Depression: One Woman's Story - By Marsha Jordan

Sharon was talking to a friend on the phone one night. When her friend asked, "How are you?"

Sharon suddenly exploded with emotion. Without warning, she began sobbing and literally collapsed in a heap on the floor. Her friend came over and took Sharon's kids for the night.

Sharon cried for hours till she fell asleep. It was only the first of many sleepless nights.

She cried every day for months, never knowing when she might break down. She didn't need a reason. While driving to work in the morning, she would burst into tears. She worried about embarrassing herself, so she stayed home more and avoided people as much as she could.

Isolating herself made her feelings of loneliness worse. "Nobody understands what I'm going through," she told herself. She felt that her life was worthless because she could no longer function. She couldn't sleep, eat, or focus on anything. She was irritable and couldn't seem to get along with anyone anymore. She was disappointed and ashamed that she had let herself sink so low. She tried her best to pull herself out of this "funk." But she felt stuck. She felt guilty because her family deserved better treatment than she was able to give them. She concluded that they would be better off without her.

One day, while having an annual medical exam, Sharon's doctor asked how things were at home. Sharon began crying uncontrollably. When her doctor suggested that she was suffering from clinical depression, Sharon was surprised. She should have known, but she didn't.

The doctor prescribed anti-depressants and made an appointment for Sharon to talk with a therapist. Sharon didn't notice any improvement for a couple of weeks. It started slowly, but she gradually began to feel more peaceful and content. At this point, she was able to think more clearly and tackle small steps, one at a time, to work toward taking charge of her mental health.

As Sharon took better care of herself, she grew stronger, which helped her to continue on the path to wellness.

When she met with her doctor for a six week follow up, she told him, "I just wish I had sought help earlier. I could have avoided so much pain."

Author Marsha Jordan is founder of a nonprofit charity called Hugs and Hope for Sick Children (http://www.hugsandhope.org). More of her articles on depression are in her book, Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter, a compilation ofthought-provoking essays illustrated with drawings by critically ill children. Proceeds from book sales will benefit kids battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. In this book, the author combines hope with humor, drawing upon her own experience of living with chronic pain and depression for thirty years. She opens her life and her heart to share everyday experiences and the lessons God has taught her from them.

Other essays in the book include, "Ten Tips For Beating Depression," and "Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayer?" Order the book or learn more at http://www.hugsandhope.org/book.htm

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Releasing The Emotional Roots Of Anxiety - By Nick Arrizza, M.D.

Those of you who have ever experienced prolonged and unexplained periods of anxiety may have wondered more than once what the cause of it was for you.

When no known cause was apparent and the symptoms became intolerable or made you unable to function you likely may have turned to some form of medication or other modality to lessen its impact on your life.

To make it plain and easy to understand how I conceptualize the root cause of anxiety I will use the analog of a pot of water on a stove top.

Assume here that your awareness is limited strictly to the surface of the water in the pot. In other words you do not know that the pot is on a stove top and that the stove element is turn on to high.

What you see after some time is the turbulence on the surface of the water. Now if you had never experienced this before you might be hard pressed to explain what was going on. Of course you do know however that the water is being heated and that this is responsible for the turbulence.

Now if we go back to the situation with the anxiety. The symptoms of the anxiety which you experience emotionally, mentally and physically represent the turbulence on the surface of the water in the pot as it is being heated.

What does the heat represent in this case?

Well it represents all those uncomfortable feelings, thoughts and memories that you have stored within your mind/body (some call this the unconscious mind) that you are suppressing simply because if you allowed yourself to feel them you might not be able to function.

Unfortunately the "pressure" exerted on your conscious mind by this submerged material is great enough to make you aware of its presence. This is what you experience as the anxiety i.e. the turbulence on the surface of the water.

You have however sufficiently submerged the root causes of the discomfort (i.e. the memories themselves) and therefore cannot make a conscious link between the anxiety and their cause.

This tactic of trying to suppress uncomfortable memories is engaged because many "think" that by doing so they will push the offending material away and therefore feel better.

Well, like it or not, this never works. When this material is pushed away it only gets pushed inside and like a beach ball pushed into the shallow end of a swimming pool it will exert an equal and opposite force upward and outward into your conscious mind. The net result is that by trying to keep it submerged it only depletes your vital life energy.

The only way to effectively deal with the anxiety is to release the memory completely and thereby release the internal pressure. Most psychotherapies fail at this process because in doing so they leave the client vulnerable to re-experiencing the full force of the negative experience in what is termed an abreaction.

When this happens the client often feels re-traumatized and may leave therapy.

With a new modality called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) (MRP) the client gains considerable resilience and emotional strength as they are allowed to become aware of the offending material at their own desired pace. They also are able to completely, permanently and quickly release the offending material thereby reclaiming vast amounts of vital life energy.

This process is done over the telephone and is accessible by visiting the web link below.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is an Energy Psychiatrist, Healer, Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called "Spirituality And Science" (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of "Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation" (available in ebook format on his web site), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Energy Medicine Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.

Web site: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/IntroConsult.htm

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Do Natural Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Supplements Really Work? - By Tess Morris

Unfortunately, millions of Americans currently suffer from the debilitating effects of stress, anxiety, and depression. In the pharmaceutical industry, anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants are among the best-selling medications on the market.

The everyday stressors faced by Americans have simply become too much for many to bear, and reasonably so. In recent years, taking an anti-anxiety medication or antidepressant has become as common as taking a multivitamin. However, the side effects and long-term effects of such medications were for the most part unknown until recently.

In the past year, some of the drastic negative effects of such medications have come to light, much to the horror of patients and physicians alike. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants have been linked to addiction, severe withdrawal, weight gain, vertigo, and even suicide and death. To treat the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, without negative health implications, many are now turning to natural supplements -- safely and with much success.

Most consumers are confused about which natural stress, anxiety, and depression supplements to take. Fortunately, there are now a few promising natural supplements on the market which offer truly effective results, safely. The challenge lies in distinguishing the effective products from the one's that are based more on marketing hype. It is critical that the product you choose contains those ingredients proven effective for treatment through clinical study, and that those ingredients are of the highest grade and included in the proper dosage in the product. This is the key to getting the results you desire – freedom from stress, anxiety, and depression.

After researching nearly every available natural anxiety product on the market today I can tell you that many products contain low-grade ingredients in amounts far too small to be truly effective. There are a few, however, with clinical research behind them that also contain quality ingredients in efficacious doses.

These products offer the definite potential to counter your emotional and physical responses to stress, anxiety, and depression. After review of the products and the available scientific literature only those products that met the criteria were recommended, Here is a list of the Top The Top 10 Stress, Anxiety and Depression Supplements On The Market Today:

1) Anxietol 7™
2) Welatonin™
3) Pinadol™
4) Seredyn™
5) Prosera™
6) Amoryn™
7) Euphorx™
8) HerbVal Supra™
9) Clarocet-NRI™
10) Relora™

Tess is a contributing consultant, columnist, and writer for various health, fitness. and medical publications. Her new book "Natural Relief For Anxiety and Depression" is scheduled for release in June 2005.

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Quick Steps To Reduce Your Worries - By Ed Smith

Looking for a way to reduce the amount of worrying you do?

Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author and TV show host, who specializes in quick tips on how to move your life ahead even faster, offers the following advice.

First most worries don't stand up to close scrutiny, so write down clearly, each of the things you are worried about. Your first reaction will probably be one of amusement at yourself, as some of the things that haunted you prior to writing them down, look silly when written out. Next, take each item and make a list of all the things you can do about it. This shows you that in most cases you will be worried about something that you can't control at all and that your worry serves no purpose. In the case where you can do something to reduce the worry, your sense of control is enhanced, making you feel better. Finally ask yourself what is the worst thing that could happen with each worry. In most cases you will find you can live with even the worst outcome and this will also make you feel better. Now don't you feel better already?

Contact Information Edward W. Smith, 201-568-0019, edsmith@brightmoment.com, www.brightmoment.com, PO box 8106, Englewood NJ 07631-8106

Copyright Edward W. Smith 2005

Edward W. Smith is the author of Sixty Seconds To Success, hosts and produces the Bright Moment TV show, is a motivational speaker, is president of the Bright Moment Seminars, and publishes a free, daily, email of the One Minute Motivator

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Female Depression - By Yana Mikheeva

is considered that women suffer from depression much more often, than men, and it’s more difficult for them to overcome this condition. Experts pick out 8 most popular kinds of female depression.

1. Post-natal

It is observed during several months right after childbirth. This kind of depression is caused by sharp changes in life style, constant dependence from other person and sense of increased responsibility. Often it’s very difficult for a young mother to blend with her new role quickly and correctly.

