Depression In Adolescence - By Janie Jonah

Depression In Adolescence

By Janie Jonah

Growing up is something we all have to face. This often brings with it the consequences that are not particularly welcome. Our biggest changes occur in our youth and in particularly during adolescence where we undergo, huge changes, not only physical but also emotional and psychological.



This can be very overwhelming and difficult for teens to cope with. Particularly within the family setting the teen can feel isolated as he may very well feel he is going through these changes alone. This can affect his mood and so the risks of developing depression is heightened. Some of the factors that can contribute to a teenager developing depression are teens suffering from anxiety and those with learning difficulties or attention deficit disorder.



Depression in teens can be difficult to diagnose as being moody is a very common symptom of adolescent development. With all these emotions building up inside, a teenager may find it embarrassing and feel ashamed to ask for help. They might also not be aware of the symptoms of depression and may not recognize that they have an illness that is actually very common and one for which there is a considerable amount of help available to sufferers of depression.



Depression is a very serious illness and can result in attempts to take there own life as well as successfully committing suicide. The fact that anti-depressants are not recommended to people under the age of 18 means that teenagers are more at risk of committing suicide because anti-depressants can cause severe side-effects and are thus not suitable for people under the age of 18. Being vigilant and keeping a check on teens is very important as it is quite difficult to recognize depression in teens.



Some of the symptoms of depression that you should keep in mind are teens talking about suicide of actions that are self-harming. A deterioration in performance at school as well as a problem with authority are also symptoms of depression in teens. Other factors that can contribute to poor performance at school are a lack of motivation and enthusiasm, a lack of concentration and forgetfulness, restlessness and agitation. Other factors that are often seen as an separate problem on their own, which many not realize that they can be a symptom or sign of a deeper problem are alcohol and drug abuse and problems with anger, and a lack of anger management skills. Which is understandable as youths have yet so much to learn about life. It can however, be relatively easy to pick up on teens that withdraw themselves, initially from their friends, and then past pleasurable activities along with changes to sleeping and eating routines.



There are many other signs of depression that can indicate a deeper underlying cause of the symptom. It must be noted however that symptoms experienced don't always point to depression, especially if the teen has only one or two symptoms. This may not indicate depression and thus one need only treat the symptom in isolation. Some of the other signs that may point to depression are frequent crying for no reason at all. Some sufferers can't bear color and choose to wear black clothing. They show little or no interest in themselves and neglect their personal appearance and hygiene. Some of the physical symptoms not usually associated with depression but can occur frequently are dizziness, lightheadedness, back pains, headaches, feeling nauseous and having stomach aches. They may also talk about running away from home or following through with action.



It is important to be vigilant and remember that it is better to be safe than sorry, so if you know someone who exhibits a number of symptoms described above, whether they are an adolescent or not, help them by seeking a health professional that can examine them and decide on a suitable course of action or medication that is appropriate for the diagnosis. Remember, it's never too late to help someone with depression. You may just save a life.



About the Author: Janie Jonah Canada Pharmacy (c) 2006, PerfectDrugRx. All rights in all media reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.



Source: www.isnare.com

Would you Recognize Manic Depression Symptoms? - Mark J Emslie

Manic Depression is a serious medical illness and it is not something that you have made up in your head or something you can just "snap" out of. Most people think that depression is just a prolonged bad mood which it is not; it is a mood disorder that influences every aspect of daily life.

Manic depression is these days referred to as bipolar disorder or bipolar depression an the disease affects around 2% of the population and is a highly disruptive brain disorder. People with manic depression symptoms experience great highs (manic stage) and great lows (depressive stage).

Manic Stage Symptoms

- An Increased sense of self

-importance

- An inflated positive outlook

- A notably decreased need for sleep

- A reduction in appetite and weight loss

- Reduced concentration and easily distracted

- Extreme involvement in pleasurable activities

- Extreme irritability and aggressive behaviour

Depressive Stage Symptoms

- Feelings of sadness or despondency

- A loss of interest in pleasurable or usual activities

- Difficulty sleeping or getting up in the morning

- Reduced energy and constant lethargy

- Feelings of guilt or low self-esteem

- Problems concentrating

- Increased weight or weight loss

- Suicidal or death talk

As is the case for many mental illnesses, the causes of the manic depression symptoms aren't at all clear, although there are inherited components with there being evidence that genes play a role in susceptibility to manic depression symptoms and that it tends to run in families, but not always.

Depression is frequently ignored or untreated but the condition itself often prevents people from taking steps to help themselves. The first step in beating depression is though, to admit it. Look at the manic depression symptoms and be hones with yourself.

About The Author

If you need more information or resources concerning depression or anti depression, please visit http://www.AntiDepressionInfo.com

How Depression Can Threaten Your Marriage - Nancy Wasson

In my work through the years as a counselor, I’ve talked with many depressed individuals. I’ve also had personal experience with depression myself and know firsthand how debilitating it can be.

Nearly everyone at some point in their life will be affected by depression—either their own or someone else’s, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or friend. Just in the U.S. alone, depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million adults in any given year.

Statistics show that only twenty percent of those who experience depression will receive an appropriate treatment plan. Many depressed individuals will be too embarrassed to seek help and will suffer in silence, sometimes for years.

The effects of depression can negatively impact every aspect of a person’s life—marriage, home life, work, and friendships. And the burden of living with a depressed spouse can take a heavy toll on the quality of a marriage.

Untreated depression poses a very real threat to a marriage. Recent research indicates that when one spouse suffers from depression, the likelihood is increased that both spouses will have an unhappy marriage.

This is because mental health and unhappy marriages are closely entwined. The harmful effects of depression are not limited to the depressed spouse but affect the partner, also

The depressed spouse will experience less happiness, satisfaction, and contentment in the marriage. At the same time, the partner will struggle with handling the increased isolation and social withdrawal of the depressed spouse, the loss of emotional intimacy (and often sexual intimacy as well), and the prevalent negativity in the relationship.

When one spouse is depressed, the depression colors everything in the relationship. The depressed spouse sees the world through a darkened lens that limits his or her perspective. Any negative events are interpreted even more negatively, neutral events are also interpreted negatively, and the positive happenings are often overlooked.

It’s as though depressed individuals have blinders on that keep them from seeing any positive, hopeful opportunities right in front of them. Even if they did see them, they wouldn’t have the energy to follow through.

The depressed spouse often loses interest in activities that used to bring pleasure and may experience fatigue and listlessness. There can be loss of sleep or sleeping too much; eating too much or too little; or problems focusing and concentrating.

Feelings of love and sexual desire may become dulled or absent when an individual is depressed. The biggest danger when this happens is that the depressed spouse may erroneously conclude that this means he (or she) is no longer in love with the mate.

Many depressed individuals report that they feel detached from what is happening, as though they are watching a movie. There can be a profound feeling of separation and isolation from others and a desire to avoid social contact. There can be feelings of sadness, hopelessness, dejection, and resignation. Or there can be feelings of irritation, agitation, anger, or emotional numbness.

Another danger to the marriage is that the partner of a depressed spouse can become depressed from the depressive atmosphere and energy in the relationship. Depression can be viewed as contagious when it creeps into a partner’s outlook, attitudes, moods, conversation, behaviors, and reactions. When this happens, both spouses may feel they are helplessly sinking lower and lower into despair.

Blame and shame are involved in depression and can cause additional problems. If a spouse doesn’t understand that the partner is depressed and not just lazy or uncooperative, she (or he) may blame the partner for things he can’t help at the time. This stirs up feelings of anger and resentment for the spouse.

The depressed spouse may be ashamed to admit that he (or she) can’t handle the depression herself and thus refuse to see a physician. This feeling of shame reflects the belief of numerous people about depression. They may feel that they should be able to just “snap out of it,” which is what family and friends may tell them, also.

In one research study, fifty-four percent of people surveyed believed that depression is a personal weakness. In reality, depression has nothing to do with personal weakness or will power or character.

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It’s not just a case of the “blues” that a person can “get over.” Thus, common misunderstandings about depression can add to the problem.

It’s vital for both spouses to have a thorough understanding of depression—what it is, what it isn’t, what to expect, and what treatment options are recommended. It’s also important to recognize that before marital problems can be effectively treated, the depression needs to be treated first. That means that the depressed spouse needs to see a physician or mental health professional for a depression assessment and treatment recommendations.

