20160213

20160213

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20160213

Loneliness can be contagious, new study finds

By Diane Mapes

msnbc.com contributor

We’re used to hearing about people spreading colds and flu. But according to a new study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, there’s another human condition that’s equally contagious: loneliness.

“Loneliness spreads across time,” says John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist and psychologist at the University of Chicago and one of the authors of the study. “It travels through people. Instead of a germ, it’s transmitted through our behaviors.”

The longitudinal study, conducted by the University of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego and Harvard, interviewed more than 5,000 people over the course of 10 years, tracking their friendship histories and their reports of loneliness. Participants were part of the Framingham Heart Study, which has studied cardiovascular risks in people in Framingham, Mass., since 1948 and has since been expanded to include other research topics such as loneliness and depression.

In the study, researchers found that lonely individuals tend to move to the fringes of social networks (and, no, we’re not talking about Facebook or Twitter here), where they have fewer and fewer friends.

But before they move to the periphery, they “infect” or “transmit” their feelings of loneliness to their remaining friends. With fewer close relationship, these friends then become lonely and eventually move to the fringes of the social network, again passing their loneliness on to others. Thus, the cycle continues.

“When people get lonely, they’re more likely to interact negatively with others they encounter,” says Cacioppo. “If you have two neighbors and they’re friends and one becomes lonely, they’ll start to treat the other less friendly. Ultimately, they’re less likely to be friends.”

Ironically, loneliness can not only make you feel more socially isolated, it can make you more anxious, more shy and cause you to believe you have poor social skills. Cacioppo says previous research also shows that loneliness can make people less trustful of others and can make the brain more “defensive.”

“Your brain tells you people are rejecting you,” he says. “Loneliness may warp the message that you’re hearing.”

A biological signal
While loneliness can be “contagious,” Cacioppo says it’s important to note it’s not a disease, nor is it a personal weakness. It’s actually a biological reaction, much like hunger or thirst or pain.

“Society tends to think of it as an individual characteristic — there are just loners,” he says. “But that’s the wrong conception of what loneliness is. It’s a biological signal motivating us to correct something that we need for genetic survival. We need quality relationships. We don’t survive well on our own.”

Studies, in fact, show loneliness can actually be harmful to both mental and physical health, leading to depression, high blood pressure, increases in the stress hormone cortisol, and compromised immunity.

Unfortunately, quality friendships can sometimes be difficult to find or maintain in our busy, BlackBerried society.

“I get lonely sometimes but I tend not to seek people out to do things because they’re all married or committed or need to find a babysitter and then it just turns into a circus,” says Tina Kurfurst, a 46-year-old database coordinator from Seattle. “I went out to dinner with some people from work the other night and one of the women kept saying, ‘Wow, you’re funny, why don’t we hang out more often?’ And I just thought, ‘Well, because you have a husband and a 12-year-old and a 17-year-old and it just doesn’t happen. You don’t have time for me.”

Stephanie Smith, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Erie, Co., says she tries to encourage her lonely patients — which can range from college students to stay-at-home moms to high-powered CEOs — to find at least one friend in their same situation.

“If you have kids, know at least one other person who has kids,” she says. “Or if you don’t, find someone who doesn’t. It’s important to have people in your life who share your interests and your stage of life.”

But you don’t have to have a slew of BFFs.

“Sometimes people get overwhelmed and think ‘I need to have 15 best friends,’” she says. “But it doesn’t need to be that big. One friend, one relationship, can be very powerful.”

Facebook and Twitter are no substitute for the real thing, though.

“If you’re isolated due to a disability or a spouse with Alzheimer’s, then Facebook can be a real boon,” says Cacioppo. “But if you’re spending your time on Facebook rather than face-to-face with friends, it increases your loneliness. It’s about quality. Lonely people use social networks as a substitute; non-lonely people use them to synergize the relationships they already have. The person with 4,000 friends on Facebook may well be a very lonely person.”

The secret, says Cacioppo, is realizing loneliness is nothing more than your body sending you a signal.

“All normal humans feel lonely at some point in time, just like they feel hunger and thirst and pain,” he says. “But while we have cupboards filled with food, taps for water and medications for pain, we don’t have anything comparable for loneliness. I’m not saying you need a cupboard full of friends, but if you feel lonely, pay attention and take the time to repair it.”

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Source: msnbc.com

 

Loneliness can be contagious, new study finds

How to Treat Depression

To get better, you need to take an active role in your treatment. You're not just a patient. You and your doctor have to work as a team.