Way of struggle: don’t try to subdue yourself or play a role of a loving mother. This is quite normal, if you don’t sense any feelings towards your baby at first. There is time for everything. Now you have to get used to new changes and enter a new rhythm of life. And you will learn to cope with a role of mother with time, and you will do this very well. Don’t refuse from your relatives’ help. You need time to come to your senses after returning from maternity hospital.

2. Age-dependent

As a rule, women of climacteric age suffer from it. During this period, a hormonal background of organism changes, and quite often depressive condition is observed. Coming of menopause also brings a strong psychological pressure, and this may unsettle a woman.

Way of struggle: coming of climacteric does not mean the approaching of old age at all. Nobody knows about changes happened in you, except yourself. Cessation of menstruation is an absolutely natural process for a female organism, and you should not make a tragedy out of it. So, try not to change your previous way of life. Don’t also forget about hormonal therapy’s possibilities. You just should consult your doctor for sure.

3. Monthly

This kind of depression is also called premenstrual. Depressive condition can be observed as shortly before menstruation, as during or right after it, everything depends on a certain organism’s peculiarities.

Way of struggle: you will have no place to hide from monthly depression. Most likely, you have already noticed long ago, in which days of your cycle you can hardly control yourself. Try to relieve these days a little beforehand, don’t plan anything important and stay at home, if you can. It is not out of place to consult a gynaecologist: you may need a hormone replacement therapy or vitamin course.

4. Exhaustion

It is also called a depression of chronic tiredness. It is observed, when a woman overestimates her strengths and has increased responsibility for the duties she assumes. If you don’t alternate work with rest, then a moment comes, when you already cannot carry out previous volume of work and suffer because of this.

Way of struggle: you need a full rest, and you will not do with one day off. You need to get away from your work not only physically, but also mentally. And try to observe daily regimen after vacation, and don’t start working in intensive rhythm. You need to learn planning your powers, to be able to function constantly.

5. Reactive

Or, as it is also called, a depression of loss. It is caused by death of our close people. Many people think that they quarreled with their close ones shortly before their death or harmed their close people and did not manage to win forgiveness. Most serious cases are those when a person blames himself directly or marginally in his close person’s death.

Way of struggle: Try to understand that death is a natural and irreversible process. You need to accept it as inevitability as soon as possible. Don’t suppress your emotions, cry and scream, if you want. Believers find support in confession or just visit a church. Atheists can find help visiting psychotherapist. And the main thing is to remember that there’re still many close people who need you.

6. Dissatisfaction

At that, dissatisfaction can be both of sexual character and psychological one. When one suppresses any of his wishes too violently, then dissatisfaction is saved inside and leads to depression.

Way of struggle: of course, it’s better to satisfy all needs of your organism in time. But sometimes it’s impossible. If you suffer from sexual dissatisfaction, try to understand that love and sex are 2 different things. And you should not refuse from one, if you don’t have other. You also should not forget about a possibility of self-fulfillment. If you suffer from psychological dissatisfaction, it’s useful to keep a diary, where you will write all your unvoiced thoughts and feelings. By the way, paper is a very good interlocutor. It will not ever interrupt you and tell your secrets to anybody.

7. Medical

It is caused by excessive, not controlled by a doctor, taking of some medical preparations. In general, these are soporifics and especially demulcents, affecting central nervous system.

Way of struggle: firstly, you need to quit self-treatment and take any, even most harmless, preparations only under your doctor’s control. Secondly, if you were prescribed antidepressants, you need to keep to a diet closely. Many antidepressants lose their effect interacting with some foodstuff. Alcohol is categorically contra-indicated during treatment. Any alcoholic drinks, when combined with antidepressants, can cause sharp defects of cardiovascular system work. It’s almost impossible to cure medical depression without assistance. So, if you have found some depressive symptoms in you, consult a doctor immediately.

8. Circumstances

As a rule, it appears under most insignificant irritating factors in seared and psychically unstable people. Anything can serve as a reason of depressive condition: bad weather, good weather, discomfort conditions of life, TV news and any sounds.

Way of struggle: in this case, you will hardly cope with depressive condition by yourself. Most likely, as soon as you liquidate one irritating factor, another one will appear at once. And you will keep on going this way endlessly. So, it’s preferable to consult professionals for help. A professional will not only save you from a momentary depressive condition, but also will find a real reason of your psychological disorder.

Yana Mikheeva is the creator of All about women site, it is an on-line resource for women and about women. Here you can find articles on various subjects, such as: diets, receipts, health, cellulite, figure, aromatherapy, wholesome food, psychology of relationships, pregnancy, parenting, fashion and many others. She also has Blog for women

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Practical Spirituality—Understanding The Roots of Depression IV - By John Gilmore

We have written several articles on depression, previously, and this is our final one. If you have missed any of the previous articles please visit our free Practical Spirituality Journal at www.dswellness.com, or you can find more articles like this on this e-zine. We discussed dealing with one’s self esteem, we discussed finding friends and institutions that will support you in your efforts, instead of undermining them. Now we will discuss working on the root of the problem.

The Shaolin say that you cannot work on a problem by working on the outgrowth, you must work on the root. If you work on the branches of a bad tree thinking that you can get rid of the tree that way, you are mistaken. You must work on the root. Many of the things that we have been discussing, though important, are the outgrowth. We will discuss the root of the problem today. “What is the root?” you may ask. The root is obvious. Just take a bit of time to sit, relax, and think about it and it will appear right before your eyes.

Open a magazine, turn on the television, go to a movie. Look at all of the people that you see and hear. These people are designated as the best, the most talented, and therefor, the richest.

These are the people we are supposed to look like and become like, but we can’t and never will, because we are not them. In truth, these people were chosen because of their potential to make money by those who had money. They were given access to the media to make money and to support large staffs of people who used them and put them up front..

This sounds very simple and negative, doesn’t it? But it isn’t unbelievable. It is quite obvious. It is not totally negative for the actors and actresses. They worked hard to get where they are. They studied, struggled, some even went hungry to get the money and fame. They gave their lives to the consumer system to make it and to do what their hearts wanted most. If you are willing to give your life to the consumer system completely you can make it too and be rich, famous. The problem is that you don’t want that. You are not willing to sell your soul to the system so can’t do the things you would like and are depressed. The truth is, however, that many of them have everything that they thought they wanted and they are still depressed, because they are part of a big business.

We have a narrow view of ourselves as human beings. We usually strive and seek for that which we already have. In a consumer society we often think that we can fill the holes with things, or with cash. The truth is that we already have the greatest riches that anyone could have, our selves as we are, and our creative abilities. When we begin to live in reality we realize this, but this takes dismantling the illusion that is constructed so well around us.

The illusion can readily be seen as we watch a screen writers imagination unfold before us and think that is the way the world is, and that is what people look like. That is her imagination. It isn’t real. What is real is feeling the sun against one’s skin. It is waking up to see a brilliant red streak across the horizon as the sun rises. It is looking up at the sky and feeling oneself drawn up and away from one’s ordinary boring, or frantic life. We don’t value them, because they don’t have a monetary worth. They are priceless. All of these things are so beautiful because they are drawing us back to who we really are. We are not looking at anything except ourselves. We are part of the universe given the ability to look upon itself and realize itself. When we do not live our lives aligned with this belief, the true knowledge of who and what we are, depression always follows. The truth is that we are priceless.

Depression, created by our own minds, is there nudging us and making us uncomfortable so we will continue to move, to seek the true riches of life. We don’t know what the true riches are, because they have been replaced with the artificial—a bunch of things synonymous with happiness. One thing about depression that many depressed people have probably noticed is an overwhelming feeling of all of the negativity that exists in the universe. It feels like a dark blanket and it forces one deeper inside, or moves one, by force outside of oneself into every thing diffusing one’s energy. The difference between depression and enlightenment is that one usually notices an overwhelming feeling of joy. One can, therefor, turn around depression by learning to perceive the joy in the universe. What this takes is just a turning of the head.

When you drive a motorcycle into a curve it is said that you look to the end of the curve. The position of your head affects your balance on the bike and therefor the direction in which the bike moves. The same is true about life. When you look at all of the horror and pain and thing of all you don’t have, your inner life goes in that direction. When you look at all of the beauty and abundance, your inner life goes in that direction. Please think on these things for a few moments. You can purposely look at all of the beauty.

