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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overcoming Depression by JEAN LESTOURGEON

Identifying Depression

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

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

Taking Action

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

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

Don’t Wait – Get Help

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

How Counseling Can Help

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

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

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

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

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

5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression - by Michael Lee

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

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

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

1) Get Enough Light and Sunshine.

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

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

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

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

2) Get Busy. Get Inspired.

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

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

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

3) Take a Break.

I mean it.

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

4) Eat Right and Stay Fit.

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

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

5) Get a Social Life.

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

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

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

About the Author:

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

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

Mental Health Services - By Peter Emerson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laughter is a miraculous thing and begins ones healing immediately.

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

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

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

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


About the Author

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

Source: www.ideamarketers.com

Depressions Other Side - By: Ted Belfour

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article Source: Article Hub

A Look At Depression - By Kathy Brewis

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

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

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

Symptoms

•Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood

•Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism

•Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

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

•Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"

•Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

•Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

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

•Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts

•Restlessness, irritability

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feeling Depressed and Hopeless - By Marge Holley

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attacking Treatment-Resistant Depression - By Phyllis Wheeler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Limit carbs

*Exercise.

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

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

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

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

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

Symptoms of Suicide - By Bren Davis

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

What is suicide?

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

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

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

Symptoms of Suicide

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

Suicide is not an option

Seek help from professionals today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Author:

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

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Depression and the Sensitive at Heart - by: Friedrich Asen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Dreams and Depression: Was Sigmund Freud Correct? -

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

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

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

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

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

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Where There Is Life There Is Hope - By Terry Weber

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Depression Needs To Be Treated - By Michael Russell

Depression is not something you can just ignore and hope it will go away on its own or think that you will just "snap out it". Depression is a serious medical condition and needs to be taken seriously. It is caused by chemical changes or imbalances in the brain coupled with other different factors.

Many people who are diagnosed with depression wonder how and why it has happened to them, but the truth is that depression can happen to anybody. Debilitating depression can be triggered by many factors, but the good news is that treatment is available to help you cope. These treatments will help stabilize the chemicals in the brain and make sure all the vital messages to the brain are sent and received correctly.

Your first step in the fight against depression is to understand how it affects you, its causes and the treatment options available to you. Learn about the different types of medications, psychotherapy or "talk therapy" and other treatments.

Major depression can severely disrupt your life, affecting your relationships, your sleep pattern, appetite and even your daily work. Some of the symptoms that help the doctor to make a diagnosis of depression are:

- Feelings of sadness

- Losing interest in activities and hobbies you used to enjoy

- Low energy despite lack of activity

- Poor appetite

- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping excessively

- Poor concentration and ability to make decisions

- Feeling hopeless or not worthy

- Suicidal thoughts

Symptoms of depression may also include severe mood disorders. Some mood disorders include but not limited to postpartum disorder and Bipolar disorder.

Postpartum depression affects women who have recently given birth and it normally occurs within the first months after delivery. This type of depression affects the mother's ability to bond with her newborn despite all the joy surrounding the birth of a new baby. It is extremely important that the new mother seeks medical attention if she experiences these symptoms. Postpartum depression can sometimes be confused with the "Baby Blues" which normally occurs within the first few days after the birth of the child but usually goes away spontaneously.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, affects millions of people every year. For sufferers life can have intense highs (mania) and crippling lows (depression). Patients suffering from bipolar disorder describe life as being one giant emotional roller coaster. The good news here is that there are treatments that help control these intense mood swings.

Even though there is no known cure, people with bipolar disorder can live normal lives with proper treatment and management. Patients must manage their condition very carefully just like if they had another illness such as diabetes or heart disease. Building a strong support network can be extremely helpful in treating bipolar disorder.

Living with depression may mean that you have try different types of medications over time until you find one that responds or works best for you. Therapy and lifestyle changes may also be recommended to help elevate depression symptoms.

Change will not happen overnight, but with the right treatment, therapy and lifestyle changes, you can keep depression from overshadowing your life.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Depression

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Emotional Issues Behind Insomnia - By Pradeep Chadha

Insomnia is a common condition seen by family physicians. The usual short-term treatment for it is medication that involves hypnotics. These medications are habit-forming drugs and with long usage people can become dependent on them.

