Help For Children Who Are Depressed - By Steve Hill

Are you the parent of a child who is often depressed? Are you a child who often feels down in the dumps and depressed? This article offers advice for both parents, other family members and children about how to deal with, reduce and even eradicate this depression.

I remember from my own childhood having many periods when I was very unhappy and sad. I was the type of person who would let aspects from my life get on top of me which would at times affect my sleep patterns. I found growing up through childhood, into a teenager and ultimately into my adulthood as one big choir and struggle. I was forever comparing my own life to that of my brother, sister and friends. Their lives seemed so much easier than what mine was and this made me feel quite jealous of them.

Looking back one of my faults was that I was not willing to discuss my worries and fears with my parents and basically kept them bottled up inside of me. This meant of course that I had to deal with each and every issue (problem) on my own without any outside help or advice. I wish that I had been more open with my family as I think my life would have been that much happier if I had.

I am now a parent of two children myself and am always looking out for them. I try and gage how they are coping with life and if I feel that they are in an unhappy period or mood, I then attempt to find out what is causing this by trying to talk to them. They are not always happy to discuss these issues but I then make sure that they understand that I will be here for them when they are ready to open up. I talk to them about my own childhood and about the mistakes I feel that I made by keeping my own worries to myself.

I want my children to realise that they can talk to me about any aspect of their life and that I will be here to help and not judge them. Life in general, with school as an example, can at times be quite tough, with things such as bullying affecting a lot of children. There is the added pressure of examinations and also trying to establish ones self within a group of friends. Moving schools and going through all of the bodily changes can also be quite uncomfortable for many children.

As a family we try to make our childrens home life as enjoyable and relaxed as possible. This includes many family days out and where financially possible, a family holiday abroad in the summer.

My advice to any parent who has an unhappy or often depressed child would be to be very patient with them through these periods. I, as I have already stated would try and get them to talk about what is making them feel in this way and if they do not want to talk, would let them know that I am there for them if they do ever want a chat etc.

My advice for a child who is feeling depressed would be to talk to your family, a friend or a teacher. They say that a problem shared is a problem halved and I really believe in this statement. You do not have to be alone in this world and the advice that you are given could be of huge benefit to you. Despite what you might think all children have problems and worry about many different aspects of their own life. Your parents were of course children many moons ago and may have experience in the issues which you are not happy about. Do not make the same mistakes that I did by keeping these problems to yourself as it does not help to reduce your fears or depression.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

stuttering information
aviation products
anti aging advice

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Antidepressants – the Alternative - By David Mcevoy

Depression is a very common problem which can affect your quality of life, from just slowing you down to seriously incapacitating you. It’s also a serious issue for the health service in both the USA and the UK and is predicted to become the second biggest burden on both countries health services in less than two decades. Many people suffer in silence, not wanting to go to their doctor with a condition which some still find embarrassing and difficult to discuss. Others find that the side-effects of the antidepressants they are prescribed prove almost as debilitating as depression itself, or simply that the drugs do not have the right effect. This can leave sufferers feeling even more isolated and unhappy. However, research suggests that there may be a natural remedy for what is often referred to as ‘the common cold of mental illness’.

After extensive research scientists have come to believe that high quality fish oils, rich in Omega 3 essential fatty acids, are the natural solution to depression, even in severe cases in which the patient has not responded to other treatment. The key to alleviating depressive symptoms is EPA or elcosapentaenoic acid, an essential fatty acid of the Omega 3 group which can be found in some specialist fish oils. It has been shown by brain scans to regenerate the brain, and it is also possible that it stimulates stem cells into producing new nerve cells.

EPA has a positive effect on the brain regardless of whether you are depressed or otherwise of low mood. It has been shown to improve mental performance as well as a host of other health benefits including decreasing the risk of heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis or DVT, and stroke. An international group of medical scientists have assembled an impressive body of research over the last couple of years which gives weight to these astonishing beneficial claims. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Basant Puri, who is also a senior lecturer at London’s Imperial College MRI unit, is an enthusiastic supporter of the EPA cause and prescribes it in a high-quality form to his depressed patients at his Hammersmith Hospital Clinic. He says they are responding well; "Studies show that this nutrient, found in high quality fish oil, can clear the symptoms of depression within three or four weeks, and then the patient can ward off any further attacks just by taking a daily supplement."

Dr Puri first became intrigued by the function of EPA when studying nutrition, and when he became a psychiatrist and brain imager he could see for himself the benefits of supplementing diet with EPA. It became clear that a lack of EPA in diet may in fact be a major cause of depression. Dr Puri’s work and insights led him to consider the accepted view on the biochemistry of the brain and to think differently. He realised that human beings ate more fish during the period in history when our brains were still developing, and saw that "The trouble today is that many things we eat, along with stress and nicotine, inhibit the body's own ability to produce [essential fatty acids]."

One 21-year-old man Dr Puri first treated EPA with had suffered from depression for seven years or more, but after taking the supplement for nine months he had a new lease of life. He set up his own business and was planning to travel to the US to study – a significant change had occurred. And not only in his mood, but in his brain itself. A comparison of a brain scan taken before the EPA treatment with one taken after indicated, to Dr Puri’s amazement, that the brain had partially regrown. Depressive patients show low levels of electrical activity in the brain and an actual reduction in the cerebral cortex – this patient showed nerve cell regrowth and a thickening of the greater part of the brain, commonly referred to as the ‘grey matter’. Dr Puri took this as indicative that EPA, with its apparent power to stimulate the brain to make it repair itself, could bring hope to people suffering from a wide variety of conditions.

Omega 3 is found chiefly in oily fish – tuna, fresh salmon, pilchards, sardines and mackerel – but these alone do not provide EPA in sufficient qualities to have this amazing effect on the brain. Supplements, which can be taken alongside antidepressants in complete safety, are necessary to treat depression. It’s not a good idea to stop antidepressants immediately, without a gradual reduction as advised by your GP, as you can suffer severe side effects. You should always consult your GP before embarking on any treatment, however, and should be especially careful with fish oil supplements if you are taking any blood-thinning medication as EPA also thins the blood.

It’s good to find an EPA supplement which contains a lesser quantity of DHA, another Omega 3 fatty acid, as too much of this can lessen the effectiveness of EPA. Patients suffering from mild to moderate depression should take two capsules twice a day with food, while patients with severe depression should take a higher dose after consultation with a specialist. As with antidepressants it’s advised that you continue to take the supplements after the symptoms have gone – in the case of EPA, Dr Puri recommends two capsules a day as a maintenance dose. There are positive side effects of EPA too – patients will find their skin looking fresher and the condition of their hair and nails improving, which can help to give that boost of self-esteem depression sufferers benefit so much from.

Dave Mcevoy runs a high quality supplement site http://www.mind1st.co.uk/EPA_Pure_EPA.asp http://www.mind1st.com

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Fighting Menopause Blues - By Monalisa Hyden

Sudden change in personality

When was the first time you found yourself getting irritated by every small incident? Are you worried about the sudden change in your own personality? You used to be a loving, always smiling, and thriving. Are you in your 40’s? And you are now more prone to anxiety, depression, withdrawal from social activity, mood swing etc. Hang on! Do not come to any conclusion right away. The reason behind this could be the fluctuating hormone level due to menopause.

A natural phenomenon

Menopause is a natural phenomenon to every woman. As a woman ages, the supply of ova declines and menopause comes naturally after the supply of follicles has been depleted and menstruation ends completely. This results in the cessation of estrogen and progesterone hormones in a woman’s body. Woman goes through a change during menopause and perimenopausal years of her life experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, mood swing, vaginal dryness, sudden memory failure, insomnia, withdrawal, fatigue, excessive feeling of guilt and unworthiness, thoughts of suicide etc. Women consider these symptoms as a part of natural ageing process and do not try to overcome the adversaries of life. A myth, menopause causes loss of sexual desire in a woman, also plays an important role in her depression.

Thank God! Depression is treatable!

But why should you suffer silently when you have a solution for menopause and midlife depression? Depression can be a serious disease which can lead to more severe physical as well as mental complications. Depression increases the possibility of heart attack, blood pressure and can be responsible for loss of bone mineral density. Depression can be treated by many ways like certain effective antidepressant pills like Xanax which are essential for mild to moderate depression patients, therapies, changes in diet, alternative medicines, and herbal medicines. At the same time, family support, emotional support from the partner, daily physical exercise, taking care of sleep, and doing something related your hobbies would give wonderful results to a woman suffering from menopause syndrome.