What can a spouse do when the depressed partner refuses to seek help? This is a common situation and there’s no one answer that fits all situations. It’s important to get the depressed partner to the doctor or mental health professional, even if the spouse has to schedule the appointment, take off from work, and accompany the partner to the appointment.

Sometimes the parents or siblings of a resistant depressed spouse can be enlisted to encourage him (or her) to take action and seek treatment. At other times, a close friend or minister can help to convince a depressed spouse to consult with his physician or see a therapist.

Another strategy that a concerned partner can sometimes use is to send a confidential letter to the depressed spouse’s doctor, detailing the concerns and depressive symptoms observed. This only works when the depressed spouse has to see his (or her) physician for some other reason, such as a required annual physical, to get a prescription for medication, or on-going monitoring of some condition. The physician can’t respond to the partner’s letter due to confidentiality, but at least the information has been conveyed.

If all else fails, the partner can consult with a therapist herself (or himself) to get individualized recommendations on how to handle the situation. Together, they can create an appropriate plan of action while the therapist provides emotional support to the partner.

Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-creator of Overcome Control Conflict with Your Spouse or Partner, available at http://www.ControllingSpouse.com She is also co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says "I don't love you anymore!" which is available at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com, as well as a free weekly Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine . Dr. Wasson offers telephone and email coaching to individuals and couples who want to overcome relationship problems and create a rewarding, loving partnership.

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

Is Your Teenager Suffering From Depression? Clues Every Caring Parent Should Watch For! - A. Graham Smith

Does your teenage child spend a good portion of their days lolling around doing very
little constructive? Do they suffer from innumerable minor ailments - maybe
headaches, stomach aches, feeling sick? Do they stay up way into the wee-small-
hours of the morning watching late night (or should that be early morning) TV, or
maybe playing video games, or endlessly 'chatting' via the Internet with person or
persons unknown? Do they seem to resent being asked almost anything about their
lives, and do they usually react with an odd grunt, and rarely as much as two
syllables?

If you can see a likeness to your own teenage child or children in some of these
descriptions, perhaps you are thinking: "Yes, but so what?" Perhaps you have
assumed - as many parents might - "That's just being a teenager! They're all like that
aren't they?"

Well, to be honest the answer is "No". Not all teens are like that. It may be true that at
some time or other all teenagers wrestle with the challenges of things like hormones,
spots, first love, social acceptance, and all the other stuff that suddenly seems so
important during those transitional years between childhood and becoming an adult. It
may also be true that these issues could lead many teens to become surly, sullen and
uncommunicative from time to time for short spells. But, you do need to take stock,
for if your teen is like this nearly all the time...then you should take a little time out to
do some 'discreet' deeper investigation.

Why? Because your teenage offspring might be suffering from depression. It is a sad
fact that the combination of common stressors that can arise in today's society can
compound themselves in a way that sends some youngsters spiralling down into a first
major period of depression, which they almost certainly find difficult to cope
with. Some such teenagers can turn to trying to alleviate their plight by abusing drugs
or alcohol. Admittedly rare, but in extreme cases depression can lead to unpleasant
self-harming activities, or possibly attempted suicide. Every year there are devastated
families whose teenage child made the ultimate 'cry for help' that a suicide attempt is
judged to be - and sometimes that 'cry' does indeed have fatal consequences.

It is unlikely that most teenagers, themselves, will actually recognize that they
are depressed. They may well feel isolated, cut-off from being able to talk to you or
their friends, lacking in any feeling of motivation or enjoyment of life. They may drift
away from long-term friendships - sudden 'spats' and arguments might occur and this
could all be part of a downward spiral. You may even become aware that they are
increasingly finding excuses to miss a day of school here or there. All these are possible symptoms
of depression and should be seen as 'amber lights' warning you to beware that all may not be well.

We, none of us, want to be an over-concerned parent over-reacting every time we
have the slightest inkling that something may not be right. But equally we don't want
to 'plough-on' regardless, ignoring what may be happening to our children, blissfully
unaware that they could have a real, major problem brewing.

Common wisdom and media influence, even including TV comedies, have led us to expect that
teens will be difficult to deal with. They may seem to inhabit a world of their own into
which an adult parent dare not stray - without the risk of being strafed by some
carping comments, accusations of never leaving them alone, or maybe even greater
tantrums. Nonetheless today's parents should have enough understanding of basic
psychology to be able to pick-up on whether there is really something going on in
their teenager's life that requires them to 'be there' for their growing child, even if the
going gets a little rough.

Both teenage, and even childhood depression have been shown to be on the increase,
particularly in developed Western societies like the US, UK and Northern Europe. It
is important that as a responsible and caring parent you put some homework in to
familiarizing yourself with those signs and sypmtoms that could indicate that your almost-adult-
child is suffering from more that just the occasional ups-and-downs of normal teenage
angst!

A Graham Smith - 15 years lecturing, tutoring and acting as a student counsellor and mentor, plus 30 years experience of depression as both a carer and sufferer, now publishes a web-based guide to dealing with depression a resource that looks at the positive side of depression and how it can help you change your life for the better. http://www.depressionisok.com contains useful articles, information and links plus much more
about spotting the signs and symptoms of Teenage Depression.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Graham_Smith

Christian Faith, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia; Part one - Matthew Robert Payne

Growing up with Bible stories and the TV and movies, you come to know about maniac’s. As a teenager I knew that genius and insanity were very closely related. Little did I know I would one day become insane.

Insanity…being out of your mind…delusional….having visions of grandeur…deceived by evil spirits…possessed by demons…contacting the dead…trips to heaven and hell…seeing evil spirits…seeing angels…seeing Jesus…seeing people out of the Bible…all in Part One

writing five pages without editing except for a proofreader…writing a warning from God to a nation…being delivered from demons…having demons speak to you…having a demon pretend to be the Holy Spirit and tell you lies and direct you to do things that you assume are God telling you to do…staying up for three days and three nights without sleep… sleeping for two days straight…being so depressed you can’t even wash clothes, shower, shave or cook for yourself…all in Part two

These are all experiences I have had as a Christian with schizoaffective disorder. Which is Manic depressive (Bipolar disorder) and Schizophrenia bundled into one illness.

One thing I have found in the church is that FEW people understand mental illness. I also have never met a born again Christian in the mental health services I have been part of and so I am in limbo.

One time about five months ago when I was in hospital I prayed for a Schizophrenic patient to be able to hear from God, and asked her to repeat about four sentences that I would have God speak to her. The message was a message I wanted to hear from God but didn’t have the faith to ask Him myself as my own head was in a bad place with deceiving spirits going rampant. She was half way through the second sentence and tears were streaming down my face. God gave me a very comforting and reassuring message of hope in the midst of my crisis.

The patient who delivered the message was astounded that I was so affected and told me that she was so in love with the voice that had spoken the message to her. She said the voice was so soft and so full of love and so different to the voices that spoke to her. I told her that she could always ask God to speak to her and He would comfort her.

Everybody thinks Schizophrenic patients are possessed. Every one has half answers. Ask the same believers to cast the demons out of these patients and they are first to admit that they haven’t got the gift.

So how do I cope?

Man, I have to tell you this with all honesty.

I go to dark places and I cry. I cry a lot.

I pray.

I read my Bible.

And I chat to God.

Let me address each of the topics briefly that I mentioned above.

Insanity…being out of your mind.

Whenever you dream, daydreaming is being out of your mind. Where it crosses over to insanity is when you start to believe the reality is true. Many mentality ill people get help from inside their heads as an inner voice to think insane thoughts. I have in the past been quite convinced I was talking to Mary Magdalene in heaven. I used to speak to her for an hour each night. I was thrilled to be speaking to a person so close to Jesus. This is insanity.

Delusional…

Delusional as I understand the term is just like being out of your mind. In the year 2000 I began to speak to my ex wife in my mind. I was told by a spirit that was pretending to be Jesus that through my ex wife I was going to contact a whole lot of witches and convert them to Christianity and because they were gifted in the dark arts they were going to be very effective and powerful in the Christian world when they are operating out of love.

