore, this process can actually drain the body of important nutrients. This lack of nutrients can in turn lead to depressive symptoms.

6. Seasonal Affective Disorder
During cold, dark times of the year a person may become depressed. Then when it becomes warm and light outside again, this depression may then go away. This is because light stimulates brain activity while a lack of light may lead to depression.

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Manic depression is defined as a treatable psychological disorder. However, it is important to understand that this disorder is not curable. In this disorder, periods of depression oftentimes exchange themselves for periods of extreme happiness. The type of imbalance a person has is what divides manic depression into Bipolar Type I and Bipolar Type II. People who suffer with Bipolar Type I have low to mild depression and severe manic high periods, which often require hospitalization. On the other hand, a person who suffers with Bipolar Type II has low to mild manic high periods and severe depression.

The extreme form of mania is known as hypomania. During times when a patient is suffering from hypomania they are a lot more active than normal and they also tend to become anxious, a lot easier. Also during the hypomania state, a patient is much more talkative, takes more chances than they would normally take, and can go for a lengthy period of time without sleeping. Oftentimes they will also feel as though they love everybody and everything whenever they are in a state of hypomania.

A normal state of mania includes a slight increase in energy, which leads to difficulty concentrating because their thoughts are often running full speed ahead. Normally this can be seen in that they are involved in a greater number of social activities and tend to talk a lot more than normal.

There is a twofold treatment option for manic depression. This is a combination of both chemical methods and psychotherapy. However, the medications that are used to treat the depressed side of manic depression tend to increase the affects of the manic side. It is also true that the medications that are used to treat the manic side of manic depression tend to increase the affects of the depressed side. Recently psychologists have begun using anti-seizure drugs to treat manic depression. When combined with behavior control therapy, these drugs are helping patients. Nevertheless, the chronic nature of manic depression, coupled with its stigma, is oftentimes difficult for the patient to manage.

Friends and family can help a patient who is suffering from manic depression. However, the patient's constant changes in mood, behavior, and communication level can sometimes be difficult to deal with. It can also be difficult to be a good friend to a patient who is suffering from manic depression because this person often requires a lot of outside help in order to be able to perform in society. This is because manic depression can prevent a person from being able to perform on a job since they occasionally have to spend time hospitalized in order to treat their condition.

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There are two main types of depression that stem from anxiety: agitated depression and akathitic depression. Both of these types of depression include suffering from a phobia wherein there is an abnormal amount of fear of a specific object or situation. Most phobias are due to a person's overactive imagination leading to an irrational fear. However, it is important to note that akathitic depression is not as common as agitated depression. Akathitic depression is simply a state of depression, which presents itself as anxiety without the symptoms of panic. Agitated depression is far more common.

Agitated depression is a depressive state, which presents itself as anxiety. It includes suicide, insomnia, unspecified panic and a general sense of dread. This type of depression is treated with antidepressants, however this may only increase a person's heart rate even more. In such a case an anticonvulsant such as Depakote(r) and/or lithium may also be administered in order to reduce the person's anxiety. Of course, therapy is also an important part of the treatment process. Through this therapy a person is helped to get away from the source of their anxiety.

This form of depression is often coupled with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. A person who has panic disorder has panic attacks, which include dizziness or breathing problems. Panic attacks usually reach their peak within 10 minutes of their onset. These equally affect both men and women. On the other hand, generalized panic disorder is characterized by long periods of anxiety, which are not related to any specific object or situation.

Studies have also shown that even mild symptoms of anxiety can have a major impact upon the course of depression. These studies have also shown that when a depressed person is anxious that person will have a longer course period toward remission and a higher inability to return to their daily routines. This link between anxiety and depression can also be demonstrated biologically in a person's heart rate. Therefore, anytime that anxiety is present with depression, the anxiety is an important factor to be considered.

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Of course, there are a variety of different types of depression. These include Manic or Bipolar depression, Postpartum depression, Dysthimia, Cyclothemia, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. There is also Clinical depression, which is sometimes called "major" depression. "Clinical depression" is actually the medical term that doctors use whenever they refer to depression. It is actually much more of a disorder than an illness. This is because it basically covers only those people who are actually suffering from the symptoms that are related to depression.

