Depression and Suicide - Don't Ignore the Warning Signs - By Angela Thompson

We hear a lot about depression today. I seems everyone is on some medication for depression, ADD, or ADHD, but do we really understand it or know what to do if we sense someone is severely depressed or suicidal?

I have suffered from depression for most of my life. I’m 50 now and just learning how to recognize the symptoms before they take hold and how to deal with them. When I was growing up, depression was not talked about. People feared they would be thought of as being crazy, so they never admitted to feeling this way. They thought people would look at you differently or be afraid to associate with you. They were too embarrassed to discuss their feelings, so they did not seek help. How sad was that? Do you know how different my life could have been had I or someone else realized I suffered from depression and I got help?

Depression was hereditary in my family so it would not have been unusual for me to suffer from it. My uncle tried to commit suicide several times and was institutionalized at one point. My aunt tried to commit suicide. My Dad was told he desperately needed help and my mother tried to commit suicide twice. Once was when she was pregnant with me and the other time was when my brother and I left home within months of each other and she felt she had nothing left to live for. Of course, I did not know all this until years later. Had I known, I may have recognized the symptoms. I would have been able to get help instead of struggling and not knowing why I had no energy, or slept all the time or had such low self-esteem. Medication may have helped. It is not the answer to everything, and in some cases can make things worse, but I would like to have had the option to know if it would have made a difference in my life. It would have made those years so much more bearable and possibly changed the course of my future.

If someone you know is, or might be suffering from depression, please urge them to seek help. You may think that suicide only happens in other families, but my daughter and I came dangerously close to losing her best friend this past week. Why? Because we did not take her talk of suicide seriously or realize just how depressed she was. Especially with children and teens, we tend to write if off as just “those difficult” teenage years. We may think they are just being moody. Do not take that chance. You do not want to wonder if there was some sign you missed or something you could have done and live with the guilt the rest of your life.

Here are some signs to look for:

• Change in sleeping patterns. Sleeping more than usual or unable to sleep at all.
• Lack of interest in anything or taking pleasure in things they once enjoyed.
• Irritability. They are very sensitive and get upset at things or comments that normally would not bother them.
• Withdrawal. Because they feel different and may not understand what is happening, they withdraw from their friends. They will not leave the house and feel it is easier to avoid their friends that to have them think they are crazy. They do not understand why they may sleep so much or feel so bad. My daughters' friend thought people would think she was just lazy and judge her, so she avoided contact.
• Change in eating patterns or physical condition. They may stop having an interest in food, lose weight or vomit due to stress.
• Talk of suicide. Do not make the mistake of thinking this is just talk. It may be or it could be a cry for help, but do not take that chance. Get them to a doctor or psychiatrist whether they want to go or not. You may risk making them mad at you or saying they will not forgive you, but the alternative is much worse.

I have experienced all of the above symptoms but like a lot of people, did not recognize them for what they were. I thought of suicide of but never voiced it. I almost followed through on it on a particularly bad day. It was only by the grace of God that a friend stopped by unexpectedly, which she never did, or I might not be here right now.

Many people at one time or another may have had thoughts of suicide. They may have made statements that they would be better off dead, but they were just fleeting thoughts for most, made out of anger or stress. For those that are deeply depressed, they are more than that. I wanted to think I would never really follow through. I could not hurt my family that way. I remember being furious with my Mom when I found out she had tried, yet found myself in the same situation years later. That is why it is so important to never take it lightly. We often do things we could not imagine in a million years doing. Yet, we never know when we will hit rock bottom and feel like we cannot get up. When you are in that place, your thoughts are not rational. You are not thinking of the people you would hurt, you just want out of your pain. After being “saved by the bell” when my friend stopped by, it hit me what it would have done to my daughter had I succeeded. She would have experienced the same anger I felt at my mother. She may have experienced guild and wonder what she could have done to stop me.

That was a wake up call for me. I had been in counseling before, but it had always left me more depressed than when I started. Focusing on where I went wrong and how my life was nothing like I expected, just left me feeling worse and guiltier than before. Of course, guilt was my middle name. I felt everything was always my fault and I deserved how my life had turned out. I must have been jinxed or being punished for something. It’s amazing the thoughts we have when we are in that frame of mind.

Last February was a particularly difficult time for me. Fortunately, I was now able to recognize the signs of depression and know when I was slipping into one. I knew I needed to seek help. I was hesitant because of my past experiences with psychologists, but I knew I had to try.

I was lucky enough to be referred by my family physician to a wonderful woman. I feel she truly changed and possibly saved my life. I am stronger now than I have ever been. I have learned not to define myself by my physical limitations and that I have a lot to offer. I no longer feel guilty for things I had no control over. She made me realize that the more I focused on what was wrong, the longer my life would stay in that condition. She taught me to let go of the past if I wanted to have a future. I could not change what had happened in my past, but I could change my attitude, accept where I was today and move forward with joy and anticipation.

If you or someone you know has been to counseling and feels it did not help, do not let that stop them from trying again. I found the key; just like in a friendship, is finding someone you connect with and feel comfortable with. Each relationship is different. Help is there if you really want it.

When suicide occurs, the worst part is that the family members are left to suffer with the guilt. They ask themselves if there was something that they could have done that would have made a difference. I have witnessed attempts in my own family and wondered the same thing. Had I done something to make my mother want to take her life? What had I missed? Why did I not look closer to see she was hurting? Once you have experienced this, you are never the same.

Never treat a statement of suicide lightly. Do not think it cannot happen to you. You do not want to be left asking “what was it I did not see? Why did I not try harder to understand?”

Life is a gift to be treasured. Each individual has something of value to offer this world. Do not take anything for granted. Live in the moment. Really see the beauty around you and never pass up a chance to tell the people you love how you feel about them. See each day as if for the first time, and live it as if it were your last. Tim McGraw sings in one of his songs, “I hope you get the chance to live as if you were dying.” If you knew you were, you would want to do all the things you never dared, see all the things you wanted to see, and tell everyone you loved how you felt. Today can be that day. Do it now. Cherish it and never forget how precious life is.

http://www.TheJoyofSoy.com

Angela Thompson is the owner of a cleaning company, has a Realtor’s License and has been involved in several home-based businesses. She and her daughter are currently independent distributors for Mia Bella Gourmet Candles. Her desire is to help people realize their potential and fulfill their goals.

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

10 Simple Coping Strategies When a Family Member Has Clinical Depression - By Elizabeth Tull

1.Remember that it is an illness:

Clinical depression often requires medical supervision as well as professional treatment. Clinical depression is treatable and requires commitment, understanding and patience from all those involved.

2.It is not your fault:

Clinical depression is usually a combination of chemical imbalance and learned behaviors. There may be times when the depressed individual is extremely sensitive, argumentative and/or blaming towards you, the children, the in-laws, the boss and even the world. All the above mentioned are not the cause. What you are responsible for is how you choose to take on the outward symptoms and how they affect you, your home and your relationships.

3.Be well informed:

Educate yourself on what type of depression is present and if there is a dual diagnosis IE: chemical dependency and depression or personality disorders and depression. Know what the symptoms, treatments and follow-ups are. There are suggested guidelines for communication and setting boundaries. Though the illness is not your fault; it benefits you and your family to remain open minded and willing to learn new ways of doing things.

4.Make sure to have a support network:

Depression and dual diagnosis affects the whole family. There are many ranges of emotions from anger and fear to hopefulness and hopelessness. Having others that have experienced it before can help eliminate unhealthy coping mechanisms such as isolation, shame, control and low self-esteem. There are many national and local support groups available on line. For more information check with your favorite search engines or call a local and/or national mental health hotline.

5.Make time for yourself and your children:

Don’t fall into the trap of not taking care of yourselves. Misery and fear love company. Living with and loving someone who is clinically depressed can be incredibly draining. Do not become a hostage or enabler. Remember your flight instructions: “For those traveling with small children; place the oxygen mask on yourself first and then assist the children.”

6.Be a victor not a victim:

Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional: We are all going to feel pain in life never mind a home with mental illness. Surround yourselves with knowledge, self-care, experienced support and nurturing. There are no such things as victims only volunteers.

7.Recognize that clinical depression is episodic Clinical depression comes in waves. People with clinical depression do get better!

8.Understand that medication takes time to work:

In most cases, improvement takes as long as 6-8 weeks. Even early responders require about 3-4 weeks before they notice mood improvement. Even after a person with clinical depression feels better, she or he needs to stay on medication at least six months. People should never stop taking medication on their own; medical supervision is a must. There can be serious physical and emotional complications from sudden withdrawal such as increased depression and suicidal tendencies.

9.Medication alone is fairly ineffective:

Research shows that medication in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective than medication alone. Combined with therapy, the person who is clinically depressed may need to make lifestyle changes, including dietary and exercise changes. The family needs to find ways to reduce stressors by simplifying their lives.

10.Get a written relapse prevention plan:

Make a list of early symptoms such as sleep, appetite and mood changes. Early intervention is the key to stopping a downward spiral. Determine what worked in the past to get the person with clinical depression back on track and do the things that worked before.