The problem can start for many reasons. In many people who work in shifts, the body rhythm is disturbed disturbing the normal sleep pattern. In many young mothers the sleep pattern gets disturbed waking intermittently at night to look after the baby’s needs. Caring for an old relative at night can also disturb the sleep pattern.

In almost all of these cases, the subconscious mind has got the message that sleep would put someone at risk. So in order to deal with this perceived ‘danger’, the mind goes into an alert state and does not allow the body to sleep. No amount of conscious logic or reason can convince the subconscious to let the body sleep. This increases physical tension.

In order for the body to rest, the tension has to be reduced. When the perceived fears are addressed, the body goes into a state if tiredness and then it is allowed to fall asleep. One of the exercises that I have suggested to my patients is this: At bedtime, when you are going to sleep, sit in the bed. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in and then through your nose push the breath out forcefully but slowly. Next, take a deep breath and this time breathe out slowly and easily through the nose. Continue breathing like this with alternate breaths till you start to fall asleep.

With simple sleep problems, this exercise works well.

The underlying reason for most of the sleep problems is fear. Fear of the future is the worry. If fear issues are addressed in counseling or psychotherapy, sleep can become better. The other reason of sleep problem is anger. Most of the people would be unaware that they are carrying anger in their bodies. They might feel that because they do not worry, sleep disturbance is simply a disturbance of the body rhythm. In almost all such cases that I have seen, anger has been an underlying issue. Addressing the anger benefits sleep.

Sleep disturbance is commonly seen in anxiety, depression, psychosis and mania. Many psychiatric conditions start with disturbed sleep. It is important to take insomnia seriously. It is good to address the issue as soon as it starts than to let it build up and cause complications.

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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Alcohol Depression: The Bottle may be Increasing the Depression - By Foras Aje

Alcohol depression is very grave and should not be one’s state of living, however just how one can overcome this form of depression could be quite challenging as two factors are being addressed here: a substance abuse and an emotional disturbance.

Dealing with depression means at the moment you may not be feeling too good. What with low energy, poor sleep and a general feeling of helplessness, naturally finding a solution out of being depressed is a much expected step. Sadly, most people turn to either legal (e.g. Zoloft) and illegal (e.g. marijuana) drugs or the use of drinking alcoholic beverages in a quest to ease the pain, however, research has shown that both illegal drugs and alcohol are marked depressants. (in spite of the buzz they may temporarily give) and speaking of depression drugs from recent studies, these substances just may not be worth the side-effects.

Now on the subject of alcohol use and depressive illnesses; this is actually the worst possible strategy for dealing with depression. Depressed moods can be a direct outcome of substance abuse. Conversely, use of alcohol by people with a depressive disorder may increase the severity of their depression symptoms and thus should be avoided.

Alcohol depression is quite rampant these days as up to 40 per cent of people who drink alcohol heavily have symptoms that resemble depression. However, when these same people are not drinking heavily, only 5 per cent of men and 10 per cent of woman have symptoms meeting the need to be diagnosed for depression.

Even though when used sparingly, alcohol may briefly produce a pleasant and relaxed state of the mind, depression resulting from alcohol is not uncommon. This starts off like anything else, slowly but picking up intensity with time. When alcohol is used sparingly, it may for a while lift the moods; however, when used to treat a depressive illness, tolerance to the effects of it may lead a patient of depression to drink more alcohol in search for a positive effect. This is where the problems begin, one drinks more and more and before you know it, alcohol- being a noted depressant-starts to cause depressive tendencies in the mind.

Alcohol Depression: Effects and Consequences

Now we all know alcohol confuses judgment and makes one more impulsive to take risks, moreover it causes a loss of inhibition and increases aggressive behavior and violent acts even towards one own self. Consequently, when used as a means to curb depression, this should be a particular concern as studies have shown depression can lead to suicide. Generally, a much higher incidence of suicide, both completed and attempted, is associated with alcohol depression.
Moreover, alcohol depression leads to complicated social disorders such as absenteeism, sickness and under-performance. Inevitably, marital problems often arise because of an alcohol problem, add this to the depression problems at hand, it is not surprising that many marriages have suffered due to this particular depressive illness.