The most commonly attributed symptoms of this disorder include:
* A lack of joy in living, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of sadness, which will not go away.
* The depressed person avoids contact with others and when contact is made the person is usually very irritable and have a bad temper.
* There is no interest in the everyday pleasures of living.
* There is an inability to function well either at home or at work.
* There is an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
* A depressed person often cries throughout the day and cannot stop their thoughts in order to sleep well at night. Then they either wake up early in the morning or oversleep. Naturally, this will lead to a decreased amount of energy and the inability to concentrate. It may also cause their thought, speech and movement to become slowed.
* Sometimes clinical depression may also be accompanied by physical symptoms, which do not respond to treatment. These may include headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain.

Clinical depression is actually a disorder, which is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be treated. In fact, most doctors are very optimistic in that they believe that their patients who suffer from clinical depression will soon return to a life filled with good mental health. Of course this hinges on the fact that these patients must be treated as soon as a diagnosis has been made. Studies have actually shown that more than 10% of Americans each year suffer from depression. These same studies have also shown that patients that have actually sought treatment for their clinical depression have been very successful in doing so. Of these patients, the majority have been treated and have found relief from this disorder. However, less than one third of those who suffer from depression will actually seek help.

The most common way of treating depression is through the use of antidepressant medications. While these medications will not correct the problem overnight, they will correct the problem. Usually it will take three or four weeks for the medication to go into effect. However, a patient may not actually feel fully recovered until they have taken the medication for at least eight weeks.

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1. Don't spend time reading the newspaper or watching television. After all, newspapers and news shows simply publish negative articles the majority of the time. They tell you about the worst part of humanity and display negative stories in order to promote their sales and gain more subscribers. Reading stories about war, rebellion, death, destruction, doom and despair only serve to place negative input into your head. If you are feeling depressed, then this is the last thing that you need to be filling your head with. After all, watching horrible news will only add to your depression and feelings of helplessness (what actually allows depression to nurture).

2. Make sure that you say eliminate negative self-talk. Say only nice things about other people as well. Remember the old adage, "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all?" Well this is still true today. So, the next time that someone says something that isn't nice about someone else, take a moment to add something positive about that person to the conversation. By setting yourself up to find something positive in what goes on around you, you will be better equipped to keep negative thoughts out of your head, which will in turn keep depression out of your life.

3. Get out of the house and get some physical exercise and sun. If you are currently suffering from depression, then you may have forgotten about exercising and getting some sunlight. Studies have also shown that exercise and sunlight not only improve you health, but they improve your attitude as well. So get out of the house and go for a 20-minute walk.

4. Take a deep breath and relax. Take the time to go on a short mental vacation. This will help you to feel better, no matter what life throws at you.

5. There are definitely some foods that you should not eat, even if they may taste great. For instance, caffeine and alcohol play a significant role in mood and can make your mood swings more pronounced. For this reason, they should be avoided. Other foods that should be avoided include sugar, fats, and starch. Additives such as artificial sweeteners, artificial dyes, and preservatives should also be avoided. Not only do these foods make a person fat and sick, they can also make a person feel depressed.

6. Water plays a very important role in combating depression and improving a person's mood. Doctors recommend that a person drink at least 40 ounces of water each day. However, if you drink soda or coffee, you should increase your water intake. This is because caffeine acts as a diuretic and steals water from the body.

Of course there are other things you can do as well. For instance Omega 3 fatty acids and St John's Wort also help in the fight of depression. However, the above 6 ideas are low cost ways in which you can easily begin to fight off depression today.

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While some people who suffer from SAD only have a mild, temporary feeling of helplessness, which is a very minor form of depression, others can have a very serious case of SAD. Many studies have shown that 1 out of every 10 people actually have some form of SAD. As is true with clinical depression, sometimes people who have been diagnosed with SAD actually commit suicide. SAD can even progress into other types of depression. Some of these other forms include manic depression and schizophrenia just to name a few.

Some of the symptoms of SAD include being sluggish, sleeping for more than 10 hours a day and yet still being tired, and migraines which can become quite severe and usually peak when there are drops in barometric pressure.

There have been studies done to show that those people who are depressed are actually more prone to extreme changes in temperature. Some researchers have said that this was because of a lower level of electrolytes, salts, and other essential minerals in the body and brain. One of these minerals is potassium. It has been proven that having a low level of potassium will bring on a severe headache. Two other important elements are Vitamin D and exposure to the sun, or at the very least, to ultraviolet lighting. Many doctors actually believe that because there is limited sun exposure during the winter, which means that a person has a lower level of Vitamin D, they can actually get SAD.