Easy way to a better life

Menopause symptom during the midlife can be handled incorporating some easy practices in the daily routine. A woman should take it as a challenge which can be as exciting as her youthful times. Here we go...

Forget the ideas that with menopause, a woman lose sexual desire. Actually, a woman’s desire for sex depends upon her partner’s interest. You can have sex without the fear of getting pregnant. So enjoy the freedom from contraceptives.

If you sense that the vaginal dryness during the intercourse, use lubricant or cream.

If you are gaining weight, a healthy diet plan and regular exercise would do the magic for you.

Take more calcium and B vitamin and avoid caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar and chocolate.

Communicate with your partner regarding your emotional and physical problems.

Keep in touch with your near and dear ones. Contact your female friends; they can give you good emotional elevation.

Ask for help if you are finding it difficult to take care of your grown up children and the elder members of your family at the same time.

Take out some time and engage yourself in some activities you always liked but could not; may be your long forgotten hobbies.

To help sleeping disorder, take a warm bubble bath before going to bed, take a glass of warm milk or a glass of wine (only one glass please). Consult your doctor before taking any sleeping pill or anti-depressant medicines like Xanax.

Count your blessings. Think of the people around who care for you and think of good times.

Identify the factor which is keeping you under stress. Do not over expect from yourself, be practical. Set priorities and work accordingly.

Go for regular health checkups. Keep an eye on your blood pressure, heart and blood sugar condition.

Meditation for 30 to 60 minutes on daily basis will help you immensely.

Life has given you another chance to live…

Menopause is not the end of your life, o woman. You have accomplished the duty of giving birth to human progeny and raised them. Life after menopause is for the contentment of the long-forgotten woman within you; a fair chance to live for your own self, up to your expectations. One chapter is closed and a new chapter awaiting…it’s only you, who will decide what to write.

The author, Monalisa Hyden, addresses psychological issues. If you wish to help yourself and your loved ones to fight emotional problems, you can log on to http://www.buy-xanax-online-now.com for more information and advice.

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When Do You See A Doctor If You Have (Or You Think You Have) Depression? - By: Dr. Isaac Schumann

If you have depression, or at least you think you have one, you must realize that you should not diagnose yourself. You need to have a healthcare practitioner that is skilled to give you a correct assessment and professional diagnosis of your condition.

There is absolutely no reason to feel shy or embarrassed when talking to a healthcare provider regarding any symptoms of your condition. There are many healthcare professionals that are very understanding of your problem. After all, they were trained to study and treat depression.

If you have symptoms like these, do not hesitate consulting a medical practitioner. Before getting any actual help or treatment for depression, you must need to first have a diagnosis that is correct.

You see, these symptoms are also symptomatic of other problems. For example, weight loss, fatigue and sleeping patterns may not be caused by depression, but by some medical problem. Other symptoms like losing interest in activities that you previously enjoyed or problems with attention or memory may not be related to depression at all but may be indicative of a undiagnosed medical condition.

You need to consult a doctor so that you can make sure that the symptoms you are experiencing are actually a result of your depression and from there, you can start what the best treatment for you individual case. The doctor might ask you to answer questions to fully assess and help determine if you actually have depression and possibly conduct tests to determine that your symptoms are a result of some other health issue.

Depression is a medical condition that is real. Remember that having depression is not something that you want to have. You probably would not think less of someone who has influenza or is suffering from heart disease. In the same manner, you must not be ashamed or feel guilty that you suffer from depression.

Depression will not go away by "toughing it out" or "being strong.” Being weak in your will does not instantly cause you to be depressed. Most cases of depression can't simply go away just by trying to cheer up. You can't simply make it go away by doing exercises, taking vitamins or going on a vacation. Treating your depression requires professional help - you can't do it alone. Like any other serious illnesses, depression needs professional treatment from a healthcare practitioner. When you are suffering from depression, you need to ask for help to make the problem go away.

Your feelings might change when treatment comes along. You should be pleased to know that depression has proved to be one of the most easily treated conditions.

When you are seeking treatment for your depression, what type of healthcare professional should you see?

Although there are some issues raised on what treatment is the best for depression problems (whether it is drugs, therapy, or if it is a mixture of both), there is actually a type of healthcare professional that is highly qualified to help you recover from depression and various mood disorders that use medications or drugs: a psychiatrist.

Psychologists, in fairness, are also highly qualified to cure depression problems, but they are not medical professionals and as such, cannot prescribe medications. You should realize that psychologists specialize in therapy, especially talk therapy. If you do not know if you need drugs or medications, it might prove best to start your treatment of depression under a psychiatrist's care.

If you think you might also have a good chance of eliminating depression through talk therapy, many psychiatrists can also be good in this, although there are some that may refer you to more experienced therapists. More on this in an upcoming article.

About the Author:

Dr. Isaac Schumann brings to you a life time of experience in the mental health field http://www.depressionhelpguides.comRead more articles by: Dr. Isaac Schumann

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Always Tired, fatigued, Anxiety filled? Maybe you need a Depression Test - By Nathan T. Lynch

Depression has become one of the most widely increased diagnosed disorders in this country over the past few years. Things like the falling economy causing a decrease in personal finances, in addition to life’s daily stresses and worries have caused many Americans to become depressed.

You may have seen the recently advertised television commercials offering depression testing. Depression not only saddens an individual’s state of mind, but also causes symptoms like fatigue, anxiety and loss of motivation, even in the simplest of daily activities. People who are depressed are not temporarily moody or sad. The condition is unfortunately, long-term and negatively affects the way a person feels, thinks and behaves.

Depression is a genuine medical condition that can be treated, but the help has to be sought out. That in itself can often times be a difficult task for someone experiencing this ailment. A Depression Test is important because depression is a disease that requires attention and medical treatment. If it is not treated, it can last for months, and in some cases, even years.

If you have been feeling out-of-sorts for an extended amount of time, you might consider taking a depression test. There are several ways you can do this. If you don’t feel up to a doctor visit, go online. Visit a website that can offer you a simple questionnaire to decide whether or not you might be clinically depressed. There is a wonderful website called lexapro.com that offers a very good depression test which is in the form of a simple questionnaire. You will also find answers there to any questions you might have about the way you are feeling. Another good web resource is depression.com. Please keep in mind that if your depression test results lead you to believe that you are in fact suffering from depression, you must make an appointment to see a physician and get treatment.

If you are, or know someone who is suffering from depression, seek help. There is nothing to be ashamed. You shouldn’t have to live in sadness so don’t continue to let life pass you by. You are valuable part of this world and you deserve to experience the same happiness as everyone else around you.

Anxiety and loss of motivation? You just may have a mild to cronic form of depresson. Find out with depression test.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_T._Lynch

How You Can Help Yourself, Or Someone Else Who Suffers From Depression - By: Anna Allen

Depression can be a matter of life and death, so help from others is of vital importance. Since depression affects millions of people each year, chances are you may know someone who suffers from this terrible illness.

Helping someone with severe depression can be frustrating at times. Many depressed people don't want to be helped. It's as if they feel they can benefit from being depressed because no one expects anything from them. Some even go as far as to feel that being depressed is easier than dealing with life's problems and trying to improve them. It's important to realize however, that not ALL people who suffer from Depression feel this way.

Many people suffer from depression needlessly all because they won't consult with a Doctor. If you know someone like this it's important that you do what you can to convince them to seek professional care. Let them know that you care and just want to make sure that they are okay. Sometimes if the person won't take the initiative, you may have to make the appointment for them and make sure they get there. Be kind but at the same time, be firm. Helping a friend or relative who suffers from Depression is no easy task, but it can be lifesaving. At times, just knowing you care makes all the difference in the world.

Many people who suffer from Depression feel like they are a burden not only to their family and friends, but also to themselves because they feel as if they are helpless and can't get past their depression. Some even feel ashamed and humiliated. So, instead of getting help, they isolate themselves some more and in turn drift further and further away.