In regards to health, alcohol depression can cause a lot of physical problems. These may arise in the liver in the form of hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure. Stomach Ulcers, sexual dysfunction and irregular heartbeat are other factors as well. Now these are just symptoms that result from excessive alcohol use, add to this the effects of depression on the body…needless to say, this particular form of depressive illness is a very serious and grave one. Here are the symptoms of this particular kind of emotional disorder.

Alcohol Depression: Symptoms indicating its presence

There are a number of pointers that should lead one to consider if one has an alcohol depression problem. In no particular order, they include:

1. Using alcohol to try to escape from one’s worries and trouble.
2. Drinking too much alcohol everyday.
3. Using alcohol to induce sleep.
4. Drinking this excessive alcohol alone.
5. Feeling an immense guilt about one’s excessive drinking

Thankfully, as with all things there is hope, however one has to have the desire to change. Enumerated are some helpful tips for this emotional disorder resulting from excessive drinking.

Alcohol Depression: Helpful solutions.

Depressive symptoms resulting from alcohol might indeed be quite difficult to curb, However, as with anything, the more one works at it, the better the chances of success.

It always helps to know the cause of one’s reckless desire to drink in the first place. These may be marital, financial or even spiritual problems. Therefore these issues should be addressed by competent counseling, reading self-help books and even a good old talk with one’s creator.

Moreover, a simple fast or restricted diet on a seasonal juicy fruit can aid to detoxify the body of alcoholic tendencies. Now this may sound very unconventional, but according to Professor Arnold Ehret, this method has been used successfully to aiding many an alcoholic to give up excessive drinking. Dr. Stanley Burroughs also attested to this in his writings known as the Master Cleanser. Of course 60% of the battle may perhaps be the patient’s desire for change in the first place.

In addition, physical exercise, besides occupying one’s time, also goes a long way to first aiding in detoxifying the body and helping with alcohol depression as this method exercises the motor centers of the brain, making the blood flow away from the emotional activity center; consequently one becomes more receptive to positive thoughts.

Yoga is highly recommended as a choice for exercise here as several benefits lay in its use as an alternative depression treatment. From the intense relaxation and stress relief that arises from its use, to the increase of alpha and theta waves in the right portion of the brain ( a noted characteristic of optimistic people), yoga as a means of coping with alcohol depression, though admittedly may be unconventional, is indeed a wise choice.

One major step in overcoming alcohol depression is the desire for change. Consequently if a relative or loved one expresses the need for help, it is advised to immediately lend a helping hand and walk them through the steps to redemption. If however one is alone in these struggles, well, the internet in constantly making the world a smaller place or help may just be a phone call away…as long as one makes the move, the spiritual forces that are ever inherent in our own minds will guide one to the right path for success. The tips provided thus far can definitely help as well.

Alcohol depression need not be one’s state of living, with the drug-free methods of a positive thinking, and even diet and proper exercise, its symptoms, causes and effects can definitely be overcome.

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and author of Fitness: Inside and out, a book on improving physical and mental health naturally. For additional information on depression treatment go to: http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com/depression.htm

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Depression - Treating It Naturally - By: Kathy Ferneau

Chances are you know someone suffering from depression or maybe you feel depressed yourself. The modern bubonic plague, depression feeds on the stresses and anxieties of modern living. When a problem reaches 30 minute infomercial status, you know it affects a huge percentage of the population.

If you're dieting, depression makes it difficult to stay motivated. Why bother, you make think. Who cares if I'm fat? And the downward spiral continues.

You may find yourself in a bit of a Catch 22 situation: Your poor diet makes you feel depressed, and because you feel depressed, you make poor food choices.

The feel good foods beckon, chocolate, donuts, chips, and too often you succumb.

So does the answer to depression lie with psychotherapy or prescription drugs? The implications of those solutions are vast, including:

financial burden

time commitment

social stigma

health concerns

loss of privacy

The treatment can be more depressing than the disease itself, and with no guarantee of a cure.

But our problems won't just go away by themselves. Much as we'd like to tell our boss to take this job and shove it, that usually isn't an option. A rich relative won't die and leave you a million bucks and that annoying coworker won't vanish into thin air.

Back to our diet again. What we put in our bodies determines how we act and react. What foods should we eat or not eat to help overcome depression?

The same foods and substances that make us fat and sick, make us depressed as well. These include

sugar, fats, and starch.

Many food additives, too:

artificial sweeteners

artificial dyes

preservatives

We wouldn't knowingly consume poison, but by ingesting these substances, we end up with the same result.

