What is the difference between depression and loneliness?

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What is the difference between depression and loneliness?

June 27, 2019

What is the difference between depression and loneliness? | Healthbiztips

Is loneliness and depression the same? | Healthbiztips

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | psychology blog

It is worth knowing that although loneliness and depression are associated with extreme feeling of sadness, these two are completely different things.

To a layman, the difference between loneliness and depression may not be apparent.


Let's look into loneliness. Have you ever felt the emotional pain caused by being far away from your family or loved ones? Have you ever experienced the pain of a break up?

Loneliness is the sadness a person feels caused by the absence of or being away from close relations like family, friends, and intimate relations.

In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, we learn that love and belonging  is a basic human need that needs to be fulfilled in order for a person to be motivated to achieve self-actualization. Other basic human needs include physiological needs (such as food, water, sleep, and clothing), safety, and self-esteem.

Humans can go to such extremes just to feel accepted and loved because the sense of belonging is a basic human needs.

When our need to belong is not met, it is normal to feel the pain of loneliness. Did you know that this feeling actually activates the same area of the brain that processes physical pain, thus, the pain experienced is real.

Loneliness stems from the absence of close ties and meaningful relationships.

Depression

Depression is mental health problem in which a person experiences profound sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness. While loneliness is a normal and temporary response, depression is a serious mental illness that needs to be addressed and treated.

Depression affects both the individuals mental and psysical state. Below are several of it's manifestations:

• adhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
• inability to feel pleasure in previouslt enjoyable activities
• loss of appetite
• fatigue
• sleep disturbance
• social withdrawal
• loss of self-esteem
• feeling of worthlessness
• inability to concentrate and think clearly
• loss of purpose and meaning in life
• developing suicidal thoughts

What causes depression?

The exact cause of depression if hard to point out, but there are several factors linked to it's development:

• genetics and family history
• mental health disorder such as bipolar disorder
• medications such as corticosteroid and isotretinoin
• unpleasant life experiences
• history of experiencing abuse
• death of a loved one

To summarize, loneliness is the feeling of temporary sadness that an individual experiences due to the absence of the basic need of being loved and accepted. On the other hand, depression if a serious mental health problem characterized by long lasting feeling of extreme sadness that's debilitating to a person's normal functioning.

Coffee fights depression

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Coffee fights depression

May 08, 2019

Coffee fights depression | Healthbiztips

A cup of piping hot coffee to brighten a gloomy Monday morning. It's not just an expression. There's a real science behind it.

Coffee fights depression | Healthbiztips 

photo credit: Janko Ferlič @thepootphotographer @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Studies reveal that the caffeine content of coffee actually decreases the risk of depression. Makes sense considering caffeine is the world's most widely consumed stimulant.

Depression is just not a simple problem. It is a deep feeling of sadness that can distort one's good judgement, which makes individuals suffering from this mental health condition at risk of committing suicide.

The World Health Organization ranked depression as the third medical condition worldwide with the greatest impact to humanity.

Depression is a chronic recurring mental health problem that's challenging to treat. It's better to prevent it from developing in the first place.

Coffee is beneficial to a person's mental health. Drinking coffee everyday has been shown by research to prevent the development of depression and reduce the risk of suicide.

Caffeine is coffee's potent component against depression, therefore decaffeinated coffee loses it's protective effect against depression.

The remarkable benefit coffee has over depression may come down as a good reason to promote it's daily consumption especially to the working class as they are more prone to stress and burnout, but do know that consuming too much coffee has it's risks.

Drinking coffee is not recommended for people who have cardiac problem as it's caffeine content can increase blood pressure and pulse, as well as cause irregular heart beat or dysrhythmia.

For an average healthy person, drinking up to 3 cups of coffee or consuming up to 400 mg caffeine every day is generally considered safe. But do know that there are certain coffee brands that has more caffeine content than others.

Coffee is incredibly rich in antioxidant which prevents oxidative damage to the cells of the bodyand in turn, helps prevent premature aging.

Coffee isn't just effective to prevent depression. In fact, this superfood decreases the risk of prevalent diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and colorectal cancer. That's how amazing coffee is.

Regular consumption of coffee not only jump-start your day, but also serves your body with a pack full of remarkable health benefits.

Sounds like a cup of coffee can really uplift your mood and brighten up your day.

Isn't is heartwarming to know that something so good can really make you guilt free.

Enjoy!


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Anger and Depression Lowers Immunity, Promotes Inflammation

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Anger and Depression Lowers Immunity, Promotes Inflammation

November 19, 2018

Did you know that when you're angry or depressed, your immune system is also failing you. With lower immunity arises health concerns such as sluggish wound healing and delayed recovery from infection.

Both anger and drepression is linked to high levels of cytokines which promotes inflammamation. Chronic inflammation is linked to the development of many diseases like cardiovascular disease, colitis, and inflammatory bowel disorder.

High levels of cytokines helps explain why those with anger or depression experience social withdrawal, loss of appetite, and sluggishness.

Anger and Depression Lowers Immunity, Promotes Inflammation

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Anger and depression are two different emotion but they share several bad things in common that have tremendous impact to the well-being of an individual.

Being angry or depressed makes you vulnerable to diseases because the levels of antibody in your body flunks. If that's not scary enough, imagine this. Did you know that up to 2 hours following an anger outburst, you double your risk of having a sudden heart attack and triple your risk of having a stroke.

Negative emotion have a huge impact in one's mental and physical health. A topic that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Stress

Stress plays a huge role in bringing about these negative emotions of anger and extreme sadness. In today's hectic society, it's virtually impossible to avoid stress, but there are ways to combat them.