Elizabeth Tull is a Professional Excellence coach who partners with people in crafting and designing Legacies of Excellence. Her focus is on bridging the recovery community to professional coaching as well as support for families dealing with clinical depression in the home. Visit her on the web http://www.agapelegacycoach.com

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

St Johns Wort and Depression - By Mireille Gautschi

The bright yellow flower of the St Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum) with it's ray-like petals, represents the power of the sun that forces away the darkness. This already points to the anti-depressant effects of the St Johns Wort which are highly respected, even in conventional medicine.

St. John's Wort, a perennial plant, has been used for hundreds of years to treat depression, unrest and anxiety disorders as well as nerve pain. For a long time, doctors and herbalists alike have known about its use as a sedative, but also as treatment for wounds, burns, insect bites, stomach ulcers and more. It is still used widely today and it's effectiveness has been proven to a point where some insurance companies are now covering the treatment.

It is not a powerful drug -- when used to treat depression -- in the sense of bringing a quick recovery, but shows excellent long term results in many patients. The herb assists body and soul in the healing process and helps to build a solid foundation for a complete recovery.

St John's Wort was tested in a double-blind study of 105 male and female patients in the 20 to 64 year age group, suffering from mild to moderate depression. They were divided into two groups and monitored over a period of four weeks. One group were given 300mg of St Johns Wort extract three times daily, and the other received a placebo. All of the patients had psychiatric evaluations before the start of the study and after four weeks of treatment. The results revealed that, 67% of the St Johns Wort group had responded positively to the treatment without any adverse side effects whereas only 28% of the placebo group showed any signs of improvement.

St Johns Wort is available as tea (flowers and leaves), liquid extracts and pills or capsules. It is normally taken thrice daily and it will take one week or more to notice any improvement in the condition. Treatment can be continued for long periods of time as the herb does not normally produce any side effects. But St Johns Wort can interact strongly with other medication e.g. cancer and HIV drugs, contraceptive pills and others. So it is vitally important to consult a medical specialist first before starting a course of treatment.

One effect of St Johns Wort is, that it makes the skin more sensitive to light. It is therefore important to keep out of the sun as much as possible while using the herb.

There is growing evidence to suggest that St. Johns Wort is a safe and effective, natural remedy for the treatment of mild to medium depression.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

Mireille Gautschi is a qualified Flower Essence Therapist and Herbalist who has many years experience with the developement of natural herbal remedies. Her products can be found on the Hillside Herbal Products website that also offers a very informative newsletter.

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

Teen Depression: Is There A Hopeful Outlook? - By Sandy Baker

Teen depression strikes one in five children. This is a very frightening number. Depression is anything but a good thing. It happens to anyone, in any lifestyle, in any income range. Most of the time, it will not be noticed until it becomes a large problem. This should be the most sobering of all news about this epidemic. Yet, one thing that is hopeful about teen depression is that more and more individuals are learning about it and in this area of health, knowledge is power.

Tips To Noticing Depression In Teens

Teens are typically quite unpredictable, but when it comes to their health parents as well as friends should keep an eye out for these things and other things that you will find at http://www.avoiddepression.com.

* Sudden changes in their mood, appetite or weight can be indications of depression. While these things can also be something that is attributed to just being an adolescent, when it is coupled with other conditions, it should be taken note of.

* A loss of interest in doing the things that they used to love to do can be depression. Now, this is not necessarily something from their childhood, but something within the past few months. Perhaps they enjoyed horseback riding and just stopped doing it within the last months.

* Traumatic situations can cause teen depression to come on fast. For example, divorce or separation of their parents, death, economic changes, or even just friendship and significant other changes. Often, teens blame themselves for these conditions.

* A lack of emotion is a sign that something is definitely wrong. If they do not seem happy any more, for any reason, there may or may not be something bothering them. Depression doesn’t have to be brought on by something, it can just be there.

* Pulling away from family, friends and from school is something many teens with depression find themselves doing. They just withdraw into their own world. This is not normal teen behavior but a serious condition.

One thing that must be said about teen depression is that this is a serious, life threatening condition and one in which help should be sought for as soon as possible. There are many tragic stories of young teens harming themselves because they are suffering from depression and no one took notice.

Finally, on the good note, those teens that do get treatment for the depression that they are experiencing can actually recover quickly and completely from it and get back into doing the things they love to do. Talk to your doctor if you feel that you have been in any of these conditions or you know someone that is. They can determine what is happening and get life back on track for you.

Learn more about teen depression and depression in general at http://www.avoiddepression.com Get help now or help a friend in need.

Sandy Baker is a well respected writer and recommends visiting a good teen depression site, to learn more about this, as this is a major issue affecting most teens.

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression Are Not The Same Thing! - By Claire Williams

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a very misunderstood illness and this is perhaps why there are so many myths about it. Perhaps the most common myth about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that it is effectively a mental condition, and another name for depression.

But these two conditions are very different!

And when you label a condition incorrectly it can cause no end of problems when trying to diagnose and treat it. So it's extremely important to make the distinction between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression - because they are completely different illnesses.

For one, depression can be a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but there are many Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers out there who do not suffer from depression at all.

Second, research has shown that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers have an abnormality in their 'deep sleep' brainwave patterns. In contrast, depression sufferers do not have this abnormality.

In addition, depression sufferers tend to feel tired all the time, whereas Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers' exhaustion increases notably after mental or physical exertion.

There are also symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that are not shared by depression sufferers. Nasty flu-like symptoms, headaches, reversal of sleeping patterns, painful muscles and joints, Restless Legs Syndrome, and an increase in colds and viruses all are just a few symptoms that can play a part in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

These are just a few of the differences between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression!

Another myth about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that all Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers need to do is to 'pull themselves together' - and they'd be cured...

... if only it were that simple!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is actually a bio-physical condition and was (finally) accepted as such by the UK government in 2001. But no cure has yet been found.

Unfortunately there are still many people out there (including some medical professionals) who still think that the condition is 'all in the sufferer's head'.

It is because of this misunderstanding that the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community has fought so hard against Chronic Fatigue Syndrome being wrongly labelled as a mental illness. And it is perhaps because of this battle that depression amongst Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers has often sadly been overlooked...

Yet for many, depression can be a very real symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If you suffer from depression as a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferer, then it's vital that you take it very seriously and that you try to address it as soon as possible.

If you don't deal with your depression, you are unlikely to be able to recover from any chronic illness...

...and recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is no exception.

For more about the difference between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression visit:
http://www.sleepydust.net/CHRONIC-FATIGUE-SYNDROME-AND-DEPRESSION.html

It is possible to recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So if you do experience depression as a symptom of your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, make it a priority to deal with it. Only that way can you get yourself on the road to recovery.

Copyright, Claire Williams, 2004-2005. All Rights Reserved.

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Claire Williams is editor of sleepydust.net, a web site that helps ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia sufferers deal with their condition - from handling their money worries, to recovering from their illness.

For more information on depression, visit:
http://www.sleepydust.net/DEPRESSION-SYMPTOM-homepage.html
And for more about why Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is different to Depression visit:
http://www.sleepydust.net/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-is-different-to-depression.html

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

Anxiety - Rise From The Grave - By Kacy Carr

In some cases of anxiety and depression a patient clings to hope by taking anti-depressant drugs in hope that it is the answer to their prayers in relieving them of their symptoms. It has been proven that certain drugs work for some and not for others.

Anti-depressants have an enormous affect on the chemicals in the brain thus changing the mood. Drugs as such are known to help anxiety sufferers to cope but what you have to remember is anti-depressants are not a cure they are there to help control the condition by dealing with the discomforts i.e. symptoms.

The healing process can take a few weeks for the drug to go to work and take affect where you will see changes. It is important to follow through with any course of prescribed medicine dosage from your doctor other wise it will hamper the effects. Anxiety/depression can cause major changes in a persons life where they have no choice but to turn to medication. Not all medical prescriptions of this sort agree with people therefore unwanted side effects. Before continuing with any medication or treatment that you feel is disagreeing with your body then consult your doctor.

Pill popping is an easy way to take away the pain from backache - headache or whatever illness causes misery, but is it the answer to a cure, no it is a temporary fix for pain.

Natural medication and treatments in the form of herbal remedies are taken by many sufferers in the 21st century to help combat the stress and pressure brought on by anxiety - depression and panic attacks. Visit your local herbal store and talk with the herbalist who can advise you on many of natures natural potions. Depression can be a very disturbing mind meddler where lack of control and concentration is lost, due to how it interferes with your well being leaving you feeling low and in some cases at an all time low when in desperation a patient can end up harming themselves.

A proven therapeutic method practiced the whole world over for many people with health concerns is Yoga, surprisingly not many people are aware of the benefits that yoga has to offer. It is known with out doubt to ease the mind and has the ability with certain moves to ease physical pain (depending on the condition) If you feel there are no answers behind why your anxious moments erupt and that it is time for a tablet, then think again, are you doing more arm than good.

Dealing with anxious moments can prove to be unsettling for many people but then you have those that grin and bear it. Anxious moments should not be ignored if they prolong or outstay their welcome as this could now be recognised as the start of anxiety or depression.

An early grave has been the answer for many a sufferer who found coping alone with anxiety caused more pain and heartache than actually dealing with it. Are you a sufferer of the type of anxiety that leaves you feeling life is not worth living or wishing you were dead if so I urge you to rise from the grave in your thoughts and seek help. You are not alone and with the right help and medical attention you can enjoy the experience of feeling on top of the world rather than six feet under.

