Summary: <p>Strengths Based Biopsychosocial Approach to Recovery from Depression<br> Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs</p> <p>Continuing Education (CE) credits can be earned for this presentation at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/510/c/">https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/510/c/</a></p> <p>Objectives<br> – Define depression (symptoms)<br> – Learn how to ask strengths-based assessment questions<br> – Identify a range of potential causes for depression<br> – Explore activities and interventions that can help people address some of the underlying causes</p> <p>Depression<br> – Depression represents a cluster of symptoms<br> – Diagnosis with depression only requires people to have a few of the symptoms<br> – A variety of different things can cause depression<br> – Emotions: Anger, anxiety, grief, guilt, shame<br> – Thoughts: Cognitive distortions<br> – Relationships: Poor self-esteem, unhealthy/unsupportive relationships, need for extremal validation<br> – Physical: Neurochemical imbalances, poor nutrition, exhaustion, insufficient sleep, medication side effects<br> – Environmental: High stress environments that prevent relaxation/rest and increase hopelessness/helplessness</p> <p>Depression Assessment<br> – What does this mean to you- (apathy, sadness, mood swings)<br> – Which symptoms are most bothersome for you and why-<br> – For each symptom<br> – What makes depression worse-<br> – What makes depression better-<br> – How was life more pleasurable prior to getting depressed-<br> – What is different during when you are NOT depressed-<br> – How do you expect life to be different when your depression is gone-<br> Neurotransmitters<br> – Ability to feel pleasure/Apathy/Emotional Flatness<br> – Memory issues<br> – Difficulty concentrating<br> – Sleep issues<br> – Lack of motivation<br> – Fatigue<br> – Pain<br> – Irritability/Agitation<br> – Fight or flight stress symptoms</p> <p>Neurotransmitters<br> – Get quality sleep<br> – Create a routine<br> – Address pain and apnea<br> – Improve the sleep environment<br> – Other factors: Shift work, time zones, daylight savings time<br> – Relaxation<br> – Biofeedback<br> – Progressive muscular relaxation<br> – Address medication side effects<br> – Psychotropics<br> – Opiates<br> – Improve nutrition<br> Neurotransmitters<br> – Address addictive behaviors<br> – Address chronic or extreme stress<br> – Refresher<br> – Both of these increase the amount of neurotransmitters flooding the synapses.<br> – To protect the body from overload, the brain shuts down some of the receptors so the body does not overload (tolerance/desensitization)<br> – When the neurotransmitters return to a normal level, the receptors are still shut down, so not enough neurotransmitter gets sent out.<br> – Things that normally caused a reaction, no longer are strong enough to cause a reaction<br> Hormones<br> – Thyroid<br> – Impact mood, libido and energy levels<br> – Estrogen<br> – Boosts neurotransmitters that affect sleep, mood, memory, libido, pain perception, learning and attention span.<br> – Increased estrogen may increase the availability of serotonin Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews Volume 4 Number 1, March 2005 43-58<br> – Low testosterone may be implicated in reducing the availability of serotonin<br> – Testosterone is manufactured by the adrenal glands,<br> – Enhances libido, improves stamina and sleep, assists brain function, and is associated with assertive behavior and</p>
