The three most common treatments for depression are psychotherapy, medication, and electroconvulsive therapy. Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for people under 18, while electroconvulsive therapy is only used as a last resort. Care is usually given on an outpatient basis, while treatment in an inpatient unit is considered if there is a significant risk to self or others.

The biopsychosocial model proposes that biological, psychological, and social factors all play a role to varying degrees in causing depression. The diathesis–stress model posits that depression results when a preexisting vulnerability, or diathesis, is activated by stressful life events. The preexisting vulnerability can be either genetic, implying an interaction between nature and nurture, or the result of past experience such as learned views of the world formed in childhood. These interactive models to understanding the causes of depression have gained empirical support. For example, a prospective, longitudinal study uncovered a moderating effect of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene on stressful life events in predicting depression. Specifically, depression may follow such events, but is more likely to in people with one or, even more so, two short alleles of the 5-HTT gene. A Swedish study estimated the heritability of depression (the degree to which individual differences in occurrence are associated with genetic differences) to be approximately 40% for women and 30% for men.

elaxation techniques for stress management

There are three main types of relaxation techniques you can practice when you feel upset and stressed out. If you practice them regularly, they will become part of your lifestyle and you may find yourself habitually more relaxed as a result.

For ages, hypnosis has been a debatable subject and it still continues to be. Over the years, many myths and controversies have surrounded hypnosis. It is believed that hypnosis has to do more with the hypnotist’s capability and talent than technique.

Did you know that the subjects under hypnosis are not actually “slaves” to their masters nor are they in a semi-state sleep? They are very much hyper attentive. Hypnosis is usually characterized by concentration, relaxation, suggestion and expectation.

Anxiety is part of our natural “fight-or-flight” response. It’s our body’s way of warning us of possible danger ahead. Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal, pathological anxiety, fears, phobias. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders which affect behaviour, thoughts, emotions and physical health. It is estimated that they affect approximately 1 in 10 people.