You have been fighting for too long to attain what you have already had, and what people have constantly been telling you, you don’t have and won’t have until they give it to you. You have worth, you have grace, you are strong, smart and beautiful now. Through meditation, the right peer group, and the right institutions you can realize this and then your depression will change form and just become a brief reminder for you to relax and think deeply. It will change form and regress to that for which it naturally evolved—a signal to introspection and rest.

The root cause of depression is probably not a chemical imbalance. No one knows what comes first, the depression or the chemical imbalance. The root cause is wrong thinking. The root cause is wanting what one does not have, wanting to be someone other than oneself, and listening to others people’s ideas of who and what you should be and accepting them more then you accept your own thoughts. If you can change this, which can be done through many forms of prayer and meditations from the Buddhist tradition, depression will no longer be a problem. When you realize who you truly are and that you are connected with every other living being, as Brian Swimme wrote, “you will never be alone.”

Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica.

For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com Recommended book, On Being Love’s Warrior: A Warriors Manual on Becoming the Compassionate Warrior Within, Dr. Kendall Ronin.

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Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Is Taking Prescription Medication for Anxiety the Best Option? - By Tess Thompson

Here is the good news about anxiety disorders: They are treatable. There are a variety of treatments for anxiety, including behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques and medication. But the question more and more patients are posing to their doctors is: Is prescription medication the best treatment option?

Anxiety is complicated to diagnose because it is often found to be a symptom of other medical conditions or a side effect of other behaviors. For example, some people react to too much caffeine by exhibiting symptoms of anxiety disorders, including, occasionally, panic attacks. Other conditions that can be accompanied by anxiety are hypoglycemia, hyperthyroid, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome and, most often, depression.

When a patient who is suffering from depression is also suffering from anxiety disorder, doctors can often see it as a good sign. In general, it means that the person has not accepted or given in to their depressed condition, and is anxious about it. To alleviate the anxiety, doctors can recommend different types of therapy, each of which can work equally well. Most doctors recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps the patient first to identify the cause of his anxiety, talks him through it, and then slowly and carefully exposes him to situations which make him feel anxious and teaches him how to cope.

In addition to therapy and learned relaxation techniques, doctors will sometimes recommend prescription medication for anxiety -- most often benzodiazepines like Xanax. These medications should not be taken for more than a few months at a time and should not be relied upon as a permanent treatment option. They can be highly addictive and can also produce disturbing side effects, which makes many examine them closely before agreeing to try them.

In many cases, anxiety can be treated without any medication at all. In cases where medication is recommended, there are also natural treatment options for those who are reluctant to begin a regimen that includes prescription medications. If you decide to pursue this route to anxiety relief, look for remedies that include ingredients like passion flower, which is also used to alleviate hypertension, insomnia and nervous tension. Other effective ingredients are lavender, which is one of the most popular panic attack treatments, and lemon balm, a natural anxiety treatment that also serves as a general tonic for the nervous system.

Whichever methods you employ, remember that there are many effective methods of treatment for anxiety and depression, and that patience and persistence will eventually lead you the healthy option that is best for you.

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Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to Native Remedies - where you can find All Natural Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies for many health conditions including natural treatments for anxiety and panic attack treatments.

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Depression Suffering - By Robert Baird

The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer of this but found no such evidence or behavior. The same was true for all other mental or medical conditions, so they think 'witch' covers my condition in life; because I refuse to participate in the materially managed environment any more. We will not explore the horrors of the current forms of Inquisition in great detail in this book as it relates to me. That would definitely be too serious and intense, as I would explain society's role in tortures such as I witness all around me every day. I have been thwarted in devious gambits by those who have something even worse than the strait-jacket as we have seen Drs Breggin and Cohen describe in 'Science'. They call it (appropriately) 'pharmacological lobotomies'. ECT is even more disgusting and joins Ritalin in a campaign which social forces are developing in this control paradigm. It seems relevant to point out enough of the matter of my experience so that you will know you are getting it pretty close to what they say when they use the phrase 'the horse’s mouth'.

Even the pharmacological and psychiatric conglomerate acknowledges the physical elements of depression. Some are cluing in to nutrition and massage or simple caring. The effects of education and alienation are massive, but bad parenting and the lack of enabling nutritive support in early life establish character and behavior traits that stubbornly resist real therapeutic methods. These obsessions often are far too time-consuming for high-paid 'professionals' to offer assistance - so we just drug and deceive! This medical model as some call it makes a great deal of money and keeps the public at large thinking something humane is going on in the life of the care-givers and victims of a society without true spiritual awareness and far too little compassion. The buzz words and catchy phrases like ‘informed consent’ are not anything more than deceit, as they still give lobotomies. In one case they did it without informing the person who just died in 2005.

Francis Mark Mondimore writes a book called 'Depression, The Mood Disease' updated in 1993 by Johns Hopkins University that presents the lies of this machine that Ivan Illich (in 'Limits To Medicine') identified as ‘mechanistic and over-professionalized' in the mid 70s.Here is the overstatement of the century from its inside flap:

"The revised 'Depression, the Mood Disease' tells readers exactly what they need to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of depression:

*How antidepressant drugs were discovered, how they work, and with what side effects. {I'm biting my tongue!}

*What Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and panic attacks are, and how they are treated.

*How electro-convulsive therapy has changed for the better--and why it now works for up to 90% of those treated. {And all the professions involved in continuing to provide this fearsome horror that is necessary to repeat as it continues frying brain cells. Now randomly due to a drug cocktail, so that people's libido and zest is burned out too.}

*How the special problems of depression in children and older persons are handled. *How to deal with a depressed friend or family member.

*How such disorders as hormonal imbalance and even lead poisoning can 'mimic' the symptoms of depression.

*Why depression is sometimes misdiagnosed as 'PMS', drug abuse, or Alzheimer's disease..." (2)

The future holds promises and terrors galore in the application of 'easy' answers like drugs developed for specific genetic make-ups and nanites to monitor and deliver targeted drugs or shocks to the system in order to make us behave as we should. The ever-increasing 'big brother' that allows the growth industries associated with the management of people will lead to full employment if we allow it to continue down the current path. There will only be one benefit as the unemployable grow in number and the employment roles show full employment. The statistics will show the economy is productive and there is little unemployment or reason to worry about an economic depression. That is the end of the excerpt from my encyclopedia. I will be including some other more recent writings as we proceed.

I had returned from the Caribbean and a failed business experience in Mexico and Belize in the month of March 1998. My last wife and I had purchased a yacht, which we hoped to be able to build a party boat/tourist business around. My wife had named the boat 'Champagne Dreams' after the motto of Robin Leach's show 'The Rich and the Famous'. It was her idea that we put a Jacuzzi on the front deck, of this 47 foot fiberglass yacht that we purchased in Fort Lauderdale, and our partner (Captain Crunch) Jerry had taken with me to Cancun. His nickname had not been established until we were leaving Key West. He destroyed the fueling station of the marina while hitting three other boats. We were still married though it was never a real marriage as most people think of it. The relationship was already complicated with another man named David.

It is not the purpose of this book to try to describe the trials and tribulations of a relationship between myself and a young Vietnamese exotic dancer who had been one of the 'boat 'people'.

Suffice it to say there were many exciting times that had lead me to the point where I was ready to leave this world before I even met her. I had been a self-made millionaire at the age of thirty. My travels and business had allowed me to meet some of the most interesting people. By any standard of measurement most would agree I had enjoyed life FULLY. My interest in psychology due to having grown up with a schizophrenic mother had long before gotten into the realm of Eastern mysticism and parapsychology.

My wife was just twenty-two and I was forty six years old. We had gone to Cancun in early September of 1997 to further research a stele that I had found at Chichen Itza four years before with my previous wife. This event had ended with my being thrown off the site, and having to sign a document giving the Mexican authorities the right to throw me in a Mexican prison, without any recourse to the courts and Canadian law. This is truly a story of oppression of the Mayan and native people of Central America that includes a deceit of history which is IMMENSE! We had been doing a non-invasive charcoal rubbing of this 'stele' (stone for heavenly worship, or library in stone). It had been painted over twice and it seemed the white surface would have made the pictures provide insufficient clarity. So we had some paper we were using over the stone to capture the alphabet that had not 'come out' in the previous photos I had taken four years earlier when the granite 'rock' had its original shiny surface.

This alphabet I believe confirms the work of Col. Churchward, the author of 'The Lost Continent of Mu', who documents the Cara-Maya language is the translational medium through which the Greek alphabet on the other side of the 'stele' tells the story of the destruction of the civilization that originally colonized South America some sixty thousand years earlier. I believe Col.

Churchward would agree with my statement that the original colonization had started during the Riis-Wurm geologic Ice Age, and was finalized during the last Ice Age; if he had the benefit of recent geologic and archaeologic evidence. A fellow researcher and good friend named Brenda found this in Islam and Sufism which applies to my personal quest.

