Stress | Depression Blog

Broken heart could be deadly: Study

Broken heart has always been one of the favorite subjects for poets. However, experts warn that broken heart may shatter one’s life terribly. Actually, a study conducted by British researchers has unveiled that stress caused by bereavement affects regions of the brain that control learning, memory and emotion in such a way that it may destabilize the cardiac muscle of someone. Unfortunately, patients with heart disease are more susceptible to such situation. Throwing more light on this concept, researchers said: When we are under stress, these “higher regions” of the brain take part in a vicious circle of activity, which can trigger harmful rhythms. Through this finding, one thing is clear that bereavement, by stirring up irregular cardiac rhythms, may play havoc with somebody’s life. This was already known that stress mars cardiovascular health. However, the new study brings out the exact way in which stress work against heart. Moreover, several studies conducted earlier have also shown that how badly stress affects our health. Have a look at such studies: • The Effects of Stress on Your Body • The Health Effects of Stress and Increased Cortisol • Stress: A Health and Relationship Killer • Stress and Your Health – How Stress Affects Your Health Image Via: SMH

45% of the office workers depressed, are you one of them?

When it comes to psychological problems then depression seems to be having the upper hand. And from vulnerability point of view, office workers seem to be the worst sufferers. Confirming this fact further, a new online survey, conducted by jobs website Job Korea of 1,036 office workers on Wednesday, unveiled that 44.6 per cent of the respondents accepted that they were depressed. Responsible factors behind depression (as this survey reveales): • Among 43.5 per cent of the employees, uncertain future with the company was the main cause behind depression. • Among 35.5 per cent of the workers, rank factor was responsible for depression. • Among 32 per cent of the workers, job-related responsibilities had kicked off depression. • 31 per cent of the workers held losing out of corporate incentives responsible for their depression. Actually, this much of rise in depression cases is restricted to not only few countries but to the whole world. As in America, about 1.8 to 3.6 per cent of the workers suffer from major depression and in case of Ireland too, it is estimated that one in every 14 workers is affected with depression. Here it is worth mentioning that depression is restricted not only to play havoc with our health but world-economy is also at its target Intrusion of depression, especially among the workforce of this world is quite a bad indication, especially for the world economy, as the rising tide of depression may once again pave way for the replication of ‘Great Depression’ by affecting working capabilities of the workers. Depression, especially at workplace affects workers’ productivity, ability, judgment, to work with others, and overall job performance. The incapacity to focus fully or make decisions may lead to costly mistakes or accidents. In addition, it has been proved that depressed individuals have high rates of absenteeism and are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, resulting in other problems on and off the job. Therefore, if we still look at depression considering it a personal problem then it would be a big slip-up, since in the present scenario, it is no longer a personal problem but a social as well as an economic problem. Keeping in view this thing it could be said that employers will have to make sure that the seeds of depression may sprout in their employees and this could be made possible by ensuring that workers get congenial working atmosphere, including some motivating factors as well. Image Source

Antidepressants gaining popularity, at the cost of health

Use of antidepressants is fast becoming a common thing, especially for the Australians with more and more people turning prone to mental health problems. A report from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) come out exposing this darker facet the Australians’ health. According to this report: • The number of antidepressants prescriptions increased 2.2 per cent per year between 2000-01 and 2005-06. • The use of antipsychotics increased just in a year about 6.8 per cent while this increase was 4.6 per cent for antidepressants. • Where in 2000-01 doctors prescribed about 9.8 million antidepressants while this figure reached 12.3 million in 2005-06. • Just in a single year use of antipsychotic increased from 1.3 million scripts to 1.8 million. • More people in Tasmania and South Australia were seeking for mental health medication while the use of mental health medication was comparatively lower in the Northern Territory and the Australia Capital Territory. • One in two Australians seeking help each year. • About 190,000 people were treated in a hospital emergency department for a mental illness during 2004-05. Facts, looming out of this report paint quite a gloomy picture of Australians’ mental health. However, it is worth mentioning that this is not for the first time when upsetting picture of Australians’ mental health has come to the fore, because earlier too experts have pointed that Australia’s mental health system is in distress. And if we look at this problem in wider term then we can say that the issue of worsening mental health is worrying not only the Australians but the entire globe. Following points bring out this picture very clearly: • The mental health of New Zealanders is getting worse • Mental health fears in China • Mental health care system in New Orleans is growing worse These facts indirectly show that people’s dependence on antidepressants is skyrocketing not only in Australia but also around the world. This is a harsh reality that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by mental, behavioral, neurological and substance use disorders. Proving this stark fact further an estimate in 2002 by the World Health Organization shows that 154 million people globally suffer from depression and 25 million people from schizophrenia; 91 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders. And due to this very reason a majority of such people stoop for using these antidepressants, which is quite a bad thing because there are many side effects that antidepressants have been linked to. Following is the list of those side effects: • Dry mouth • Urinary retention • Blurred vision • Constipation • Sedation (can interfere with driving or operating machinery) • Sleep disruption • Weight gain • Headache • Nausea • Gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhea • Abdominal pain • Inability to achieve an erection • Inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women) • Loss of libido • Agitation • Anxiety This shows that too much dependence on antidepressants may no doubt, help curing bad mental health but several side effects as mentioned above may also flock with it. Image Via: News