In order to help a person who suffers from Depression, you first need to have empathy for that person. In other words, try to identify emotionally with them. Be sensitive to their feelings and realize that they really are in emotional pain. What they are feeling is real so try to be understanding. NEVER ever tell a depressed person to 'snap out of it.' This simply cannot be done.

Other ways to help a depressed person may be to encourage them to talk. You never want them to keep everything bottled up inside them. Avoid judgemental and critical critical comments. Remember, most depression sufferers have very low self-esteem, so try to restore it by reasoning with them. Ask them why they feel the way they do and really LISTEN when they talk. By showing them this attention you are showing them that you have a genuine interest in wanting to help.

If you are married to someone who suffers from Depression don't automatically assume that you are the cause of the depression. Depression isn't ALWAYS caused by a bad marriage. However, it can be brought on by friction, guilt or a strained or isolated relationship. Always remember that if you are married to someone who suffers from depression and they lash out at you, don't take it personal. Remember the emotional pain they are in. Also remember that in most cases, YOU are not the one they're mad at. Remembering this can help you respond to them in a mild way.

If it's your wife that suffers from depression, take the initiative by helping cook and clean. If there are kids in the family, help by tending to them instead of your wife having to do it. By doing this you are helping in more ways than you know.

So, if you know someone who suffers from Depression, always be patient, show empathy and assist them in any way you can. Be encouraging and let them know you are thinking about them and you care. Send them a letter or card in the mail. Give them a call on the phone, or better yet, pay them a visit, even if it's for a little while. All these little things can mean the world to a person who is depressed. Don't expect someone with depression to get well overnight. It can be a slow process at times. So the best thing to do is to try to prevent it.

If you suffer from Depression and want to prevent or fight it, start by getting plenty of exercise, get proper rest and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoid the 'depressing foods' like chocolate, caffeine or other sugars. Don't build your sense of worth on the love of others, on money, power or your job. Avoid drugs and too much alcohol. Always do the best you can but don't try to be perfect. There is no such thing. And the number one thing you have to remember is to recognize the early symptoms of depression and seek help immediately. By doing these things you can have more success in conquering your depression.

About the Author:

For more information on depression visit Anna's Depression Website at: http://www.depressionadviceonline.com/index.html or visit her Depression Blog which contains helpful articles that are updated daily: http://depressionadviceonline.blogspot.com/.

Read more articles by: Anna Allen

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A Potential Cause And Solution To Depression - By Steve Hill

I have recently made a very startling discovery which has helped me to stop spiralling into bouts of depression. In this article, I write about this discovery which I hope will help other people to lead much happier lives, free from anxiety and stress.

I am the type of person who can easily let things get on top of me. If I am rushed about here there and everywhere by my family or friends, I am often left feeling very drained and exhausted. I am sure this is the same for many people but the way it affects me over the next twenty-four hours is somewhat different. I seem to lose all of my energy and this then can easily lead me into thinking in a very negative way, often ending with me becoming quite depressed.

For whatever reason this depression can stay and in a way haunt my life for quite a few days. I begin to worry about the future, start to think that I am a failure, start to become paranoid about what other people think of me and basically become scared to leave my own house.

I have spoken to my family and especially my parents about this issue. They have advised me to seek help from a doctor. I must say that even though this would be good advice for most people, I feel that I am the kind of person who could become easily hooked and dependant on any tablets that would be described. I certainly do not want an addiction to add to my problems.

Possible solution to my depression

A few weeks ago I was watching a television program which has since had a massive impact on my life. It was an army type program and it talked about how one particular group of soldiers had all seemingly become ill and could not even complete the most routine of tasks.

A doctor or some other type of medical person was called to their camp to investigate what was wrong. The initial belief was that it was likely to be some form of food poisoning.

The doctor actually stated that the men had salt deprivation and called for for a large amount of salt tablets to be bought to the camp.

I thought about this and wondered if this could be the cause of my own issues.

The next time I felt I was becoming down or when I was over tired, I ate food products which contained a lot of salt and I am very happy to report that I quickly regained my energy and confidence levels. Such a simple solution to what was once such a huge problem for me.

If you are also the kind of person who is often depressed try eating a bit more salt, it might just change your life.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

aviation products
anti aging advice
stuttering information

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Quiz- Is Your Debt Causing Depression? - By CD Mohatta

Are you feeling hopeless about the future? Are you feeling hopeless and helpless about your current situation? Are you feeling depressed? Do you find no way to come out of this hopelessness? It is time to consult a Doctor about your depression.

Can your depression be related to your debts? Are you also having debts to repay? Debts can cause constant worry and make us feel depressed. Especially when we have no ready plan to repay our debt, the depression can be severe.

What are you planning about your debt? Have you planned any repayment schedule? Have you planned any method to increase your income? If not, please begin doing that. Let us look at this problem in totality. You have a certain income. You have a certain debt. You have certain expenses. You have to save money from your income and repay small amount every month so that one-day you are out of it. The first step is to write down all these figures. Then think of every method that can increase your income. Similarly try to reduce your expenses. This will obviously give you more money to repay. Now talk to your creditors. Ask them for rescheduling the debt so that is comfortable for you to repay. Approach them positively and explain the position. Be optimistic. They will agree.

Feeling hopeless never solves the problem. Finding solution will do that. Fight your debt related depression with proper strategy and planning.

The author C.D.Mohatta writes fun quizzes and fun tests at http://www.funquizcards.com/ on topics like love, personality, dating, relationships, friendship, movies, tv, music, business, etc. The author also writes for http://www.ecarduniverse.com/ which has free ecards on holidays, birthday, love, friendship, family, expressions, celebrations and all events and occasions. The author also writes articles, advice and ideas at http://www.yourromanceguide.com/ on topics like love, dating, marriage, relationships, break-ups, etc.

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How To End Depression Stigma - By Chris Green

For many sufferers, depression brings on feelings of guilt and shame and because of these feelings, they will not seek help. But are these feelings valid? Lack of understanding – both in sufferers and non-sufferers – clouds the issue. So here’s how to end the stigma associated with depression, stress, and anxiety.

1. The majority of people in our society experience psychological problems during their lives: Problems from childhood with parents and siblings; stress at work; marital breakdown; losing loved ones and of course, making mistakes. Very few people go through life without experiencing mental trauma of some description. So there’s nothing odd or unique happening here, indeed, depressive illnesses are as common as colds. More than 20 million sufferers in the USA every year bear this out.

2. These are real illnesses. There’s no stigma associated with diabetes, asthma, or allergies for example, so why should there be with these? Just like the above illnesses, depression, anxiety and stress have specific causes that can be addressed. You wouldn’t think an asthma sufferer could just “snap out of it”, yet many people say this to depression and anxiety sufferers. Lack of understanding again causes such a reaction and it is the reaction that is wrong, not the sufferer.

3. Suffering a depressive episode is not your fault so why feel guilty? You didn’t wake up one morning and think “right, I know, I’ll become anxious from now on”. It doesn’t happen like that. No one CHOOSES depression, it can happen to people just like many illnesses do. And like other illnesses, depression can be treated very effectively. But not one sufferer is to blame. You wouldn’t blame someone who hadn’t been taught to read or write, you wouldn’t blame someone who suffered from hay fever so why blame yourself and feel guilty because you’re suffering a stressful illness?

4. If you own a car and it’s broken down you go to a mechanic. If you fall and break your arm, you go to casualty to get it repaired. If you have toothache you go to a dentist to get it sorted. Stressful illnesses can also be fixed, so don’t let guilt or shame stop you from getting help. Just as your body can become ill so can your mind. It isn’t permanent and just as your body can be fixed so can your mind.

5. Many sufferers believe that treating depression is a futile exercise because once you have depression, you have it for life. This simply isn’t true and the depression itself feeds this feeling of helplessness. And believing that depression is incurable further exacerbates the feelings of guilt and shame and fuels the depression. Depression has a specific cause and this root cause can be effectively treated so that depression can be beaten once and for all.

6. Change the way you look at these problems. I know from experience that at the time, stressful illnesses can be overwhelming and you can’t see a way out or how anything good can come of it. But now, I’m glad I had that 5-year period because I’ve come out of it stronger. I learned how to beat depression and deal with the very trying circumstances I was faced with. I now know how to cope with the various trials and tribulations life throws at all of us and those 5 years of depression and anxiety have given me a greater understanding about myself and others. Sure I hated it at the time. But by getting help and learning how depression had entered my life, I became stronger than my depression.