Dear Brenda:

Was this the result of Jeffrey mentioning the Language of the Birds is the Language of the Bards and the alchemist (like this person) Fulcanelli? This whole thing is very much from the Keltic Creed. I draw attention to these parts - "The Hoopoe says that it is better to lose your life than to languish miserably. The Hoopoe says,

So long as we do not die to ourselves, and so long as we identify with someone or something, we shall never be free. The spiritual way is not for those wrapped up in exterior life.5

You will enjoy happiness if you succeed in withdrawing from attachment to the world. Whoever is merciful even to the merciless is favored by the compassionate. It is better to agree to differ than to quarrel. The Hoopoe warns the sixth bird against the dog of desire that runs ahead. Each vain desire becomes a demon, and yielding to each one begets a hundred others. The world is a prison under the devil, and one should have no truck with its master. The Hoopoe also says that if you let no one benefit from your gold, you will not profit either; but by the smallest gift to the poor you both benefit. She says,

Good fortune will come to you only as you give. If you cannot renounce life completely, you can at least free yourself from the love of riches and honors.6

A pupil becomes afraid in facing a choice between two roads, but a shaikh advises getting rid of fear so that either road will be good. The Hoopoe tells the eighth bird that only if death ceases to exercise power over creatures would it be wise to remain content in a golden palace." (3)

The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer of this but found no such evidence or behavior. The same was true for all other mental or medical conditions, so they think 'witch' covers my condition in life; because I refuse to participate in the materially managed environment any more. We will not explore the horrors of the current forms of Inquisition in great detail in this book as it relates to me...

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Psychiatry - llnesses or Conditions - By Pradeep Chadha

John was a highly intelligent young boy. With higher than average intelligence, he was also emotionally sensitive. He was obviously a handful for his parents because they did not know how to deal with him. His father was strict with him. His mother was too busy to pay much attention to him because he had five other siblings. He felt not heard or appreciated. When he was in his early twenties he became elated. He was admitted into the hospital where he was diagnosed as having a psychiatric condition that he and his family was told, was untreatable.

Today many years later, he has sometimes to take a little bit of medication when his mind starts to race. He is not on all the drugs that he was told he would be taking for the rest of his life. He lives a settled life and is married being in gainful employment for last many years.

This is a real life example of a psychiatric ‘illness’ that was alleviated with intensive therapy work dealing with traumatic issues in John’s life. Illnesses, in psychiatry, refer to thinking and behaviour patterns that do not fit the norm. It is impossible to know what someone is thinking of or perceiving till they talk about it and behave in a manner that is damaging to lives, including their own. It is presumed that the perception, behaviour and thinking are mediated through hormones and neurotransmitters in the body.

From psychiatric viewpoint there are references to ‘stressful’ life events that contribute to mental illnesses. These events are those that cause emotional distress to the individual at the time of their occurrence. We do not know scientifically as to how these events cause a mental ‘illness’. To treat an‘illness’ medication is necessary. So we see an excessive use of medicines in psychiatry.

In a physical illness- the ‘ill’ or diseased part of the body has to be kept free of any infections. The healing of the part is a spontaneous process that is done by Mother Nature. The best a surgeon can do is cut away the part that is cancerous, for example. He can do no more. We have to rely on Mother Nature to do the healing. The other ways in which cancer can be treated or prevented is by irradiation, changing the lifestyle or changing the diet or even with visualisation and imagery.

In psychiatric conditions, unfortunately, the medications do not help to heal the emotional ‘wound’ or emotional distress. When the body goes through an emotionally distressful experience, the chemicals in the body that are hormones and neurotransmitters, go through a stage of turmoil. This turmoil needs time to settle. In order for this turmoil to end, the body needs to ‘finish’ the processing of the emotional distress. This distress is experienced as ‘psychiatric illness’. When medication is introduced to treat the ‘illness’ the body stops processing the emotions that the person is going through. The sufferer actually becomes emotionally ‘numb’. This creates the impression of the ‘illness’ being controlled rather than being cured.

And ‘control’ is an interesting word that is prevalent in the field of psychiatry. When the sufferer falsely believes that they have been ‘cured’ as the symptoms are no longer there, they discontinue medications. The ‘illness’ then returns in most cases.

It is because of this reason that the emotional distress that is at the root cause of the condition is only a condition. If it is allowed to be expressed and emotional healing takes place, the ‘illness’ does not happen. Psychiatric illnesses are therefore only conditions that become more permanent because a person has not expressed the emotions to a point of completion. Recent researches are proving that expression of emotions is healthier than having a ‘stiff upper lip’.

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

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Mother, Child and Depression - By Monalisa Hyden

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."

These are a few words said by Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Mom is the first word uttered by a child, the guardian angel “Mom” is the sole source of love and affection to the child, and the security and warmth of her lap remains there for a long time, even if she is not there, giving us strength and urge to live when we are need it most. The centre of his life is his mother, so, her love, care, smiles, tears, anger, frustration, depression, prayer… affect the child. A child’s intellectual and social development flourishes closely around his mother, influenced by her immensely. A cheerful mother makes everything seem so perfect for him, in the same way the behaviour of a depressed mother may give an impression that he is unwanted and he is not able to make her happy. That creates confusion in a child’s mind about his worthiness and he also may become depressed.

Depressed mother’s depressed child and a bleak future…

Research studies show that parental depression is a major risk factor for anxiety, depression and troublesome behaviour in the children and make them violent at the same time. Children of depressed mother are more vulnerable to be victimized by depression than those of normal mothers. The children of mothers suffering from depression during postnatal period are found to be fighting with their peers more often and resulted in injuries followed by suspension from school. “Although it appears that violence is not an inevitable outcome of postnatal depression, it is one that is made more likely under conditions of continued adversity. Early and recurring exposure to maternal depression puts children at risk for the overt pathway toward serious violence” says researcher Dale F. Hay, Ph.D., of Cardiff University. The severity of mother’s depression has more impact on the child than the chronicity of the mother’s depression no matter what is the age of the child. The reason being, a child finds it difficult to regulate attention and emotion from a mother who is depressed. The feeling of lack of love and attention makes the child angry and inattentive, so the propensity to violence increases. The loss caused by his psychological condition is so serious that the whole future of this depressed and angry child remains at stake. A mother’s depression strangulates his childhood’s innocence and faith, and his whole future may be ruined afterwards.

Psychological help for both mother and child is necessary

This is a strong acknowledgement of environmental influences on the child’s mental health. The depression in the mother or in the family should not creep into the child. The importance of psychological help under the given circumstances is beyond question. Both mother and child should be treated with medications of depression, like therapies and antidepressants, for obvious reasons. Children respond more quickly to environmental changes and psychological therapies. If a mother is depressed due to problems in the marital relationship, it is important for the child’s normal growth that the couple considers psychological help for the same. For example if a father does not protect the child from his mother’s assaulting and do not cover up for the attentions he needs from his mother, the child may turn to a timid and panicky person who would be frightened by darkness, a close door, nightmares and a list of similar aspects. The connotation more simplified is, the depressed mother needs to treat herself for the sake of the child. Taking antidepressants, something like Xanax, during the postnatal months prove to be helpful in cognitive and temperament development of the child. At the later stage, if the depression continues with the mother, psychological therapies from a psychiatrist becomes very important for the normal mental health of the child.

My Mom is the best!

If you ask a child who is the best, he would answer instantly with a big confident smile, “My Mom is the best!” A simple memory of the mother brings smile to his face. A mother’s depression may take away that precious smile forever. Let every mother save that smile, and save the future of the child.

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

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Trapped by Depression? - By Stan Lewis

If you have a sound sense of purpose for your life, it is more difficult for you to find yourself trapped by depression the hustle and bustle of today's workplace. The way to have this sound sense of purpose is to have an understanding of priorities, set your priorities, and maintain your priorities by setting reasonable life goals.

Depression is a state of unhappiness and hopelessness. With depression, comes feelings of dejection, lack of energy, sleeplessness, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies. Depression is a trap that can catch you in two different ways. First, it can wear on you when you do not know what your sense of purpose is. Second, when you have a purpose, but, for whatever reason, you have lost focus regarding your purpose in life.

When you do not know what your sense of purpose in life you have no direction for your life. At best this will leave you with feelings of uncertainty and at worst it will leave you with feelings of hopelessness. It is important that you pray about your purpose in life. That you seek out your personal gifts or talents and then develop them. As you both develop your skills and seek God's will, God will point you towards your niche in life. It is also important to set your priorities of God first, then your spouse & family, your job, your personal ministry, etc. This will help to keep you focused as you carry out God's purpose for your life.

