Helping A Loved One With Depression

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration. 

Depression affects people of any gender, age or background, it affects over 120 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability.

Depression can become chronic affecting the person's ability to take care of himself or to do everyday chores.

Depression can lead to loss of employment and relationships with family and friends.

If your loved one is suffering from depression there are things you can do to help and make them feel.
 better. 

The loved one will need support, but support is more than a shoulder to cry on.

If you are a care giver,  you must realize that treatment is important.
 
Here are some ways to go about giving your help.

• Get active in their care- If you are a care giver , get active in their care.
• Talk about it- let them know you care
• Stay in contact-Call, visit or involve them
• Focus on small goals- Praise their small achievements
• Keep informed
• Give them help to get to and from appointments
• Encourage and remind them to take medication
• Remind them to keep doctor's appointment

This article is about many ways you can help a family member or loved one who is suffering from depression.
View the ways and read about each in more detail, they are in slide format.

Click Here to begin.

Antidepressant Drugs May Cause Falls

In a study involving 248 nursing home residents, researchers found that the risk of residents falling was increased if they were given anti-depressant drugs. They found that the risk of falling and sustaining an injury was three times higher in residents taking the anti-depressants.

For the study researchers recorded drug use and records of falls over a two year period. The average age of the residents was 82.

One hundred and fifty-two of them suffered a total of 683 falls, 220 falls resulted in injuries such as a hip fracture or other broken bones.

As a result of the findings , researchers are asking that caution be used in prescribing anti-depressants for the elderly.

The anti-depressants called selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRI's) are frequently prescribed for dementia patients suffering from depression.

You can read more on the report.

Risk Of Depresssion Reduced With Caffeine

Researchers found that women who drink more than 2 cups of coffee per day had a lower risk for depression.

The study was a 10 year longitudinal study involving 50,739 women, a mean age of 63 years.

Researchers recorded the number of women who developed clinical depression and compared it with:

1. Coffee ( 80% cafeine


2. Tea (12% caffeine)


3. Soft drinks of 5% caffeine

1-They found that those drank 2-3 cups of coffee per day had a 15% lower risk for depression.
2- Those who drank 4 cups or more had a 20% lower risk.

The results of the study support coffee as a protection against depression.

Read more info on this study.