One thing that really helped me was to change the way I thought about what was happening to me. Instead of thinking it was something that no good could ever come from, I looked at it as something that was going to help me to become stronger. What helped me to think this way was discovering how many other people used their illnesses and disabilities to do something positive with their lives. I realized that the same principle could be applied to stressful and depressive illnesses and that they too can be used in a positive way.

The above points clearly demonstrate that the stigmas associated with depressive and stressful illnesses are completely false and I hope you use them to help you win your fight with stress, depression or anxiety.

Until next time.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of “Conquering Stress”, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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7 Tips to Take Control of Bipolar Disorder - By Susan Nickerson

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a life-long illness affecting the chemistry of the brain. In classic cases, it causes severe mood swings from manic episodes of extreme highs to depressive episodes of debilitating lows, with relatively normal periods in-between. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 2 million people age 18 and older have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for bipolar disorder at this time. But as with any chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or epilepsy, proper treatment, management and understanding of the illness is crucial. Most people with bipolar disorder can lead full, productive and satisfying lives by taking crucial steps to control and manage their illness.

Some key steps to consider if you or a loved one have bipolar disorder include:

1. Find a mental health professional you trust. A person diagnosed with bipolar disorder needs to establish a relationship with a trusted mental health professional where an open and honest exchange can take place.

2. Take medication as prescribed. This is first and foremost the most important step in taking control of bipolar disorder. It is the one element that needs to be strictly adhered to. In order for medication to work effectively it must be taken consistently and for the long term. It may be tempting to stop taking medication as symptoms lessen and one starts feeling better. However, this could have devastating consequences.

3. Reduce Stress. Mental health professionals typically believe that increased stress can trigger an episode of manic depression. Finding time to relax, sharing extra responsibilities, or simply talking to someone during a stressful event may help to bring on an increased feeling of calmness.

4. Do not become isolated. Do not try to "handle" bipolar disorder alone. Seeking out the comfort and understanding of family and friends is central to a person's treatment. It can be very helpful to join a bipolar disorder support group because the people there understand the feelings and difficulties of living with the illness. They can lend insight and encouragement to a person confronting a diagnosis.

5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is important to establish regular healthy routines such as exercising the same time everyday, going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning. Maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep, because erratic sleep patterns can increase the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Do not use caffeine or recreational drugs.

6. Become an expert on bipolar disorder. Become involved in understanding the symptoms and treatment of bipolar disorder and the effects it can have on family and friends. Consult a qualified mental health professional with questions and concerns. Read books about the illness or listen to lectures by experts. Learn as much about bipolar disorder as possible because knowledge is a powerful tool in taking out the mystery of the illness.

7. Enhance life with enjoyable things. Make it a priority to engage in things that bring about feelings of joy, happiness, and accomplishment. Hobbies or activities that enhance a sense of peace or relaxation serve one well in dealing with the confusion of bipolar disorder.

A diagnosis of bipolar disorder does not have to mean the end of one's world; rather it can be considered a new beginning. One that, at last, provides an explanation and ultimate relief from some of the unexplained and destructive behaviors a person might exhibit, freeing them to live rich and fulfilling lives.

Article source: http://www.valuablecontent.com

Overcoming Depression by JEAN LESTOURGEON

Identifying Depression

Depression, like most mental illness runs the continuum of severity. It can be mild or major. It can last from weeks to months. It can involve anxiety symptoms as well. Depression is primarily characterized by sadness and/or loss of pleasure in nearly all activities. Additionally, there may be symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and psychomotor activity (changes in both mental and physical responsiveness and/or activity).

A depressed person may struggle with feelings of low self worth, recurrent thoughts of dying, as well as difficulty concentrating or making decisions. In children and adolescents the mood is often manifested as irritability rather than sadness. Some people may deny having feelings of sadness; instead they may report feeling numb or having no feelings at all.

Taking Action

First, it is important to look at how severely one’s functioning may be impaired. If the person’s level of functioning has been significantly impaired, i.e. they are having difficulty performing their daily routine, seek professional help immediately. A trip to the family doctor to rule out any medical conditions that might be causing the mood disorder is a good place to start.
Second, assess whether there have been any significant changes in circumstances, relationships etc. that may be contributing to the depression.

Third, if your loved one indicates they have a plan or intentions to harm themselves, take action immediately to get help. Call a mental health professional that you have been referred to by a reliable source or check your phone book for community mental health services. You can also call 1-800-784-2433 a suicide prevention hotline. If the threat is imminent, call 911.

Don’t Wait – Get Help

One of the biggest reasons people do not seek help is the shame they feel about having a mental illness. The reality is that our minds are vulnerable to illness just like our bodies. There is no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition, so why is there with the mind? Those who avoid seeking help because of the shame they feel only languish longer than necessary.

How Counseling Can Help

A counselor can help a person gain perspective about their illness; resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills.

However, in addition to counseling, depending on the severity of the depression, medication may also be a treatment option. You can discuss this with your counselor, who could then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication.

Relief is available for difficulties that plague our minds. It is truly the wise that seek out the help, wisdom and counsel of those whom God has equipped to facilitate the healing of the mind.

Jean LeStourgeon, MA, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Palm Bay, Florida. She also operates the website Christian Counseling Online where you can find lots more information and tools on topics like Depression Help and Signs of Depression , all from a Biblical perspective.

Article source: http://www.amazines.com

5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression - by Michael Lee

Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives. We get sad when we fail in our exams, when we're rejected by the person we love, or when someone very close to us passes away.

Depression, however, could be more fatal than just plain loneliness. It could render life-long consequences that could ruin your self-esteem, health, and well-being.

Here are some superb tips to conquer the melancholy mood and get the most bliss out of your daily activities.

1) Get Enough Light and Sunshine.

Lack of exposure to sunlight is responsible for the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which could trigger a dispirited mood and a lethargic condition.

Melatonin is only produced in the dark. It lowers the body temperature and makes you feel sluggish. If you are always cooped up in your room (with the curtains closed), it would be difficult to restrain yourself from staying in bed.

This is the reason why many people are suffering from depression much more often in winter than in the other seasons. It's because the nights are longer.

If you can't afford to get some sunshine, you can always lighten up your room with brighter lights. Have lunch outside the office. Take frequent walks instead of driving your car over short distances.

2) Get Busy. Get Inspired.

You'll be more likely to overcome any feeling of depression if you are too busy to notice it. Live a life full of inspired activities.

Do the things you love. If you're a little short on cash, you could engage in simple stuffs like taking a leisurely stroll in the park, playing sports, reading books, or engaging in any activity that you have passion for and would love to pursue.

Set a goal - a meaningful purpose in life. No matter how difficult or discouraging life can be, remain firm and have an unshakable belief that you are capable of doing anything you desire. With this kind of positive attitude, you will attain a cheerful disposition to beat the blues.

3) Take a Break.

I mean it.

Listen to soothing music. Soak in a nice warm bath. Ask one of your close friends to massage you. Take a break from your stressful workload and spend the day just goofing around. In other words, have fun.

4) Eat Right and Stay Fit.

Avoid foods with lots of sugar, caffeine, or alcohol. Sugar and caffeine may give you a brief moment of energy; but they would later bring about anxiety , tension, and internal problems. Alcohol is a depressant. Many people would drink alcohol to "forget their problems." They're just aggravating their conditions in the process.

Exercising regularly is a vital depression buster because it allows your body to produce more endorphins than usual. Endorphins are sometimes called "the happy chemicals" because of their stress-reducing and happiness-inducing properties.

5) Get a Social Life.

No man is an island. Your circle of friends are there to give you moral support. Spending time and engaging in worthwhile activities with them could give you a very satisfying feeling. Nothing feels better than having group support.

Never underestimate the power of touch. Doesn't it feel so good when someone pats you on the back and gives you words of encouragement during your most challenging times? Hug or embrace someone today. You'll never know when you have saved another life.

Get intimate. Establish close ties with your family and friends. The love and care expressed by others could tremendously boost your immune system and fend off illnesses. Best of all, you'll live a more secured and happy life.

About the Author:

Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion Wizard," an ebook designed to easily seduce others to like you, fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits, win negotiations, and attain complete freedom and power. Visit http://www.20daypersuasion.com and grab a sample chapter.

