Depression is a common mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It is different from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience as a part of life. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and home.
Examples of depression symptoms can include [1]:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
Depression is an ongoing problem, not a passing one. It consists of episodes during which the symptoms last for at least 2 weeks. Depression can last for several weeks, months, or years [2]. Recent research statistics show one in six people will experience depression at some time in their life. Women are more likely than men to experience depression [3].
Chronic stress is a factor that can wear you down emotionally and lead to depression [4].
The Institute of HeartMath explains stress has been recognized as the number one proxy killer disease today [5]. 60% to 80% of doctor visits may have a stress-related component [6].
Chronic stress and overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones such as adrenaline affect all your body processes. This puts you at an increased risk of many health problems such as depression, anxiety, and sleep problems [7].
That is why it is very important to learn healthy ways to cope with your life stressors.
Your reaction to a stressful event is unique. How you react to your life stressors is affected by many such factors as:
- Genetics
- Life experiences
Stressful events are facts of life and you may not be able to change your current situation. But you can take proactive steps to manage the impact these events have on you.
You can learn to detect the stressors, reduce and manage them successfully with Quantum Biofeedback and learn how to take care of yourself physically and emotionally in the face of stressful situations.
According to the Mayo Clinic, when you are stressed, your hypothalamus, a tiny region in the brain, reacts by alarming your nerve and hormonal systems which in turn prompts responses from your adrenal glands. As a result, the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released. This constant stress and pressure may cause depression [8].
A typical stress reaction, which most of us experience dozens of times each day, begins with a cascade of over 1,400 biochemical events in your body. If these reactions are not monitored we age prematurely, our cognitive function is reduced. As a result, we feel less energy, we are not as effective and productive [9]. Stress has become so common that its effects are often ignored but it is complicated and if not monitored by quantum biofeedback stress could lead to mental and physical problems such as losing focus, sleep problems, headaches, muscle tension and digestive disorders chronic fatigue, burn out, depression, pain, and even obesity.
The way we manage and react to stress is important for our future and to relieve symptoms with depression. We can decide between a healthy lifestyle and one full of illness and depression by understanding stress and developing ways to deal with it.
Sources:
1 https://www.healthline.com/health/depression
2 Https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8933#definition
3 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
4 https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body#1
5 https://www.npionline.org/articles/stress-the-number-one-proxy-killer.htm
6 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1392494
7 https://www.drugs.com/mca/chronic-stress-puts-your-health-at-risk
8 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
9 https://www.heartmath.com/blog/health-and-wellness/how-stress-affects-the-body/