Health Concerns not to be ignored. Find help on the health page at http://www.benidormbeaches.com Your health can benefit from relaxation classes. This is a fabulous site to help ease stress http://www.want2yoga.com

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

Surviving Heartbreak Hell - By: Rachelle Arlin Credo

It's been months since your breakup but you're still stuck in bed grieving over your lost love. You couldn't eat (or stop eating), sleep or work because he's all you could ever think of. You keep repeating your heartbreak mantra, "Why did he leave me...what did I do?" as you succumb to a series of hysterical crying fits. You’re officially a victim of a broken heart.

So how do you smart from a brush-off? Here are some tips to help you survive heartbreak hell.

1. Lose it

Moan. Sob. Let it all hang out. Rid yourself of all-consuming anger and vent every ounce of vitriol in your system. Allow yourself a good wallow. Take a pillow and pretend it was him and do everything with it the way you'd want to get back at him. Throw all his letters and photos away. Call your friends and tell them your heartaches for the 20th time. Grieve your heart out on a guy who was no better than a rotten carcass.

2. Accept what you can't change

So, it's over. This may be hard to swallow but the reality is it's all over and there's nothing you can do about it. You are left without a choice but to believe and accept it. Remember, acceptance is the key to healing.

3. Work It Out

Put your positive attitude at work and head to the gym for some 30-minute work out a day. Exercise won't only sweep the mopey mood away but it will also make you feel and look good as it helps pump out endorphins, the body's natural chemicals that make you feel strong and oozing with sex appeal.

4. Aromatherapy for the heart

Aromatherapy is believed to lift depression and soothe irritable nerves. If you haven't tried it, you should try it now as it works wonders not just to your body but also to your mind and spirit. Here's a quick recipe: Fill a 10-ounce bottle of organic vegetable oil with 9 drops of lavender oil, 15 drops of sandalwood oil, 4 drops of rose essential oil and 10 drops of warm water. Dispense 10 drops of the mixture to a warm bath and you're ready to soak!

5. Put a front if necessary

You may still be experiencing emotional turmoil inside but if you stay confined within the four walls of your room chances are you'll feel even more miserable. Get out and show the world that you're not an emotional wreck. Crack a smile and flash those pearly whites. At first, you may find it awkward putting on a face but soon enough you'd become so good at it you'd be doing it for real, without even noticing it yourself.

6. Adopt a pet

Need some lovin'? Get a pet. Pets aren't only cuddly and affectionate but are also a good diversion of your time and focus. Sure you crave human affection but unlike humans, your pet can't talk so the chances of getting yourself hurt are slim, at least not emotionally.

7. Close the door

Don't be a fool for love. If he keeps calling you to ask for another chance or to tell you that he has someone new but wants to stay as friends, don't bite. You won't only be allowing yourself to fall in love with him again but you're also making yourself believe subconsciously that there's something left in him for you when the truth is, there's none. False hopes mean nothing but emotional boo-boos.

8. Get busy

Discover things you love to do that you weren't able to explore because he didn't approve of them when you were still together. Schedule night-outs with friends and engage in activities you haven't done before. With so many things to occupy your mind, you'd be so busy to even think about your heartbreak.

9. Move on

An end of a relationship doesn't mean an end of you. You don't need a man to make you feel like a real woman. If he can't see what's beautiful and special about you, what kind of man is he? Not someone worth your time, it's clear. Not someone who deserves you either.

Breakups can be very painful and tormenting. Sometimes, it even makes us feel like dying. Funny how we feel so hedonistically wonderful when we are in love then end up feeling gruesomely dreadful after a breakup. Nevertheless, it's a risk that we all have to take. While there's promise in loving, there are no guarantees. So live and love. Get hurt and love again. After all, there's no joy without pain and no bliss without hell.

© 2005 Rachelle Arlin Credo. All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Rachelle Arlin Credo is an entrepreneur and relationship coach. She also works as an image consultant and part-time writer. Her stories, articles, essays and poetry have been published in various magazines and online publications. For more info, visit her website at http://www.rachelle.co.nr

Source: www.isnare.com

Depression- Self Help With Meditation - By Pradeep Chadha

A young lady I had seen, suffered with Post-Natal Depression. She was advised to take antidepressant medication for an indefinite period of time by her psychiatrist. She wanted to have another baby but was advised strongly against it because of the medication and the possibility of having depression again if she had another baby. She agreed to use meditation as an important part of her treatment. After finishing her treatment involving meditation, she became pregnant. In time,she gave birth to a baby. For a short period, lasting for less than a week, she was exhausted. While in hospital she was again advised to see the psychiatrist for medication. But because she had been meditating regularly, she was able to come out of exhaustion quicker and is not depressed anymore.

According to psychiatrists, depression is an illness that has to be treated mainly with medications. In the current industrialized society, crying or grieving is for the ‘weak’. Quite a contrast from olden times when the folks had all the time to cry and share emotions with family and friends. In the name of being productive, in modern society, the emotional expression is blocked because one has to ‘get on with life’. This was and has been the attitude justified for the ‘stiff upper lip’.

Depression can also be looked at a state or a ‘condition’ that could be temporary. The person suffering is unable to get out of the trap of thinking about something in the past and is unable to see much positive in the present. This is depression. It is a state of the body and the mind.

Sometimes the person has gone through many traumas and has experienced many losses and is angry with many people. Despite keeping themselves busy, such people experience a low grade depressive state that they cannot explain or understand. This happens because ‘understanding’ occurs at a conscious level. At the subconscious or unconscious level, the body and the mind still carry the burden of the unpleasant experiences. People who have stiff upper lip will say- ‘I do not know why I am suffering. But life has to go on’. This statement comes from the conscious (understanding) part of the mind. Unfortunately, suffering is a feeling and it is ‘unconscious’. How can you treat a ‘feeling’ with logic? It is not possible. It is not possible because logic and feeling are two different parameters. You cannot measure one against the other.

Meditation, like hypnosis, works at an unconscious level. The interesting part is that meditation also affects our conscious mind. So whatever unconscious changes are brought about in the mind, they affect the logical and conscious part of our mind too. This is the principal basis on which meditation helps in a depressed state.

Many times people who are depressed about the past are also anxious about the future. Anxiety is a state of arousal or over-stimulation of the nervous system. It is this arousal state that causes increased secretion of cortisol- a stress hormone. So depressed people tend to have an increased stress in their bodies and not less stress. They are slow because they reach a state of physical and mental exhaustion Even from common sense point of view, the treatment for exhaustion is rest. In the case of the emotional and nervous exhaustion, rest of the mind is the treatment of choice. How is our mind rested? Not with sleep, but it rests with meditation.

Though in old literature, meditation and hypnosis have been contraindicated in depression, I have used both, in helping patients with depression. (For more information you can read the article- Meditation Can Make You Emotionally Distressed -with www.ezinearticles.com) Meditation and antidepressants have opposite effects on the nervous system. The former releases emotions locked up in the body, the latter block the emotions in the body.

Meditation can be helpful in clearing up the emotional distress that one is experiencing with depression. If you want to use meditation as a drug, you can. Just like the dosage of a drug is increased or decreased, depending on need, the time spent on meditation can be increased or decreased and the variable effects will be experienced.

In the first instance, as you start meditation, do not spend more than five minutes doing it daily. Sick to five minutes of meditation and do not do more than five minutes. Initially you will feel better. This effect would last for a few days. Then you will start to feel depressed or angry. If you can handle the feeling that comes, carry on doing the meditation for five minutes daily. If you cannot handle it, stop doing meditation for two or three days. Within 48 to72 hours of you stopping the meditation, you will feel better. As soon as that happens, start doing the meditation again for five minutes daily. Again, you may feel depressed or angry after a few days. Again stop doing meditation for a few days till you start to feel better. Again start meditation daily for five minutes daily.

As time goes on, your body will become used to relaxing with five minutes of meditation. If you do not feel angry or low for two weeks at a stretch as you continue meditation, it is time to make further progress. Your body is now ready to relax more. You can then increase the meditation to seven minutes a day. The same steps, as above, have to be followed till you have two weeks of ‘good period’. Then increase the meditation to ten minutes a day.

Remember that the effects of meditation and medication are in the opposite direction. Meditation relaxes by releasing emotions, meditation numbs the emotions, so you feel nothing. So if you come off medication quickly and start meditation to cure yourself, you will go into depression fast. Coming off antidepressant medication has the same effect on the body as starting to meditate. The body tends to come back into its original emotional state.

This method is good for people suffering with mild or moderate depression. It cannot be done as self-help by someone who wants to come off antidepressant medication. However, under supervision, medication can be reduced without experiencing depression ,using meditation.

Pradeep K Chadha is a psychiatrist who specialises in helping patients with meditation and imagery using little or no medication. He is the author of The Stress Barrier-Nature's Way To Overcoming Stress published by Blackhall Publishing, Dublin. He is based in Dublin, Ireland.His website address is :http://www.drpkchadha.com

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How To Eradicate Depression - By Steve Hill

This article is all about beating depression. I am a person who suffered from long bouts of depression, however after deciding to change my whole outlook on life, I now have a much happier, successful and stress-free life. I will explain how I went about achieving this new life.

As I grew older and especially when I was in my early twenties, I used to always compare my life with other people I knew, for example my friends. It seemed to me that my life was so much more of a struggle than what their's was and that most of these people had so much more going for them and so much more to look forward to than I did.

