Needless to say, depression is one of the most rampant mental disorders in our society. It’s simply a disorder that can affect anyone at some point throughout their lifetime, or in some cases, throughout their whole lifetime. That aside, we’re going to look at a fairly new treatment method being used in the medical world. That treatment method is using acupuncture for depression. The most common way to treat depression is through the use of antidepressants or the practice of physcotherapy. More recently, a combination of the two has been used, as it has been proven to be fairly effective. Nonetheless, many find themselves completely against the idea of taking pills to help their condition, and look for alternate treatments. For those individuals, acupuncture for depression is a fairly viable option that has been gaining popularity in the medical world.

Before moving on, it’s important to be aware that acupuncture is not the only alternative treatment for depression. There are quite a few alternative treatments for depression, and some of the most common include:

• Homeopathic remedies
• Yoga
• Exercise and keeping a healthy diet
• Meditation

There are others, but these are general the most well-known and widely accepted alternative treatments in the medical community.

What is Acupuncture?

Fairly common question. Acupuncture is a procedure that has been around for several years, and was first used in China a few thousand years ago. By definition, acupuncture is a method where the patient has needless inserted into their skin. Sounds painful, but it really is not painful at all. It has been found to help with physical and mental pain, and treat various other diseases. These needles are extremely thin, to the point that they barely prick the skin when inserted.

There are very few studies that have researched whether or not acupuncture really works in treating depression, and those studies that have been done have not been completely conclusive. Regardless, many patients suffering from depression symptoms have reported that their symptoms subsided greatly after having acupuncture done. There has been one study that looked at acupuncture and depression; one that is fairly well known in the medical community. The study looked at the use of acupuncture for depression among pregnant women, and the results were extremely positive. Many pregnant women found themselves feeling less depressed in a matter of weeks.

Can Acupuncture Help Depression?

Needless to say, due to the fact that acupuncture being used to treat depression is a fairly new practice, it is one that is still widely debated. Some professionals believe it works, while others disagree and say there is no way. The general view regarding acupuncture for depression is that it can help in relieving the symptoms, but in most cases of major depression, it is simply not enough. Like any type of alternative treatment, you should not even consider using acupuncture for depression until you have spoken to a health professional. Only they can determine whether it’s a viable treatment option for your case, and if not, determine what type of treatment is mandated.

So, can acupuncture help depression? Yes, but it’s by no means been proven scientifically, which is why it should only be used at the recommendation of a medical health professional. There certainly will be more studies in the future that will look at accupunture and depression, and whether or not there is a link in acupuncture curing depression.

If you feel you may be suffering from depression, it is important to visit a medical health professional. You should not rely on acupuncture, as again, research on the link between acupuncture and depression is not yet conclusive.

In recent years, homeopathic remedies for depression have grown more and more popular. Homeopathy is basically a different method commonly used to battle different diseases as well as illnesses. One of the most common disorders it is used to treat is in fact depression. There are a number of homeopathic remedies for depression, and the one that will work best on an individual depends solely on the symptoms being exhibited by them. Shortly put, the treatment utilizes various types of herbal chemicals, which are natural, to battle depression.

The first question many ask when hearing about homeopathic remedies for depression is “what’s different about this treatment method?”. It’s a valid question, and one that needs to be addressed, given the various depression treatments available which include antidepressants, psychotherapy, and so for. Homeopathic treatments are unique in the sense that they only use herbal and natural medication. These herbal medications can help balance ones hormones and brain chemicals; two of the major causes of depression. These herbal medicines also consist of a chemical that our body creates, which is called s-adenosyl-L-methionine. Studies have proven that this chemical can actually greatly lower the severity of the signs of depression. Needless to say, this makes homeopathy for depression patients an extremely attractive and viable option.

The main goal of this treatment method is, as mentioned above, to basically lessen the severity of any symptoms an individual may be suffering due to depression. Obviously, depression comes in many forms, and with many different symptoms, which is why there are a number of homeopathic treatments available to suit specific needs.