I asked who I thought was Jesus how to do it and he stepped me through it. Soon the whole 144,000 of the book of Revelation were converted and all were ex witches and I was the leader. I had a number of girls that I was speaking to in my mind and one was appointed as leader. Without much sleep I would preach to the 144,000 converts and teach them things and then I would ask them questions and we would do a count of the answers in percentage of which the lead girl would do a tally. Most of them were yes and no answers. When I started wanting to meet the Australian girls and the ones in my city and started to ask for phone numbers and email addresses I was told that it was a whole lot more convenient to speak like this.

If you have a Schizophrenic friend, ask them the answer they got from their voice they are speaking to when they asked for the phone number, mailing address, or email address.

The most common demonic response is that it’s cheaper and more convenient to do it through telepathy. I never pushed it further to the second and third level lies from demons.

Having visions of Grandeur…deceived by evil spirits.

I have thought I was one of the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11. A human being who isn’t one of these two last days prophets who is convinced that they are, is most often mentally ill. When people said I wasn’t, this only made me more confident as I said, “No one believed in the prophets of the Bible, and so having no one believe me makes it more credible.” The only thing that brought my thinking back to reality was medication.

Many mentally ill people have low self esteem and so thinking they are a modern John the Baptist or Jesus or one of the two last day’s prophets makes them feel important. These delusions that the patient takes on makes them a person that is important and they will fight not to let go of this through of importance. All the way though my delusion I had a “Jesus” voice speaking to me that wasn’t Jesus. I never considered that Jesus would lie to me and so nothing my parents or friends said could be convincing to me.

God had grace on me though,as he allowed the Jesus voice on two occasions six years apart say something that turned out to be a lie. I never forgot the lies and could not reconcile I am the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) of what Jesus said of Himself and the lies my Jesus had told me. I had simply forgiven Him and tried to forget it. Then two years ago anointed preacher from Malaysia told me my Mary Magdalene, the God the Father voice and the Jesus voice that were speaking to me were demons and that I was not to speak to them. I obeyed.

Possessed by demons.

On four occasions I have been delivered of demons. On only three of the occasions did I feel any better afterwards. As I have had an addiction to prostitutes I have always had a vessel full of all sorts of demons that have sex with me and fill me back up again. Touch wood by faith I have conquered that addiction so in months to come when I am delivered again they will stay out of me.

Much of the Christian community does not believe in demon possession. Fewer still believe that a born again Christian can be possessed. It’s as if demons disappeared 2000 years ago.

I have a number of demons still in me. I have to spend time on my faith, in the Word and in prayer and healing before I am ready for them to come out.

At present I know a man with a spirit of murder in him and he wants to kill me. Of late this has caused me some distress and put me into a depression. I have to avoid a whole block of my city for my life’s sake and this has upset me. Demons are real. Most times it’s a demon that is speaking to a Schizophrenic. But it’s not easy to turn that voice off even for a Christian with that illness.

Fear, lust and a spirit of Masons have been cast out of me. The Masonic spirit leaving made my whole head seem free. The spirit of fear had a big difference on my personality and is trying to re-exert itself through the man who wants to kill me. The Lord himself lifted the spirit of lust one day after I repented in tears and touch wood I have not been with a sex worker since.

Contacting the dead…trips to heaven and hell.

Often times when in conversation with a stranger the Holy Spirit will direct me to ask them if they have a question for Jesus. Sometimes the person will ask how a dead relative is. On many occasions Jesus will give me a message to share about their relative. On some occasions the relative has spoken. I know in the Law a medium is condemned yet each time it comes a surprise to me the question, and in almost every case the person’s eyes fill up with tears. I know this could be a familiar spirit but on most of the occasions I can describe the house the relative has in heaven and all the furniture and they are able to confess that features in the house I describe are exactly what they person would love but never had the money to own on earth or something like that. I see visions of the house and the people when this happens.

On many occasions I have been to heaven. I have been into a throne room at one time and seen a big ball of light like I think Isaiah saw. I explain that in more detail in my article Modern Prodigal Goes to Heaven. One time I saw a whole park full of children and Jesus told me it was all the children in heaven that had no parents. Most of them were abortions on earth. That was a memorable trip. One time in heaven Jesus put a big diamond the size of a soccer ball in my hand. Later on the Father said that diamond that I held would run the USA government for 200 years. He told me that was what he thought of money as the wall I took it out of was hundreds of feet high and miles long all of which were diamonds of that size. Bill Gates with all his wealth wouldn’t even be able to buy one of them, such is the verse Jesus said, “Beware of greediness, life does not consist of the abundance of one’s possessions.” And also when He said, “what does it profit a man if He gains the whole world and loses His own soul?” That wall of diamonds showed me the reality of those two verses.

Yeah I am no one great. But each time I have been to heaven it has been memorable for me. A month ago I took a guy to heaven in his mind in a vision where he met his wife that had died a year before. He saw her sitting with Jesus in a meadow full of yellow flowers and a waterfall in the distance. She smiled at him and spoke to him. I was pleased that he could tell me what she had said and done as I watched it happen and was able to confirm it.

I have been to a part of hell for two fifteen minute trips. It’s not a place you want to visit. If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, I invite you to email me and tell me so, I have a few passages in the Bible I want you to look up.

Seeing evil spirits…seeing angels…seeing Jesus…seeing people out of the Bible.

I have only once seen an evil spirit of lust on a girl. It did not look nice. The best I can say is it looked like one of those dragons, people like to collect in popular shops. It gave her an attraction to all the guys and she was very attractive also. One of the Christian men I was with pointed it out and when he did I saw it.

I once asked Jesus, “How come I see angels all the time and I don’t see demons?”
He said, “Matthew if you saw the demons around you most of the time, you would not get any sleep.” I laughed, understood and never once complained since. Sometimes I have discernment of spirits and I can tell the name of a demon a person has inside of them, but I don’t see the demon.

However I have seen so many angels it would take a whole article to share all of them with you. Five times I have had the honour to see Michael the archangel. All but one time, He was in the company of Jesus. One time a few weeks before I went to hospital he was with me walking down the street. I saw two big guard dogs back off when I walked toward them as confirmation he was with me. The same day I had a six year old girl confirm that he was with me and when I told her Michael was a fighter, she started to have a play fight shadow boxing into the thin air as her mother wondered what had come over her daughter. With my two confirmations I felt convinced yes on that day I walked with Michael. I have felt a strong presence of God in a church and many times seen angels worshipping God in my church. On some special occasions to me I have seen women angels dancing.

Six years ago I was on a beach at 2am in the morning and Jesus had told me to move away from my family and go 400 miles and to Sydney where I had no friends and 800 miles from my son. On that night I asked Jesus where He was I was so caught up in my love for Him. He told me He was just beyond the breakers. I knew sharks like to cruise right behind the breakers for fish and night time was the wrong time to be swimming there, but I pushed the fear aside and went to swim out. As soon as I took a step toward the water the water receded 100 feet. I asked Jesus what was going on, and he said, “Not tonight, but you will meet me real soon.”

I said, “You said in the Book of Revelation that you are coming soon and that has been 200 years. How soon is soon?”

He said “very very soon Matthew.”

Three weeks later I met Jesus in Sydney in the flesh. He was dressed as a hungry, homeless man, dirty and forsaken by men. He did three things is my presence that were miracles to prove that He was who I thought He was. One of them was disappear into thin air.

I have seen Jesus in heaven, seen Him on many occasions in visions on earth and not less then ten times with one of my good friends. I once have been knighted by Jesus with a sword. I do not know what that means. When He spoke for ten minutes in the flesh on His ideas on the Gospels, the speech was so rich, so profound that I know it would take many years’ study to understand the depths of it.

In heaven I have met people out of the Bible. I have also met Daniel and the Apostle John on earth in visions on earth. I know I will have some role to play in these end times simply because both these men wrote visions of prophecy about these last days. Daniel came and comforted me in hospital.

Seeing evil spirits, seeing angels, seeing Jesus and dead people would have a sane person committed to a psychiatric ward of most hospitals, but to me these are regular experiences and you can’t have me put away because at present my mental health workers are very happy with my state of health. I am in a major depression and they can’t even tell.