I was not happy at the hand of cards I had been dealt and would regularly be down in the dumps, feeling sorry for myself. I had a number of issues in my life which had a major impact on my self-confidence and self-esteem, which would also lead me into depression. This issues including a weight problem, a stutter, a bald patch on my head and I am quite short in height compared to the average man.

I was in a regular state of depression and found it very difficult to pull my self out of it. The stress for example of socialising when you have a stutter and trying to gain employment would take a lot out of me. My hair started to turn grey when I was only twenty-one years of age.

I was not content at always being depressed and at the age of twenty-two, I decided to attempt to change my whole life. I had to have a whole new approach and a totally different thought process, in a nutshell I needed to chill out, think in a far more positive way and learn how to de-stress.

This was not going to be easy however it was essential to do. I started to read many self-help type books and books about eradicating depression. I learnt many things such as worrying about a situation makes it even harder, not easier and that in life all you can do is to try your best, therefore whatever the outcome you can feel proud that you gave it your best shot. It is also important to remember that we only live once and that that life could come to an end tomorrow, therefore we should treat every day as if it is the last and to enjoy ourselves.

The main change I made was that I started to think and compare my life to people I was reading about in the newspapers or watching on the television instead of comparing my life to my friends for example. From learning about countries in the third world and reading about certain disasters and terrorist acts, I realised what a fool I had been and that I was actually one of the lucky ones. If and when I start feeling down or depressed, I quickly switch on the news and it soon shakes me out of that temporary depressive state.

Stephen Hill has a number of websites including:

how to eradicate depression
stuttering therapy
manual article submission service

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Putting Feelings Of Depression To Perspective - By Joseph Then

Did you ever feel like you are not wanted around or rejected? I bet that it passed after a while but when it doesn’t just what would cause it, could it be a sign of depression? There is many form of depression out there and you could not decipher them on your own.

A large amount of woman go through what they think is depression after childbirth but for most it passes in a month or two because it is what they call baby blues instead of depression. When it does not it would be a good idea to seek medical attention.

When you have a child that is depressed it is the hard to take care of and treat because they always don’t want to tell you or anyone what they are feeling or any thing that they are going through. You know it might just be hard for them to express what they are feeling. There is a lot of time that they feel that might be doing something wrong.

When you are felling real depressed you can get ran down by your feelings plus always feel exhausted and just really do not want to face the world around you or any one for that fact as well.

All that you end up doing is hurting everyone around you and including the ones that really do care on how you feel and what you do by ignoring the problem that is happening.

One thing that everyone needs to do when they start to feel depressed is to talk to someone whether it is a parent or a spouse but yet if you do not feel comfortable talking about it to them you should definitely go see your doctor and talk to them. Even if you talk to your family and friends seek medical help.

Let your physician know everything that you are feeling and are going through so they can treat you properly and medicate if necessary. Depression is treatable but you would need to seek help first. Nobody wants to have treatment for anything but there is times that it needs to be done for your health and for the health of all relationships.

For more information about depression and help to overcome it, please visit http://www.thehealthyportal.com

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Chronic Depression: Disease or Charcter Flaw? - By Charles Donovan

A major survey on depression symptoms from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), released in july 2001, revealed a dramatic degree of progress in public understanding. Yet even amid this promising trend, the survey sheds light on the difficulties faced by millions of people striving to manage this sometimes chronic, life-long illness.

The NMHA survey shows a major shift in public opinion in the last decade about the cause of depression. A majority (55 percent) of those polled who have never been diagnosed with depression symptoms understand depression is a disease, and not “a state of mind that a person can snap out of.” In 1991, only 38 percent recognized depression as an illness.

The survey also sketches a troubling portrait of the socio-economic lives of some people with depression symptoms. Survey respondents with depression symptoms reported higher levels of unemployment and divorce than respondents who don’t have the disorder.

“We set out to get a snapshot of the state of depression and its treatment,” said Michael M. Faenza, president and CEO of the NMHA. “The good news is that there is greater public understanding of depression and that people living with depression are finding substantial relief by following their treatment plans. The challenging part is understanding the degree to which public perceptions impact those in treatment,” said Faenza.

In this year’s survey, nearly one in three Americans say they believe depression symptoms is a state of mind. “Fifty-five percent understand the truth about depression. That is good, but it is not enough,” said Faenza. “You’d never hear 31 percent of the population deny that diabetes and heart disease are real. Erroneous beliefs about depression fuel stigma, bad public policies and poor personal choices by those living with the illness and may impede their recovery.”

The survey also describes a strong correlation between clinical depression symptoms and diminished social and economic circumstances for families. Survey respondents with depression report greater rates of divorce and unemployment than the general public. What’s more, respondents who have experienced multiple depressive episodes are even more likely to be divorced or unemployed. They also are more likely to have lower income and educational levels.

The NMHA survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies LLC, comprised interviews with 500 adults currently being treated for depression, 300 primary care physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists and 800 members of the general public.

Gap Between Knowledge and Behavior

Survey respondents who are living with depression symptoms overwhelmingly feel that treatment, including medication, psychotherapy or both, works. (Their average self-rated symptom severity dropped from 8.5 before treatment to 3.6 within six to 12 months after starting treatment, using a severity scale of one to 10, with 10 being the most severe.)

Yet people are finding that staying with treatment is hard work. While they seem to understand the value of long-term treatment (in fact, most respondents believe that adhering to treatment is not difficult) nearly one-third (29 percent) of people on antidepressants report skipping doses during the week and nearly one-fourth (24 percent) have difficulty attending regular psychotherapy sessions. However, physicians and psychiatrists surveyed believe adherence is much lower than people in treatment profess. Almost 40 percent of doctors believe those they treat have difficulty staying with their medication regimens (a number consistent with most studies), and half (52 percent) say those they treat have difficulty staying with their psychotherapy regimens.

The survey suggests many reasons why some people don’t stick with treatment. In addition to struggling with the nature and demands of the depression symptoms, they may find the requirements of long-term vigilance overwhelming. A majority of doctors (70 percent) say those they treat for depression symptoms might find adherence easier if they could take medication less often. But medication is not the only issue. Though people with depression symptoms believe diet and exercise to be beneficial to long-term wellness, they nevertheless report not adhering with these regimens either.

“The survey clearly shows that the fewer episodes of depression people reported, the more likely they were to have stayed with treatment, whatever that treatment may be,” said Faenza. “Facing up to this illness and taking personal responsibility for its treatment are vital. Yet some may not acknowledge and seek treatment for depression because of negative public attitudes and misperceptions.”

In fact, even as people with depression symptoms struggle with the illness itself, they also seem to be searching to determine their best course of treatment, how long they should stay in treatment, what they might expect from treatment and whether they will ultimately recover.

As a result, more people are employing a combination of techniques to get and stay well.

Perceptions Diverge

Public perceptions about depression symptoms often diverge significantly from the perceptions of people in treatment and may discourage them from seeking effective therapeutic approaches.

For example, the survey results showed that the general public ranks regular exercise, a healthy diet and psychotherapy higher than medication for effectiveness in warding off future episodes of depression symptoms. In contrast, doctors and people in long-term treatment rate staying on medication as the most effective way to prevent a relapse, even as they seek the right mix of psychotherapy and lifestyle choices.

Perceptions also diverge when it comes to understanding what treatment can deliver. Thirty-five percent of the general public believe that a person can be cured completely of depression symptoms, a belief held by only 12 percent of people in long-term treatment for the illness. It is likely that many in this group are struggling to achieve realistic expectations for treatment because the majority of subjects in the survey sample are in long-term treatment for multiple episodes of depression symptoms.

About half of those who experience depression symptoms will never have another episode; half will. The findings suggest that people treated for clinical depression symptoms understand the frequently episodic nature of this common illness. More than three-quarters (76 percent) believe that they will need some type of treatment for the rest of their lives, and most understand that their treatment will control, but not necessarily cure, their depression symptoms. However, even as more people come to terms with the long-term demands of depression symptoms, too many still find it difficult to make a treatment plan work for them.

“The upshot is that people living with depression conduct highly individualized searches for the right mix of therapies—medical, psychological or lifestyle. The last thing they need is for stigma or public misperceptions to diminish their efforts,” said Faenza.

Source : National Mental Health Association, July 11, 2001

Charles Donovan was a study patient in the investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation for chronic depression. He testified at the FDA Medical Devices Panel Meeting. The FDA approved vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic depression in August of 2005. He is the author of:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression
You can learn more about this remarkable treatment at http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com or purchase the book by clicking the link on the sidebar of this blog.

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Emotional Healing - By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD

An innovative and highly effective process to achieve complete and more total healing is direct, focused, and combines healing the past while creating the future. You will make a subtle and effective transition to self-discovery and empowerment.

Traditional psychotherapy/psychoanalysis fails to address the all-important relationship to one's true spiritual nature--relying solely on developing better coping strategies. Traditional spiritual practice often bypasses -and thus fails to transform - the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from our personal histories and adaptations.

Both, in general, neglect the fact that we feel, sense, and experience global political mass consciousness, as well as our individual consciousness, like never before. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach addresses all three, therefore opening the door to true balance and emotional healing.