Below, you will find a list of the most widely used homeopathic remedies for depression. We will also explain the respective symptoms that the specific herb is most effective in treating, as they each treat specific symptoms.

Arsenicum Alban – This remedy is commonly used for patients who are suffering from a combination of anxiety and depression. It is also commonly used by those who set unrealistic goals for themselves, only to find themselves in a depressive slump when they don’t achieve them (in other words, over achievers and perfectionists).

Aarum Metallicum – Slightly similar to Arsenicum Alban.  Often used by patients who find themselves stressing due to work, school, etc.. These types of patients can suffer from severe depression due to overworking themselves. Also commonly used for patients who suffer from insomnia (inability to sleep) and feel worthless (low self-confidence).

Calcarea Carbonica – Those who find themselves flabbergasted with work, school, or a chronic illness will find this natural remedy to be quite effective. Those who suffer from fatigue, low self-esteem, and easily and often deal with anxiety will benefit from this remedy.

Calcium Carbonicum – This remedy is used by those who may on the outside appear to be very confident and outgoing, but are in fact extremely shy and timid. This can cause feelings of anxiousness and self-pity. These individuals also find themselves unable to sleep.

Ignatia Amara – Commonly used for those who suffer from mood swings (Bipolar 1 and 2). The remedy is used to basically stop these mood swings from occurring.

Kali Phosphoricum – Most effective for patients who appear to be extremely outgoing, but are in fact suffering on the inside, usually due to stress. They often find themselves scared of unexpected noises, and may feel quite sluggish.

Lachesis Muta – This remedy is made of the venom from snakes. It is effective on patients who find their depression to be the cause of jealous behavior. Most commonly used by women, and is effective for those who suffer from depression due to their menstrual cycles.

Natrium Carbonicum – People who are not very outgoing, and care profoundly for family and other loved ones. When they lose a familiar member or loved one, or disappoint them, they often go into bouts of depression. In most cases, they attempt to keep their feelings to themselves, which tends to only make matters worse. Self-isolation is also a fairly common symptom.

Pulsatilla Nigricans – This remedy helps treat symptoms that often very childish, which can include having severe mood swings, or being overly sensitive. Their depression is very obvious, and in most cases, they do not attempt to hide the fact that they are suffering from depression. Commonly used by women who are suffering from postpartum depression.

Sepia – A common remedy for those exhibiting signs of having too much to deal with in their personal life (for example, having to take care of a newborn, or an elderly parent). Fairly common among women who are dealing with postpartum depression.

Staphysagria – This remedy works best on patients who exhibit anger, which can often be due to stress. Individuals are often workaholics. Other body pains are classic symptoms that will be experienced by these patients.

Homeopatheic remedies for depression can be extremely effective, but should always be used cautiously. The medical community has set the standard rule at taking one of the tablets. From then, monitor your progress, and if all is well, you can increase your intake to two or three tablets a day. If symptoms of depression become worse, it’s important to see a medical health professional as soon as possible.

As a general rule, you can stop taking the tablets once the symptoms begin to subside.

We are all put on this Earth, and we all leave eventually; it’s something we simply cannot avoid. Unfortunately, as men grow older, they often find themselves with drastic changes in their lives, and these can all lead to depression. Depression in men over 40 is fairly common, but not as common as men over the age of 65. Regardless, it can be a cause for concern, which is why it’s a good idea to be informed as the causes and what exactly can be done.

Depression in men over 40 can be caused by a number of things. One of the most common reasons is loneliness. At the age of 40, you’re kids are likely growing teenagers, and at the point where they can’t be bothered to be seen with you in public. Though this is understandable, as teenagers want to look “cool” in front of their friends, it is a fact that is difficult for many men to deal with. They are stuck with memories of their Johnny as a little boy, and how they’d play catch with one another. Shortly put, as men’s kids grow farther and farther apart from them, a sense of loneliness can develop, which can ultimately lead to depression.