As you can see I have not covered all of the topics. The rest: of them being:

writing five pages without editing except a proofreader…writing a warning from God to a nation…being delivered from demons…having demons speak to you…having a demon pretend to be the Holy Spirit and tell you lies and direct you to do things that you assume are God telling you to do…staying up for three days and three nights without sleep… sleeping for two days straight…being so depressed you can’t even wash clothes, shower, shave or cook for yourself…will be covered in part two.

Matthew is a writer, of both fiction and non fiction. He is a gifted speaker and has addressed professionals in mental health on his experiences with his disorder, in addiction is in in training to preach full time from chruch to church in years to come.

He shares his faith with 500 people per week here in his articles, where he writes on a variety of subjects, Christian, divorce and mental health being the main ones.

He operates a prayer and prophecy web site where you can reques a free personal prophecy or personal prayer free of charge, whether you are a Christian or not all , people are prayed for at http://www.online-prayer.net

You can read the list of articles in the link below

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

Depression And Relationships - By June23

Depression can be a very lonely illness and your relationships are a key part of how you cope with your depression. You need friends for support. Not just good weather friends but friends who can support you when you're down. If one of these friends is also depressed it is not necessarily a bad thing. You can understand each other and perhaps be there on each other's bad days (but not if you're having a bad time at the same time). However, you need to be conscious when choosing sexual partners that your depression will have altered you as a person. It is likely that the person you get together with when depressed will not be the person you want to be with when you are better. When you are depressed you are a different person, you may not even know who you really are but your partner will be with the person you are at that time. Also, depression alters your view of the world and therefore your view of other people, so your view of your partner will not be the same when you are better.



Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't start a relationship when depressed. On the contrary, it could be the best thing for you. It may provide the stability you need to start working through your problems and you may be able to talk to your partner about things you can't discuss with anyone else. Your partner may be the only person you can relax around and start to feel yourself again. Issues may arise that hadn't before and wouldn't have come up if you weren't in a relationship. On the other hand, you may find that you keep up the pretence of being the person you think you ought to be. There is also the possibility that the relationship could fail before you are ready - perhaps due to your depression. This will make you worse. Either way, the stability may give you the space to start seeing things differently and the confidence to start seeking therapy.



However, what I strongly advise is do not start a relationship with someone who is also depressed. I am not a doctor but I do have 25 years experience of depression and there are two likely outcomes of this sort of relationship. Firstly, one of you will get better, you will split and the other will get worse. The reason is this: if you are simply friends with another depressed person you can help each other and if one of you gets better you can still be there to help the other one with your understanding and advice. However, if you are in a relationship with another depressed person and one of you gets better and you split up then the other person will have suffered the end of their relationship plus the loss of their friendship and support. By all means be friends with other depressed people, we all need friends when we're depressed, but wait until you have both recovered before you think about starting a sexual partnership.



Depression is a difficult illness to really get rid of. Once you have had it there is always the possibility of a recurrence. If you have recovered from your depression but are still in a relationship with someone who is depressed it is very difficult to stay recovered. Also, you may find that you want to get out of the relationship but feel trapped because you know that the other person will get worse. The stress of this may send you back into depression. This is the second outome - you will both remain depressed.



There are two remaining possible outcomes - the first is that you will both get better and stay together. I believe this is highly unlikely but not impossible. You will both be different people when you are better, with different views and personalities from when you first got together. You may still like each other but want different things. It would be great if you both manage to help each other through depression and out the other side but the normal stresses and strains of a relationship make this unlikely.



The other outcome is that one of you will get better and you will stay together. I think this is the least likely to happen. If you recover from depression and live with someone who is depressed you are not likely to be really happy. You may still remember the feelings and understand but there may be an element of "I got through it so you should be able to as well." We all know that's unreasonable as part of depression is the feeling that you just can't try any more but don't people always say that ex-smokers and the worst critics of smokers?



Bear in mind that a long-term partnership is not necessarily a bad thing when you are depressed but please think about the consequences of getting together with another depressed person. Try to help each other and be there for each other but keep enough distance between you so that you help each other and not bring each other down. In other words, stay friends and don't live with each other, at least, not until you know who you really are.



June23 maintains the Depression Online Site - a collection of articles for people living either with depression or with someone with depression.



Article Source: DW Articles

The Symptoms and Causes of Clinical Depression in Adults - Matt OConnor

Clinical or major depression - sometimes referred to as major depressive disorder or severe depressive disorder, is the most common mental disorder in the world. It affects 16% of the human population and is the leading cause of disability in America as well as in other countries. The World Health Organization expects that in 2020, clinical depression will become the second leading cause of disability in the whole world (next to heart disease).

Clinical depression is characterized by severe sadness and melancholy for a prolonged period of time. It can affect a man or woman's mental and behavioral attitude as well as his or her ability to carry out normal, everyday things.

So, what are the symptoms of clinical depression in adults?

• Severe periods of sadness that could last for hours, days, and even weeks.

• A decrease or loss in interest in the usual activities that he or she usually finds interesting

• Appetite change (can be both loss and/or gain). The result is a ballooning up or down in weight.

• Guilt over things that are relatively beyond their control such as getting sick.

• A general feeling of worthlessness.

• Lack of concentration on tasks and the inability to think logically including evidence of indecisiveness on things both significant and less so.

• Exhaustion during physical activities including exercise, work, and even walking.

• Irritability and a short temper

• Periods of sobbing for seemingly no apparent reason.

• Lack of self-confidence

• Low self-esteem

• Negative perception of the future or loss of hope over everything

• Occasional feeling of anxiety.

• Suicidal tendencies

• Irregular sleeping patters that include hypersomnia or excessive sleeping, loss of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and insomnia or lack of sleep. This can be coupled with a difficulty in getting back to sleep. This in turn is naturally not good for a person's health or day to day existence.

What are the causes?

• Medical condition – Illnesses or traumatic experiences that are far too difficult to handle can cause depression. This might be cardiovascular disease, hypothyroidism, hepatitis, and major injuries.

• Life experiences – Depression can be triggered by poverty, prolonged unemployment, career frustrations, multiple personal failures, gambling addiction, financial problems, loss of family members (spouse, child or relatives), a breakup within a committed relationship and other events that can trigger severe sadness.

• Early life experiences – Childhood trauma like rejection or abandonment, chronic illness, neglect, death of loved one, sexual abuse, incest, psychological trauma, and other accidents that may not appear to be harmful during the early years but which can manifest later in life.

• Psychological conditions – Lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem can trigger depression.

• Physical conditions – Weight issues and physical deformities or disabilities can cause an adult to become depressed.

• Living with a depressed person – Acquiring negative energy from someone who is depressed can increase the chances of depression. It's true - negative "vibes" can have a damaging effect!

• Heredity – It is believed that there are depressive genes. If the parents have these kinds of genes, the offspring is likely to become depressed as well.

• Postnatal depression or postpartum depression – Mood changes after giving birth. This is often seen within 3 months after the delivery and would last for a number of months.

• SAD or Seasonal affective disorder - Some people experience depression during winter when daytime is short. The Seasonal affective disorder can be countered with phototherapy.

It seems then that there are a number of causes for depression, the majority of which are not the sufferer's fault. This then reveals depression as the most cruel of illnesses. It's important for us to remember that only we, in the end, can control what goes on inside our minds. That is our last defense against this condition.

Did you know 16% of the world's population suffer from depression? Are you a sufferer? Find out more information. The author of this article, Matthew OConnor runs a site dedicated to the latest news and developments in adult clinical depression.

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

Mood Stabilizers & Mood Enhancers - A Remedy To Naturally Boost Mood & Alleviate Depression - By Danna Schneider

Depression and mood disorders are very prevalent mental health issues today. In an increasingly health conscious society, more options are being put forth in the realm of natural medicine, allowing people to stabilize and enhance mood naturally, without addictive and often harmful prescription antidepressants.



Natural mood stabilizers and mood enhancers usually work by encouraging the production of serotonin and other "pleasure" chemicals such as norepinephrine in the human brain, thereby promoting a sense of calm, well-being and revitalization.



Herbal mood enhancers may contain several different herbs and vitamins in concentrated form ranging from St. John's Wort, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12 and various other proprietary blends of botanical extracts and powders. The goal of natural mood stabilizers is to simultaneously alleviate stress and anxiety, while increasing energy and vitality levels (this is where Vitamin B12 usually comes into play - as an energy enhancer). All of this is done through precise blends of complementing ingredients to produce the desired outcome chemically in the human body.