Stress, depression might lead to memory loss

If you are some one who associates himself with depression and stress, this story is a must for you. Scientists have found that people who are easily stressed out or depressed are more prone to memory problems than those with sunnier temperament. Those getting easily anxious or depressed are 40 times more likely to develop mild memory loss that is in-between between normal aging and dementia. Not only such people lose cognition, but also show signs related to development of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists warn that chronic distress is related to the first clinical manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease. And those with mild cognitive impairment have some trouble detecting things, but they do not have considerable disability. 1,256 people totally free of mental problems volunteered for the study that spanned 12 years. After the stipulated time period, it was found that 482 of them developed mild cognitive impairment. The study revealed that chronic stress might damage parts of the brain responsible for responding to stress. It could open up new ways to approach the strategy to delay the symptoms of this malady. It is better to keep your stress and tensions at bay, else that day isn’t far when your brain would give in to one of the worst brain diseases, Alzheimer’s. One can always overcome stress by exposing the body to physical exercises and meditation. Earlier studies have found that mediation promotes brain memory. Image Via: MSN

Is Stress sucking your passion?

So long as stress is confined to your workplace, its sounds a bit manageable. But the time it starts riding you even to your home, something uneven begins to crop up even among your close relations. None of us can deny the fact that sex plays a significant role in cementing a marital relation. However, sad it’s to know that due to stress the passion that is requisite to keep the love flame kindled seems to be dying a slow death with up to 15 million Britons directly facing its negative effects into their bedrooms. In other words, subsequent lack of desire in bedroom is slowly but steady digging a gulf among couples, which could pump up the already rising graph of divorce rate among Britons further. Analysis of the given situation in a wider perspective would show that not only Britons but also the people in other countries are facing similar situation, which points to quite a serious situation not only from health point of view but from psychological and social point of view as well. Therefore, it is very important to understand the gravity of the problem and work in the direction of solving it. Following words of Mark Schoen, Ph.D., director of sex education for the Sinclair Intimacy Institute, well express the importance of sex in a marital relation: A good sex life is an important part of an individual’s overall health. People who have a good sex life feel better [mentally and physically] Image Source

Today’s youth experiencing high levels of stress

Youngsters today are experiencing high levels of stress. The sources of stress are diverse for youngsters in different age levels. Among 13-17 year olds, academics is by far the most commonly mentioned source. Among 18-24 year olds, it is jobs and financial matters. Academic and career related pressures are ruining the life of young people. An average teenager today wants to excel in school, perform well in sports, keep up with the latest trends and choose the right higher education stream. Youngsters in there 20′s want a well paid job, they want to start saving for buying assets and also want to choose the right life partner. Added to this is the pressure to try and meet the expectations of the parents. Another type of stress which is latent in the minds of youth but still present is the threat of terrorism and vandalism. Females particularly feel unsafe in many public places and this adds to their stress level. After a series of terrorist activities which have rocked the world, the fear is nagging in the minds of young people who find themselves helpless and not able to contribute towards its eradication. According to surveys young females are more stressed out then males and incidences of high stress level are more in urban areas. The incidences of anxiety and depression are rising at an alarming rate and we keep hearing of teenager suicide cases around the world. Cut throat competition to keep up with peers is robbing youngsters of the pleasures of being young and healthy. Via:MSNBC Image1 Image2