Depression’s MoJo on the Body and Mind

Depression not only affects a person’s mind and quality of life, it takes a huge toll on their body as well.  It can be at least as disabling as chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, back problems, asthma or gastrointestinal disorders.

If someone has a chronic disease, depression makes it far worse to cope and recover.  They function less, go to the doctor more often, stay in the hospital longer, and lack the positive mindset needed for healing.

Furthermore, depression can actually lessen one’s immunity.  Even mild mood swings take their toll on an immune system.  Studies show that on days when a person’s mood is depressed, the levels of antibodies in saliva drop.  It’s these antibodies, of course, that defend us against viruses.

So it’s not surprising that depressed people get sick more often than those who are not.  They have many more colds as well as more sleep problems.

A few other depressing statistics follow:

1. A study foud that the thinning of bones known as osteoporosis is greater in depressed people.
2. Rates of stroke are twice as high amongst depressed individuals.
3. Depressed patients with coronary disease are more likely to have heart attacks, undergo bypass surgery, and suffer further heart-related complications.
4. Amongst heart attack survivors, depression increased the risk of dying within six months by three to four times.

Fortunately, depression is easy to treat.  Unfortunately it’s just as easy to ignore.

What are the symptoms of depression?

• Feeling persistently sad, blue or down in the dumps.  When there are seemingly always tears behind your eyes waiting to drop.
• Losing interest in things you once enjoyed.
• Feeling anxious, fearful, worried, irritable, tearful, or hopeless.
• Feeling overly guilty, worthless, or helpless.
• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, remembering details, or even completing a thought.
• Sleeping too little or too much.
• Frequent aches and pains.
• Appetite changes.
• Stomach discomfort.
• Thoughts of harming yourself.

If more than one of these symptoms hit home, you may be depressed, or having one of those weeks. (We all have those from time to time!)  Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between a bad mood or depression. The trick, according to the experts, lies in the extent to which we experience the above feeling and the length of time they hover over our lives.  

For example, a cat I dearly love and have had for over 17 years is going down faster than I ever imagined.  I’ve been, understandably, sad because of it - but I’m still able to function.  At least as well as I ever have!  I know what’s causing me to feel less than 100% happy.  I’m losing one of my bestest friends! (I just looked over and this bestest friend has her head in my glass lapping up my iced tea. Attagirl, gobble those antitoxins.) 

Those who are depressed often can’t pin down their sadness - they feel that life has just ceased to be worthwhile, let alone fun - which leads to more frustration, followed by more sadness, etc.  It’s such a horrible cycle that it’s little wonder it affects one’s entire body.

These are just more examples of how important Mental Fitness is. It’s something we have to be serious about and mustn’t ever take for granted.

If you feel like it would be easy for you to slip into a depressing frame of mind, start fighting against it now with all you have.  If you’re already there - get the hell outta there, there’s nothing there for you!  Realizing it is the first step, but don’t stop there….again, fight your way out.  If you email me - joi@selfhelpdaily.com  - I’ll e-mail you a ton of resources and links. Chin up!

I have to go get my own glass of tea.

Joi

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