Well-being comes from the understanding of the Self, the family, the local community in which we live, and the global community of which we are a part. We are each one heart of the Whole; each heart here to express its unique piece of the Whole. Knowing Self creates a sense of "I as a piece of this Whole," different and one at the same time—knowing how to have fun, and knowing how to consciously create success. Good health is the aliveness you create—aliveness with love, trust, expectancy and enthusiasm—with which you live your life and explore your reality.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Hypnotist and Regressionist specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing, Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

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8 Strategies for Coping When Your Partner is Depressed - By Sara Dryburgh

DON’T COLLUDE WITH THEM.

You want to be sympathetic but that doesn’t mean accepting their depressed world view. For instance if they just can’t face getting up in the morning, don’t accept that, insist that they do. Be sympathetic, make them a nice cup of tea, make them breakfast but insist that they do in fact get up. You don’t actually help them by validating their own depressed view of things.

DON’T LET THEM CONTROL YOU.

If your partner is depressed it’s going to have quite an impact on your own life as well. There will be things that you might want to do with them that they don’t want to do, there will be things that you would normally expect them to do which you have to do yourself. Try as far as possible not to let them control you. If they really really don’t want to go out in the evening and that’s important to you, then go out with friends. Don’t necessarily make a huge thing of it but make sure that their problem doesn’t limit your own life more than it has to.

ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO WHAT THEY CAN.

Recognise that however depressed they are they are not completely disabled. There must be something that they are still able to do, maybe even something that they still enjoy doing. Make sure you recognise that, make them see that you appreciate it. Remember that they have a depressed part and they have a healthy part. Your natural tendency is to pay attention to the depressed part, so make a real effort to recognise the healthy part. Are they still managing to go into work? Are they still managing to help you with the children? Are they still managing to cook a meal for you both on occasions? There is something there which is still working, make sure that you recognise it and make sure they know that you appreciate it.

DON’T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PROBLEMS.

They may on occasions blame you for their problems. ‘I am depressed because you….If it hadn’t been for what you did then things would be different’. They may not say it, but may sulk in ways designed to make you feel guilty. You may simply feel guilty in the way that many people are programmed to feel guilty about anything bad that’s going on around them, regardless of whether it is their fault. Remind yourself that it is a problem for you in that this is your partner who is suffering but it’s not your fault. The causes of this problem are elsewhere, you are doing what you can to help.

AVOID FEELING OMNIPOTENT.

There is a terrible terrible temptation to feel that you can save them, that you on your own can solve this depression and get things back to where they were before. It is not possible. Of course there are things that you can do to help but the roots of this depression probably lie long long ago in childhood or in other factors which are completely outside of your control. There is a limit to what you can do. It’s very easy to start feeling stressed and guilty when you feel ‘I should be doing more….I should be able to help this person….Surely there is something more that I could do…’ Accept that you are doing everything you can. Recognise that solving the problem will take professional help. It may be psychotherapy or counselling, it may be pharmaceutical treatments or it may simply be the passage of time. It’s not within your power to solve this other person’s problem however much you may want to or feel that you should.

BE AWARE OF HOW YOUR PARTNER’S PROBLEMS COULD PROVOKE PROBLEMS IN YOURSELF.

We all have areas within us of weakness, low self esteem, feelings of helplessness, or feelings of repressed anger. It often happens that we are drawn towards partners who have similar characteristics tous. This maybe positive but it can also be negative. Having a partner who is depressed and is showing those sort of feelings very clearly can also provoke the corresponding feelings in ourselves. This makes things very difficult for us. You need to recognise that this can be happening and if necessary look for appropriate help yourself.

TRY TO SHOW COMPASSION AND DEAL WITH YOUR OWN FEELINGS.

Having a partner who is depressed could provoke a whole range of unhelpful feelings in yourself. It could be anxiety; you don’t know what is going to happen, are they going to become completely disabled? Will they still be able to work? Will you end up with financial problems? It could be anger, if they are making things difficult for you, if you are having to do more and more of the things which they used to do. It could be depression in yourself. Be aware of these feelings, be prepared for them. Try to be as compassionate as possible towards your partner but recognise that you will have other less helpful feelings towards them.

BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SOLUTION.

Depression is not a fatal condition. It can be treated, by means of psychotherapy, by counselling, by pharmacological treatments or a combination of those, or it may simply resolve itself with the passage of time. Recognise that there is hope, that there is light at the end of the tunnel and be prepared to do what you can to help your partner move towards it.

Sara Dryburgh is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. She offers a free online introduction to those considering psychotherapy to help them understand if it is right for them, how it works and how to get the best from it. http://www.saradryburgh.co.uk/course.htm

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How To Fight Depression When All The News Is Bad News - By Tonja Weimer

Do you find the national news full of tragic and depressing stories? Is it difficult to keep your head above water when it seems like the world is drowning in misery?

We are living in an edgy time, never sure when the next terrorist alert or weather disaster will flash across our screens. What can you do about something that feels out of your control? Here are a few suggestions that can have a positive impact, increase the quality of your life, and help bring some enjoyment to each day, in spite of tensions that exist. More than ever, you need to give yourself what you need. Here are six tips to break the blues from the news:

1. Take a news break.

It is easy to become addicted to news shows and commentary. Make a conscious effort to turn the TV off during meals, times with your friends and family, and several hours before you fall asleep. Try spending one day a week without listening, reading, or watching any news at all. The world will still be there waiting for you the next day.

2. Increase your self care and health care.

If you have been skipping meals, not exercising, and forgetting to take your vitamins, get back into healthy habits. Just because it seems the world is falling apart, doesn’t mean you have to. Floss, drink plenty of water, get your yearly physical, eat your vegetables, get to bed on time, and do the things your mother told you to do.

3. Have some fun and recreation.

Stop whatever you’re doing and play with your kids, your puppy, your musical instrument. Listen to music, dance to your favorite song, play dominoes, read a good book, or ask a friend to join you in doing something new you have never done before. When is the last time you rode a bus, a train, or a horse? While you are enjoying the novelty of the adventure, these new modes of transportation and new routes can give you a new perspective.

4. Make an energy list.

Make a list of people and events that give you energy and those that drain your energy. Make a conscious effort to spend time with those people and things that make you feel good and start weaning yourself from those that leave you feeling tired and down. If you can’t escape the boss who drives you crazy or the co-worker who complains all the time, start putting a strategy in place of how you are going to deal with them. Just knowing you are going to do something about it will infuse you with new hope.

5. Remove the debris from your personal life and your work life.

The external signs of clutter are often an indication of inner turmoil. Get focused on clearing out the unused, no longer necessary, extraneous pieces of your life, and work toward simplification. This activity, more than any other, will help restore lost energy and a measure of control over yourself. I often tell clients, “Under the rubble, you may find some lost parts of yourself.”

6. Delegate.

Find someone to do your errands such as going to the cleaners, grocery store, pharmacy, car wash, or hardware store. Hire a teenager in the summer to help you with extra jobs you have been putting off like: cleaning the garage, organizing the storage room, or painting the laundry room. Get someone to come in and cook meals that can be frozen or stored for several days. The point of delegating tasks is to leave time to build your reserves (financial, emotional, physical, spiritual.)

Greater self care is a personal responsibility and a choice we make every day. But when all the news is bad news, I think of a quote from Gandhi: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

Start now to make small changes which will help make a big difference in how you handle the news.

Visit http://www.tonjaweimer.com for more tips, skills, and insight on dating, relationships, singles, and love. Subscribe to our F*ree Savvy Dating Newsletter from master single's coach, life coach, and syndicated columnist, Tonja Weimer. Copyright 2006, Tonja Weimer. (Please note source if reprinting this article.)

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Bipolar Basics - By Nikola Marshall

Bipolar is an illness that is little understood by the general population. Unless you or someone close to you is affected by it, chances are you have a certain amount of misconceptions. A basic working knowledge of the illness is in order.

More than two million American adults suffer from bipolar. The illness typically develops in the late teens or early adulthood, although it can manifest in early childhood or later in life. Those affected may suffer for years before being properly diagnosed.

Bipolar is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy and ability to function. It can be the source for damaged relationships, poor job performance and even suicide. The good news is that it is treatable!

There are two main kinds of bipolar, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is more typical and the more severe of the two. Type 1 has recurrent episodes, or mood swings and is more prone to psychotic episodes. Type 2’s never develop severe mania, but milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression. If a person had four or more episodes during a twelve month time period, it is considered rapid cycling.

An explanation of terms is required here. Dramatic mood swings are referred to as episodes. Psychotic episodes include hallucinations and delusions and these will reflect the mood the person is in at the time. Hypomania is a mild to moderate level of mania. Without treatment, it can become severe or switch to depression. Mixed states are when symptoms appear together, such as agitation, trouble sleeping, psychosis and suicidal thoughts.

Both mania and depression have a set of typical symptoms.

Manic symptoms can include: increased energy/activity, restlessness, euphoric mood, irritability, racing thoughts, talking fast/jumping from subject to subject, lack of concentration, insomnia, spending sprees, increase in sex drive, abuse of narcotics, aggressiveness, and denial that anything is wrong.

Depressive symptoms can include: lasting sad/anxious/empty mood, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, lack of interest in things once enjoyed, decreased energy, difficulty concentrating/remembering/making decisions, sleeping too much, change in appetite, and suicidal thoughts.