Health problems can also be a major cause of depression in men over 40. Though this is more common in older man, generally over the age of 60, men in their 40′s do sometimes begin to develop illnesses and health problems. These health problems can be difficult to deal with, as men remember their younger athletic years, and compare their current state of health to back then. Though this is less common, due to the fact that it is generally men over the age of 60 who begin to suffer from severe illnesses, it can be a cause of depression in men over 40.

Stress is one of the most common causes of depression in men over 40. Stress can be caused by a number of things, most commonly work, financial reasons, and taking care of elder parents. Financial reasons tend to be the most common of the three, especially in recent years with the economy in such turmoil. The number of suicides by men reported in the last few years has been on the rise, many ultimately uncovered to be triggered due to financial struggles.

Though literally anyone can suffer from depression at some point throughout their life, it’s important to keep in mind that depression in men over 40 is more common than many other age categories. Unfortunately, as men age, come many changes in their life, some of which prove to be unbearable and lead to depression. It’s also important to keep in mind that eighty percent of suicides in the United States are men. Despite the fact that more women than men attempt suicide, more men are successful in their attempts due to their use of more lethal methods. If you think you may be suffering from depression, or know someone in this age group that is, it is important that you seek the help of a mental health professional.

Unfortunately, this is a question that can generally only be answered on a case by case basis. It is difficult to say how long depression lasts, as every individual is different. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that the sooner depression is treated, the better. The longer a case of depression is left, and not treated, the more difficult it will be to treat in the future, and obviously the longer it will last. Researchers claim that depression, in cases where it is not treated, lasts between 9 to 12 weeks, but again, this is just an estimate. So it’s typical to answer the question “how long does depression last”, but generally speaking, when left untreated, 9 to 12 weeks is the average. Obviously, in more severe cases, depression can continue on for years and years if not treated, and in more mild cases, it may subside in a matter of weeks.

Those who are dealing with depression often feel trapped, and feel that their case of depression is going to last forever. This is the common trait of hopelessness that many suffering from depression experience. It’s important to keep in mind that specific types of treatment, among certain people, can in fact cause the depression to become more severe. Thus, it is important to be knowledgeable regarding the various depression treatments. Ultimately, a mental health professional will be able to make the best call based on their observations, but it never hurts to be informed yourself.

In many cases, individuals are required to take medication for up to one year, while others for only a couple of months. This generally depends on the type of depression, as the different types of depression have various symptoms and severities. The purpose of the treatments is not only to stop the current depressive phase, but also to decrease the chance of reoccurring depressive phases. This is the reason why the medications are prescribed  for up to a year or more at times. Though a few months of medication may have you temporarily feeling great, the chance of reoccurrence still remains, which is why doctors increase the length of prescription.

So how long does depression typically last, and what does it mean? Well, in the case that the depression only lasts a few days or so, this is likely a very mild form of depression, which is often refered to as “the blues”. This sort of depression generally has more to do with recent occurences, such as a breakup, loss of a loved one, loss of employment, and so forth. It is generally temporary and short.

Specifically among women, it is common for depression to last a week or two, before fading away. This is usually due to changes in their hormones, and almost always goes away in a matter of weeks.

When depression lasts for months, it is commonly known as seasonal depression (SAD).This type of depression is exactly what the term implies; it is depression over a certain season, most commonly winter. Researchers state that is primarily due to a lack of sunlight exposure during the winter season. In some cases, chronic depression can also only last a couple of months, but this is a bit less common.

Lastly, when depression continues for years and years at a time, it’s a sure case of chronic depression. This type of depression requires treatment, or the condition can only continue to develop stronger symptoms.

It’s common knowledge that women are generally more likely than to suffer from depression. The chances that women will suffer from depression throughout their lifetime is twice that of the chances that men will suffer from depression. But things seem to only get worse for women. Recent studies show that depression actually increases the chance that women will suffer from dementia at some point in their life.

Dementia is a condition in which one experiences the loss of their mental functions, which can include the ability to think, remember things, and reason in their mind. Those suffering from dementia may also experience that their personality and general moods are changing little by little. It is definitely a treatable condition, but the sooner treatment begins, the better.