A mood stabilizer is an excellent way to help make it through life's rough patches or particulary stressful events in life, since they are natural and non-habit forming, but very effective at enhancing mood for those who need some temporary help from time to time. Please note that individuals who suffer severe clinical depression should seek the help and guidance of a therapist and/or psychiatrist though, as therapy and medication may be needed in extreme cases.



Mood enhancing herbs have actually long been used in ancient civilizations as a means for mood stabilization and mood elevation. Natural mood enhancers, in contrast with prescription antidepressants, actually do not produce many of the common side effects of prescription antidepressants.



Side effects of the more common antidepressants (Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Lexapro and more),may include any of the following: suicidal tendencies, sexual disfunction, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, blurred vision, headache, weight gain, gastrointestinal disturbance and more.



Most people actually discontinue the usage of prescription mood enhancers (antidepressants) due to the simple fact that the side effects are worse than the actual depression. Many critics of prescription mood stabilizers argue that we don't know enough about how or why they work in the human brain, and that it is the "overkill" approach to treating depression or the "sledgehammer to crack a nut" approach, which is not necessary to effectively treat many cases of depression.



One thing is certain. There are countless people who suffer from moderate depression and mood disorders from time to time. There is simply no reason to not try a natural method to stabilize and regulate your mood by using a natural mood enhancer to get through emotionally difficult times. It's simply not worth the risks associated with antidepressants if it is not severe enough to warrant a psychologist's supervision.



About the Author: Danna Schneider is the webmaster and founder of Herbal-Therapeutics.com, http://www.herbal-therapeutics.com providing the latest and most effective alternative medicines and herbal remedies for maximum life enjoyment and fulfillment.




Source: www.isnare.com

Treating Depression With Modern Approaches - Athlyn Green

Treating depression is an important step on the road to recovery. Modern research has yielded discoveries into how the brain works and offers varied treatment approaches.

Newer depression medications offer relief from side effects associated with older medicines. Newer drugs may be called on when waging war against depression treating symptoms of this challenging condition.

If you have been diagnosed with depression, your doctor will outline different medications, their benefits and risks. He will weigh these in deciding on a treatment for you. In treating depression, your doctor will consider your age, your history—whether you have experienced depression previously—and he will gauge the severity of your depression.

He or she may recommend that you try a SSRI. These are used to treat depression in its early stages. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are an appropriate and beneficial treatment choice because they do not present the same severity of side effects. In weighing your depression treating it with a SSRI may be your doctor’s first choice.

Alternatively, your doctor may choose a tricyclic antidepressant. This may be decided upon if you have tried several different medications but have seen no appreciable improvement. Your doctor may consider a tricyclic antidepressant when treating depression if you are grappling with a major episode.

Other drugs can be called on. MAOIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors may be used, but caution is indicated because of potential dietary and drug interactions.

Drugs such as Wellbutrin, Effexor, Remeron, or Desyrel are also currently used for depression treating symptoms effectively. These may be selected because the risk of side effects is reduced.

Modern treatments offer much in the way of choice. Thankfully, a wide range of antidepressants is available for treating depression effectively.

If you are looking for other treatment options, natural remedies may be more tenable. A nutritionally oriented physician or therapist can help you to research supplements and herbs that are known to calm the nervous system. Natural supplements have been used successfully for depression treating and reducing symptoms by correcting brain imbalances and restoring neurotransmitter functioning.

Natural supplements are gaining in popularity as a viable method for treating depression and their use is not attenuated by side effects encountered with prescription medications.

What beneficial substances do natural remedies contain? A good quality natural supplement will include vitamins and minerals, amino acids, enzymes, specialty supplements and additional herbal extracts. Chamomile offers beneficial anxiolytic effects (anxiety reduction) and is effective in alleviating insomnia; valerian is used for mood disorders such as depression. (Clinical studies suggest a neuroprotective effect associated with valerian extracts.) Calcium and magnesium alleviate emotional and physical stress; ginkgo biloba increases oxygen content to the brain, aiding in concentration and mental acuity. It is also used for treatment of depression. These supplements are specifically formulated to address depression treating it by improving balance and restoring damaged neurotransmitters in the brain.

Side effects can largely be a thing of the past with newer medications and potent herbals. You do not have to suffer with debilitating symptoms. Treating depression has never been easier, with the many modern options available.

Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to Depression Treating, a section of http://www.beat-your-depression.com dedicated to natural treatments and prescription drug alternatives for this disorder.

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

Dealing With Postpartum Depression Panic Attacks - Kum Martin

One out of every eight women suffers from postpartum depression, and many have panic attacks. Here are some things to try when you think you having a panic attack. Firstly try to distract yourself and remind yourself that your body is only tricking you. Wait before taking any actions, even if you feel like you should. You should feel the fear rise and fall, and when that happens you will better be able to identify and conquer it in the future. Rehearse your panic attacks so that you are more ready for them when they do come. Try identifying what you can do, rather than how you feel, and step outside yourself to give you better grounding.

Remain in the present instead of allowing feelings from the past or fear of the future to control you. Don’t be afraid of the fear. Exercise can be quite useful in long term coping, as it releases valuable endorphins and reduces muscle tension. Social contact associated with exercise is also quite healthy and gives a mother an additional support network she can rely on. It can also help improve a mother’s self image, boosting her confidence and alleviating fear. Overall, remember that a panic attack by itself it not dangerous. It is simply a misplaced, biology induced feeling that it is possible to conquer. Rely on the people you love and trust, and but do not self medicate. Self medicating can also pass drugs along to your baby through breast milk so it is best avoided.

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

Does A Powerful Self Image Keep Depressive Illness At Bay ? Part 1 - By Christopher Ruane

A powerful self image comes with a self-control treatment program which consists of the following :

Observe Yourself In the viewpoint of a depressed person, depression usually seems to come for no apparent reason and from nowhere at all. Research has been clearly presented that positive events or activities lead to positive moods, while negative events lead to depression.

The depressed person should accept that this is so, amidst having depressed feelings out from nowhere. So rate your mood on a subjective 1 to 10 degree and keep a record every day of positive events. It is likely that your mood will be a reflection of what is currently happening in your life.

People with depression symptoms focus more on negative events of their lives and neglect or overlook positive ones.They are not aware of this situation and don't know they are doing this.So, it is for your advantage to know the importance of what is happening in your life everyday.

To do this, you must look for and record all daily events and activities, even little, trivial pleasant ones. It is very important for you to learn again and see the wonderful greatness this world has to offer.

Feel the invigorating atmosphere and smell the flowers. Don't forget usual things like sipping a cup of coffee, assisting someone, taking a walk, watching a bird, reading a book, taking children to school, watching your favorite program, reading an advice column, going shopping, listening to music, making yourself attractive, visiting a friend, completing chores, playing with children, playing sports, expressing an opinion, getting a long kiss, getting or giving a compliment, and the act of smiling. Put this in your record book or so-called diary with a brief description of these pleasant events.

You should observe if your disposition doesn't go up and down according to how many pleasant events occurred that day. If so, this is a motivating push to increase the number of pleasant events and experiences in your life and to appreciate the nice things that happen for each and everyone of us. You may start to view the very negative experiences much less and keep away from the path towards depressive illness and the accompanying symptoms of depression
Using this advice, you can have your simplified version of a "behavioral analysis" in which you would look for the previous situations and consequences of good and bad moods. Your objective in doing this is to find cause and affect relationships that can be used to boost your spirits and reduce depression.

Take One Small Step at a Time Some depressed people get disappointed when their desire for a better outcome results to disappointments. One main reason is because their expectations overshadow the essential details of how to get there.

Impractical anticipations, like having your grade as all A's, may also lead to frustration and a low self-esteem. Thus, it is important to learn to have a well-defined plan, to set realistic goals and expectations, and to have some success experiences. It is valuable to be satisfied with small rewards and blessings.

Thus, you must make a decision on some practical, possible, important self-help project that will boost your confidence and vitality, such as working out to have a stunning body figure, increased exposure to people, learning to play basketball, spending more time alone with your spouse, or anything for that matter.