When we lose focus in our lives, it is usually because we have, in some way, disregarded our priorities. God needs to be first among our priorities. His word says we are to love God with all of our heart and all of our might.

Our next priority should be our spouse (or if your single, your family). In both words and action, we need to keep them readily aware that they are loved, cherished and important. We most make "quality" time to pour ourselves into our spouse and our children lives.

Next should be our jobs. Many would think that our personal ministry would come next, but that is not so. Our job is our means to support God's house with tithes/offerings and to support our families. We should do our jobs as if we are working for God himself. That means always seeking to personally grow and develop your talents.

Lastly you should find a place in God's house to serve others and give of yourself. When you open yourself to serve others, God will give you direction as to where to serve. You will get more out of it than you ever put into serving others.

There are forces in this world that will affect your thinking. Once this is done, Satan will seek to change your focus. If he can change your focus, he can affect your emotions. No longer are you pursuing your purpose through your priorities. The further and further you move from your purpose, the more it will bring negative emotions to surface. The negative emotions expose you to the abrasive nature of unhappiness and hopelessness. As unhappiness and hopelessness wear away at you, you begin to lose energy and the ability to find peace - to be at rest.

This is the trap of depression and it is something that many of us can slide into. Sometimes it's a slow slide and sometimes it is a rapid slide into depression, but if unchanged it can have a devastating effect upon not only you, but those who are close to you.

So ask God for direction in your life. There is no woman or man, which God has not given a gift or talents to. You need to discover the marvelous talents he has given you. Then develop and grow them with a personal coach or mentor. Then set your priorities and life goals so that you have a positive focus for your life. There is a saying, "...it is hard to stop a good man that keeps on coming." Ladies - men, it is going to be hard to stop you if you maintain your purpose and priorities. If you are feeling lost, then set yourself free by setting priorities and goals for yourself. After doing so, stick with your priorities - your goals and you will find that you have escaped the trap of depression. Maintaining your focus with Godly purposes and priorities will greatly aid you in avoiding the snare of depression.

Copyright 2006 Stan Lewis

Stan Lewis is a Christian Leadership & Life Coach. If you liked this article, you should really check out his new “Thinking Style” assessment by Clicking Here - http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/H/cRstanlewis1134788755.html If you would like a complimentary chat to talk about any issue, goal setting, or problems – Click here - http://realleadership4coachinglife.com/wst_page3.html Please take advantage of other FREEBIES by at http://www.realcoach.org
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What is Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorder and How Can It Cause Depression, Anxiety, and... - By William Nelson

Neurotransmitters (NTs) are essential chemical messengers that regulate brain, muscle, nerve and organ function. The most common NTs are serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Low levels of these important chemicals is extremely common in the general public and is due to innumerable lifestyle, environmental, and dietary factors. This article is intended to help the reader determine whether they may be deficient in NTs and how evaluation and treatment of this disorder can help.

People with neurotransmitter deficiency disorder can suffer from one or more of the following conditions: obesity, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, insomnia, attention deficit, learning disorders, panic attacks, migraines, pms, menopausal symptoms, digestive complaints and many more.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other drugs working on the neurotransmitter biochemistry such as Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, Wellbutrin, etc. are currently some of the most commonly prescribed drugs. They work by artificially increasing the amount of serotonin in the synapse of the nerve which allows a temporary improvement in the chemical messaging system.

The problem with this approach is that these drugs DO NOT increase serotonin levels and in fact deplete reserves of the NT. This occurs because the SSRI class drugs cause an increase in an enzyme called MAO. It is common for people to experience only temporary improvement due to this effect.

The most effective way to correct a neurotransmitter deficiency is to perform a simple urine test to measure the NT levels. The treatment for optimizing the neurotransmitter levels is to provide the basic amino acid precursors or building blocks so the body can replenish the inadequate levels.

The true value of any treatment is the results it produces. Using this approach over the last year, I have helped coach many patients to a higher level of wellness. Patients with chronic depression, anxiety, and or insomnia have experienced a new sense of wellbeing while continuing their prescription, others have successfully weaned themselves off their prescription SSRI drugs after their symptoms have improved. Weight loss patients using slightly higher amino acid dosing consistently lose 1.5-2.5 lbs. per week without hunger while improving their lean muscle/body fat ratios.

FAQs regarding Dr. Nelson’s NT program for anxiety and depression

Q. If I am already taking SSRI drugs, can I safely use this amino acid approach?

A. In my clinical experience I have seen great results with patients who have been on SSRI drugs for many many years. First, we get the person feeling better, then if the patient chooses, we slowly wean them off their prescription drugs.

Q. How does amino acid therapy increase NT levels?

A. 5HTP is converted into serotonin and then melatonin. Phenylalanine is converted into tyrosine, then dopamine, L-Dopa, norepinephrine, and lastly epinephrine.

Q. How do you measure for the neurotransmitter levels in order to determine appropriate treatment?

A. The levels for epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, PEA, histamine, and many others can be measured with a simple urine test. An initial urine test can be given and then repeated after 6 to 12 weeks of therapy to determine optimal neurotransmitter levels have been obtained.

Q. Are there any side effects associated with the amino acid neurotransmitter therapy?

A. Not only are there no side effects, but there are numerous side benefits. People with depression often find relief not only from depression but also insomnia, fatigue, GI symptoms, chronic pain, pms, menopausal symptoms, obesity, food cravings, etc. In a small amount of people (less than 5%) people could have gastro intestinal symptoms such as nausea, cramping, diarrhea, etc. This occurs in people with severe neurotransmitter deficiency. This usually occurs within the first three days and is solved by stopping all amino acids. Therapy is continued at very low dosing after symptoms abate and then slowly increased to therapeutic levels over three to six weeks.

Q. How long will it take until my symptoms of depression/anxiety improve?

A. Each individual responds differently to treatment. Some patients have noticed incredible improvements in moods in a few days, others don’t notice any improvements for a period of time (sometimes 3-4 months) and then notice gradual improvements over the following 3 to 6 months, most patients notice gradual improvements beginning after 1 month of treatment and then continue to improve.

Q. What should I expect during a normal course of evaluation and treatment?

A. Evaluation involves an initial office visit to determine overall health history, prescription drug levels, severity of symptoms, and any related health concerns. There is an optional urine test for neurotransmitter levels. Treatment consists of the following:

1. Conditioning Phase – a one to two week period to prepare the patient for higher levels of therapeutic amino acid dosing.

2. Therapeutic Phase – a period lasting anywhere from two months to 1 year+ where high levels of amino acids are given to restore the neurotransmitter levels.

3. Maintenance Phase – ongoing treatment with a small amount of amino acids to maintain the levels of neurotransmitters. This provides enough amino acids to replace the neurotransmitters excreted throughout the day.

Q. Will I need to stay on amino acid therapy indefinitely?

A. Most people need to stay on a low level maintenance dose in order to continue to feel well after their 2 month to 1 year plus treatment phase. If people stop taking the amino acids, their neurotransmitter levels will slowly decrease over time.

Q. What amino acids are used in this therapy?

A. The amino acids used depend on the unique situation. The therapy will include any number of the following: 5HTP, tyrosine, phenylalanine, cysteine, mucuna (herbal L-Dopa), theanine, glutamine, taurine, methionine, GABA, phosphorylated b vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants.

Q. What is the approximate cost of the therapy?

A. The cost of the neurotransmitter replacement therapy can range from $80 to $120+ during the therapeutic phase. After the patients symptoms have improved and the urine tests show optimal levels, the cost for the maintenance therapy is significantly less.

Q. What’s the success rate for anxiety and depression using this approach?

A. Anxiety and Depression are conditions that are multi-factorial. Patients that follow the dietary recommendations, take the supplements and don’t give up before the neurotransmitters levels have been restored have a very high success rate. This natural therapy corrects the biochemical imbalance associated with these conditions. Patients working with a qualified counselor or therapist to address the mental and emotional aspects of these conditions have an even higher success rate.

William Nelson, NMD is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor in private practice in North Scottsdale. He specializes in the treatment of depression/anxiety and weight loss using amino acid therapy. Dr. Nelson combines time honored natural therapies with the latest advances in medical science for the treatment and prevention of all other chronic and acute health concerns. 7500 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd. A207 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 480-563-4256

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A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications - By Charles Donovan

While it may be easy to recite the various brand names and generalize their benefits enough to know they put us (or are supposed to put us) in a better mood, for lack of a better term, the drugs themselves can all be categorized individually, each working in a slightly different way.