In fact, a Canadian psychologist in October of 2011 stated that depression increases the chance of having Alzheimer’s almost twofold. This, needless to say, is an alarming fact. Depression is often overcomes women due to stress, which can be brought on by caring for children, their parents, and working. All of the stress piles up, and for many, it is too difficult to cope with, sending them into a depressive state. Their hormonal changes can also increase the chances of suffering from depression.

A Canadian researcher also discussed the fact that women often value relationships far more importantly than men do. Relationships are not only limited to sexual relationships; in fact, by relationships, we are talking about friendships and social standing as a whole. When this status is lost, or hurt in the slightest way, women can end up suffering greatly, which can lead to depression.

It’s important to understand what researchers are concluding here. Researchers are not concluding that depression and dementia go hand in hand. That is not what they are concluding by any means. Researchers are simply concluding that depression can increase the chance of dementia in humans elder years. Other researchers argue that depression and dementia do not cause one another; they argue that depression is likely a sign that one will suffer from dementia in their older years.

Due to the fact that research is still inconclusive, researchers are hard at work to determine whether or not there truly lies a link between depression and dementia.

There are several types of depression, most of which have fairly similar symptoms, with a few noticeable differences. One of the symptoms that can occur, and often does, is anger. Anger and depression appear to be linked in one way or another. Depending on the person, the anger may be exhibited towards themselves, or to other individuals. Regardless of who the anger is exhbitied to, researchers are now certain that there is definitely a link between anger and depression.

Signs to Watch Out For

There is a noticeable difference between anger among those suffering from depression, and anger among someone who is not suffering from depression. Anger among those suffering from depression can be overwhelming, and can literally occupy the persons entire mind all day around. All the person thinks about is how much they hate themselves, or how much they hate others. Needless to say, this is not healthy at all, and is a cause for concern. In most cases, the individual is simply unable to control their anger, as it is so consuming. Alternatively, someone who is constantly angry at others or themselves can eventually suffer from depression, given they were not already suffering from the condition. In such cases, it is common to see the person withdraw themselves from their social life, have odd sleeping patterns (unable to sleep in most cases), low performance academically or at the workplace, feeling of worthlessness, and other common depression symptoms.

Who’s at Risk?

Anger and depression is not common among all; there are certain groups of people who are at higher risk than others. Risk factors can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Financial issues
• Loss of job
• Substance abuse
• Little to no social life
• Being lonely
• Traumatic events

Research in recent years also suggests that anger and depression may in fact be due to genetics.

Dealing with Anger and Depression

Dealing with anger and depression can be difficult on your own, which is why it is important to seek professional help. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment, as every individual has specific circumstances. Treatment options that may be used at the discretion of a health care professional include mental therapy, exercises to relieve stress and anger, as well as medication. All of these treatment methods can be effective, and a professional will be able to best determine the best option based on the circumstances at hand. A combination of mental therapy and stress relief activities are generally the most popular ways of dealing with anger and depression, as they pose no side effects (as oppose to medications which can often have side effects).

Anger and Depression in Men

Exhibiting signs of anger is far more common among men. Studies indicate that there is a reason for this. As young boys, men are often raised to believe that they cannot show weakness, and if they do, they will be viewed as a feminine individual. Despite the fact that this is certainly not true, it is a mentality that has plagued much of the male population. As a result, men are often embaressed that they may be suffering from depression, and lash out to prove their manhood.

Anger and Depression in Women

It is far less common to see women exhibit signs of anger. As oppose to men, women generally grow up being taught that for a female to lash out in anger is in fact not a feminine characteristic. In other words, it is not lady like to show anger. As a result, they keep the anger bottled in. Researchers believe that this may in fact be the reason that more women ultimately suffer from depression than men do.

Anger and Depression in Children

Children are far more likely to exhibit signs of anger. This is due to the simple fact that they have yet to develop the skills to deal with their emotions. Because of this, they will often lash out in anger, as they are not yet capable of dealing with the depression through more mature ways.