Then, for each project goal set many clear and reachable sub-goals (small steps), perhaps things you could do every day. Schedule your time, prioritize your tasks, and do all your best to become successful. Jot down your progress in a diary or record book, along with the positive outcomes.

For more related information visit: http://www.depressionsymptomstreatment.com/ - a site that offers advice for avoiding, coping with depression. Get professional knowledge on dealing with symptoms, drug side effects and improving your life!

Article source: www.anyarticles.com

What is the Main Cause of Depression for Men - By Mike Stevens

What is the main cause of depression for men? We know that men are much less likely to suffer from depression than women and for that reason, we often forget that men can suffer as well.

Depression in men, although less common, is still a major problem. Some signs of depression in men are similar to those in women and include withdrawal from the outside world, disinterest in formerly enjoyable activities, thoughts of suicide and sleep problems. Other symptoms more exclusive to men may include reckless behaviour such as speeding, taking drugs or other dangerous activities. Men are also more likely to indulge in alcohol, overwork and casual sex to try and relieve the depression.

Since depressed men are four times more likely to commit suicide, it's vital that we recognize the signs of depression in men. Often a wife or girlfriend will be the first to realize that her husband is depressed. By taking action immediately, tragic results can be avoided.

So, the question remains, what is the main cause of depression for men? The number of causes of depression in men is great, so it's difficult to determine the main cause. Many men are taught from a very young age to be the rock, strong and independent, and they tend to feel the burden of providing for a family more than the woman.

This over-developed sense of responsibility can lead to problems when a man loses his job or is incapacitated in some way. He is required to depend on others and can no longer support his family, making him feel useless and leading to depression.

If you ask a group therapists what is the main cause of depression for men, you will probably get a different answer from each one. But the overall gist can be used to get the answer to the question "what is the main cause of depression for men?" Stress on the job and at home. When a man feels he isn't measuring up to the standard of success he has set for himself or that others have set for him, he is likely to fall into a depression.

When asking what is the main cause of depression for men one must also take into consideration that each man is different in what level of stress he can handle. Men with a history of alcohol or drug abuse are likely to become depressed quicker than a man who has a clean history. Those with a family or personal history of depression are also at higher risk.

A supplement of ginkgo biloba or chamomile might also prove useful in easing the effects of stress on the average man, making him less susceptible to depression due to job or in the home stress and anxiety. Taking time to relax and enjoy life is another essential ingredient in the prevention of depression in men, as is the recognition of the signs of depression in men so that it can be treated early on.

Men do not deal with depression in the same way as women and it must be remembered that each gender has unique manners of handling stress. Finding a treatment for the stress will most likely result in a prevention of depression later on.

Mike Stevens has been studying the mood disorders for years, and has written many articles on the subject. He is a regular contributor to the Signs of Depression in Men section of http://www.beat-your-depression.com, a site discussing conventional and alternative ways to treat depression and related mood disorders.

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

Depression and Experts - By Friedrich Asen

This article is about depression from an unusual perspective. It is about the powerlessness and hopelessness of modern psychological science and research. The importance of an holistic approach to mental and physical health will be explained.

Do you know, what really startled me since I was a child?

It is actually very simple but profound at the same time. I could see that there were problems in the adults' lifes. That was one thing. The other was that they never seemed to really get beyond them. My first assumption about grown ups was that they are really smart people. I mean, they were grown up and I was a kid. You admire them. Anytime they want they can turn on the TV or take the car for a ride, just for fun. They can go to sleep whenever they want or they can stay awake till the morning dawn. They are gods...

My father used to comment on the radio news. From what I could hear I realized that adult people are not what they seem to be. They lacked knowledge, although they heavily pretended to have some. Adults build huge hospitals, but the number of diseased people is increasing. They do a lot of research, but things get worse. They are holding big conferences, but there is no solution to poverty, hunger and pollution. The destruction of the planet continues, unhampered. They scientifically study the human mind for years, but still they are fighting over minor issues and killing each other. Depression is rampant.

The experts are wearing white coats of authority and they look really impressive. But the picture is deceiving. They are as helpless as the rest. They have been told that depression is caused by some material disfunction in the body. They wouldn't admit it, but this theory is the cause of their own latent or acute depression.

There is one important saying: "Doctor, heal thyself". So, obviously, an expert treating depression in a person should be free of that mental condition himself. But is this really the case? Are our experts examples in their own lives? Have they achieved the peace of mind and the happiness that we are looking for?

To be quite frank: Our mental health experts are haunted by depression themselves.

Of course, their job is demanding and it is hard to stay untouched from all these unfortunate human destinies. But that is no excuse. For a health practitioner it is of prime necessity to become a strong, positive and loving personality. It is not enough to just "know" one's field of "expertise". Life operates on rules that cannot be managed properly just by some theoretical knowledge. A doctor abusing nicotine and alcohol is as unbelievable as a psychologist suffering from a minority complex, being arrogant and insensitive.

People tell me about their experience with mental and physical health practitioners. They feel ignored, misunderstood and treated like an innate object. That's how modern science looks at it's objects: things, which have to be manipulated into proper function. People feel that the experts lack self esteem and hide behind academic degrees and honors. They rightly perceive all this as symptoms of personal weakness. How to develop real trust in such a person?

The formal training in any given area was much less in former times. But that does not mean that we have become advanced. Modern education has created highly trained specialists in their respective fields, but being too much focused on a tiny segment of reality they seem to have lost the whole big picture. At the same time they have lost themselves.

A person is not just ears or heart or mind. A person is an individual being. And what does that mean? A person cannot be divided. A person is one. Treating a depressed person without this consideration will only lead to frustration and more depression.

Depression spreads like wildfire. People seem to get lost in the rat race and the competition. Survival of the fittest. They drown in the struggle for existence. The one and only thing a depressed person needs is unalloyed love and compassion. No one will learn this at university. The students will learn about material processes in the body, in the brain. But they will learn little or nothing about the person possessing the body or brain. In this way they will not learn anything about themselves, too. They will look at depression with the arrogance and helplessness of a lost soul. How should they be able to help?

A psychologist, a coach, a trainer, a priest, a doctor: they all have to understand what life really is. They have to thoroughly understand themselves first. They have to get rid of their own depression and hopelessness deeply buried in themselves. They actually have to become free and independent loving persons. That is the real challenge: How to transform oneself into a great personality. Theoretical knowledge alone is useless.

Friedrich Asen is a spiritual counsellor, coach and author since 20 years. He lives in Austria near Vienna. If you are looking for more quality information about the subject of depression, visit his website http://www.overcome-depression-now.com/

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

Depression Treatment - NamSing Then

Depression is of two types one is Major Depressive Disorder and the other Bipolar Disorder. The two are different which require different treatments. The symptoms of the former involves sadness, excessive crying, loss of pleasure, sleeping too much or too little, low energy, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, irritability, loss of appetite or overeating, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, feelings of physical problems that are not caused by physical illness or injury like headaches, digestive problems, pain and thoughts of death or suicide.



Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression and also episodes of mania like inappropriate sense of euphoria (excitement), reckless behavior, little sleep needed, excessive energy, racing thoughts; talking too much, out of control spending, difficulty concentrating, irritability, abnormally increased activity including sexual activity, poor judgment, aggressive behavior, extreme irritability or “out of control” behavior. People with depression do not experience manic episodes.



And an episode whether depressive or manic can last for days, weeks, months or even years. It is very essential to note that the treatment differs for both the conditions.

Both biological factors like genetics and psychological factors like stress play a major role in causing depression.



For people who are correctly diagnosed with depression i.e. major depressive disorder, antidepressant medications are often highly effective and they must be taken regularly for three to four weeks, sometimes even longer, before the full response is seen. Other treatments involve Electroconvulsive therapy, Lithium and Anticonvulsant medication both used for prevention. Sometimes interpersonal therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy is also used.