Article Resource: http://www.amazines.com

Mental Health Services - By Peter Emerson

It is an established fact that almost two-thirds of all people afflicted with some kind of mental dysfunction do not seek treatment. This is confirmed by the WHO’s Global Burden of Disease study.

The reasons for that people do not seek treatment vary, but some of the most common ones are a fear of the social stigma attached to mental disease; a fear of compromised security (loss of job, spouse, benefits entitlement, etc.); an inability to pay for treatment; or lack of awareness of the problem.

Thankfully, many forms of mental disease are no longer looked down upon; nor are those who suffer from them necessarily ostracized in society or at the workplace. Many progressive companies now offer more time to their employees for recovery from mental illness, and there is a decided increase in general social awareness prevalent today.

Considering its increased prevalence today, it is understandable that mental health has become a lucrative money-spinner. Psychiatrists and psychologists are amongst the highest-paid professionals in the modern world. This being so, there is a lot to be said for self-help groups like Schizophrenics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous. These offer an amazingly effective therapeutic support systems for sufferers, free of cost.

There are various organizations that monitor and streamline mental health efforts on a national scale today. Among them are the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Federal Action Agenda for Mental Health. These organizations exist to ensure fair and helpful practices among mental health professionals and to upgrade the standards of mental health services as and when necessary.

Basically, professional mental health services offer treatment for either the whole gamut of mental disorders, or they specialize in them individually. The onus of treatment in present times is on the most prevalent: anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic-stress disorders; bipolar and manic-depressive disorders; schizophrenia; behavioral disorders, such a eating disorders; and ADHD/ADD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders).

Mental Health provides detailed information on Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Mental Health Clinics, Mental Health Software and more. Mental Health is affiliated with Depressed Teens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Emerson

The Formula for Preventing Depression - By: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

While it is arguable that depression is not always preventable, there are many cases, when using the following ideas, will keep you in good spirits - most of the time. Unfortunately, we cannot be happy all of the time, but there is something we can do about it.

Working with a variety of clients over the years, I have seen how Yoga and exercise changed, and continue to change, them for the better. It is a well-known fact that endorphins are produced from a variety of exercise routines, including gentle Hatha Yoga.

Endorphins reduce stress and enhance good moods. Just that information alone is enough to start an exercise program, but weight control, muscle-tone, circulation, flexibility and a variety of other health benefits, should be an incentive to start a mild exercise program.

If you have been inactive, I suggest a beginner Yoga class with a very mild-mannered Yoga teacher. Without pushing this any further, let’s look at other options to start, and things to avoid.

Participate in social activities, support groups, senior centers, or local church activities. The activities could be in your local mosque, temple, or shrine, as well. There is always an activity that you can find around any religious center.

You could also join a league for golf, tennis, fishing, bowling, bocce, or any other activity where people gather to share a few laughs. Take competition in stride, and don’t take anything too serious.

Many social groups also function as support groups. The collective activity is good for all involved. Stay away from “alcohol drinking” clubs. This is not just bars, or nightclubs, but local clubs, who organize for the common good, and then, routinely get together to drink.

There is a conflict here, in that alcohol is a depressant, and if you are prone to depression, this is not a good combination. On top of that, there are plenty of health problems that accompany alcohol abuse.

Substance abuse is not a solution to depression, and you won’t find a purpose in life through it. So, let’s keep it simple and stay away from drinking alcohol - altogether.

If your friends and family abuse alcohol, they need counseling, and you will have to look outside your normal circles to get guidance. You need to surround yourself with positive and energetic people.Also, don’t hang around your house too much, especially in dark or unlit areas. Get outside, take a walk, go shopping, get a little sunlight, and if you are in the house all day, open the curtains during daylight hours. If you have a sunroom to relax in - that’s good, too. Lack of sunlight can cause elevated levels of melatonin, which is sometimes called the “sleep hormone.”

Lastly, visit the self-improvement section of your local bookstore. It is a hidden treasure within itself. This is a great reason to leave the house.

Audio books are also good for traveling in your car or listening to in your sunroom. Pick out books that really captivate your imagination. If your local bookstore has CD’s, you may want to pick up some relaxing music for your ride home.

Article Source: http://www.articlecapital.com

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Two Quick and Painless Ways to Deal with the Blues - by Cheri Britton

What do you do when stress in your life has you overwhelmed and over burdened or the darkening days of winter has you blue or depressed? What do you do to combat the incredible and often insane demands on you and your body and your spirit? You start by doing something for yourself.

You're probably thinking, "How can I take care of myself when I can't get my internet to work, my roof is leaking and my in-laws are coming for a visit?" I've found two simple places to start…laughter and movement. Both of these are pretty basic ideas but can be phenomenally healing.

Laughter The quickest way to turn the corner on depression for me is laughter. I begin by looking for little things that make me smile or are absurdly funny. For instance noticing how pets and their owners look alike or laughing at myself when I search for my glasses only to find them on top of my head.

Sometimes I turn to the professionals, people who make people laugh for a living. I like Ellen DeGeneris or Robin Williams, or my favorite, Jon Stewart of the "Daily Show". To me it's impossible to be totally in the dumps while I'm laughing with these people. They are a guaranteed guffaw.

My favorite way to laugh in my sad or chaotic moments is to pretend that I am the star of a TV sitcom…or better yet, my life is being taped for the National Public Radio show "This American Life." Ira Glass narrates with his mono-toned, lilt-on-the-end voice, "…Chapter 3… (pause) A middle age women gains ten pounds… (pause) maxes out her credit card (pause)…and deals with acne and wrinkles at the same time…"

It's liberating to make believe that my troubles are being witnessed by others. I pretend that the viewers are relating to me as I drive down the road in my dirty mini-van, with two children fighting in the back seat, and I'm being forced to listen to "School House Rock" for the hundredth time. Pretending that others are laughing with me as I struggle enables me to come up with pithy comebacks to the kids or lively banter with myself. And sure enough I begin to feel better. Seinfeld was based on this and the producers knew that viewers would return to watch their characters wait too long to be seated in a Chinese restaurant or get their clothes lost at the dry cleaners.

Laughter is a miraculous thing and begins ones healing immediately.

Movement And then there's moving. You can move almost anything and feel better. You can move your body or you can move your furniture or you can move your no-good-brother off of your couch! You can rearrange your purse and get a burst of energy! Just move and the energy will begin to shift!

Think of a stream where the water is pooled up along the bank and is no longer moving. Pretty soon it gets covered with funky blue stuff, becomes stagnant and draws mosquitoes. Yuck! And guess what…so do we. We get covered in a funky haze.

So, things need to move so that things will move. Most people who are depressed or overwhelmed just lie around...many sure as heck don't play music and dance. In reality that's exactly what is needed. So, when the last thing you want to do is dance…put on the Pointer Sisters or Aretha Franklin and do it anyway! You'll feel better instantly.

Here's the deal…getting over the blues (or even depression) is really simple but hard. And for many it can begin by simply moving something and finding the funny. I'm not making light of what can be a debilitating disease for many people. For some people, medication and/or therapy are just the ticket. But whether you have chronic depression or seasonal blues laughter and moving can help.


About the Author

Cheri Britton, Asheville, NC UScheri@boomthinking.comMore Details about changing limiting beliefs here. Cheri Britton, M.Ed. is a professional speaker, consultant, coach and trainer who speaks to and coaches business owners, executives, managers, employees, and entrepreneurs. Through her BOOM Thinking philosophy (Break Out of Old Mindsets), she helps people transform their negative, harmful thoughts to ones that are positive, uplifting, and inspirational. www.boomthinking.com

Source: www.ideamarketers.com

Depressions Other Side - By: Ted Belfour

After diagnosing and in practicing the control of depression you will learn more about yourself than you ever have before in your life. From the psychological or psychiatric standpoint there will be a need to delve into the cause of your depression. Sometimes just understanding you arent able to handle a stressful situation or are not emotionally adapt at recovering from a relationship gone sour is enough to understand where depression begins.

Within the varying degrees of suffrage due to depression the extremes can be mind-boggling. There are people that cannot get out of bed or produce one happy or hopeful thought for months at a time. These episodes debilitate your social life and can even erode your personal life. If there are spouses, children, or parents who care about the person that suffers they can be directly or indirectly affected by the depression also.