Overview

One must keep in mind that when dealing with anger and depression, self-diagnosis is never recommended. Only a mental health professional can accurately come up with a treatment plan. It is also important to keep in mind that when anger and depression are ongoing, they can harm one’s health. Thus, the sooner one seeks professional help, the better for their overall health.

Unfortunately, studies are still inconclusive, and researchers still are not completely sure what as to the causes of depression in men. Nonetheless, they have made advances, and believe that both genetics environmental factors can cause men to suffer from depression. Though they do believe it is related to genetics, even those who have no family members who suffered from depression are still at risk.

Regardless of their age, men go through various stages throughout their lifetime. Many of these stages can be stressors, which can overtime lead to depression. These stressors can include any of the following:

• Financial problems
• Unable to achieve set goals
• Spousal/relationship problems
• Lack of social life (eg. spending time with friends)
• Post-war trauma
• Stress due to school or work
• Divorce
• Retiring
• Chronic illness/disease
• Substance abuse
• Sexual identity problems
• Lose of employment
• Beginning a family

The causes of depression in men who are younger (adolescent men) are generally attributed to education, work, and moving. For example, a young man who moves to another state straight out of high school to attend college may suffer from depression. This is due to the fact that as humans, adapting to new surroundings can sometimes be unbearable. Younger men who suffer from depression are usually more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, or suffer from anxiety.

As men grow older, the causes of depression are more often related to work and family problems. The stress of raising children can eventually lead to depression, as can the stress of losing a job. In comparison to younger men, such as those attending college, older men generally have far more responsibilities such as managing finances, raising children, working five or more days a week, and so forth. With all these combined, the stress is often too much for some men to handle, which can lead to depression.

Retirement is supposed be a joyful time. But for some, it is one of the main causes of depression in men. One reason that retirement is one of the major causes of depression in men is due to the fact that there is no longer a regular routine being followed. For example, a man is used to the same routine; wake up, eat breakfast, have coffee, go to work from 9AM to 5PM, and then return home to spend time with the family. In addition, as men grow older, they are at an increased risk of suffering from health issues, losing family members and friends, and so forth. All of these factors can lead to depression.

Health Issues

Health issues are prevalent among men of all ages, thus this does not pertain to a specific age group. Health issues are also one of the major causes of depression in men. For men to find out they are suffering from a serious disease, such as Parkinson’s disease can be extremely difficult to deal with, and lead to depression.

Not maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also lead to depression. Not exercising and eating healthy is one of the major causes of depression, as more and more men are being found to have unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle regardless of your age, which includes eating well and exercising regularly.

Contrary to popular belief, women do not comprise the majority of people who suffer from depression. In fact, millions of men suffer from depression yearly. It is important to keep in mind that some of the causes of depression in men are within your hands to control, while others aren’t. You should always take steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating well, exercising, and having a positive social life.

Pregnancy is an exciting stage in the lives of women. Unfortunately, some quickly see these joyful times spiral out of control into phases of sorrow and sadness due to depression. The reason that depression during pregnancy should not be taken lightly is that it can greatly affect the unborn child. Statistics show that nearly 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy, in which they constantly feel upset, hopeless, are unable to sleep, and unable to follow their regular eating habits. Statistics also show that women who have previously suffered from depression (prior to their pregnancy) have a higher chance of suffering from depression during pregnancy.

Causes of Depression During Pregnancy

There are a number of factors that can play a role in causing depression during pregnancy. For starters, our brains hold certain levels of chemicals. Shortly put, these chemicals are responsible for our emotions. When a women is pregnant, hormones are constantly changing, and this can also lead to the chemicals in the brain fluctuating. Evidently, this can quickly lead to depression.

Additionally, depression during pregnancy can be a result of external stressors. These external factors can include money problems, relationship problems, the loss of a loved one, and other stressors.