Treatments for bipolar disorder often involve a two-part plan of using both medication and psychotherapy. Different types of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder, including medicines for controlling manic symptoms, depressive symptoms or medications that help stabilize the patient's mood. Psychotherapy, with a licensed therapist or social worker, is also used in bipolar disorder treatment. Cognitive Therapy focuses on changing inappropriate or negative thought patterns, Behavioral Therapy focuses on current behaviors and Interpersonal therapy focuses on current relationships that can affect the illness. Psychoeducation helps the patient and family understand the illness and recognize signs of relapse. Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy focuses on daily routines that can promote emotional stability. The line of treatment depends on the patient’s needs who usually works with healthcare professionals that supervise the patient’s care maintaining personal contact with each other to help ensure the patients' continued progress.



In both of the above cases it is very important that you do not stop treatment on your own, whether you have concerns about your medicine or if you feel you are doing better, discuss openly with your doctor.



NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Depression Treatment, Depression Medication and One Stop Information



NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Depression Treatment, Depression Help and One Stop Information





Article Source: ArticlesOn.com

Bipolar Disorder and Sleep - Ronald R. Fieve, MD

"How many hours do you sleep on average at night, and what is the quality of your sleep?" are two of the first questions I ask every patient on the initial interview and all subsequent follow-up visits. While the hypomanic usually gloats over how little sleep he needs, getting by on 3 to 4 hours a night, the lack of quality sleep can wreak havoc on his mood and decision-making abilities. Sleep deprivation results in feelings of malaise, poor concentration, and moodiness, and even accidental deaths.

In a revealing sleep study published in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Judith Owens, MD, and her team of researchers from Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, followed 34 pediatric residents from Brown University over the course of 2 years to compare post-call performance to performance after drinking alcohol. During this time, the residents were tested under light call (1 month of daytime duty with no overnight shift, or about 44 hours of work per week) and heavy call (overnight duty every fourth night with an average of 90 hours of work a week). The residents performed computer tasks to gauge their attention and judgment after their light call (after consuming alcohol) and heavy call shifts (with placebo). The residents who were on heavy call and had not ingested alcohol performed worse on the computer tests than those doctors who had taken alcohol and were on light call. Dr. Owens concluded that the residents were so sleep-deprived that they didn't recognize that their own judgment was impaired.

Drugs, stressful situations, and even excessive noise can affect daily body rhythms and moods. Once a Bipolar II mood disorder with disturbed rhythms has begun, it tends to be self-perpetuating, since depression and anxiety are likely to disrupt 24-hour rhythms further. An irregular living schedule can aggravate mood disorders. The old-fashioned sanitarium rest cure was effective with the "nervous" because it put the patient on a regular schedule of sleep, activity, and meals.

Insomnia

How is your sleep? Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Or do you toss and turn most of the night until you fall into a deep sleep just hours before the alarm goes off? A person suffering from insomnia has difficulty initiating or maintaining normal sleep, which can result in non-restorative sleep and impairment of daytime functioning. Insomnia includes sleeping too little, difficulty falling asleep, awakening frequently during the night, or waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep. It is characteristic of many mental and physical disorders. Those with depression, for example, may experience overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt, all of which can interrupt sleep. Hypomanics, on the other hand, can be so aroused that getting quality sleep is virtually impossible without medication. In a study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, Allison G. Harvey, PhD, and colleagues in the department of experimental psychology determined that even between acute episodes of bipolar disorder, sleep problems were still documented in 70 percent of those who were experiencing a normal (euthymic) mood at the time. These normal-mood patients with bipolar disorder expressed dysfunctional beliefs and behaviors regarding sleep that were similar to those suffering from insomnia, such as high levels of anxiety, fear about poor sleep, low daytime activity level, and a tendency to misperceive sleep. Dr. Harvey concluded that even when the bipolar patients were not in a depressive, hypomanic, or manic mood state, they still had difficulty maintaining good sleep.

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

This is the most common circadian-rhythm sleep disorder that results in insomnia and daytime sleepiness, or somnolence. A short circuit between a person's biological clock and the 24-hour day causes this sleep disorder. It is commonly found in those with mild or major depression. In addition, certain medications used to treat bipolar disorder may disrupt the sleep-wake cycle. I often recommend chronotherapy to patients. This therapy -- an attempt to move bedtime and rising time later and later each day until both times reach the desired goal -- is often used to adjust delayed sleep phase syndrome. To adjust the delayed sleep phase problem, sleep specialists might also use bright light therapy or the natural hormone melatonin, particularly in depressed patients.

REM Sleep Abnormalities

REM sleep abnormalities have been implicated by doctors in a variety of psychiatric disorders, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, some forms of schizophrenia, and other disorders in which psychosis occurs. Special tests, called sleep electroencephalograms, record the electrical activity of the brain and the quality of sleep. From these tests, we know that in people who are depressed, NREM sleep is reduced and REM sleep is increased. Most antidepressant medications suppress REM sleep, leading some researchers to believe that REM sleep deprivation relates to an improvement in depressive symptoms. Yet Wellbutrin XL, a common antidepressant, and some older medications used to treat depression do not suppress REM sleep. Researchers are therefore still trying to determine the connection between the REM sleep mechanism and depression.

Irregular Sleep-Wake Schedule

This sleep disorder is yet another problem that many with Bipolar II experience and in large part results from a lack of lifestyle scheduling. The reverse sleep-wake cycle is usually experienced by bipolar drug abusers and/or alcoholics who stay awake all night searching for similar addicts and engaging in drug-seeking behavior, which results in sleeping the next day. This sleep disruption and irregularity make it much more difficult for the bipolar patient's physician to treat him or her with conventional medications and adjunctive cognitive therapy. In most cases, the patient needs to acknowledge the drug-seeking behavior and get involved in a recovery program such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, or other group. Talk therapy with a psychologist is beneficial to many patients as they seek to change destructive lifestyle habits and learn new behaviors that will help them adhere to a more normal sleep-wake schedule.

Reprinted from: Bipolar II: Enhance Your Highs, Boost Your Creativity, and Escape the Cycles of Recurrent Depression -- The Essential Guide to Recognize and Treat the Mood Swings of This Increasingly Common Disorder by Ronald R. Fieve, M.D. © 2006 Ronald R. Fieve, M.D. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling at (800) 848-4735.

The following is an excerpt from the book Bipolar II

by Ronald R. Fieve, M.D.

Published by Rodale; October 2006;$22.95US/$29.95CAN; 1-59486-224-9

Copyright © 2006 Ronald R. Fieve, M.D.

Ronald R. Fieve, MD, has published more than 300 scientific papers in the field of bipolar and depression research. His work has been published in such prestigious publications as The Lancet, Nature, The American Journal of Psychiatry, Archives of General Psychiatry, The Journal of the American Medical Association, L'Encephale, and Lithium. Dr. Fieve has also written two widely acclaimed books on mental health, Moodswing and Prozac (translated into five languages). He is professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and principal investigator, Fieve Clinical Services, Inc. He maintains a private practice in New York City.

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The Formula for Preventing Depression - 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.



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.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org



Article Source: articlecapital.com

Kinds Of Therapy For Depressed Patients - By Stephen White

Behavioral therapy offers a fairly high success rate. It can be conducted on an individual basis or as part of a group therapy strategy. Behavioral therapy focuses primarily on helping depressed patients to develop coping strategies for the problems they encounter and new patterns of behavior. This technique also involves instructing patients to increase their recognition of desirable situations and events as they happen. In a sense, behavioral therapy is a means of teaching people to find the positive and to better deal with the negative. It attacks depression on both fronts and is a popular treatment option.



Depression with Catatonic Features - This subtype can be applied to Major Depressive episodes as well as to manic episodes, though it is rare, and rarer in mania. Catatonia is characterized by motoric immobility evidenced by catalepsy or stupor. This MDD subtype may also manifest excessive, nonprompted motor activity (akathisia), extreme negativism or mutism, and peculiarities in movement, including stereotypical movements, prominent mannerisms, and prominent grimacing. There may also be evidence of echolalia or echopraxia. It is very rarely encountered, and may not be a useful category.



* Depression with Melancholic Features - Melancholia is characterized by a loss of pleasure (anhedonia) in most or all activities, a failure of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli, a quality of depressed mood more pronounced than that of grief or loss, a worsening of symptoms in the morning hours, early morning waking, psychomotor retardation, anorexia (excessive weight loss, not to be confused with Anorexia Nervosa), or excessive guilt.



