Depression and Stress Management

Dr Walid Sayed ABDELKADER

Head of Preventive Medicine and Primary Care
division
International Medical Centre
Cairo Egypt
June 2009
imceg.com
 Depression
What is depression?
Symptoms of depression.
Types of depression.
Causes of depression
Management of depression
What is depression?
Depression is a "whole-body"
illness, involving your body,
mood, and thoughts. It affects
the way you eat and sleep,
the way you feel about
yourself, and the way you
think about things.
Symptoms of
depression
Changes in Thinking
Changes in feeling
Changes in Behavior
Changes in Physical Well-
being
Symptoms of
depression
Changes in Thinking
1-you may experience problems with
concentration and decision making.
2-Some people report difficulty with short
term memory.
3-some may forget things all the time.
4-Negative thoughts and thinking are
characteristic of depression.
5-Pessimism
6-Poor self-esteem, excessive guilt and
self-criticism are all common.
7-Some people have self-destructive
thoughts during a more serious
depression.
 Symptoms of
depression
Change in feeling

1-You may feel sad for no reason at all.

2-No longer enjoy activities that were found
pleasurable.
3- Might lack motivation, and become more
apathetic.
4- May feel "slowed down" and tired all the time.
5-Sometimes irritability is a problem.
6- Difficulty in controlling your temper.
7-In the extreme, depression is characterized by
feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Symptoms of
depression
Changes in Behavior
1-Some people do not feel comfortable with
others
2-Social withdrawal is common.
3- Some have experience of a dramatic change
in appetite, either eating more or less.
4-Some people complain about everything, and
act out their anger with temper outbursts.
5- Sexual desire may disappear, resulting in
lack of sexual activity.
6- In the extreme, people may neglect their
personal appearance, even neglecting basic
hygiene.
Symptoms of
depression:
Changes in Physical Well-
being
1-Chronic fatigue
2-Spending more time sleeping, is common.
3-Some people can't sleep, or don't sleep soundly.
4-These individuals lay awake for hours, or awaken
many times during the night, and stare at the
ceiling.
5-Others sleep many hours, even most of the day,
although they still feel tired.
6- Many people lose their appetite, feel slowed
down by depression, and complain of many
aches and pains.
 Symptoms of
depression:
Sad, empty mood Decreased
Anxious concentration
Hopelessness
Diminished memory
Feeling worthless or
Change in sleeping
helpless patterns
Loss of interest in things Change in appetite
you once had interest in Weight loss/gain
Low sex drive Suicidal or morbid
Decreased energy thoughts
Headaches Easily irritated
Digestive disorders
Causes of depression
Chemical imbalances in the
brain
Run in families
Low self-esteem
Environmental factors
Individual factors
Diagnoses for
depression
determined by:

1. the intensity of the symptoms.

2. the duration of the symptoms.
3. the specific cause of the symptoms, if
that is known.
Types of depression
Major depression
Dysthmic disorder
Unspecified depression
Adjustment disorder, with
depression
Bipolar depression
 HOW TO HELP
YOURSELF IF YOU ARE
DEPRESSED
Set realistic goals in light of the depression and assume a reasonable amount of
responsibility.
Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you
can.
Try to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than
being alone and secretive.
Participate in activities that may make you feel better.
Mild exercise, going to a movie, a ballgame, or participating in religious, social, or
other activities may help.
Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes
time.
It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted.
Before deciding to make a significant transitionchange jobs, get married or
divorceddiscuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective
view of your situation.
People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-
day.
Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is part of the
depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
Let your family and friends help you.
Individual Approaches
to Managing Stress
Exercise :
People of all ages are walking, riding
bicycles, attending aerobic classes,
practicing yoga, swimming, playing tennis.

Diet :
Diet plays indirect role in stress management.
Foods with high sugar content stimulate or
prolong the stress response and high-
cholesterol foods adversely affect blood
chemistry.
Individual Approaches to
Managing Stress
Relaxation :
The relaxation response reverses the stress
response in the human mind body system.
When it is practiced; the individual sits
peace-fully in a comfortable chair in quiet
location.
All tight clothing is loosened before the
person becomes completely still. The
individual allows 20 to 30 minutes to pass
while he is in this quiet state. Once the
relaxation period is completed, the individual
opens his eyes fully and sits peacefully for a
minute or two before getting up.
Practitioners of medication and relaxation
exercises claim that it reduces their heart
rates, blood pressure and other physiological
indicators of stress.
Individual Approaches
to Managing Stress
Opening up :
We all experience traumatic events in
life. A healthy response to these
moments or periods of personal crisis is
to confide in others.
Individuals who wrote once a week
about traumatic events had healthier
outlooks and lower absenteeism.
Individual Approaches
to Managing Stress
Professional help:
Sometimes people have problem coping
on their own and they seek professional
help or clinical counseling. People who
want this kind of help can choose
among psychological counseling, career
counseling, financial and family
counseling, physical therapy, medical
treatment, surgical intervention and
stress debriefing.
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THANK YOU