Then there are the people that grow more than melancholy on occasion. Perhaps your life is merely temporarily off track, too many responsibilities have been laid at your feet, or you have experienced a devastating loss. These are elements that can cause a mild depression. And though it is not a depression that ceases all activities in your life that does not mean it should be taken lightly or ignored.

In order to eliminate or control stressful or depressing elements you must first recognize them as such. Awareness is one step, admitting you are depressed is another step and those two are difficult. Learning how to get your type of depression under control is the most difficult step of all. You must commit all energies toward healing. If you don feel capable then please engage a loved one to commit on your behalf.

It is possible to gain control of depression without medication. But if medication is required there should always be well thought out considerations of how medications will integrate into your life. You should always weigh the good and not so good aspects of being medicated. If you are a young parent or have serious obligations that need strict attention no matter the time of day, these are things you have to communicate with the professional that prescribes medication.

If you are not functioning in society at any level due to your depression then obviously medical intervention and prescription medicines are something you have to consider. If you only have periodic bouts of depression perhaps a more subtle approach will serve you well.Dave is the owner of http://signs-of-depression.info and http://treatments-for-depression.info websites that provide information on depression.

Article Source: Article Hub

A Look At Depression - By Kathy Brewis

People with depression often times have family members or friends who know their loved one is ill but simply don’t know how to help that person. They basically feel helpless. In this short article I will be explaining to you how depression feels. For a person who has experienced depression and lived through it I feel I can provide an accurate description of the illness.

For those who have never experienced clinical depression, it is very hard for them to understand how it is for people who have. Clinical depression is not your typical “feeling blue” or “under the weather” feeling. It is so much more than that. People tend to use the terms “depressed” or “feeling depressed” very loosely when in conversation. But clinical depression needs to have more respect and understanding than what is conveyed in those conversations. Clinical depression is an illness, which affects both the mind and the body, meaning that you have both the mental effects and also physical symptoms of the illness. This was taken from the National Institute of Mental Health’s website

(http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm#ptdep3)

Symptoms

•Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood

•Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism

•Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

•Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex

•Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"

•Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

•Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

•Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain

•Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts

•Restlessness, irritability

•Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

According to doctors, you must experience a lost of interest in daily activities or a depressed mood for two weeks before depression can be diagnosed.

Depression deadens everything about your world. Everything seems to be lifeless or dead. You feel like there is no hope at all that things will ever get better. You see no light in sight. Basically you are surrounded in darkness in a light filled world. The light of other people bothers you. You can really irritated at people who seem so happy and you feel so unhappy. For you, there is nothing to laugh or smile about. The whole future seems hopeless and void of meaning. Everything becomes a matter of survival. Trying to get through each day with the least amount of pain and effort. You avoid people, but you also feel these people have something against you regardless of whether that person has done anything wrong. You tend to pretend everything is okay. You go to work and put on a smile and just try not to let on to other people that there is something wrong.

Self esteem is another big issue for me in my depression. I have never had real good self esteem. When I am depressed, my self esteem is shot to hell. I feel like I am not good enough. I feel like the biggest failure in the world. You just feel totally worthless. Nothing you do feels right. You feel people are looking at you and judging every move you make.

People with depression have this dark void inside themselves. Nothing that they do can fill this void. People use a lot of different things to try to fill the void. Some people use alcohol. Others use drugs. And there are those that use sex and food as something to feel the void. When people are trying to fill this void, they are also trying to find something that will help make them feel better.

These are just a few of my thoughts on depression and also some facts about depression. I still am dealing with this to this day and I have come to the conclusion that I will be dealing with it for the rest of my life. But, it does get better.

Kathy Brewis is an author on http://www.writing.com which is a site for Creative Writing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Brewis

Feeling Depressed and Hopeless - By Marge Holley

Each day is a struggle. It feels like nothing is alright and it will never be alright again. I go over and over the past and think about how things should have been different; how I could have done things differently in my life. If only I had the strength and confidence to follow through on things that I felt weren't right and needed to be changed. I lay guilt trips on myself each and every day. Then I blame others for the things that they did to me. I also blame the people who didn't help me when I went looking for help. But deep down inside I know that if I had had more confidence, I would have pursued that cry for help until I found some somewhere. I did try.

Each day there is a dark cloud hanging over me. I am numb. I can't feel or relate to other things because I am so dead and empty inside. I force myself to work and do things for others. Keeping busy helps for a little while; then when I have time to think, I start crying again and sink into that darkness and that feeling of hopelessness. I don't feel that I have anything to look forward to or any happy memories to look back on. I read once that people need goals--long term and short term--to keep themselves from becoming depressed or to have something to look forward to. I keep trying to think of things that can give me hope and occupy my mind. That works for a little while.

The thought of planting a garden in the spring, of writing or helping someone else works for a short time. I feel constant frustration in everything that I try to accomplish. I wonder what purpose I have in life or of what use I am. Why did all these cruel circumstances happen in my life that I ended up like this? I can't feel anything in prayer anymore. Food tastes like cardboard but I eat because I am aware of nutrition. I read the daily paper and agree that there are tragic things happening in the world but I feel like I am outside a window looking in. I'm like a zombie, a robot.

I can't remember what it is like to feel alive and hopeful. Even listening to music which I used to enjoy has no effect. It used to be cheering and uplifting but not anymore. I feel devoid of all human emotion, sick inside, totally empty, a shell of a human being. I want to feel alive and happy again. Does anyone really care? Am I all alone?

Marge has been writing all her life and just turned 62 this year.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marge_Holley

Attacking Treatment-Resistant Depression - By Phyllis Wheeler

In some cases, medication for depression just simply does not work. The doctor gives you pills, you take them for a while, and you still feel down. In that case, here are a couple of possibilities to consider:

*You really have bipolar disorder, only the manic phase never happens. *You have pre-diabetes.

Let's examine these one by one. Bipolar disorder occassionally manifests itself as depression only. You feel depressed, you never have a manic episode, but your medications don't help. In that case, you could suggest to your doctor that you try bipolar meds. They are different, and if this is your condition, they will lift your depression.

Pre-diabetes can cause depression too. Excess insulin in your blood affects you, possibly making you tired, fuzzy in the head, and unable to feel joy. But medications don't help you, and unless someone clues you in, you stay depressed. In fact, you probably gain weight too. This is because excess insulin in your blood will also make you feel hungry.

So what is pre-diabetes? It used to be called a case of high insulin resistance. The cells in your body become resisitant to insulin, a hormone that helps deliver glucose to the cells as an energy source. So not only do the cells run out of energy, but the insulin level "backs up" in your bloodstream, becoming higher than it ought to be. Unfortunately, excess insulin tends to make your body parts wear out, and causes aging. You know those folks who live to a hale and hearty old age? They are the ones whose genes delivered them a good sugar-control system.

If you have pre-diabetes, your body limps along under these circumstances, sometimes for a long time. Eventually though you will become diabetic, unless you are able to lower the insulin levels in your blood (see below). Diabetes is a condition where the body's glucose control system breaks down. Glucose in the blood may go way up or way down. High glucose levels damage body organs. Low levels cause fainting.

How can you lower the insulin levels in your blood? There are two ways:

*Limit carbs

*Exercise.

It is the carbohydrates that cause your body to dump insulin into the bloodstream. So a low-carb diet will cut down on the amount of insulin your food is adding to what's already in your bloodstream. This is like cutting down on the amount of water you are dumping into a plugged-up kitchen sink.

Exercise causes the cells to accept insulin and the glucose it carries. This is like opening the drain in the kitchen sink so that more water will go out. You know those hale and hearty old timers? Many of them exercise regularly. It's something to think about!

So why might you be pre-diabetic? It's probably a hereditary condition for you. Or, possibly your eating habits have caused it. If you are hooked on sweets, you have been bathing your system with lots of insulin to control the blood sugar level. That insulin makes you hungry, and so you eat more sweets. It also causes your body, including your joints, to age. Overeating can cause overweight, which triggers Type II diabetes. So beware!