A balanced diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables will eliminate many of those toxins, particularly if the produce is organic. A good multivitamin supplement provides extra nutritional insurance.

Start replacing coffee and soda with water. Enjoy sweet fruits, such as apples and plums, instead of candy or pastries. An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a cliche for a reason. It's true.

You can treat depression with other nonmedical treatments, including meditation or yoga, taking up a new hobby, or spiritual counseling, to name just a few.

Resolve to beat depression without drugs and a trip to the therapist's couch. Reward yourself for each victory with some nonfood treat. Soon you'll be looking and feeling better.

Article Source: http://www.articles-galore.com

Kathy Ferneau has created an excellent resource for information on diets, healthy eating, and exercise. Get a free smoothie recipe e-book just for visiting! www.lose-weight-diets.com

Childhood Abuse and Depression - Anxiety Lives On - By: Dr Leo Kady

It has been established that nature and nurture should not be taken as enemies or total opposites, but as two intertwined realities that function together to make up the human experience. Nature was designed for nurture.

Many recent and notable studies have documented the effects that early childhood experience can have on both the physical and chemical makeup of the brain. In particular, childhood abuse and/or neglect can permanently alter an individual's physiology. These physiological changes may lead to a greater likelihood of the person suffering from depression or anxiety later in life.

Groundbreaking results from a major study of depressed women in the US have shown that women who were abused as children have abnormally elevated hormonal responses to stress compared to women with no history of abuse. It suggests that childhood abuse is associated with persistent hyperactivity of the hormonal system associated with the stress response and this may cause greater vulnerability to psychiatric disorders in adulthood.

The study, headed by Dr. Charles Nemeroff at Emory University, looked at women diagnosed with clinical depression who had been abused as children; depressed women with no past abuse; and healthy women. Each person was given a moderately stressful experience and asked to perform simple mathematic problems aloud for a panel of stalwart non expressive judges.

Cortisol and ACTH (two hormones that play a critical role in a person's response to stress) were measured in each subject while she completed the task. It was found that the levels of these hormones were especially pronounced in women who were abused as children and who also had current depression. In fact, their ACTH response indicators were more than six times those of the healthy women.

In addition to high levels of stress hormones, other studies by the same group found that women who had been abused as children had abnormal development of the brain's hippocampus, which suggests another physical result of early abuse that could lead to permanent brain abnormalities in later life.

Other brain structures can also be affected by early abuse or neglect. While the basic unit of the brain is in place at birth, neuronal pathways for the body's reaction to different experiences are still developing.

There is a critical period of time in a child's first three years of life during which most of these pathways are formed. If a child receives primarily negative stimulation early in life, pathways for forming lasting relationships and responding to positive experiences can be stunted or destroyed. While this may be a reaction to help the child survive, it can cause permanent difficulties for the individual.

Other research shows that the brains of severely neglected children tend to be smaller than average with underdeveloped areas in the cortex. The long term implications of this are still being examined, but it shows one more way in which nurture or lack of it can affect a person's biological make-up.

The knowledge that nature and nurture are two crucial aspects to a person's health will undoubtedly prove to be a very useful tool in the research and treatment of psychiatric illness and may lead to even more effective treatments in the future.For more health articles visit U Publish Free Articles.Thank youDr Leo Kady

Article Source: http://www.mega-articles.com

Dr Leo Kady is a retired medical practioner, educator, and magazine writer. He is currently an editor with U Publish - www.upublish.info - where you can find a great assortment of article talent.

Depression: What's That Cloud Over Your Head? - By Steve Roberts

I'm 53 years old. It was only two years ago that I finally beat the depression in my life. Gone. Done. Nadda. But, as one who spent 51 years of my life feeling blue, exhausted, not worth much, unproductive, and with a kind of numbness around relationships, I have a fairly clear picture of what this kind of life is like, and how to get out of it.

A reader recently asked: "My whole life has pretty much been one bad experience after another. There have been good moments, but I am always dealing with some kind of bad stuff. Whether it be home, work, relationships - you name it - always something bad to deal with. How do I get rid of the cloud that hangs over my head?"

This experience is far more common that you might think. And, if this is your personal experience in life, you probably think that you're just about the only one. I assure you that you aren't, and that you're not crazy, and that with a whole lot of personal work on yourself life can be quite the incredible journey. Remember, I know personally of what I speak.