Bipolar is a treatable illness. It is up to the patient to follow therapy. If not, their episodes can become more often and become more severe.

This is but a very basic introduction to bipolar. It is one of the remaining few mental illnesses with a stigma attached. With education, the public will have a better understanding and eventually, the stigma will be lifted from this illness too.

Nikola lives and writes in Oklahoma. She is active in her local Citizen's Police Academy Alumni, Volunteers in Policing and Skywarn. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading and spending time with her two dogs. Nikola is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing.

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Landmark Study into Bipolar in Children and Young People - By Cerianwen Ball

A recent study by Course and Outcome of Bipolar Illness in Youth COBY found that children and teen-agers with bipolar disorder suffer from the illness differently than adults do with their symptoms lasting longer and changing more swiftly from hyper to lethargy and depression.

In this first major study by COBY psychiatrist conducted a study of over 400 patients some for over five years to determine the effects of bipolar in young people and children.

Dr Martin Keller a front liner in designing and conducting long-term studies of major psychiatric disorders says "Bipolar disorder severely impairs functioning and has a high rate of related psychiatric and physical health issues, such as anxiety and substance abuse."

Bipolar disorder also known as manic-depressive illness is distinguished by dramatic mood changes, energy levels and behaviour. Sufferers can swing from one extreme (mania, which can be accompanied by extreme irritability, lack of sleep, poor judgment, restlessness and impulsiveness.) To the other extreme, depression, this can be branded by hopelessness, tiredness and, in some cases, suicidal tendancies. These manic and depressive episodes are interspersed with milder symptoms and impaired function in a mainstream of sufferers.

The study showed that these symptoms run a longer course with children and young people and in many of the cases the mood swings were even more dramatic and switched within shorter intervals than usual in adult cases.

Many of those with Bipolar otherwise specified developed Bipolar or Bipolar II. While researchers supposed that such conversions might transpire, this is the first comprehensive study to clearly document the phenomenon.

Cerianwen is a writer and Bipolar sufferer striving to rid the stigma of mental health through writing. Cerianwen is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writers.

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Natural Ways To Treat Depression - By Gray Rollins

Depression is a medical condition that affects the mind, often leaving the person suffering from it feeling hopeless, without ambition and unable to focus. Left untreated, this condition can adversely affect academic achievement, family life, friendships and careers. People tend to seek help from a mental health professional who may prescribe mood balancing drugs. Most, however; use an alternative form of medicine for a more natural treatment in tandem with drug therapy. Milder cases of depression can be treated solely with natural remedies without the need for prescription drugs.

Therapy is a great way to restore balance in your life. Seeking help from others who have similar issues will provide a support system to discuss issues, understand symptoms, and develop techniques to feel better. Often talking is very cathartic and can help alleviate stress and loneliness, which may cause feelings of depression.

Therapy that involves personal expression has been found to provide an outlet for pent-up feelings and can be a positive way to articulate deep feelings and emotion. This can take many forms. Dance is a great outlet for this as well as other movement therapies such as martial arts. Martial arts teach focus, self awareness, and control which can greatly benefit someone suffering from depression. Using art as a form of therapy is another expressive form of therapy. Whether it is sculpting or painting or any other variation of art, it’s a way to expose feelings in a tangible way.

Relaxation techniques help a person focus and gain a sense of serenity. Yoga is an ideal form of exercise that melds the body, mind, and spirit. It promotes good health, a positive self image and teaches relaxation. Meditation is also a good way to relax and unwind. It reduces the heart rate and clears the mind, allowing more focused thought. Acupuncture has grown in popularity as a means to treat depression. By using various pressure points, it is believed to enable a calming effect and promote a healthier emotional balance. Hypnosis is also popular as a means of getting to the core issues of why someone is depressed and leaving them with a sense of well being.

Certain dietary changes and supplements have been reported to be helpful in the treatment of depression. Adding fish oil, Zinc and B vitamins are found to help the body regulate chemicals that may trigger depression. Exercise is also very important. Keeping active will rejuvenate the body and keep it fit, promoting a healthier lifestyle and better self image. Working out several times per week can calm the senses and invigorate the body.

Depression does not need to be debilitating. Making a few changes to your daily routine will help promote a sense of well-being and help alleviate symptoms of depression. If you continue to have feelings of depression or have severe symptoms like suicidal thoughts, consult a health care professional immediately.

About the Author: Gray Rollins is a featured writer Depressionso.com. To learn more about natural depression treatments and alternative depression treatments, visit us.

Source: www.isnare.com

Self Injury (Cutting) in Adolescents and Teens - By Dore Frances

Some forms may include:

biting

branding, such as with gang members

burning

carving

cutting on various parts of the body

excessive body piercing

head banging

marking

picking and pulling hair and skin

scratching with fingernails or objects

self bruising

self hitting

self piercing

tattooing

Some adolescents and teens may self-mutilate to rebel, reject their parents' values, take risks, state their individuality or merely to be accepted by their peers. Others, however, may injure themselves out of anger or desperation to seek attention, to show their hopelessness, loss of self-esteem and worthlessness, or because they have suicidal thoughts. These children may suffer from serious psychiatric problems such as Bipolar Disorder, depression, mood disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), and psychosis. Additionally, some adolescents and teens who engage in self-injury may develop Borderline Personality Disorder as adults when not treated for this as youth. Some young children may resort to self-injurious acts from time to time, however, they often grow out of it.

Children with autism or mental retardation may also show these behaviors which may persist into adulthood when not treated at a younger age. Children who have been abandoned (adopted) or abused (emotinally, physically, sexually) may self-mutilate.

Why do adolescents and teens self-injure?

Adolescents and teens that have difficulty talking about and openly sharing their feelings may show their emotional tension, low self-esteem, physical discomfort, and pain with self-injurious behaviors. Although they may feel like the "steam" in the "pressure cooker" has been released following the act of cutting and hurting themselves, adolescents and teens may instead feel intense anger, fear, hate and hurt. The effects of peer pressure can also influence adolescents and teens to injure themselves. Even though fads come and go, a lot of the wounds on the child's' skin will be permanent. A lot of times adolescents and teens hide their burns, bruises, cuts and scars, due to feeling criticized, embarrassed, or rejected.

What can parents do to help their child?

Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about respecting and valuing their bodies. Parents also need to serve as role models for their adolescents and teens by not engaging in acts of self-harm themselves.

Some helpful ways for parents to address their child's self-injury acts include teaching them to:

Accept reality and find ways to make the present moment more tolerable while talking about their feelings.

Develop better communication and social skills.

Help them distract themselves from feelings of self-harm (for example, counting to ten, drawing, waiting 15 minutes, saying "NO!" or "STOP!" out loud and to themselves as may times as needed, practicing breathing exercises and/or meditation, journaling, thinking about positive images, giving them a safe place to "vent", etc.)

Help them to identify their feelings and talk them out rather than act on them.

Practice positive stress management within the home.

Help them to soothe themselves in a positive, non-injurious, way.

Help them to stop, think, and evaluate the pros and cons of self-injury.

Evaluation by a mental health professional may assist in identifying and treating the underlying causes of cutting and self-injury. Feelings of wanting to die or kill themselves are reasons for the parents of adolescents and teens to seek professional care immediately.

A psychiatrist may also diagnose and treat the serious psychiatric disorders that may accompany self-injurious and cutting behaviors.

Dore E. Frances, Child Right's Advocate & Educational Consultant

http://www.guidingteens.com

Copyright © 1999, Horizon Family Solutions, LLC

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National Depresion Awareness Week - By Samantha Weaver

NATIONAL DEPRESSION AWARENESS WEEK
17th APR 2006 – 24th APR 2006

What is National Depression Awareness Week?

National Depression Awareness Week (or NDA) is a key time of the year in event calendars for many charities or campaigners whereby they try to promote awareness of depression. This could be in the form of newsletters, newspapers, articles, campaigns, advertising and fund raising. With depression being such a debilitating condition funds need to be raised to support the work of charities like Depression Alliance to enable them to continue their work long into the future.

It is important to recognise that depression affects approximately 1 in 5 people at any one time. Anyone can suffer from depression at any time in their life. Usually depression affects people after they have gone through a traumatic life experience. Issues build up, problems are not resolved and minds dwell on negative thoughts.

Depression affects people in numerous ways. A person suffering from depression can find it hard to get into the day-to-day activities that life has to offer them. They lack motivation, energy and enthusiasm, relationships can breakdown, jobs can become extremely difficult to do, concentration levels suffer and the isolation felt by a depressive becomes paramount. If left untreated the illness can develop to such a severe extent that a person can consider suicide as their last resort to a way out of he pain they are suffering.

There are many cures and options available to assist a person who may suffering with depression, but these tools need to be made available to people in the first place. So by providing support to the charities that need it the most, you could actually be saving a life.

So how can you help?

You could organise a fundraising event…Whether it be a walking challenge, a party, a month without chocolate, a day without talking (sponsored silence)… use your imagination and come up with something interesting and exciting whereby other people will be happy to sponsor you.
You can then create a sponsorship page at http://www.justgiving.com/depression/raisemoney This is a safe environment. You do not need to worry about cash or cheques as the money is sent electronically.

You could make a donation…Charities are just that, charities. They receive little or no government funding whatsoever and in order to continue to provide their services, they usually rely heavily on membership and donations. Every penny raised will go towards raising awareness of depression and contributing towards the continual service of charities that rely so heavily on people’s generosity.