Depression with Atypical Features - Atypicality is characterized by mood reactivity (paradoxical anhedonia) and positivity, significant weight gain or increased appetite, excessive sleep or somnolence (hypersomnia), leaden paralysis, or significant social impairment as a consequence of hypersensitivity to perceived interpersonal rejection. People with this can react with interest or pleasure to some things, unlike most depressed individuals.



Depression with Psychotic Features - Some people with Major Depressive or Manic episode may experience psychotic features. They may be presented with hallucinations or delusions that are either mood-congruent (content coincident with depressive themes) or non-mood-congruent (content not coincident with depressive themes). It is clinically more common to encounter a delusional system as an adjunct to depression than to encounter hallucinations, whether visual or auditory.



1. Interpersonal Therapy



This strategy is premised on the notion that interpersonal difficulties are the primary problem experienced by the depressed patient. It works by increasing the awareness of interpersonal interaction patterns and teaches the patient how to alter and improve these patterns. It is often perceived as a short-term treatment option for depression, but does offer a success rate on par with other popular therapeutic techniques.



2. Cognitive Therapy



Cognitive therapy utilizes behavioral techniques to retrain thinking patterns in depressed patients. Cognitive approaches also boast a relatively high level of success and research indicates that this technique may decrease the likelihood of experience additional depressive episodes after treatment is completed. Cognitive therapy is focused upon recognizing and then correcting thinking patterns that are believed to contribute to depression. This is accomplished via restructuring exercises performed under the guidance of a professional.



3. Other Therapies



Other therapy options do exist. Talk therapy, reminiscence therapy and self control therapy strategies have all been used to treat those with a diagnosis of depression. The optimal therapeutic approach cannot be easily discerned and will vary from patient to patient.



About the Author: For more great depression related articles and resources check out http://counselorhq.info



Source: www.isnare.com

Manic Depression: Tips to Turn Frowns and Tears into Smiles and Laughter - Matt OConnor

You could be suffering from manic depression without even knowing it. Even if your mood swings don't resemble the actions of a pendulum, actions of extreme opposites are sufficient evidence to prove that you’re suffering from manic depression. If you believe that you’re suffering from this disorder, it's important to get help immediately and prevent it from affecting your life in a more significant way.

How to Handle Manic Depression

Also known as bipolar disorder, manic depression may be inherited and is usually serious and persistent. As mentioned earlier, not all people suffering from bipolar depression would have violent mood swings. In some cases, the transition from depression to mania or elation is gradual.

Regardless of that, it’s imperative that proper medical attention is given immediately to the affected individual to prevent the disorder from worsening.

COOPERATE FULLY WITH YOUR DOCTOR. This is not the time to feel ashamed about your condition. It's not your fault if you happen to suffer from manic depression. You should also understand that your doctor is there to help you and nothing else. If you don’t give your complete trust to your doctor, the treatment for your condition is most probably not as effective as it’s meant to be.

KEEP A CHART OF ACTIONS AND EVENTS RELATED TO YOUR CONDITION. Take note of the dates and times when symptoms of manic depression have occurred. Keeping a chart would not only help you understand the seriousness of your condition but it could also show you a trend that you were once unaware of. Awareness of this trend will better enable you to identify when you’re once again starting to experience the effects of manic depression.

NEVER TAKE ANY MEDICATION FOR MANIC DEPRESSION WITHOUT A GO-AHEAD FROM YOUR DOCTOR. Although your desire to be cured is entirely understandable, that doesn’t mean it should overrule common sense. Dabbling with drugs that you don’t fully comprehend can lead to serious medical complications. If you don’t think your present medication is effective, relay your feelings to your psychiatrist and he will no doubt see to it that your medication is immediately changed.

Speaking of medication, mood stabilizers are one of the most common forms of drugs prescribed for people suffering from manic depression. With the consumption of mood stabilizers, there is less chance for manic depression to recur. Lithium is the first type of mood stabilizer used for treating manic depression. Anticonvulsant medications like valproate are conversely used to treat the more serious cases of manic depression. It’s possible for a doctor to prescribe both anticonvulsant medication and lithium for manic depression patients.

WHEN A PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR YOU, FOLLOW THIS RIGOROUSLY. Having on-and-off treatment will only give you a temporary cure from manic depression. Prioritize your therapy sessions as it’s the only way for you to get better.

DON’T KEEP SECRETS. If something new comes up and it seems to be related to your condition, inform your doctor immediately. Failing to do so could lead to more suffering in the future.

TAKE NOTE OF SIDE EFFECTS. Certain medications for manic depression may make you gain weight, feel weak or nauseous, and even lose hair. If your medication has any side effect that bothers you, inform your doctor about it so he can change your treatment accordingly.

Lastly, don’t hide your condition from your loved ones. Even if you don’t have a doctor for a parent or partner, you’ll be amazed at the amount of help they can give just by providing you comfort and emotional support.

Did you know 16% of the world's population suffer from depression? Author Matthew OConnor runs a site dedicated to the latest news and developments in manic depression.

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

Menopause And Depression - By Susan Megge

Many women experience bouts of depression as they approach menopause. As a matter of fact, midlife can be considered a period of increased risk for depression in women, the majority taking place in the years during the transition through the menopausal years. This period of time is associated with gradual declines in estrogen levels, which may be linked with the onset of depression.



It can be confusing when trying to determine if you’re suffering from depression, simply going through menopause or experiencing both. This is because many symptoms of menopause and depression are very similar, such as interrupted sleep patterns, fatigue, hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety and difficulty concentrating. It’s important, however, to talk with your doctor if you think you may be suffering from depression; don’t play guessing games with your health because if left untreated, depression can lead to additional episodes, which have the potential to be more severe. Untreated depression can also result in physical complications, such as heart attack and the loss of bone density.



If your doctor thinks that your depression is as a result of declining hormone levels as you’re approaching or experiencing menopause, there’s a possibility he will suggest hormone replacement therapy, which includes estrogen. It’s important to discuss both the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy, including potential benefits to your overall mood. Recent studies have shown that the risks of hormone therapy include heart attack, stroke and breast cancer, and some professionals believe that these risks may outweigh the benefits women can receive from this course of treatment. That being said, estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment for many menopausal symptoms.



Short term therapy (12-20 weeks) has also proven to combat depression in women experiencing menopause. Especially effective are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on negative thoughts and behaviors that tend to worsen depressed mood and teaches better ways of thinking and behaving, and Interpersonal Therapy, which helps individuals to communicate more effectively with others to help eliminate stressors.



Fortunately, the benefits of exercise in depression are well documented. Exercise helps with the treatment of depression by releasing the body’s mood-elevating compounds, reducing the depression hormone cortisol, providing a feeling of accomplishment and enhancing self esteem. I personally exercise approximately an hour most days of the week, but even exercising as little as ten minutes per day has been found to have beneficial effects for many women experiencing menopausal depression.



You may also want to consider a prescription medication to help you cope with the symptoms you’re experiencing. Discuss this possibility with your doctor because there are several effective and well-tolerated antidepressant medications now available. These medications have been proven to be an essential part of treatment for women who are moderately to severely depressed.



It’s also important to simply take care of yourself by eating a well balanced diet, decreasing your intake of refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate. Are you getting enough sleep? Sleep deficiencies can make depression worse, so if you must, develop relaxing bedtime rituals, such as taking a hot bath or reading a good book.



Finally, just give yourself a break. Not only are you experiencing symptoms of menopause, but midlife also brings about life events that can be stressful, adding to the risk of depression, irritability and moodiness. Perhaps your children are leaving home, you’re caring for an elderly parent or have recently experienced the loss of a loved one. All of these events will undoubtedly add stress to an already busy life. Take time for yourself, eat a healthy diet, exercise and know that you’re a strong and capable woman and you will get through this.



About the Author: Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery that menopause can be a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life.



Source: www.isnare.com

Always Tired, fatigued, Anxiety filled? Maybe you need a Depression Test. - By: Synergize Marketing

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

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

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

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

If you are, or know someone who is suffering from depression, seek help. There is nothing to be ashamed. You shouldnt have to live in sadness so dont continue to let life pass you by. You are valuable part of this world and you deserve to experience the same happiness as everyone else around you.Have you been feeling lathargic? Anxiety and loss of motivation? You just may have a mild to cronic form of depression. Find out with depression test.

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