The following is a list and very brief description, by category, of depression and anxiety medications currently prescribed by physicians.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs, which are fairly new to the arsenal of depression and anxiety medications, have gained immense popularity among prescribing psychiatrists within the past 10 years. They are usually prescribed during the early stages of depression, if a person has sought help and behavioral and/or psychotherapy has not proven effective enough. With appropriate dosage, SSRIs can "catch" depression before it becomes severe. Although they do not work for 20% to 40% of people who try them, their ability to work for people with minor (and even major) depressive illnesses makes them attractive enough to prescribing psychiatrists to try them first before moving on to more serious depression and anxiety medications and methods, if need be. SSRIs work on serotonin, one of the brain's three neurotransmitters.

SSRIs Brand name (chemical name)

Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MOAIs)

MAOIs are the type of depression and anxiety medications that work for people who are mildly depressed, develop mild depression over a long period of time, are overly sensitive to their environment, or who are easily able to emerge from periods of depression. People who demonstrate an excess of a particular activity (ie, overeating, oversleeping, emotional overreaction) as compensation with stress can benefit from MAOIs, which work on the three neurotransmitters (called monoamines) found in the brain: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These are usually only prescribed when a person hasn't responded to any of the other types of depression and anxiety medications.

A strict diet must be followed if taking an MAOI, because in conjunction with certain foods, the body can react with elevated blood pressure, headaches, fluctuating blood sugar (for people with diabetes), and in more severe cases, brain hemorrhage. Because of these risks, MAOIs were taken off the American market for a while, but were reintroduced for patients who haven't had luck with any other depression and anxiety medications.

MAOIs Brand name (chemical name)

Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclics have been available longer than any other depression and anxiety medications. In 1958, the first tricyclic, imipramine (Tofranil), was released to help combat major depression, and physicians saw a 70% positive response within their patients. Previously the only treatments for severely depressed patients were amphetamines and electroshock therapy.

TCAs increase the brain's supply of serotonin and norepinephrine, two of the brain's three neurotransmitters, but it also affects some of the brain's other nerve impulses as well, and this allows for more side effects.

Severely depressed and/or hospitalized patients see the most benefit from taking TCAs because of its sedative effect. In the past, patients were usually prescribed tricyclics before anything else, but with the movement of psychiatrists (and patients!) toward heading off depression before it becomes severe and/or chronic, TCAs are now usually only prescribed if the other types of depression and anxiety medications don't work.

TCAs Brand name (chemical name)

Adapin (doxepin), Anafranil (clomipramine) , Elavil (amitriptyline), Endep (amitriptyline), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Norpramin (desipramine) , Pamelor (nortryptyline), Pertofrane (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Surmontil (trimipramine), Tofranil (imipramine), Vivactil (protriptyline)

Non-specified or "Other" depression and anxiety medications Because their chemical make-ups do not fit into any of the other categories, the following list of depression and anxiety medications can only be termed as "other." Wellbutrin, Desyrel, Remeron, and Effexor are prescribed most. Each of the four drugs affects at least one of the brain's three neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine), and as a result, each has its own particular set of side effects. As a result, psychiatrists are much more likely to prescribe one of the other types of depression and anxiety medications (SSRIs, MAOIs, TCAs) before switching to one of these. In some instances, a patient's regimen is augmented by combining an SSRI or TCA with an"other" depression and anxiety medications, but because of an MAOI's particular chemical make-up and dietary requirements, it is prescribed alone.

Brand names (chemical names) of Non-specified depression and anxiety medications

Buspar (buspirone), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Desyrel (trazodone) , Effexor (venlafaxine), Edronax, Vestra (reboxetine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Serzone (nefazodone), Wellbutrin (bupropion).

In August of 2004, the FDA approved the investigational drug Cymbaltaâ„¢ (duloxetine HCl), which demonstrated rapid relief of anxiety symptoms associated with depression that was sustained for the length of the study period, according to new data published in the journal Depression and Anxiety. In clinical studies, researchers attribute the medication's effect on a broad spectrum of depression symptoms, which include emotional and painful physical symptoms as well as anxiety, to its dual reuptake inhibition of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

Learn more about treating depression at http://www.e-mentalhealth.com

Charles E. Donovan

Author Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

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Practical Spirituality—Dealing With Depression IIIB - By John Gilmore

In Practical Spirituality IIIA we discussed ways to improve your social life. We mainly focused on how you could find the right group of people. We explored choosing to interact with friends and peer groups with the right qualities, instead of just engaging with any group, especially those who considered themselves the in group. We also spoke of letting go of groups that might be damaging to your psyche. In this entry we will explore ways that you can use to prepare yourself to interact with you new found group. Are you a quiet contemplative person, or a shy person, are you a person with a lot of anger or one who is very confrontational? Does this get in you way sometimes?.

In our journal on Dealing With Anger, we addressed ways that you can change anger to a more positive and productive type of energy. You can stop being confrontational and become a loving person through the exercise of Tang Lin as described in that previous entry. Tang Lin can also be done to change fear and shyness. The main idea here, however, is that you can take control of your life and your behaviors. When you see a person that is very likeable and socially active, someone that you would like to be like, look at the way that they interact with other people.

Study their behavior; that person can be your model for behavior.

You will probably notice how relaxed they are. You will probably notice they have the gift to draw other people out in the conversation, and they know when to disclose information about themselves. In order to be this way you have to fully accept yourself. If you don’t think your own life is interesting you won’t say much about yourself. If you don’t think that other people’s lives are interesting you will talk too much about yourself and won’t allow them to say anything about their lives. I guess the main point in interacting with others, therefore, is to really care about the person with whom you are speaking and yourself.

You can work on doing things like smiling, practicing the behaviors that connect you with other people, and developing a more positive social aura. Here is something concrete that you can do. If you would like to say, increase the amount of time you smile, what you do first is take a baseline of the behavior. Try to be aware and notice when you are smiling. Take a small pad with you and make a check mark each time you smile. Do this for about 3 days to a week. You can even make a chart with the time of day on it, or the type of place you were in so that you can track that too. After you have completed this baseline take a look. You will probably be surprised at how little you smile.

Look for the places and circumstances when you were smiling and when you weren’t. Next you work at increasing your smiling behavior. Go in front of the mirror and smile daily. When you exercise, watch TV, or engage in any activity habitually, smile throughout the activity, even if it is something that is grueling and unpleasant.

Smile as much as you can purposely. Make a contract with yourself. Measure the baseline every week and give yourself something really great each week if you smile the right amount of times, or the right length of minutes per week, depending on your baseline and contract. Make yourself earn something that you really like to do, like going to the movies, or taking a walk at the beach. If you don’t get the right amount of smiles that week, don’t do it.

Smile, smile, smile, especially when you are in nervous situations. You can even set up a series of exercises, or meditations where you smile throughout the exercises. If you can learn to smile naturally through grueling exercises or during nervous experiences, when you first meet a person and you are a bit nervous, you will smile automatically.

As you do more meditation, if you are meditating, you will become more aware of the thoughts and feelings that rise up and create awkwardness in your relationships. You can then work to change those behaviors by recognizing them early, before they manifest themselves. Until then this is a good model to use, along with the meditation. This model can also be used to decrease behaviors too.

Meditation, however, is most crucial in taking control of your life. It may seem boring to you, or tiring, or difficult, but meditation is the medicine for the psyche and the soul. It is worth struggling in order to reach the place of peace that only meditation and prayer brings us too, especially if you have a tendency to move toward depression. Some psychologists think that depression comes as a result of a chemical imbalance. As long as you take you medication, they say, things will be all right.

Other psychologists think that depression comes as a result of horrible external situations, or because we have learned to be helpless and to give up on life. Some mystics and spiritual counselors think that depression comes from the fact that more attuned people realize what the world can be, but when they look around and see all the pain and the suffering that is created by human beings and have to live in that world themselves, they feel empty and trapped.

Depression, in this case, is a hunger for connection with the Divine.

Whatever you believe, these tips will be helpful. These articles come primarily from the mystic point of view. They are not meant to take the place of psychotherapy, but to compliment it. If they are not working for you, however, there is always help from mental health professionals. Do not discount them, because they do a great deal of work and depression can be a very serious problem.

In our next journal entry we will write our final article on depression. We will discuss how we can find the core of the problem and then begin to deal with it. Until then, keep going in and looking up, because the same beauty out there in the heavens is inside of you at the center of your own being.

Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For our practical spirituality journal visit: http://www.dswellness.com

On Being Love´s Warrior: A Warrior´s Manual on Becoming the Compassionate Warrior Within, Dr. Kendall Ronin.