You could put up posters around your workplace, school or collage… You can be inventive and create your own designs or you could download the poster from depressionalliance.org (available from beginning of march). Either way you will be providing awareness of depression and National Depression Awareness Week.

Go on – do your bit today… you never know, one day it could be you who needs the support!
Author reserves all rights to this article (c) Samantha C Weaver

Samantha Weaver is the Author of Saving Samantha: A Young Woman's Escape from Childhood Hell, due for release 17 Apr-2006. Find out more about Sam and her experience of depression by visiting her website at: http://www.samanthaweaver.com

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10 Mistakes That Sabotage Healing - By Mari Moratto

All of us are in need of healing. Perhaps we are mourning the loss of a relationship, or the loss of a loved one (animal or human). Or the loss of our health. Or the loss of a job, or status. Or the loss of a belief, or trust, or faith. Or peace of mind. Any loss will put us in a state of uneasiness or dis-ease.

Dis-ease as the name says is the lack of ease or the absence of well-being, to be more accurate. When we lose our well-being, in any which form it comes, physically, emotionally, psychologically, or spiritually, we grieve. There is loss and we grieve this loss.

Here are the 10 biggest mistakes that sabotage our healing from whatever dis-ease we may be having in life.

1. We don’t acknowledge we are in need of healing
Except for when things are really bad, as with a physical disease that may or may not be fatal, many times, we are not even aware that we need healing. We become the notorious “walking-wounded” hurting everyone else we meet.

2. We don’t take time for ourselves
We pretend that nothing has happened or we suppress our hurt and live life as if nothing happened. We don’t acknowledge that we need time out to recoup and make a plan of action.

3. We don’t make a plan
When we are aware that we need healing, we seek and follow the advice of others and many times we don’t even know exactly what we need to do to feel better. We don’t write our objectives and we plan a strategy to reconnect with our perfection.

4. We don’t live in the present
We regret what we did in the past and become anxious about the future, creating greater stress for our mind and body. We forget to live in the present, not knowing that a good present will determine an outstanding future.

5. We don’t forgive
We hold eternal grudges about people, events, and circumstances, including ourselves, thus preventing peace of mind and freedom.

6. We think in the negative
Our mind chatters negativism, as usual, thus deepening our struggles. We don’t realize the importance of positive thinking to better our life.

7. We don’t shut the nay-sayers
Especially when we have critical or chronic illnesses, we keep hearing from other that we will never get well, and worse, that we will die, and we keep listening to them because we trust they know better than we do, which is a grave mistake.

8. We don’t do spiritual work
Just when we need to go deep into our spirituality, we forgo our evolutionary process and delve into the physicality of life. We pray for the wrong outcomes.

9. We don’t wish for perfection
We wish for everything but not for the perfection of the solution to our problems, thus creating even worse case scenarios for ourselves.

10. We don’t expect miracles
We forget that miracles happen every day and many times we give in just when it is our turn to manifest them. We give up hope.

What will you do to feel better?

About the Author: Come spend one hour in our free teleseminar, learn to feel better and get a free report. Sign up at http://www.rx4bliss.com/healingtelesminar.htm" Dr. Maria Moratto helps you balance your life so that you can have more health, abundance, better relationships, and fun.

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Depression Is A Real Illness - By Dr. Isaac Schumann

Because most people get depressed from time to time, there is that eternal question if depression is a real illness. The answer is: yes. The clinical one, that is. It has been said that about one out of eight United States residents will likely become clinically depressed. Some experience it once in a lifetime, while others have multiple episodes. This is a fact: if a person gets depressed for the first time, there is a 50 percent chance that he will fall to the same predicament again. And come the second time, there is the threat that he will go into a third depressing episode.

Depression is a real illness as it involves the mental, emotional and even physical faculties of the person. It is not just a transient sad feeling that will go away when one wills it to. There are symptoms and signs as well as corresponding treatment. If not handled properly and immediately, it may escalate to worse conditions. Like any other illness, depression has also variations.

There are three types of depressive disorders: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and dysthymic disorder.

Major depression is a culmination of all the symptoms and signs that intervene with one's capability to act normally. It can happen once, but recurring episodes are possible.

Its less severe counterpart is dysthymia which is characterized by the same symptoms of major depression, only they do not totally interfere with one's activities. A person who has dysthymic disorder can suffer major depression sometime during his life.

Bipolar disorder is also a type of depression that involves drastic mood changes, from being very high one minute to severely depressed the next. The manic cycle can make the person hyper and overenthusiastic but it changes as soon as the depressed cycle hits. The depressed cycle encompasses all the symptoms of depression.

Because depression is an illness, there are symptoms. Again, they are the following:

1. Persistent "empty" feeling

2. Unbelievable hopelessness

3. Feeling guilty and worthless all the time

4. Lack or loss of interests in activities that used to bring joy to the patient and this includes sex.

5. Prominent fatigue

6. Has a difficult time making decisions

7. Development of sleep problems

8. Loss of appetite and drastic weight change or loss

9. Suicidal attempts and thoughts.

10. Pronounced irritability

11. Physical aches and pains that have no physiological basis

The good news is at the end of this dark tunnel called depression, there is hope. Treatment is available in three types: psychotherapy, antidepressant medicine and the combination of the two. There are also times when electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and light therapy are employed. We will discuss these in depth in an upcoming article.

About the Author: Dr. Isaac Schumann brings to you a life time of experience in the mental health fieldhttp://www.depressionhelpguides.com"


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Depression = Anger + Grief + Trauma - By Pradeep Chadha

Many years ago, when I started my psychiatric training in Europe, I realized that mental illnesses happen to those people who are not allowed to work through their emotional issues. It was then an acknowledged scientific fact that stress events in life triggered depression and other psychiatric conditions. But how does unexpressed emotions turn into an ‘illness’ is something that mainstream medicine still has difficulty with.

One of my first success stories in treating depression was a lady who had been on antidepressants and who had won money in a lotto game. In her case the money was the trigger for making her depressed. After taking her history, it emerged that she had more to her depression than the immediate event that was the trigger. She had not grieved over the death of her father. She had been angry with her then husband, who was threatening to separate. She had also undergone traumatic experiences at the hands of her relatives that she had not come to terms with. To my surprise, when the impacts of the causes were neutralized, not only did she come off antidepressant successfully, but she remained well without medication for many years till I lost touch with her.

Another story that I remember was of a time much earlier than the above event. A mother in her early 40s used to attend the psychiatric services for the treatment of depression. She was on antidepressant medication for many years. She was not willing to come off medication. She had an excellent upbringing and a good personality. She had lost her child many years ago in an incident that she stated was not a suicide. It was an incident that had shaken her own belief regarding her abilities as a mother. Despite the efforts of the doctors, she was unprepared to allow herself to grieve over the loss of her son. She continued to suffer with depression.

Most of the time the individuals who suffer with depression, have learnt to hold back their anger. This anger could be due to many causes. The commonest one is against one’ s parents. Though parents do their best to bring up their children, the children tend to carry some anger or annoyance about their parents. This anger gets compounded if there are elements of neglect, rejection or threat. Other factors are the parental strictness and disallowing the child to cry or express themselves emotionally in any form. The anger is then suppressed. Other life events like bullying and strict teachers add on to the anger. If the person has seen other crises in their lives, anger increases.

Unresolved and unfinished grief is the other cause for depression. Anger and fear of the departed is the main reason for the grief to remain unfinished. This happens especially in the cases of abuse when the abuser is a close relative who has died. Unresolved grief is commonly seen in all forms of abuse.

Traumatic events can occur in many forms. I once saw a lady having unresolved trauma from an accident that took place 25 years ago. She was under the impression that the event had resolved itself as it had occurred many years ago. On remembering the event a few times, she started to have aches and pains in precisely the same spots in the body where she had felt pain immediately after the accident. She was obviously surprised, but she learnt that an event that happened many years ago is not necessarily forgotten by the body even if we believe that we do. Traumatic events can be repetitive, like abuse, or they can be sporadic events like rape or road traffic accident or a physical assault. Each of these experiences individually, can be the trigger for depression. They can also affect the body and the mind in a subtle manner and one may not experience any major depressive event for a long time in life.

A common complaint that family physicians encounter is- persistent and chronic fatigue with loss in interest and excessive sleep. This condition, when it occurs without any physical illness, is termed chronic fatigue syndrome. Fibromyalgia is another term currently used for similar symptoms. These conditions have the same causes, in my experience, as major depression.
Depression, from clinical perspective, is diagnosed when a person has low mood with reduced concentration, reduced ability to enjoy day to day activities and reduced energy that has lasted for more than two weeks. The person may have a loss of appetite, with a reduction (sometimes an increase) in weight. Sleep may be interrupted or the person may wake up two or three hours earlier than usual wake up time. There may be guilt or a death wish especially if the person has a sense of hopelessness about the future.

Dysthymia is a term that is used to describe long-term sense of feeling low that does not disturb the sufferer’s life in a major way. The quality of life is low because of lack of enjoyment. This condition is diagnosed when it has lasted for at least two years.

In all the above cases mentioned, antidepressants are the main line of treatment in psychiatry. But if the anger, grief and trauma issues are addressed, medication is easy to come off. In most of such cases, the person may not need antidepressant treatment again.