Studies show that although all pregnant women are at risk of suffering from depression, some factors greatly increase their risk. Women who fall under any of the following have a higher risk of suffering from depression during pregnancy:

• Have suffered from depression in the past
• Have a family member who has suffered from depression
• Have had a miscarriage
• Abused at any point in their life (sexually, physically, emotionally)

Symptoms of Depression During Pregnancy

Though there are many signs of depression, generally speaking, the most common include feeling upset and hopeless. These emotions will usually be present for more than a couple of weeks, and are followed by some or all of these symptoms:

• Altered eating habits
• Acting out of character
• Extreme mood swings
• Insomnia
• Inability to focus
• Thinking about suicide
• Weight loss

Though depression is dangerous among all individuals, it is important to know that throughout a pregnancy, depression can be even more harmful.  People suffering from depression often find themselves with no drive, or in other words, lazy. For a pregnant women, this may mean they will not take proper prenatal steps, which can be detrimental to the unborn child’s health. Additionally, depression is a mental disorder that often causes people to resort to substance abuse. Substances such as tobacco and alcohol can put your unborn child’s health at risk.

How to Treat Depression During Pregnancy

There’s no question that if you’re suffering from depression during pregnancy, you need to seek help. Though antidepressants and psychotherapy are both treatment options, it is almost always recommended that pregnant women go with psychotherapy. Antidepressants can have side effects which can harm the mother and the unborn child. For this sole reason, psychotherapy is almost always a better option. Psychotherapy is a special form of counseling, in which the counselor helps you find the root of your depression. For many suffering from depression, they simply cannot figure out why. Finding out the reason they are suffering from depression is a big step.

Though in some cases antidepressants are prescribed to pregnant women, this is generally done in more severe cases of depression. The only person who can determine whether antidepressants are suitable for your specific case is a medical professional. Again, this is due to the fact that antidepressants can have side effects, and these side effects can be even more severe among pregnant women. The most common antidepressant, until recently, was selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but research in the past few years have shown that these antidepressants can cause extreme health issues among newborns. SRIs cause a higher chance of fetal heart defects among children. And that was simply the first of a long list of other potential health problems, some of which include eating disorders and respiratory issues.

If you are an expecting mother and think you may be suffering from depression, visit a local health care professional as soon as possible.

Many people suffering from depression are reluctant to seek treatment through antidepressants and psychotherapy. Personally, I was one of those people, but eventually realized that there was no harm in seeing a mental health professional and getting an opinion. While you should definitely not attempt to diagnose yourself and choose a treatment plan, there are a number of things you can do that can help treat depression without medication. Even if you are currently taking antidepressants, following this guide will help make symptoms less severe. The main goal here is to make lifestyle changes, ones that can range from your eating habits, sleeping patterns, and so forth.

Treating Depression Without Medication

The first thing is exercise – If you want to help treat depression without medication, you need to begin exercising regularly. Now, walking from your car to your house in itself is not exercise. You really need to come up with an exercise schedule and begin following it regularly. Any sort of exercise will do; soccer, jogging, swimming, speed walking. Pick something you enjoy so the routine doesn’t bore you after a weeks. Exercising regularly can greatly improve your mood and help relieve stress.

Setting goals – This is a great way to motivate yourself, and get a great moral boost. They don’t need to be huge goals, or anything of that sort. Even the smallest goals, when accomplished, can make all the difference. This is one of the most effective ways to treat depression without medication. A lot of depression has to do with low self-confidence, and setting goals like these, and achieving them, can really be a big confidence booster.

Eating healthy – Bad eating habits can increase the severity of depression. Bad eating habits include eating junk food, greasy foods; shortly put, anything that isn’t healthy. Why? Those types cause your sugar level to increase rapidly, and then decrease rapidly which is the “crashing” phase. In other words, you may be in a good mood for a short period of time, followed by a crash into a horrible mood. This can really mess around with the stability of your mind. It’s important to eat healthy if you want to try to treat depression without medication. Healthy foods include lean meats and carbohydrates, and try to avoid sugary drinks (soft drinks, coffee, etc.). It is often difficult to give up these types of foods and drinks at first, but within a couple of weeks, the symptoms will be a lot less severe. Caffeine is a severe problem for those suffering from depression, as again, it can cause their mood to fluctuate grealty.