It doesn't matter what age you are, you can still get SAD. However, it is interesting to note that SAD is rare in childhood and that it usually affects more women than men. In fact, it usually occurs in women who are 35-years-old or older.

If you have evidence that you or a loved one has symptoms of SAD, then it is strongly advisable for you to get medical attention. It may simply be a chemical imbalance, which a simple change in your diet could easily fix. This condition can also be offset by skin treatments, skin peels, and trips to the spa. However, this condition may also be more severe. This is why you should never let this condition go. There is no sense in suffering through it. There have been numerous recent medical advances that enable those who suffer from SAD to be treated effectively, thus greatly improving their quality of life.

For those who are diagnosed with SAD, light therapy is often recommended. Usually a person needs to be in the light for 30 to 60 minutes each day with their eyes open, but not directly focusing on the light. It has been suggested that the best time for this therapy is in the morning. It will take several weeks for the full effect of the treatment to occur. However, some improvement should be seen within one week.

There are also some medications available. These are selective serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some examples include Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil.

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There are a variety of symptoms that accompany PPD. These are as varied as women themselves are. Patients may actually show some, or just a few, of the numerous symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that these symptoms must be present for at least two weeks, for most of the time throughout the day. Most women who experience PPD complain that they have an overall feeling of depression. Other symptoms that accompany PPD are crying, and feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy. Oftentimes there will also be a change in appetite as eating becomes difficult. Sometimes though, a woman may experience an increase in appetite, which she simply cannot explain. These women will not find activities that she previously enjoyed to be pleasurable any longer. They will also oftentimes experience extreme, uncontrollable anxiety and fatigue. These women also feel no desire to take care of their newborns. In fact, they feel disconnected and apathetic whenever they do think about their infant. Sometimes a woman may even go to the extreme and find herself having thoughts about hurting the baby. Whenever a woman feels this way she should tell someone that she trusts, immediately.

PPD is caused by a change in hormones, which occurs after pregnancy. While a woman will usually experience a period of blues after giving birth, sometimes this turns into PPD, especially if the woman's family or spouse is unsupportive.

It is difficult to treat PPD because most women will not request treatment. This is due to the fact that the majority of these symptoms occur on a small scale after giving birth and thus women sometimes have difficulty seeing when these things actually become problematic. For this reason, spouses and family should keep a close eye on new mothers. Whenever necessary, they should step in and intervene, asking for help.

There are two ways in which PPD can be treated. First of all, when most doctors diagnose a woman with PPD, they will set her up with professional counseling. The counselor will then be able to teach you ways in which you can deal with the anxiety that you are experiencing. The second option is to place the woman on antidepressants. This is oftentimes done in combination with the counseling because the antidepressants can alleviated the outward symptoms while you work with a counselor to ease your anxiety.

The most important thing for a woman who is suffering from PPD to do is remember that she will get better. She simply needs to begin by seeking the appropriate medical attention so that she can finally begin enjoying motherhood.

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Depression takes on numerous different appearances.  Here are two of the most common examples:
* Anthony lost his job when his company downsized.  In the beginning he spent a lot of time sending out his resume and job-hunting, but now all he does is sit in front of the TV all day acting irritable.
* Lucy was an active senior citizen before the death of her husband and the worsening of her own health.  Now all she does is stay in the house, with her curtains closed, unless she has a doctor appointment.

While these are the main signs and symptoms of depression, they are not the only ones.  A lot of depression also sprouts from a childhood that has involved abuse, violence or neglect.  You should also know that it is not unusual to feel sad or depressed occasionally.  During these times you can try to manage the depression on your own through natural remedies such as finding a hobby, getting involved with sports, or exercising.

However, if these things do not work for you, then you should definitely consult a doctor.  Sometimes a person may become so debilitated that a loved one needs to step in.  While the person may not want you to help them, you will know that it is time to intervene because the person has shown that something is interfering with their ability to think, work, eat, sleep, enjoy being with others, or even care for themselves.  It is especially important for you to step in and intervene on behalf of a loved one when they start thinking or talking about death, self-harm, suicide, or harming others.  Sometimes a person will not make mention of these things but you will know that they are thinking about it because they begin giving away their prized possessions.  With this type of debilitating depression, the depressed person may not reach out for help, but they definitely are in need of it.

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