Pradeep K Chadha is a psychiatrist who specialises in helping patients with meditation and imagery using little or no medication. He is the author of The Stress Barrier-Nature's Way To Overcoming Stress published by Blackhall Publishing, Dublin. He is based in Dublin, Ireland.His website address is: http://www.drpkchadha.com

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Depression - Sexual Urges Rejected - By Kacy Carr

Each and every one of us has had our fair share of ups and downs in life. Trivial little things can trigger off emotional upsets but it is how we cope with the cause behind those stressful moments that matter. Ups and downs do not last forever because after the (Down the only way is Up).

How do you compare depression against that of ups and downs is there any similarities? Yes. Ups and downs are just that, where as depression has its ups and downs in a way that it turns your whole world Upside Down.

Depression is a psychological problem and depending on how serious the symptoms medical attention maybe necessary. Clinical depression can damage your health where lack of sleep is a main factor for chronic fatigue settling in. Bouts of depression can have devastating affects on a patient trying to lead a normal life due to different mood swings which interfere with their normal daily activities. Those feelings can be of sadness/loneliness and dysphoria. The lack of concentration is a major holdback for a person suffering from depression especially when decision making is involved.

Behaviour in sufferers with depression can dramatically change causing major havoc to their daily way of thinking or doing. Common occurring mood swings can consist of uncontrollable anger outbursts or anti social emotions. Social withdrawal can lead to loneliness where living like a recluse is the only option to deal with the depression. This is not the solution.

Sexual urges that were once placed high up on your daily list of pleasurable thoughts can be reduced to a level of near non existence therefore this can cause your partner to feel rejected (Not in all cases) Medication is there for the taking, help is there for the taking, so why not take it. It may not cure but it certainly helps combat stress and anxiety.

Awareness of just how serious depression can be if it reaches a certain level has to be addressed immediately. Check out how this disorder has or is still destroying lives. With the right treatment and medication you can still hold onto life.

Due to the similarity of symptoms to ups and downs and depression has led to a lot of heartache. Sadly to say life was not worth living for some whose ups and downs turned out to be depression which scaled to a height as high UP like that of a mountain and then to come DOWN to earth with a bump where they are to sleep forever.

It is our own depressed state of mind that hampers our efforts in finding the true cause and cure.

We pill pop to take away the pain, why? We turn a deaf ear to advice. Why? Instead of looking for the answer to how it all started we intend to deal with the pain that comes with depression why? Because like I said it is our own depressed state of mind that hampers our efforts in finding the true cause and cure.

Not sure if you are coming or going thats fine we all get into a state where we get flustered and do silly things but the silliest thing you could ever do is ignore the comings and goings of your ups and downs because it just maybe the start of depression so please talk to your doctor.

About the Author: Advice on my health page about this disorder and more. Browse for answers or solutions on how to relieve stress/depression etc. http://www.benidormbeaches.com"
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Family Support For Depression - By Justin Meyer

Family situations can be very different. Some people have great relationships with their families, while for others the entire topic can be laced with venom. The thought of reconnecting with your family might be such a negative that you want nothing to do with them. However, for some, there is a middle ground, that allows you to get in touch with your family and get support from them. If you are lucky, your relationship is good enough that you don’t need this article.

If, however, you are like most of us, read on.

The best way to do this is similar to finding a way to tell your family. Choose those who would be your most likely supporters and approach them first. Tell them what you need and ask if they would be willing to help. You will – hopefully – get an affirmative response. That, in and of itself, is not very hard. However, when you have a need for support from more than one or two people is when the problems can begin.

It is hard to get large groups to agree on anything, which is why Pizza Hut has so many different pizza toppings. So don’t go in looking for support from your whole family and hope for it to just materialize. You will find some people thinking that you just want attention, some willing to do whatever you want, and some only willing to do certain things. Everyone will have different ideas on how to help. Invariably, you will find that you, instead of being the focus of the group, will become just another voice in the chorus.

Learn to alleviate your depression at http://www.curemydepression.com

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Do Christians Get Depressed? - By Sonya Triggs

What does the Bible say about depression? Is it okay to be a Christian and still get depressed? And what exactly is depression, anyway?

First, what exactly is depression? WebMD defines it as ‘A clinical mood disorder associated with low mood or loss of interest and other symptoms that prevent a person from leading a normal life.’ Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary has an even more eye-opening definition: ‘a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies’. And if that doesn’t make it clear, I don’t know what does!

So, do Christians get depressed? The short answer to that is – Yes. The Bible is filled with a lot of people who got depressed! The prophet Elijah experienced his own depression very shortly after experiencing a major victory with God. Elijah held a competition – himself against 450 prophets of Baal! – to prove the might of God. After a lot of storm and drama, God proved Himself to be the Only True God and Elijah experienced a major personal victory. The queen at the time -Jezebel - was very unhappy about this and threatened Elijah’s life. Elijah became frightened and ran for his life. After coming to the end of his (physical) rope (in the wilderness), he stopped and started to feel very badly for himself. 1 Kings 19:4 says Elijah, ‘….begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, It is enough, O LORD, take away my life. For I am no better than my fathers.’ (MKJV). Elijah was definitely depressed (the entire story can be read in 1 Kings 19:1-18).

Even one of Israelite’s Great Deliverers, Joshua the Son of Nun, experienced a down time. Joshua had led the Israelites to a resounding victory against Jericho. The Israelites then went to war against Ai and experienced a bitter defeat. Joshua 7:6-7 says ‘And Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, why have You at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? And, oh that we had been content and lived on the other side of Jordan!’ (MKJV). Joshua was a very unhappy man.

What I find most interesting about these situations, however, is how God responded to Elijah and Joshua. God sent an angel to minister to Elijah after he’d stopped in the wilderness, who provided him with food encouraged him to eat and drink. Elijah then took a 40-day journey to Mt. Horeb where God Himself spoke to him. God asked Elijah ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ (1 Kings 19:9 MKJV) and Elijah has this pity party where he tells God how he had been zealous for Him and Elijah was now the only prophet left and how they were trying to kill him! God gave Elijah instructions to carry out and then promptly informed him, ‘Yet I have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal...’(1 Kings 19:18 MKJV). In other words, that Elijah had no business being depressed because he was not, in fact, the only prophet of God left. He also got the opportunity to speak to God one-on-one, as God passed by him and spoke to him in a still, small voice.

God had a different response for Joshua. Joshua 7:10 says, ‘And the LORD said to Joshua, Get up! Why do you lie on your face this way?’ (MKJV). God explained to Joshua that the Israelites had been defeated because they had sinned against Him. But that now, it was time to Get Up!, fix the problem and return to their warfare against the people of Ai.

What is reassuring about both of these situations is not only the fact that God heard Elijah’s and Joshua’s cries to Him, but that He responded. He met them right where they were and gave them hope and instructions for how to carry on. He didn’t leave them in the middle of their hopelessness – He took control and gave them a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

So, do Christians get depressed? Sure – but they don’t usually stay depressed. One thing is for certain – Christians will encounter many situations which will challenge their optimism. Jesus himself promised us ‘ …In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer.’ (John 16:33 (MKJV). And why should we be of good cheer? Because Jesus also reminded us that ‘I have overcome the world’. In other words, there is no need for us to remain down or out (or even surprised by the frequency of our troubles), because Jesus has already solved any problems we will encounter. Yes, God does hear your cry when you are depressed, and will comfort and minister to you (as well as give you guidance), but, ultimately, our victory happened right there on Calvary when Jesus died on the cross for us. We can rest assured knowing that we will eventually come to a place where all trials and tribulations will be over, all tears will be wiped away and we will have eternal rest and peace with our Father. So that’s why we must recapture our joy when we're down and make a serious effort to remain in good spirits at all other times.

So what should you do if you find yourself in the throes of depression? Paul lays it out for us in Philippians 4:4-13. First, he tells us to let God know about our worries - through prayer and supplication. To make our requests known to God – with our thanks (for hearing, for responding, for whatever we can think of!). And then he promises us that peace will be ours. And to maintain that peace, he tells us to think on good things! Good things only. He says ‘….whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report, if [there be] any praise, think on these things.’ (KJV - emphasis mine)

This doesn’t mean you have to adopt a Pollyana view of the world – that nothing bad is going on or that you don’t have a good reason to be down. Instead, it means that you CHOOSE to maintain a positive attitude, knowing that God has it all under control. It means that you CHOOSE to let God deal with it instead of wrestling around with it in your own mind. And, finally it means you CHOOSE to believe God instead of all the rotten things that are going on around you. Paul last of all reminds us that we can do all things because Jesus strengthens us. So, it’s not a matter of relying on your own strength, but on the strength of the Almighty.

And He will never let you down.

So, don’t worry if you get depressed (occasionally) - just try your best not to stay depressed. Remember that God hears your prayers (and will respond) and that His peace will keep you through it all – if you let Him. So think good thoughts, turn your cares over to Him and choose to believe in God’s word instead of the world.

You will be blessed!

About the Author: Sonya C. Triggs is the Founder of Urban Christianz Ministries (http://www.urbanchristianz.com" , where you can find great articles, resources and advice for single Christians, Christian teens and anyone seeking a closer walk with God! Visit Urban Christianz to improve your relationships, become closer to God and learn how to incorporate every-day sp



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