Chapman House Inc. Drug Rehab

Depression

What is depression?

Depression is an illness that very common in today’s world. It impacts over 10 million adults every year. Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men. Left untreated, depression interferes with daily functioning and can have severe impact on family relationships and on one’s physical health.
Depression not only affects a person emotionally, but may lead to physical ailments as well. A person who shows signs of one or more of the following symptoms may be experiencing depression:

Emotional Symptoms of Depression :

• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Lack of motivation
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Worry or guilt
• Suicidal thoughts

Physical Symptoms of Depression :

• Low Energy level
• Unexplained pain, frequent headaches
• Physical pain
• Crying spells
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite

Depression also has different classifications.

Some examples are:

Clinical Depression - Clinical depression is serious enough to require clinical (professional) and possibly even pharmacological intervention. In cases of clinical depression, the symptoms must have been professionally observed by a medical practitioner and last for more than two continuous weeks at a time.

Teen Depression - Teenage depression is becoming more and more common in our society, affecting millions of teens nationwide. Teen depression can be identified by numerous symptoms including: difficulty coping with anger, problems in school, weight loss, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, a desire to use drugs or drink alcohol and an interest in violence. If left untreated, teen depression can often lead to more severe symptoms and last months or years.

What is the cause of Depression?

Depression may be caused by a combination of factors, and over time can lead to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Over the last two decades, extensive scientific and clinical study indicates that the most common cause of anxiety and depression related symptoms originates with an irregular distribution of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as Serotonin and Norepenephrine. These chemicals, along with other neurotransmitters are thought to be essential to cell-to-cell communication in the brain. A chemical imbalance of these key neurotransmitters causes a disturbance within specific receptor sites in the brain. An event such as being laid off, a financial loss, a medical illness or a death in the family can trigger this sort of imbalance and can eventually lead to depression. A person may also experience symptoms of depression suddenly and for no apparent reason.

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)

Bipolar disorder, or BPD, is experienced in extreme highs (mania) followed by, and without warning, periods of extreme lows (depression). Symptoms of mania may include rapid idea changes, intense irritability and decreased sleep. Bipolar Disorder is treatable and manageable under appropriate care.

ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. The most common behaviors fall into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Inattention.

People who are inattentive have a hard time keeping their mind on any one thing and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. They may give effortless, automatic attention to activities and things they enjoy. But focusing deliberate, conscious attention to organizing and completing a task or learning something new is difficult.

Hyperactivity.

People who are hyperactive always seem to be in motion. They can’t sit still. They may dash around or talk incessantly. Sitting still through a lesson can be an impossible task. Hyperactive children squirm in their seat or roam around the room. Or they might wiggle their feet, touch everything, or noisily tap their pencil. Hyperactive teens and adults may feel intensely restless. They may be fidgety or they may try to do several things at once, bouncing around from one activity to the next.

Impulsivity.

People who are overly impulsive seem unable to curb their immediate reactions or think before they act. As a result, they may blurt out inappropriate comments. Or, they may run into the street without looking. Their impulsivity may make it hard for them to wait for things they want or to take their turn in games. They may grab a toy from another child or hit when they’re upset.

Some scientists believe drugs such as Cocaine and Methamphetamines seem to affect the normal development of brain receptors. These brain cell parts help to transmit incoming signals from our brain to the rest of our body and help control our responses to the environment. Current research suggests that drug abuse may harm these receptors. This damage may cause or lead to symptoms of ADHD.

Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The essential characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive uncontrollable worry about everyday things. This constant worry affects daily functioning and can cause physical symptoms. Generalized Anxiety Disorder can occur with other anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, or substance abuse. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is often difficult to diagnose because it lacks some of the dramatic symptoms, such as unprovoked Panic Attacks, that are seen with other anxiety disorders; for a diagnosis to be made, worry must be present more days than not for at least 6 months.

The focus of Generalized Anxiety Disorder worry can shift, usually focusing on issues like job, finances, health of both self and family; but it can also include more mundane issues such as, chores, car repairs, and being late for appointments. The intensity, duration and frequency of the worry are disproportionate to the issue and interfere with the sufferer’s performance of tasks and ability to concentrate. Physical symptoms include:

• Muscle tension
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea
• Cold, clammy hands
• Difficulty swallowing
• Jumpiness
• Feeling like your life is spiraling out of control
• Irritability
• Insomnia

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