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Comment from one of my readers:

Thanks so much! I'm so glad I found your post. My son's best friend, 14, just spent some time in a hospital for cutting. He is doing much better...and we just spent a week with him in Orlando for Spring Break. It is so hard to watch these young children hurt themselves...because of unresolved inner pain. Knowledge is power...so is love! Diane

A Short Self-Injury Primer for Parents, Teachers and Friends - By Jill L. Ferguson

Angelina Jolie was on Inside the Actors Studio last year and she mentioned that when she was younger and life got too painful for her, she used to cut herself. This remark was made by her almost in passing. It wasn’t questioned by host James Lipton. He didn’t ask her why or what she meant by cutting herself. Yet cutting, burning and other forms of self-injury are very serious issues around the world.

At any given time, one percent of the population is using or has used “self-inflicted physical injury as a means of coping with an overwhelming situation or feeling”, according to the American Self-Harm Information Clearinghouse. Self-injurers come from all walks of life; they are from every socio-economic group, from a diverse range of ethnicities and countries, from any sexual persuasion, from any level of education. Self-injurers can also be of any age and gender. The main thing they have in common is that they cut, self-abuse or self-mutilate in an effort to relieve themselves from pain or distress. And as the ASHIC website points out, “Self-mutilation implies falsely that the primary intent is to mark or maim the body, and in most cases this isn’t so.”

People start to self-injure for a variety reasons. They may have a biological predisposition to hurt themselves or a lack of experience dealing with strong emotions. Or they may have done something—picked at their skin, bit themselves or hit a wall—during a time of stress and realized that this action released some pent-up negative feelings. Because of this one-time, quick relief, the person may start to repeat the action in the middle of the next tense episode or the next time she needs to alter her mood. Preteens or teens who start this behavior may continue it for a long time, by wearing covering clothing or by always offering excuses as to how the injury happened, before someone realizes what they are doing.

If you are a teacher, a parent or a friend of a self-injurer, don’t get angry or tell the person what they are doing is stupid. You need to understand why the person feels the compulsion to do the behavior. What triggers his actions? Is something horrible going on in his life that needs to be addressed? Is he in an abusive situation or living in a place where emotional expression is forbidden or invalidated? Other coping mechanisms will need to be learned, especially if the person will have to continue being in the stressful situation. Help for self-injurers usually involves professional therapy. But self-injury, like any learned, addictive behavior, usually cannot be overcome by forced treatment or forced hospitalization; the self-injurer has to want help.

Some treatments use medications (mood enhancers, anti-depressants, anxiety calmers) to ease the urge to self-harm. Therapy and medicinal combination can be done on an inpatient basis with an understanding hospital staff, or on an outpatient basis with a psychiatrist or other medical professional.

The most important thing for you as a friend, a teacher or a family member of a self-injurer is to try not be frightened, isolated or feel helpless (things that the self-injurer may be feeling too). Know that support groups (in person and online) exist for self-injurers and their loved ones. Educate yourself about self-injury.

Visit LifeSigns’ website at http://www.selfharm.org, Self Injurers Anonymous at http://www.selfinjurers.com and Showing Our Scars at http://www.showingourscars.org for more information. Share the information you find with the self-injurer to let her know you understand, that you aren’t being judgmental and offer to help in any way you can.

Self-injury can be stopped, with the right tools. Angelia Jolie is just one success story of that.

Jill L. Ferguson is a professor, editor, writer, public speaker and the author of the novel Sometimes Art Can't Save You (published by In Your Face Ink, http://www.inyourfaceink.com) about a self-injuring teenage artist who struggles one summer to balance painting, friendship, sex, travel and family issues while still maintaining her health and sanity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_L._Ferguson

Manic – bipolar depression facts and reality - By Dave McEvoy

Manic depression - Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function.

Some mornings can start with overriding feelings of joy, elation and power. By the time the afternoon has arrived this can shift to feelings of desperation, despair and depression.

More than 2 million American adults, or about 1 percent of the population have bipolar disorder, the percentage figures are the same for the United Kingdom.

These figures are only an estimate, the true figures will probably never be accurately known, this is probably due the stigma attached to mental health issues and the signs and symptoms not being correctly spotted by friends, family, professionals and even the individual themselves. It is fair to say that manic depression is under diagnosed.

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode)

• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness

• Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood

• Extreme irritability

• Racing thoughts and talking quickly, jumping from one idea to another

• Distractibility, lack off concentration

• Little sleep needed

• Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers

• Poor judgment

• Spending sprees

• A lasting period of behaviour that is different from usual

• Increased sexual drive

• Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications

• Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour

• Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

The above signs and symptoms of mania can be very difficult to spot in an individual who has manic depression as all of the EXACT symptoms and time frames may not be prevalent in every person as each individual is unique.

A good example of this would be a rapid cycle manic depressive who in the mornings is high and elated, followed by despair and depression in the afternoons. This rapid cycle could happen for 2 or 3 days then level off for a relative period of calm for a few days before it starts again.

Due to the stigma attached to mental health problems individuals may try and mask their symptoms to avoid any embarrassment they may feel. Thus making it even more difficult to spot and diagnose. Some of these symptoms of mania may be the only symptoms that you see in a person who has manic depression, as they are easily passed of as having a “larger than life personality”

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode)

• feeling sad, anxious, or empty mood

• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex

• Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

• Restlessness or irritability

• Sleeping too much, or can't sleep

• Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain

• Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury

• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

A manic depressive will definitely have 5 of these symptoms. This is truly the worst time for a manic depressive, this is where the most support and help is needed.

Again the diagnosis is not 100% correct, as some people will have rapid cycles, i.e. High and elated in the morning then desperation and depression in the afternoon, these symptoms may only last a few days; sometimes they last a few weeks and in some very bad cases months.

In some people however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what some people are calling a” mixed bipolar state.”

Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, and significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized.

So again this shows that manic depression or bipolar disorder is not as straight forward as highs and lows.

Diagnosis of manic depression - Bipolar Disorder

Like other mental illnesses, bipolar disorder cannot yet be identified physiologically—for example, through a blood test or a brain scan. Therefore, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made on the basis of symptoms, course of illness, and, when available, family history.

Treatment of Bipolar Depression

It is absolutely vital that the correct medication is administered once the diagnosis has taken place, as recent research has indicated that people with bipolar disorder are at risk of switching into mania or hypomania, or developing rapid cycling, during treatment with incorrect antidepressant medication.

Therefore, correct "mood-stabilizing" medications are generally required, alone or in combination with the correct antidepressants, to protect people with bipolar disorder from this switch.

Lithium and valproate are the most commonly used mood-stabilizing drugs today.

Side effects

As any person who is open about their Bipolar will tell you, all of these medications have side effects these can include:

• Weight gain

• Dependence on the medication

• Nausea

• Tremors

• Reduced sex drive or performance

• Anxiety

• Hair loss

• Movement problems

• Dry mouth

• Disturbed sleep

Alternative treatments

Herbal or natural supplements, such as St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), have not been well studied, and little is known about their effects on bipolar disorder. Before trying herbal or natural supplements, it is important to discuss them with your doctor.

There is evidence that St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications. In addition, like prescription antidepressants, St. John's wort may cause a switch into mania in some individuals with bipolar disorder, especially if no mood stabilizer is being taken.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are being studied to determine their usefulness, alone and when added to conventional medications, for long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.

One such study was carried out by Dr Andrew Stoll over a four month period. The study was performed to examine whether omega 3 fatty acids also have mood stabilizing effects with people who have bipolar disorder.

He found that the omega 3 fatty acid patient group had a significantly longer period of remission than the placebo group.

In addition, for nearly every other outcome measure, the omega3 fatty acid group performed better than the placebo group.

With almost no adverse side effects apart from a slight gastric upset. This was thought to be due to the large doses of fish oil administered.

The study was published in the archives of general psychiatry in May 1999. Since then far stronger Pharmaceutical grades of omega 3 fish oil have been developed and brought on to the world market so such large doses need not be taken.

Conclusion

Manic depression – bipolar disorder is a condition that is often under diagnosed and in some cases very difficult to spot and treat correctly. A lot of people with this condition will try and mask either their true feelings and or symptoms due to the unfortunate stigma that is attached to mental health. Receiving the correct diagnosis, treatment and medication is vital if they are to stand any chance of trying to live a normal life. It is also crucial for friends and family to also try and understand this condition as it can help them come to terms with certain types of behaviour that are being displayed. As far as alternative remedies go, to date our best bet is very strong omega 3 fish oil as there are no side effects and it is the only remedy that’s had any kind of scientific study performed using people with our condition . It is also safe to run along side any form of medication apart from blood thinning medication.