About the authorPhyllis Wheeler is writer of computer resources for homeschoolers. She suffered from treatment-resistant depression for nine years. Find plenty of articles about depression at http://www.BeatDepressionNow.blogspot.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phyllis_Wheeler

Symptoms of Suicide - By Bren Davis

Suicide accounts for about 1.26% of all deaths in the US each year. Throughout the years, there has been a significant increase in the rate among adolescents as well elderlies.

What is suicide?

Suicide is the act of deliberately ending one's own life. It is said that a large percentage of suicide cases are related to mood disorder or other psychiatric illness. Situations that might prompt suicidal thoughts or behavior are unemployment, financial problems, guilt feelings, alcohol or drug addiction, physical illness, death etc.

Most people, mainly close friends, family members and relatives of the individuals who attempt suicide view suicide as an act of selfishness. However, the individuals who attempt or complete suicide feel/felt otherwise. They mistakenly believe that their act is doing their friends and family a favor. This irrational thought leads to suicidal behavior.

One effective way of preventing suicide is early detection and help from professionals.

Symptoms of Suicide

> Impulsiveness
> Tension
> Anxiety
> Expression of guilt feelings
> Change in behavior or personality
> Depression
> Direct or indirect threats to commit suicide
> Nervousness
> Loss of appetite
> fatigue
> Facing problems concentrating
> Drug or alcohol use or abuse
> Aggressive behavior

Suicide is not an option

Seek help from professionals today.

Toll-Free Nationwide USA / 24 hours / 7 days a week:
1-800-SUICIDE (2433)
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
1-800-564-2120
1-800-949-0057
1-800-621-4000 (National Adolescent Suicide Hotline)
Read about troubled teens here

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bren_Davis

A Review Of Techniques In Managing Your Depression - By Stan Popovich

Some people have a difficult time in managing their depression. Sometimes, their depression and fears can get best of them. As a result, here is a short list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their depression.

I was told by a counselor that one of the ways to manage depression is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, your afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.

Some people get depressed and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the mornings. When this happens, a person should take a deep breathe and try to find something to do to get their mind off of the problem. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.

Sometimes, we can get depressed over a task that we will have to perform in the near future. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship volleyball game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that make us feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed, open up your small notebook and read those statements.

As a Layman and author of an anxiety book, I have done many interviews with various counselors in how to manage fear, anxiety and depression. The techniques that I have just covered are some basic ways to manage your depression, however your best bet is to get some help from a professional.About

The Author:

Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods”-a book that presents a overview of techniques in managing Fear. For more info go to: http://www.managingfear.comFor free articles on managing fear please go to: http://www.managingfear.com

Article Source Freezine Articles

Depression and the Sensitive at Heart - by: Friedrich Asen

There are beautiful people out there, sensitive and tender at heart. One thing they often have in common: they suffer from low self esteem, depression and the like. Many times they work in the social field, but they may come from any occupation. Often they feel not to fit into society at all. Whatever they try, they cannot find a suiting place.

On the other hand, there are the powerful manipulators out there, often unscrupulous and insensitive. Exploiting mother earth and their fellow men, they blossom. They have found a way to fight depression. They act, control, manipulate and accumulate power. I am sure they are depressed too, but they have found a way to suppress it. A life of manipulation, based on power and might, lacks one of the most important ingredients of life, wich is love. Where love is lacking, there is senselessness. And where there is senselessness, there is depression.

There are people pointing out how wrong the Bible is today, because it proclaims 'the meek shall inherit the world'. "Can you think of a dumber line?", they ask. The only people inheriting the world are the super rich and the ones with big armies and nukes. Nothing meek about that.
They say that it has always been the men with the iron fist who lead. From the beginning of time till the end. If your meek, you'll merely end up being the man behind the man.

I don't agree with this statement at all. It is based on a total misunderstanding of the word meek, as it was used by Jesus and so many other powerful personalities. It confuses meek with weak. That's a major blunder. This is not only the fallacy of the powerful (and the ones controlled by them), but of the sensitive and tender hearted as well, who desire a different world of love and respect. They feel threatened by the manipuators and exploiters. They fall into depression and anxiety. They often fall into the trap of becoming passive victims. "The world could be so beautiful", they sigh, "if there weren't this greedy bad people, who seem to never get enough."

I shall proclaim a different concept here: Meekness is absolute power. It is much more powerful than anything else.

Let's first deal with the wrong concept of meekness to weed it out. To be meek in the wrong sense will certainly lead to depression and frustration. It is accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of impotence and powerlessness. Meek persons of this kind always feel dependent on the whim and arbitrariness of the persons in charge.

The most sensitive and intelligent people fall into this trap. They feel that they could never become as cruel, unscrupulous and stone hearted as the oviously successful people. The Darwinian theory of evolution brainwashes you: "If you want to survive, you have to be the fittest. The rest is doomed to drown. Fittest means to be hard, harsh, cruel, calculating and strong."

I have been taught like this in my childhood. My conclusion was that I will probably never become powerful, as I could not even stand an ant to be killed. There is no fitter person, not only to survive, but to live, than the meek one. Indeed the meek shall inherit the world, but this sort of meekness is totally different. It will rid you of depression. It will provide a new outlook to your life. It will give you a sense of power and control. It will guarantee you total independence.

Actually misunderstood meekness and the display of superior manipulative power are of the same kind. They look different from the surface only. Both are a guaranteed source of depression and frustration. Both are based on a lack of internal independence and strength. While the strong guy is actively fighting for recognition and acceptance, mainly from himself, the week ones have abandoned their claim for respect.

But, their weekness is often much closer to real power than the external display of control of the seemingly powerful. The later are often totally weak inside, driven only by their greed for recognition, for which they are eager to transgress all laws of life. The soft and tender person naturally has a lot of respect for these unbreakable laws. When they are carefully guided to discover their inner invulnerability, they will immediately start to blossom. When they are taught to completely step out of the stupid game of artificial competition by accepting the real identity of eternal bliss and knowledge, they will in any way be superior to even the most powerful manipulators. Life itself will be at their disposal, offering them any kind of opulence, strength and independence. External strenght will be reduced to a mere shadow of the power of pure conscious essence.

Those powerful persons, whose power is built upon arrogance and manipulation, will find it almost impossible to abandon their pathological addiction to material superiority.

Therefore rejoice, you, who are sensitive and tender at heart. Come out from depression and anxiety. Reclaim your heritage of power. The only reason, why a false display of artificial power can keep the whole world mesmerized is that more kind and sensitive persons will have to come forward to display the irresistible power of love, kindness and concern for the needs of others. The famous British mathematician, philosopher and author Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) has said the following: "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." These doubts can be overcome with the right guidance and education. Reality never supports power based on arrogance, cynicism and and unscrupulousness. It may be tolerated for some time, but very soon it is the cause of it's own destruction.

On the other hand reality always supports love, freedom, sensivity, compassion, meekness and respect. These qualities are the characteristics of original life. If you cooperate with lifes inherent nature, who will blossom forever. Get out of the habit of complaining, wailing and accusing. Get out of frustration and anxiety. You may be much closer to your power than you think.

Copyright © 2006 by Friedrich Asen. All rights reserved. http://www.personal-development-guide.com

Friedrich Asen has over 20 years of experience as a personal development expert. For more information on the different types and symptoms of depression and on depression treatment, including natural remedies and powerful alternative healing methods, go to http://www.overcome-depression-now.com/depression_articles.html

You Can Control Your Thoughts and Emotions to Help Depression Treatment - By Deanette Russell

Change your thoughts and your emotions change automatically. There will always be things in your life you cannot change, that cause you misery just thinking about them. Whether it is in your past or contemplation of the future, if you cannot take action to solve it you need to change the way you think about it. Living the life of a victim will only worsen not help depression treatment. Because your emotions start off as thoughts, you can learn how to change them, even the strongest ones. Negative thoughts are the beginning of the stress cycle. They are self-generating. Once the stress reaction starts, the depressant activity of the stress chemicals released into your body cause more upsetting thoughts. This then increases your distress which causes even more upsetting thoughts which again increases your stress and it goes on and on. Pretty soon this constant stress turns into full blown depression. Changing these negative thoughts will stop the rest of the cycle from happening. You have a choice whether to be stressed or not. You can choose to think about things you cannot change, regrets about your past, fears about your future OR you can choose to change these thoughts thereby empowering yourself to take a happier, less stressful road.

If you have a situation ask yourself “What can I do about this?” If there is clearly no solution, this is what you MUST do.

