According to the Mayo Clinic, about 12 million adults in the United States suffer from depression in a given year. Depression does not discriminate against economic status, race, gender or age. No one is immune from the risk. If you seek treatment, the prognosis for depression is good. Depression, however, tends to get worse over time if left untreated.
Symptoms
Depression encompasses a wide variety of symptoms. Some people suffering from depression may experience only a few symptoms, while others may suffer from many. Common symptoms include feeling you are worthless, hopeless or sad; trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much; irritability; restlessness; loss of interest in daily activities or hobbies; crying spells; fatigue; generally feeling miserable, but unable to pinpoint why; thoughts of suicide; social isolation; and anxiety.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines several types of depression. They are classified by duration and severity of symptoms. Major depression (or major depressive disorder) patients usually exhibit severe symptoms most of the day for at least two weeks. Dysthymic disorder patients exhibit a depressed mood for at least two years. Symptoms may be less severe or frequent with this type of depression. Bipolar disorder is also a type of depression. Patients cycle between mania and depression. Some women experience pre-partum depression (depression during pregnancy) and/or post-partum depression (depression after pregnancy). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) patients exhibit depression symptoms during fall or winter months. Your doctor can help determine what type of depression may be affecting you.
About Coconut Oil
According to Lita Lee, Ph.D., coconut oil has a bad reputation these days because it is saturated fat. Saturated fat is associated with a multitude of health problems, and people are encouraged to avoid it. But coconut oil may actually be beneficial. Coconut oil stimulates the thyroid, which in turn can help lower cholesterol and boost metabolism. As a result of the thyroid stimulation, coconut oil can also help one lose weight. One symptom of thyroid issues is depression. So fixing the thyroid problem may also help alleviate depression symptoms. Losing weight can relieve some depression symptoms. Consult your doctor on whether coconut oil would be appropriate for you to add to your diet. It is not a "miracle cure" for depression, but only one option that may offer some relief for some patients.
Modern Treatment
Sometimes depression is a symptom of another condition. Bipolar disorder and Seasonal Affective Disorder are two disorders that may have many of the same symptoms as depression. It is important to be evaluated by a mental-health professional or doctor so that you get the best treatment possible. Typical treatments for depression are various medications (antidepressants) and cognitive therapy or psychotherapy. Many patients respond quite well to a combination of medication and therapy. Doctors may pursue other forms of treatment, depending on the severity of the depression.
Other Holistic Remedies
According to the Holistic Online Web site (www.holisticonline.com), there are a variety of other holistic therapies for depression. They include accupuncture, breathing techniques, hypnosis, massage, magnetic therapy, meditation, changes in diet, reflexology and yoga. Additional herbs to help depression include licorice, St. John's wort, ginger, basil and ginkgo.
Warning
Because coconut oil has some antiviral and antibacterial properties, you could experience some digestive upset such as diahrrea as organisms "die off" when you first begin to introduce coconut oil. Some people may experience allergic reactions, too.
Tags: depression symptoms, disorder patients, type depression, also help, Bipolar disorder, depression depression