About the Author:

Dave McEvoy: A great resource for high grade omega 3 Ethyl EPA fish oil in a vegetable shell with a 90% concentrate of EPA and Zero DHA visit http://www.mind1st.co.uk

Article source: ArticleWorld.net Free Articles

What's Causing My Depression and Fatigue? - By Paul Shearstone

Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our society today. Recent studies done by the AMA and CMA purport one in four people in North America are suffering from some form of chronic fatigue or depression and it’s expected eight out of ten of us will experience similar afflictions in our lifetime. But numbers like these don’t speak to the cause and only tell half the story.

In June of this year, my new book entitled, “Until You’ve Walked the Path” hit the bookstores. In it, I chronicle my own real life battle and recovery from CFS [Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]. I am pleased to say that from the responses I’ve received, the book has touched many people in a positive way, both those suffering from the disease, as well as caregivers, looking for new ways to aid the afflicted.

In conversations about CFS, the one question I am asked the most is, “What’s causing My [their] chronic depression and fatigue?” Followed by, “Is it just stress?”

I’ll admit I am not a doctor and have no medical training, however, I have done a fair bit of research over the last decade and I am a real CFS Survivor. That said, it is my belief there are three fundamental ‘Camps’ if you will, that can cause depression or fatigue and it is absolutely essential to determine what camp you are in to expedite speedy recovery.

Camp #1: CFIDS [Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome]

CFIDS is the new acronym for most immune dysfunctional disorders which covers a broad base of causes and outcomes. More specifically, the factors that can bring on CFS are viral. In my case I was diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr Virus [EBV]. Another common virus known to cause CFS is the ME Virus [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis]. An outcome associated with CFS sufferers is Fibromyalgia; an excruciatingly painful disease that effects all the muscles and joints in the body.

I could go on but the important point to understand is that most of what causes ‘Real’ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is most often viral. These viruses attack the immune system causing acute un-wellness, fatigue and depression. Stress is another immune-weakening phenomenon and is often a major cause for CFS. On the other hand, motivators like post viral infection – as it was in my case – is known to be much of the cause because of the damaging consequences it can affect to an otherwise healthy immune system. One outcome is Depression and Fatigue.

Camp #2: Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are perhaps easier for most people to understand. Not the diseases themselves but rather the fact that there are commonly known diseases like: By-Polar, Manic-Depression and Schizophrenia, to name but three. We all know they can cause behavioral – often unpredictable -changes in those afflicted. Another outcome is Depression and Fatigue.

Camp #3: Substance Abuse

Whether it’s drugs or alcohol, [prescribed or otherwise], many people fall victim to their affects that over time, can clearly evolve into conditions of un-wellness.

Stress-relief is often the reason for those who use drugs and alcohol on a regular basis and one need not be addicted to experience many of the health deteriorations that ultimately come about. Another outcome, of course, is Depression and Fatigue.

By now you may be seeing a bit of an assertion I am making in this article which now compels me to make two important points:

1. Depression and Fatigue can be outcomes from many different motivators.

2. It is critical for sufferers to seek out immediate professional help in determining precisely what is causing their fatigue and depression.

I have seen too many people needlessly wither away with diseases like these, never getting the right help. Many of them try to hide their problem and shrink into the shadows because it’s not a glamorous disease and for the most part, is still a little misunderstood – even by many in the medical field.

My advice is to find the right medical specialist who deals specifically with what’s causing your fatigue and depression. Understand that no doctor can be a specialist at everything and that the medicine, treatment and care for someone with Schizophrenia would be entirely different from what’s required to treat someone with substance abuse or a viral infection. The specialist would be just as different.

It’s also vitally important for those afflicted and caregivers alike to know that there is a short window of opportunity in getting diseases like these under control. That is to say, from my observation and experience, the longer one goes without proper diagnosis and treatment, the harder it is and less likely it is, recovery can be achieved.

Chronic Depression and Fatigues is not something one chooses to have and treatments like “Suck it up soldier!” or love deprivation do not work. Ignoring it works even less.

The Bottom Line:

What’s causing Your Depression and Fatigue could be many things. You need to align yourself with the right specialist, the right medication and the right treatment As Soon As Possible!
The good news? You can recover from it and you can triumph over it! I am living proof.

About The Author

Paul Shearstone is President of The CFIDS Foundation of Canada Inc. He is an International Keynote Speaker, Author, Writer, Motivation, Corporate Ethics, Sales, Time & Stress Management Specialist.

Paul enlightens and challenges audiences as he informs motivates and entertains.

To comment on this article or to book Paul for your next successful event we invite to contact Paul Shearstone directly @ 416-728-5556 or 1-866-855-4590 www.success150.com or paul@success150.com.

For more information and how to order Paul’s new book, “Until You’ve Walked the Path” please visit www.paulshearstone.ca

"Every day millions of people struggle valiantly with the pain of CFIDS and Depression... the very real physical pain and the excruciating psychic pain of the soul. Paul gives both voice and face to their pain. More importantly, he gives expression to their courage, resilience, and valour. By his account of his own remarkable journey, he gives hope to the millions of others who are still on theirs".

Karen Liberman
Executive Director
Mood Disorders Association of Ontario

paul@paulshearstone.ca

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

One of my readers sent me this informative article: Enjoy!

Children with ADHD

There is a perplexing state of affairs in today's society, there lies a strong correlation between the affluence of a society and the amount of disease that is present. There is also another correlation that troubles many a people and that is with affluence comes disease at an Earlier age.

Working with children and the parents of these children I often get asked the question, 'Why are Children with ADHD on the increase?'

The answer as you shall find is one that is both interesting and challenging.

Children of today are really no more different from the children of yesterday in terms of genetic makeup. However, if you examine the issue more closely you will tend to find that many children today have been given labels. For example, 'Oh, those are children with ADHD' or 'Those are the children who can't sit still.' Or 'That is the kid that always gets into trouble.'

These labels are not only destructive but also become a self fulfilling prophecy as it is repeated adnauseum. So as a 21st century parent or a parent with a child with ADHD or a parent with children with ADHD, what knowledge framework do you need to equip yourself with to ensure your children live out their true potential?

Here is a quick reference list for thinking about ADHD

* ADHD is a source of great frustration because it is misunderstood

* ADHD medications are a great short term time buying device and should be avoided long term

* The above point goes for any sort of drug consumption. Think about it for a minute. Unless you have a biochemical deficiency in your body like Type 1 diabetes where your body fails to produce enough insulin or any at all, why would you take an external drug? A body that is in balance is totally healthy. It is only when the body is out of balance that dis-ease symptoms start to creep up.

* ADHD is a biochemical imbalance of the mind and body.

* The Head of Psychiatry in Harvard states that drugs for ADHD simply mask the effects of ADHD. It does not cure ADHD. This is an important point because a cure implies never to have to take the medication. This means that once you start on medication you will have to be on it for the rest of your life i.e. you have medically acquired a dependency for a biochemical imbalance. That is like stuffing all your rubbish (problematic behaviors) into a closet (medication) where no one can see it. But if you continue to stuff more rubbish into that closet, one day you will not have enough space and need to do one of two things. You either empty the rubbish (the natural conclusion) or you get a bigger closet (i.e. change to stronger medication to control the symptoms). The choice is obvious but sometimes when you don't have the necessary tools to deal with ADHD you tend to think the bigger closet is the only option.

* ADHD children are super sensitive to the emotions around them. Often they pick up emotional cues from their parents without realizing. Many parents come home frustrated or annoyed from work, the child with ADHD picks this up and starts to 'cause trouble' by becoming restless. Parents frustration increase because they just want some peace and quiet. They get angry which in turn is picked up by the child who then intensifies their activity. Things get way out of hand and some sort of punishment is handed down to the child who has no idea what just happened. The cycle repeats itself every so often.

* Our brains are wired emotionally. Positive praise is interpreted as an analytical/thinking exercise. Negative criticism including scolding, name calling, physical punishment all go directly to the emotional brain of children with ADHD. This means in order to ensure you get your message across in the most optimal way, you need to learn how to communicate with your ADHD children the way they like to be communicated with.

* Every negative comment requires 16 positive comments to neutralize the emotion. Save yourself the frustration and agitation by practicing positive communication.

The list is by no means complete. In dealing with children with ADHD there are a certain set of behavioural principles to follow. I will detail these steps in the coming weeks. I'll also build on the list as you continue to learn about what appears to be a mystical disorder known as 'Children with ADHD'