Think of the situation. Write down your thoughts. For example - When you were young your father never came home until after your bedtime and on weekends he never had time to watch you play basketball. Your thoughts are: My father was never there for me when I was little, he didn’t love me.

Look at it carefully. What attitude to this situation would you rather have? One that is positive. One you can believe. This is your replacement thought. For example – Dad worked long hours so he could provide the best for me, even though he never showed it I know he loved me.

Every time you think of your father and your childhood STOP the thought in its tracks and SUBSTITUTE it with your replacement thought. Notice your emotions. What happens to them? The stress goes, the negative emotions subside and acceptance and peace grows in its place.

Do this continuously until when thinking of the situation, it no longer causes stress. Being able to switch off your negative thoughts is vital to thinking positively. If you can’t stop your negative thinking first then all the positive thinking in the world will not help depression treatment.

Deanette Russell (http://www.bemybestme.com) has spent the last 12 years reading, researching and attending seminars on self development to deal with depression. After sharing this with others Deanette is bringing her specialty to you in the hopes of sharing the feelings of freedom she now lives with by teaching you how to get your life back.

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Dreams and Depression: Was Sigmund Freud Correct? -

Sigmund Freud was one of the most influential people of the 20th century. He claimed that depression and anxiety are influenced by factors that affect us in childhood, and that interpreting dreams can lead us to the childhood causes. He felt that psychotherapy could make emotionally sick people heathy by getting them to understand that what happens in childhood can cause them to develop depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

For 50 years, Freud was one of the most revered scientists on earth. Then scientists discovered neurotransmitters, chemicals that pass messages from one nerve to another. They found that people who hallucinate and are not able to think clearly are schizophrenic because their brains make too much dopamine or glutamate; that people are depressed because their brains make too little norepinephrine and serotonin; that people who shake with Parkinson’s disease do so because their brains make too little dopamine; and that people who lose their ability to reason and remember because they suffer from Alzheimer’s disease have too little acetyl choline. So now these diseases are treated with drugs that raise or lower brain levels of neurotransmitters. Drugs, like Mirapex, raise dopamine levels to treat Parkinson’s disease. Drugs such a Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft to raise brain levels of serotonin and treat depression. Modern psychiatrists know that you cannot treat chemical depression, schizophrenia or anxiety just with talking. You treat mental disorders with drugs to correct abnormal brain levels of neurotransmitters.

But wait a minute. Because today psychiatrists treat depression, anxiety and schizophrenia with drugs, doesn't mean that Freud was wrong. Psychiatrists cannot talk people out of mental disease, but new scientific marvels called pet scans, electroencephalograms, MRIs and so forth show why Freud was right. When you go to sleep at night, your eyes are still. After a while, your eyes dart from side to side rapidly. This is called Rapid Eye Movement sleep or REM for short, and during REM you have dreams. If you wake up, you can report your dreams, but if you try to remember your dream a few hours later, you usually can’t. During REM sleep, the part of your brain that governs emotions and visual imagery are activated, while the part of you brain associated with rational thought and reasoning are turned off. So dreams may uninhibit you so you can think about things that may be too painful to think about when you are awake. Or dreams may allow you to discover things about yourself that you would never tell directly to anyone, let alone your doctor.

So, 100 years after Freud published his Interpretation of Dreams, we can see that he may be right because dreams can be a clue to why we feel depressed, anxious and may reason poorly. But psychotherapy, by itself, has not been shown to be an effective treatment for most cases of depression, anxiety or schizophrenia. On the other hand, psychotherapy plus medication is more effective than medication alone to treat anxiety and depression. Psychotherapy can help people cope better with their problems and interpreting dreams can help them understand why they are what they are. Even though many theories proposed by Freud one hundred years ago appear to be wrong, Freud remains one of the most brilliant contributing intellectuals of the 20th century.

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Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Where There Is Life There Is Hope - By Terry Weber

There is a dictionary definition of hope that says: HOPE: A desire - with expectation of fulfillment. So then, what is desire? Again the dictionary explains that "DESIRE" is a strong impulse to have or be something.

With those definitions in mind, consider these thoughts about hope:

The Hope Diamond- mined in India in 1668, was named (in 1839) after one of its many owners, Henry Hope of England. (Now it is in the Smithsonian, in Washington, D.C.) It is a many faceted jewel with an original weight of 177 grains (112.3/16 carets- now 45.52 carets). In fact, it is one of the largest and most valuable jewels ever mined. But, it has often been reported to bring bad luck to those who possess it. Even so, Evalyn McLean, one of the owners of the Hope Diamond, disregarded those superstitions and said: "What tragedies have befallen me might have occurred had I never seen or touched the Hope Diamond. My observations have persuaded me that tragedies, for anyone who lives, are not escapable."

This, I believe, reveals her strong conviction that where there is life there is hope, regardless of the opinions or superstitions of others.

Regarding hope, in his study of emotional intelligence Daniel Goldman said: “hope means that one will not give in to overwhelming anxiety, a defeatist attitude, or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks. Hope is more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all right; it is believing you have the will and the way to accomplish your goals.”

President Abraham Lincoln understood the value of hope. He knew his hopes would succeed and that numerous setbacks were inevitable before the Civil War could be brought to a victorious close.

In addition, Jesus, when praying in the Garden, knew he was on the path that would soon lead toward God's eternal hope for mankind.

Now, I say: this life is like a jigsaw puzzle. God knows His work wouldn't be complete without us! I don't know about you, but I am an optimist in that I have always had great expectations and confident assurance that most of my desires would eventually be fulfilled.

Now let me say, I have great hope and an enthusiastic hope-filled attitude toward life. That is, I have always trusted and relied on the confident expectation that my desires would be fulfilled. But, let me throw in a qualifier statement.

You see, when I was much younger I guess I had some pretty wild and rather immature hopes and desires. Now I know that they were actually a passing fancy, something I thought I wanted but really didn't want or desire. In other words, I was glad some of those hopes were not realized. What I've learned over the years is something I'd like to pass along to you and it is this:
Before I was a saved believer in Jesus, I had a lot of self-centered desires and hopes. After I was born again, my viewpoint gradually changed to that of a Christian with a heartfelt need, desire and hope to please my Lord. Then, I began to try my best to see things as if I were seeing them through the eyes of Jesus.

Gradually, over a long period of time (I guess I'm a slow learner), I began to submit my desires and hopes to the Holy Spirit and to ask Him for His advice, wisdom and guidance.

Slowly it dawned on me that in order to lead a life that was pleasing to Jesus, I had to learn to put things that were related to: I, me, my and mine in the background and put the Lord's hopes and desires for me - regarding His glory - in the foreground.

Thus, in His gentle way, Jesus showed me that He wanted the things he'd created in me to simply be available to Him for His purposes whenever he needed them. So, at that point it became my hope to always be attentive to the desires and needs of my Lord.

You see, He only made one person, one human being, exactly like me. Therefore, there must be something unique and special about me. Something the Lord needs to make use of today, tomorrow or at some special time in the future. I'm sure it must be something He knows only I can do for Him.

So - now, with this insight in mind, I try my best to keep myself accessible and available to Jesus and His needs. I simply tell Him in my daily prayers, that whatever happens to me in this life, a life where problems are inescapable, I know life goes on. And, where life is -- there -- is hope.

P.S. The Acronym: “H.O.P.E.” can be divided into these four ideas. We can picture Hope as being like a circle that surrounds at least four segments held within the circle:

H = Holy Spirit
O = Opportunity for change
P = Perspective
E = Eternity

QUESTION:With all of this is mind, what is your HOPE for today?
http://crafty-ones.com/web/viewXPage.asp?pageID=77http://www.weberanchorsoffaith.com

Terry Weber is a retired advertising/direct mail sales letter copywriter and inventor of several useful items. Terry and his wife Doris are Habitat For Humanity, RV Care-A- Vanners who, for the past eight years have volunteered to help build more than 39 houses all over the USA. They travel to and from the 2- week long builds in their RV. The money they make on their Crafty-Ones website helps them pay their expenses to and from those volunteer Habitat builds. P.S. Due to the high cost of gasoline we can no longer afford to drive the RV to Habitat builds. The RV is parked until gasoline prices come down. (4/28/06)

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