MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND DEPRESSION - Understanding this unhealthy relationship

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. This number may not seem so alarming if one considers all the trials of modern life. But owning a challenging disease like multiple sclerosis can enlarge the daily stress and leave you more susceptible. In fact, about 50% of people living with Multiple Sclerosis consult their doctors to talk about depression at some point.

Depression affects people with Multiple Sclerosis in two ways. First, to have to face the disease can cause depression. The changes that the disease can cause in your body and mind can affect how you feel about yourself and about life. The concern about how your condition can progress in the future may also lead to depression.

In addition, MS may result in the development of depression because of the impact the condition has on the brain.

CHANGES OF BRAIN AND DEPRESSION

As the Multiple Sclerosis patient's immune system destroys the myelin, nerves may not be able to correctly transmit the electrical impulses that affect mood.

A Study compared the computed tomography scans of people with MS with and without depression. The researchers concluded that those who had brain lesions had higher rates of depression than those who had lesions only in the spinal cord.

More specifically, subsequent studies using MRI studies have found that the damage of the left temporal and parietal lobes of the brain appeared most relevant. The scientists also observed that people living with other chronic conditions did not experience the same rates of depression than those living with Multiple Sclerosis.

So if you are concerned about the relationship between multiple sclerosis and depression, be sure to talk to your doctor about it. Depression can be treated. In most cases, physicians prescribe combination therapy and antidepressants. This therapy may be performed individually with a licensed professional. However, some doctors suggest that patients with MS do group therapy with other people who also have the disease.

DEPRESSION AND FATIGUE

Oh, the dreaded word with F. If you suffer from fatigue, you know it's one of the symptoms that have greater impact on your daily life. Extreme fatigue is a common symptom in both diseases, depression and multiple sclerosis, although the exact relationship between the two remains uncertain.

The physical and mental fatigue caused by multiple sclerosis can be emotionally draining, so it is understandable that a person feel at rock bottom. One study even suggested a potential link between the treatment of depression and increasing energy levels in people with Multiple Sclerosis.

DIAGNOSING DEPRESSION

It can be very difficult to differentiate some of the symptoms of depression with those of multiple sclerosis, however, they typically include:

Fatigue and loss of energy
Persistent sadness
Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
Concentration problems
Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
Feelings of worthlessness
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Difficulty sleeping or waking up earlier than usual
Become socially withdrawn

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not suffer in silence. Make an appointment with your neurologist who can discuss all options with you. There are numerous treatments for depression - including therapy and, where appropriate, medicine - it's just a matter of finding the best option for you.

EXERCISE IS A NATURAL ANTIDEPRESSANT

There are some things you can do to help boost your mood naturally. When you exercise, for example, the brain produces a substance called endorphins, which gives a certain sense of well-being.

In fact, a review of 35 studies that compared the effects of physical exercise with antidepressants, therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) and placebos, concluded that the exercises were moderately effective in treating the symptoms of depression, especially for those diagnoses considered mild.

In addition, the exercise not only helps your mood. Keeping a physical activity can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle and even to think more clearly. One study suggested that for people with Multiple Sclerosis, exercise can improve thinking and decision making, fighting that terrible feeling of distraction of your thought.

The type of exercise you should do depends on your preferences and abilities. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor or physical therapist who can help you plan the best exercise routine for you.

BECAUSE TALKING HELPS

Sharing your feelings with others can be extremely important, either with your parents, your friends, your (a) partner (a) or a counselor. Embrace your inner chatterbox!

Studies show that when you have multiple sclerosis, a good support network can make a big difference, avoiding or easing depression, and improving your quality of life in general. The internet can also be a fantastic resource where you can find a number of online support groups for people with Multiple Sclerosis, and also depression.

Sometimes, know that others are facing similar problems can be reassuring and makes it easier to talk about your own problems. And remember, your doctor should always be your best friend.

THE GLOBAL CRISIS OF DEPRESSION

In the world of depression, the future has arrived. And the news are not good. According to forecasts by the World Health Organization (WHO) made in the last century, in 2030 the disease would be responsible for 9.8% of total years of healthy life lost to diseases. But this figure has been reached in 2010.

And the prospects for improvement are not even a little optimistic, according to Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, who opened the seminar The Global Crisis of Depression ("The Global Crisis of Depression"), sponsored by the British magazine The Economist, held in London in November 2014. "Depression now affects nearly 7% of the world's population - about 400 million people," he pointed out. "Disable those affected by the disease, puts enormous weight on their families and robs the economy of energy and the talent of the people."

Still, according to a study presented by the director of Technische Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Universitaet Dresden, Germany, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, "the evils of mind are the most damaging and limiting among all groups of diseases. And the depression, individually, is the most debilitating of the diseases ".

In the US, about one in ten people suffers from the problem. But while it is a common disease, the disease carries stigma that makes the early diagnosis and adherence to proper treatment harder. The first step of depression treatment is to admit that it suffers from the disease and seek help, emphasizes the WHO. "The sooner you start treatment, the more efficient it is," said the organization. Although the treatments are pharmacological and psychosocial, the active participation of depressed people and their relatives in treatment is essential.

Considering this global crisis of depression, which may be the most common among all types of diseases in the year 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) created an animation to show clearly what is the disease and how to treat it . Thus, people who have never suffered that evil can understand it better and do away with prejudices.

In the video below depression is treated as a big black dog. In it are shown the possible consequences of this disease in a person's life. Just click on the play and check out this enlightening and touching story.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BAD YOUR LIFE IS, FOLLOWING THE STEPS AND TALKING TO CERTAIN PEOPLE WILL MAKE THE BLACK DOG DAYS PASS!"

SOURCE: Living Like You; Healthlife; Veja Online (Brasil); Folha de São Paulo (Brasil)