What I Learned About How This Gets Started

Simply put, for most of us the Cloud gets started in early childhood. We face painful experiences from poor parenting, abusive people around us, or some kind of loss that could not have been prevented by the best of intentions.

At this very tender young age we form coping behaviors to deal with the pain and fear. If you think of your earliest life memories, they probably represent something of how you believe the world and you to be. You could have chosen many different things to remember, but you somehow chose to remember just these particular memories. That is significant.

For instance, my earliest memories are of making mistakes of some kind. My belief was that I'm some kind of a "screw up."

Once we have these early beliefs, an incredible, but terrible thing occurs. Our brains start looking for evidence that supports these beliefs, and discounts the evidence that would contridict them. I've always been able to identify how I "screw up" but rairly could claim my true abilities and giftedness.

If you're stuck on how illogical this seems, please realize that we're not very conscious creatures. We're only 10% consciously aware. The other 90% is unconscious and runs on some fairly primitive programs that are very, very connected to the fight or flight response.

So, to keep this short, the summary is: We create distorted beliefs early in life to explain things and to protect ourselves in some way, and then as adults we either interpret the events in our lives in these negative ways, or we may even create events to match our expectations.

Take my word for it, you've got to read books on this simple idea to really understand how deep and persistent it is.

What I Learned To Do About It

This is the tough part. What worked for me will not exactly work for you. You developed your own particular storyline along these broad guidelines. This is where it helps to have a therapist, coach or mentor at your side. Your recovery needs to be tailored to you.

But, for what it is worth, here's a quickie version of my Cloud story.

1. For years I believed that if I just found the right environment "outside" of myself that I would feel better. This meant finding the right friends, the right food, the right job, the right vehicle, the next enticing thing, or even insisting that people around me behave in certain ways.

It didn't work. The problem came from inside me, not from the outside.

2. I tried traditional therapy. It helped a little. But mostly the guy just listened and stared at me. Big deal.

3. In my counseling training, I fortunately found a supervisor that really cared about me and started me on the road to caring about myself. At least, to the degree that I could at that time. This was the real start of my journey.

If you don't find this in your first therapist, keep looking!

4. I hit a really down time and decided that I needed to try anti-depressant medication. Even though I had referred many people for medication, I still had trouble with the stigma attached to such drugs. But I did it anyway.

It was Incredible! It was as though I had been color blind and could now see in color for the first time in my life! I walked around amazed that most other people felt this way most of the time.

And, it made for wonder in my marriage. No longer was I irritable all the time. I regretted all the years my spouse had to put up with me that old way!

That was over 10 years ago. As with so many, the first couple of good years didn't last. Anti-depressant "poop-out" syndrome occurred repeatedly. I tried many other medications along the way.

5. About 6 years ago I took up meditation. That's a challenging discipline for somebody with ADD! I credit meditation as breaking loose some of the blocks so that later success could come my way.

Several years ago I tried writing daily affirmations to myself as so many success gurus suggest. This helped in many other areas of my life, but the Cloud was still there.

6. Finally, I asked spiritually for the removal of the Cloud. Two months later I had the experience that enlightened me. I saw deep within me how I create the feelings, and therefore, how I can control them. This was nothing I hadn't known consciously before, but now I knew it deep, deep within me in an unconscious place I cannot even describe.

You'd think that having been a pastor or a pastoral counselor for over 20 years that this would have been my first step. But I think it took all the other steps to get me into position for the final magic to work. I don't believe there is a quick fix for any of us.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it is a spiritual journey. To follow the metaphor, the Cloud is blocking the Light from our lives, and it is a rediscovery of this Light that enables our choice to remove the Cloud each time it reappears.

The Cloud does reappear. Once we have this old programming that believes things to be a certain way, it tries to come out from time to time. But we get better and better at putting it away and making the choice to see the wonder all around us and especially the wonder within us.

Once in a while we get a quick push, as I did two years ago, but mostly it is a slow dawning of letting a little more Light in each day.

And, did I mention there's no quick fix? You'd best find that counselor, mentor, or coach right now!