Of course, right now, you might not feel up to taking an active role in anything. You might have doubts that treatment will help. But push yourself. Depression can make you feel powerless. Taking charge of your treatment is one way to feel in control again.

Here are some tips.

• Stick with it. Treatment won't work right away. Antidepressants may not take effect for four to six weeks. In some cases, a medication may not work and you'll need to try another. Therapy can take awhile, too. But don't despair. If you give them time, these treatments are very likely to help. When a depressed person gets the right medicine, at the right dose, and takes it long enough, treatment succeeds about 70% of the time. But you and your doctor may need to try quite a few treatments before landing on the right therapy for you.
• Take your medicine as prescribed. Get into good habits. Take your medicine at the same time every day. It's easier to remember if you do it along with another activity, like brushing your teeth, eating breakfast, or getting into bed. Get a weekly pillbox, which will make it easy to see if you've missed a dose.
• Never stop taking your medicine without your doctor's OK. If you need to stop taking a medicine for some reason, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. If you stop suddenly, you may have side effects. Stopping medication abruptly may also cause depression to return.

Don't assume that you can stop taking your medicine when you feel better. Many people need ongoing treatment even when they're feeling well. This can prevent them from getting depressed again. Remember, if you're feeling well now, it might be because your medicine is working. So why stop?

• Make lifestyle changes. There's a lot you can do on your own to supplement your treatment. Eat healthy foods, high in fruits and vegetables and low in sugars and fats. Make sure to get a good night's sleep. Several studies show that physical activity can help with the symptoms of depression. Start slowly. Try taking walks around the neighborhood with a friend. Gradually, work up to exercising on most days of the week.
• Reduce stress at home and at work. Ask for help with some of the stressful things in your life. See if your friends or family will take care of some of the daily hassles, like housework. If your job is stressing you out, figure out ways to scale back some of your duties.
• Be honest. Opening up to a therapist isn't easy. But if you're not truthful, therapy is less likely to help. If you have doubts about therapy or your therapist's approach, don't hide them. Instead, talk about them openly with your therapist. He or she will be happy to have your feedback. Together, you might be able to work out a new approach that works better.
• Be open to new ideas. Your therapist may have suggestions that sound strange. He or she may push you to do things that feel awkward or uncomfortable. But try to stay open. Give new approaches a try. You may find them more helpful than you expected.
• Don't give up. You may feel hopeless right now. You may feel like you're never going to get better. But feeling that way is a symptom of your condition. If you give yourself some time — and allow your treatment to take effect — you will feel better again.

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www.webmd.com

How to Treat Depression

How to get rid of Depression

The effects of depression can be extremely harmful to those who suffer from it, not to mention those around them. Number of  times, depression may cause a individual to spend less time with others, and to spend less time doing things that they once enjoyed doing. Depression is not good on your physical condition! Those suffering from depression may face remembrance problems, sleep troubles or a need to sleep excessively, a sense of hopelessness and an inability to join the rest of the world. As depressing as it may seem, there are around 19 million Americans who undergo from this. It could because of a death of a loved one, a break up, not being able to forgive someone, or just because you are heavy. Some feel depression as a outcome of learning from their medical doctor that their child has a health condition such as Cystic Fibrosis, ADD / ADhD, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or a type of cancer.
There are techniques to ease some symptoms of depression, except sometimes medication therapy is necessary for the patient to fully enjoy a symptom-free life. However, there are some simple tips you can try if you have the blues.

• Speak with Someone: Marriage counselors, church patriarchs, school counselors, and life coaches can be very helpful. If you do not feel at ease speaking with a counselor, speak to a close friend or write in a journal.

• Start an Exercise Program: Some daily exercise can really boost your mood and energy. Aerobic exercise will move up your heart rate, increase your metabolism, and permit the body to naturally release mood enhancing endorphins.

• Eat Fresh Foods: Begin a garden. Lift some chickens (for the eggs). Purchase organic products? Consume plenty of fiber (fruits and vegetables) in regulate to cleanse your body from toxins and preservatives and junk from processed foods. Confirm that you consume colorful fruits and vegetables. When you are healthy, you feel more vibrant and complete of energy!

• Keep away from sugar: Sugar can cause serious problems, especially if your depression is combined with anxiety. Sugar can boost your anxiety, give you a let down when you come down off of a sugar high and it can hinder your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. Recurrent illnesses can add to depression.