Relax – It’s easy to let life’s troubles stack up and stress you out, but don’t let this happen. Set some time every day to relax and have some personal time for yourself. Relaxing is essential to treating depression without medication. Stress only makes matters worse. Be it a trip out to the movies, or a nice day long hike, it’s important to set aside time to relax. Relaxation is essential to treating depression without medication. Stress only makes matters worse.

Adequate Sleep – Getting adequate sleep every night is extremely important in order to treat depression naturally. Generally speaking, 7 hours of sleep is fine, but depending on the severity of your depression, it may be a good idea to get a little more sleep every night. If you do not get enough sleep, your symptoms will only grow worse throughout the day. Now, if you have trouble sleeping at night, as do many with depression, try to figure out what helps you fall asleep at night. It might be listening to some classical music while laying in bed, or having a nice hot bath. Just find what works best for you, and stick to the routine.

Vitamins – Additionally, it is a good idea to begin supplementing yourself with vitamins. The majority of people do not get the required daily vitamin intake, nd for those suffering from depression, this can only increase the severity of symptoms.

Dealing with depression can be difficult, no doubt about it. Whether or not you’re taking medication, taking steps to treat depression without medication can only make your situation better. The above are great starting points, and though it may be difficult to change your routine, it’s a must if you want to effectively battle your case of depression.

In recent years, researchers have began studying what causes children to exhibit violent and aggressive behavior. Though they do believe there are several factors that contribute to violent behavior among children, one of these is maternal depression. Many wonder, how can maternal depression lead to this sort of behavior as children grow into children. Psychologists believe this is due to not just one reason, but a number of reasons.

For starters, maternal depression, in many cases, impacts how parents raise their children, as well as how the family as a whole functions. A recent study that was done on minority families, ranging from upper class families, to lower class families. The reason a wide range of groups were targeted for this study is that previous studies revealed that those coming from minority ethnicities, and below average income, ultimately had children who had an increased chance of becoming depressed in their teenage years.

Potential Effects of Maternal Depression

Parenting

The first part of the study looked at parenting, particularly because maternal depression seems to cause mothers to be far more lenient and relaxed as far as parenting their children. In other words, a mother suffering from depression is less likely to adequately discipline her child. Ultimately, the study linked maternal depression to increased aggressive behavior in children. Mothers who adequately disciplined their children had far less problems of aggression with their children in later years.

Over Analysis by Mothers

The second part of the study found that in many cases, maternal depression can lead mothers to interpret regular teenage behavior as over aggressive and abnormal. In essence, the behavior of their child may be completely normal, but due to their experience with maternal depression, they over analyze how their child may be acting.

On the other hand, others argue that this is not in fact true, and that a mother who has suffered from depression can more accurately determine whether or not her child may be suffering from depression. Why? Well, as oppose to a mother who has never dealt with depression, or has dealt with very mild depression, a mother who has experienced severe depression is far more aware of the disorder, as she has experience suffering from it.

Ultimately, the study found that in fact, it was mothers who had suffered from depression who were able to more precisely determine that their child was exhibiting aggressive attitude. This part of the study allowed researchers to determine that those who suffered from maternal depression were more likely to accurately determine their children’s aggressive behavior, as oppose to a mother who may have never suffered from depression.

Family Behavior

In another part of the study, researchers found that families are higher risk of growing dysfunctional due to maternal depression. Maternal depression leads to lowered level of communication, which can ultimately lead to dysfunctional family behavior. This sort of family behavior has been connected to violent and aggressive behavior in children and teenagers.

All in all, it appears that there is definitely a link among maternal depression and the severity and regularity of aggressive behavior in children and teenagers. Though it is not always the case, the research found that maternal depression increased the chance of the mother’s child exhibiting aggressive behavior. Now, on the other hand, researchers also concluded that it is possible that maternal depression is actually a result of the aggressiveness  and rebellious behavior of their children.

If you’re dealing with maternal depression, the best thing to do is see a mental health professional. Due to the fact that maternal depression can cause negative behavioral traits in children, it is important to be treated.  A professional can recommend the best course of action.