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- What is depression?
- Symptoms of depression
- Causes of depression
- Prevention of depression
- Risk factors for depression
- Complications of depression
- When to see a doctor about depression
- Diagnosis of depression
- Conventional treatment of depression
- Alternative/complementary treatment of depression
- Living with depression
- Caring for someone with depression
There are some significant complications of depression, especially if it has not been diagnosed, or it continues unabated and untreated:
- Alcohol (or other substance) abuse - people who abuse alcohol (or other substances) tend to be depressed. The depression can cause some people to turn to alcohol (or other substances) to try to numb their pain and other symptoms. Unfortunately, abusing alcohol (or other substances) will only lead to a number of other health problems, which only become more adverse with the longer the excessive drinking continues
- Anxiety - depression and anxiety go hand-in-hand usually, with one precipitating the other. People with depression, who do not also have some type of anxiety disorder, tend to develop it during the course of their depressive episodes, especially if the depression continues over a long term without proper treatment
- Heart disease - some recent research showing a link between depression and heart disease development. The research suggests that depression that is untreated, continues for a long time or does not respond well to treatment, is linked to heart disease developing, especially life threatening arrhythmia. Other research shows that people who have depression and heart disease, have a poorer prognosis of both their conditions and respond much less positively to their medication
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- Relationship problems - people who are depressed may have major relationship problems with their family, their partner, children or friends, due to their symptoms. Depression causes people to isolate themselves from others, so loved one may not understand why they are being cut off from the depressed person's life, additional, depression makes it hard for the depressed person to relate in a healthy way with other people and this can potentially cause a great deal of conflict in the person's relationships. Conversely, relationship problems can cause depression in some people, so the continuation of the relationship problems in someone who is depressed may further exacerbate their symptoms, creating a vicious cycle that continues seemingly unabated
- Social isolation - people who are depressed tend to feel alone, they tend to isolate themselves from their family, friends and loved ones, which only makes them more socially isolated and much less likely to reach out to make connections with people. The social isolation only further serves to exacerbate the symptoms of depression (feeling more lonely) and can increase the severity of symptoms
- Suicide - the ultimate adverse complication of depression is suicide, taking one's life because the pain inside is too hard to bear. Anyone who attempts suicide is crying out for some help, because they may be overwhelmed with all the symptoms of depression, which can be quite awful and adversely impacts so much on life, reducing quality of life, when it is severe
People who feel so down that they are having thoughts of taking their life should call Lifeline on - 131114.
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< 5: risk factors 7: when to see a doctor > Last reviewed: 24 January 2009 || Last updated: 21 March 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