• Cut Caffeine: Caffeine brings you up - then drops you like a rock. It can raise your anxiety and distress and add to your depression as well. Take a glass and drink more water, sodas and fruit drinks have sugar and preservatives that can drag you down and make you feel worse.

• No More Nicotine: Nicotine is a stimulant so it will help me when I am depressed, right? No. It acts in the body much similar to caffeine. It can make you feel better for a short while, but in the long run, will only raise your depression. The stimulant in nicotine can raise your anxiety. Long term smoking will cause more upper respiratory health circumstances and more free radicals in the body, causing the immune system to be weak, allowing for feelings of depression. Some people as well feel depressed because they cannot quit smoking.

• Meditation Works: Meditation has been used for 1000s of years to help with depression. There are ways to mediate, including aware breathing techniques and creative thoughts.

• Sleep: You do not want to get over sleep, but having a sleep deficiency can as well bring on anxiety. Try to get about 8 hours of excellent sleep every night time.

• Lighten Up: Switch on the lights, do not sit in the dark. The more light you bring into a room, natural light is most excellent if possible, the better probability you have of raising your mood. Sitting in the dark place will just contribute to your depression.

• Adopt a Goat: Companion animals provide great help to anyone suffering from depression. Studies have exposed that by just stroking an animal can lower your blood pressure and calm you. So go to your near local humane society or pet store. Do not have room for a goat or a horse? Maybe a gerbil, hamster, dog, cat, ferret, goldfish, or even a hermit crab?

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www.getallabout.com

How to get rid of Depression

Depression Overview

Throughout the course of our lives, we all experience episodes of stress, unhappiness, sadness, or grief. Often, when a loved one dies or we suffer a personal tragedy or difficulty such as divorce, loss of a job, or death of a loved one, we may feel depressed (some people call this "the blues"). Most of us are able to cope with these and other types of stressful events.

Over a period of days or weeks, the majority of us are able to return to our normal activities. But when these feelings of sadness and other symptoms make it hard for us to get through the day, and when the symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks, we may have what is called "clinical depression." The term clinical depression is usually used to distinguish the "true" illness of depression from less difficult sadness or the blues.

Clinical depression is not just grief or feeling sad. It is an illness that can challenge your ability to perform even routine daily activities. At its worst, depression may lead you to contemplate, attempt, or commit suicide. Depression represents a burden for both you and your family. Sometimes that burden can seem overwhelming.

There are several different types of depression (mood disorders that include depressive symptoms):

•Major depression is a change in mood that lasts for weeks or months. It is one of the most severe types of depression. It usually involves a low or irritable mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. It interferes with one's normal functioning and often include physical symptoms. A person may experience only one episode of major depression, but often there are repeated episodes over an individual's lifetime.

• Dysthymia is less severe than major depression but usually goes on for a longer period, often several years. There are usually periods of feeling fairly normal between episodes of low mood. The symptoms usually do not completely disrupt one's normal activities.


• Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression, usually severe, alternating with episodes of extreme elation called mania. This condition is sometimes called by its older name, manic depression. The depression that is associated with bipolar disorder is often referred to as bipolar depression. When depression is not associated with bipolar disorder, it is called unipolar depression.


• Seasonal depression, which medical professionals call seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression that occurs only at a certain time of the year, usually winter, when the number of daylight hours is lower. It is sometimes called "winter blues." Although it is predictable, it can be very severe.


• Psychotic depression refers to the situation when depression and hallucinations or delusions are experienced at the same time (co-occur). This may be the result of depression that becomes so severe that it results in the sufferer losing touch with reality. Individuals that primarily suffer from a loss of touch with reality (for example, schizophrenia) are thought to suffer from an imbalance of dopamine activity in the brain and to be at risk of subsequently becoming depressed.


Adjustment disorder is distress that occurs in relation to a stressful life event. It is usually an isolated reaction that resolves when the stress passes. Although it may be accompanied by a depressed mood, it is not considered a depressive disorder.

Some people believe that depression is "normal" in people who are elderly, have other health problems, have setbacks or other tragedies, or have bad life situations. On the contrary, clinical depression is always abnormal and always requires attention from a medical or mental-health professional. The good news is that depression can be diagnosed and treated effectively in most people. The biggest barriers to overcoming depression are recognition of the condition and seeking appropriate treatment.

Depression Overview

Dealing with Depression

Millions struggle with depression everyday. Get valuable techniques and insights for dealing with depression and other major mental health conditions. All free. Start living better today!

Dealing with Depression