Steve Roberts, "The Couples Guy," is an experienced Marriage and Family Therapist who shares tips and real life relationship secrets from over 20 years of practice. Get Insight and Wisdom for your Relationships at: http://www.whatworksforcouples.com/

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

I'm Sorry

Hello Readers,
I just wanted to take a minute to apologize for not posting any articles to my blogs yesterday. I had a family emergency I was dealing with and didn't get to my computer. Please forgive me. Hopefully now things will get back to normal.

Happy Reading!!


Sincerely,
Anna

"I'm Sorry I Killed Myself" - By Linda Meckler

There is a new television program on this season called Ghost Whisperer. I happen to love ghost programs so I have watched it on occasion.

There was a program on recently about this troubled young man who was in love with a woman. The woman he was in love with was moving out of the state to start a wonderful new job and he was not part of her future.

While this troubled young man was happy for her positive career move he could not visualize his life without her.

That same evening this man decided to jump off a bridge and end his life. He came back to the Ghost Whisper two years later. He was a troubled young man alive but now he was even more troubled deceased.

The Ghost Whisperer is a wonderful young actress who sees and speaks to ghosts. She helps the ghosts settle there past problems with their families. The families and the ghost have closure. The ghost moves on and the family is happier that they had heard from their deceased family member. Both the ghost and family members are now at peace.

Not all the episodes are people becoming ghost from suicide. Some of stories are about disease and accidents.

In this episode the ghost wanted the Ghost Whisper to help him tie up the loose ends with his past love so he could move on to the next level.

But the most amazing part of this story is what this young ghost said next.

“I am sorry I jumped off the bridge and killed myself. I wish I could undo this and be alive again.”

Ladies and gentlemen what do you think about that statement coming directly from a ghost. I think it is a positive and powerful statement. It does not matter whether you believe in ghosts or not this is a powerful statement.

Today with teenage suicides on the rise maybe this statement "I am sorry I jumped off the bridge and killed myself. I wish I could undo this and be alive today," can stop the teenager in mid stride and think before they leap.

I hope you enjoyed my article. Please feel free to read my other articles. I would love to hear from you.

Copyright 2006 Linda Meckler

Linda is the author of the adventure, “Ghost Kids Trilogy.” This is three complete books in one book. Christy, 12 and her Brother Brad, 16 moves into an old house on top of a mountain and meet two Ghost Kids.

Become involved with all the characters and all the adventure and mystery.

Then we have Uncle Charlie who is trapped in a magical blue vase.

Take a walk with Christy and Brad down a dark hall hunting for Pirates” Treasure, you will think were you there right there with them. Love, Family Values and Charity burst off the pages. Check out my website http://www.lmeckler.com

If you are bed/wheelchair confined you must check out this fabulous product, Instant Bladder Relief Urinal. Check it out on my website http://www.lmeckler.com

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

Depression Natural Cures - Lift Your Mood Nauturally and Quickly ! - By Sacha Tarkovsky

Depression is an illness, and it has been shown to affect no less than 6% of any sample population (America for example) at any given period.

The percent may indeed be much higher at times of stress. Many sufferers need medical attention; as the depression does not just go away on its own, here we are going to show you some simple natural cures.

Depression has basically three levels of severity; mild, moderate, and acute (meaning severe).

Mild depression is described as the sufferer having difficulty in with their normal daily activities.

Moderate depression disables the sufferer to function properly at their work or in private life.

Acute depression can produce a condition that interferes with a person's ability to generally function normally. This in tern can also produce collateral symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations, and can eventually lead to suicide.

There are of course, many synthetic pharmaceutical remedies for depression.

Some are very well known and have been used by doctors for some time. They do, unfortunately have their own adverse side effects, such as dependency (thus withdrawal symptoms. An example is Paxil, were the US, FDA is now requiring the manufacturer to state the drug has severe withdrawal symptoms).

Happily, there are several natural ways to lift depression, and some aren’t even medicines at all. See below a list of what is being used (some very successfully against depression).

•Kriya Yoga. This is a form of Yoga that uses a type of rhythmic hyperventilation, and its daily practice has been shown in studies to alleviate several or all of depressive symptoms in whole ranges of depressive symptoms.

•Bright Light Therapy. Originally a test and treatment for depressed pregnant woman, the Bright Light Therapy has also been used to treat SAD (seasonal affective disorder), where the sufferer has a depression due to the season’s lack of sunlight.

