Blog Entries - October 2008

Is the Credit Crunch Making Us More Depressed Than Ever?

editor@uticopa.com — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

You can't pick up a newspaper, switch on the TV or radio, or even go online without hearing or seeing more bad news about the credit crunch. Thousands of people are losing jobs, and many more are bogged down in debts they are finding it hard to pay off. After years of banks and financial institutions throwing money at us, we are finally paying the price. And it is making a lot of us very unhappy.

Only yesterday, a new thread was started on our forum discussing the difficulties peopl [...]

Post-Natal Depression - More than ‘Baby Blues'

editor@uticopa.com — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

In a ground-breaking legal case in the UK, a judge has ruled that a mother should not stand trial for the attempted murder of her baby, as the woman was suffering from severe post-natal depression at the time of the incident.

The mother of four had suffered from post-natal depression after the birth of each of her children, with the condition becoming steadily worse each time. After the birth of her fourth child, she had become so ill that she threw the six-week-old baby from a first floor [...]

Pop Star Denies Eating Disorder

editor@uticopa.com — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Sarah Harding, singer with the pop group Girls Aloud, has spoken out this week against rumours that she is suffering from an eating disorder. The rumours were triggered by photographs of the singer's slim frame, but Harding insists that she "eats like a horse".

This is just the latest in a long line of rumours - some true, some false - about women in the public eye having eating disorders. Perhaps most famously, and certainly most tragically, was the case of singer Karen C [...]

Depression as you get old

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:41:07 +0100

Recognise the signs

As we get older, the difficult changes that many face - such as the death of a spouse or medical problems - can lead to depression, especially in those without a strong support system. But depression is not a normal or necessary part of ageing. In fact, most older people are satisfied with their lives despite the challenges of growing old.

Left alone, depression not only prevents older adults from enjoying life as they should, it also takes a heavy toll on [...]

Depression after abortion: myth or truth?

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:23:37 +0100

Recent television programs on BBC1 have highlighted the many traumas involving abortion, but especially those involving teenagers. Abortion-victim teenagers, are especially vulnerable because they are at a critical developmental period of their life. Even though teens are likely to be most deeply affected by abortions, they are also likely to be the least expressive about their doubts and pains. Instead of being encouraged to accept the consequences of their choices, and to mature through the [...]

How to recognise the first signs of depression in a loved one

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:42:25 +0100

Someone once said that the way to differentiate between great sadness and depression is that sadness relates to ‘real’ events, whereby depression is an overwhelming pressure pushing down on the top of your head. There is no doubt, however, that identifying depression in a loved one can be challenging because your loved one may not even be willing to acknowledge his or her symptoms of depression. It's important to recognise the early warning signs because this can lead to earlier d [...]

How to recognise different types of depression

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:31:55 +0100

There are distinct categories of Depression which can exhibit marked differences in symptoms and behaviour. Below are 9 major types.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

People who live in cold, northern climates or areas of the world where long periods of darkness are the norm will recognise this SAD syndrome only too well. But, equally, there are patients everywhere who suffer from SAD each time the sun goes down, but feel better in daylight. Typical symptoms: alte [...]

Depression: a DIY self-help questionnaire

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:26:16 +0100

Give truthful answers to the following, scoring: 0 (not at all); 1 (sometimes); 2 (a lot of the time); 3 (yes, all the time).

1. I have no energy and constantly feel tired

2. I have trouble sleeping / or I stay in bed all the time

3. I don’t feel like doing very much or have no pleasure in doing things

4. I am very down and miserable

5. I lost my appetite or I am eating a lot more than normal

6.&nbs [...]

How do I know if I have depression?

editor@uticopa.com — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:18:49 +0100

A new series begins today on the subject of Depression. Find out all you need to know by following our exclusive articles, each tackling one aspect.

Much has been written in the media lately about the increasing incidence of depression – surely a sign of the stresses and strains of modern life. But, how do we know if we actually have it?

One of the biggest challenges facing mental health specialists in addressing depression is accurately diagnosing it in the first [...]