Depression

Please see your healthcare professional is you are suffering from depression, have depressive or suicidal thoughts. 

Depression can come as a symptom of Chiari or manifest from it going through this. Dealing with chronic illness can be upsetting at the best of time and family support can only go so far. Its not something you can just snap out of seeking external counselling is the best way not to only help your depression but your overall health. Often families are going through issues with their loved ones being sick and are unable to help as much due to their own problems. 

There is to much stigma about depression and it being a mental disorder. Often people don't seek the help they need because of this and spend years in pain when they don't need to and often could have been helped easily at the start. 

What is Depression?

It is thought to be a chemical imbalance in the brain leaving the sufferer unable to cope. Many people feel they have no energy or concentration and feel down. The causes are not totally known and are often different for each person. Some people may have a genetic predisposition for depression and depression occurs when this preexisting vulnerability is activated by stressful life events. There are many theories about it and its exact causes, but one thing is known for sure its not just the "weepies" and people just can't pull up their socks and get over it like that. Its a real medical condition. 

Some empirical research suggests that it is a lack of a neurochemical called Serotonin that causes depression and most new drugs work on those receptors. A good model for this is like a diabetic - you would not tell them to get over their lack of insulin, they are lacking an important chemical that controls biological functions and they need assistance to balance that out and often get quite sick when its out of balance. 

Symptoms

Symptoms differ from person to person but may include low moods, inability to experience pleasure in activities that formerly were enjoyed. They may have feeling of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, regret, helplessness, hopelessness and psychosis (delusions and sometimes hallucinations). Poor concentration and memory issues, melancholic or psychotic features. Withdrawal from social situations and activities, reduced sex drive and thoughts of death  and suicide. Insomnia or hypersomnia, appetite changes, weight changes, fatigue, headache and digestive problems.

This is list does not include all symptoms. Often symptoms of depression can over lap or be mistaken for issues related to your medical conditions. Many doctors tend to diagnose depression first as they don't know of chiari and its issues. Even after diagnosis some doctors feel relpases are caused by depression. This is sometimes the case, sometimes not. 

Treatment

There are different forms of treatment the the main ones counselling or therapy to address the issues. Chemical therapy in the way of antidepressants can be used as well to assist. Hospitalization is sometimes required and more aggressive therapies are used for more severe cases. Often most depression associated with medical issues can be helped by talk therapy and antidepressants. 

If you or anyone your know is suffering from depression contact your GP or a help line like Lifeline 131114 or Beyond Blue for more information and help. Depression can be a crippling condition but with help most people will make a full recovery.