•St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum). This is a long-studied, and well tolerated natural herbal cure for depression.

St John's Wort contains a variety of natural antidepressant substances including, hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin. These work at the root of mild depression, boosting neurotransmitter function and returning your mood to normal.

It may not work as fast as the pharmaceutical alternatives, but there are NO side-effects, and in time (perhaps 6 weeks) are just or more effective.

•EPA. This is one of the Omega-3 fatty acids, derived from fish oil. Recent studies show high does of this natural substance are curing acute depression, even suicidal tendencies.

•Saffron. New studies have indicated that saffron (long known for its anti-depressive qualities) is as effective as imipramine and Prozac.

•DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA), is now considered by many doctors an effective antidepressant. This herbal remedy for depression works by raising phenylethylamine (PEA) levels in the brain increasing the production of Norepinephrine. This natural antidepressant also protects and increases the lifetime of Endorphins (chemicals involved in mood and pain regulation). DL-Phenylalanine converts to L-tyrosine in the body.

•L-Threonine is an essential amino acid. In several studies, L-Threonine supplementation gave people with acute depressive symptoms a greater control over their moods.

•5-HTP. This is an herbal remedy for depression that is also the immediate precursor to Melatonin and Serotonin. Serotonin gives a neurochemical balance during times of stress, and is essential to regulating mood and other important bodily functions.

* Skullcap (scutellaria laterifolia). ) Skullcap is rich in the minerals that are essential for the nervous system. This herbal remedy for depression is also used for agitation, neurasthenia, anxiety, fatigue, hysteria, and headaches, Skullcap as an herbal remedy for depression is useful to relieve withdrawal symptoms when going off of pharmaceutical antidepressants and tranquillizers.

As you can see, there are many alternatives to the synthetic, and possibly harmful drugs now given to relieve depression.

For more free info on health and natural ways to lift and combat depression please visit our website http://www.net-planet.org/health.html

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

Solutions For Depression - By Steve Hill

This article is aimed at helping people who are often in a state of depression. I have had many of periods in my life where I have found it difficult to carry on and where in truth I have wished that my life would just end.

Depression affects people in many different ways. From a personal note it affects my sleep patterns and makes the smallest things irritate me. I have even been sick in the morning after spending the night worrying about my present situation.

Most of the time I am not so much depressed at what is happening now but am fearing what might happen in the future. This fear may be about financial matters, a social occasion, health or about my family.

I had basically had enough of constantly being depressed, about being in fear of the future and needed to learn about how to control my depression.

After seeking inspiration from a variety of sources, I had what I hoped was enough ammunition to keep my fears and phobias at bay. I will at times have an off day where I feel quite low and this is where I use my new found knowledge.

How to control your depression

I am a very quiet person and I like to keep myself to myself. Some would say that I border on being a loner, which I would quite agree with. Too many people have hurt me throughout my life and to tell you the truth I prefer being on my own. I am not a peoples person.

I also like to keep my problems to myself. This was my biggest failure, what I needed to do was to talk through my problems and fears with somebody else, a member of my family for example.

This was not easy for me to do and it took a great deal of courage to talk to anybody about the areas of my life which made me feel depressed. I did however go down this route and it did have a positive effect. To talk about my problems was like taking a weight off my shoulders.

The person I confided in was my father. He listened and then came back with some superb advice and a couple of suggestions of what I could do.

This is my second piece of advice. We need to spend less time worrying and more time seeking solutions to our problems. We need to ask ourselves why we are depressed and what can help us to remedy our issues.

My father also stated that I should only do things and go to places that I wanted to. I have always found it hard to turn down invitations to for example a party and have found myself often somewhere that I do not in reality want to be.

He also told me about one of his friends. His name was Mike and he had just been diagnosed with cancer. The doctors had told Mike that he only has a maximum of six months to live and he is only fifty-nine. He asked me to imagine how he must be feeling.

I went home and thought about Mike, I was sure that he would love to swap shoes with me. It is not just about Mike, he has a wife and three children, what must they be going through. I started to appreciate my own health and that of my family a bit more.

By opening up and talking about why I was depressed was the best thing I ever did and is something I will continue to do. My dad certainly helped me to think in a more positive way.
This advice I am sure will not help every person who is depressed as depression is an illness. It has however helped me and I am hoping it will be of benefit to others.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

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