Easy Steps To Avoid Depression - By: Sintilia Miecevole

There seem to be so many people who are depressed that we really should take a look at the causes of depression in the first place. The factors that contribute to depression are well-known, and well-researched, but what causes it is not quite understood. New studies have uncovered some of the factors that contribute to the probability of people developing depression.

Stress

Stress takes the first place prize. It’s true that any stressful environment or situation can lead to depression. It can be anything such as social stress, getting a job, relationship difficulties, worrying about money, staying up late, lifestyle out of control, pressures of school and getting good grades. Other events that could cause depression are: death, change of job, moving from one place to another; even the fear of the unknown can cause depression. The list is endless. While these events cannot be avoided, we must come up with an effective stress coping mechanism to be able to thrive even in stressful situations because they are never going to go away. Stressful situations just keep changing.

Drinking and Drugs

People who take drugs and alcohol are more prone to depression. When these substances are used at a young age, they can effect a a person’s brain in negative ways. These substances help make the person feel good temporarily, but in most cases, people become addicted.

Drugs release dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain. For example: delicious food boosts dopamine release by about 50 percent. Sex, on the other hand, doubles this number. However, drugs can increase dopamine release anywhere from four to ten times. This unnatural high almost certainly leads to depression after the high goes away. This substance is the surest way to fry brain circuitry.

Drugs make a person depressed more than it makes him happy. This effect will spiral downward until the person doing drugs will want more and more of the substance to break the cycle of depression that follows each high and so the addiction is born.

Not Enough sleep

Studies show that up to 40 percent of adults do not get the proper amount of sleep per day and among students, up to 71 percent complain of sleep disorders and lack of sleep.

Sleep is essential to a person’s health. During sleep, the body repairs itself and reorganizes thought. Lack of sleep contributes to a lack of coherence in brain waves. This scenario often leads to depression. Sleeping during the day and staying up late also interferes with the body’s natural rhythms. This can lead to a sense of depression.

Here are few ways on how to prevent depression.

Sleep is a vital part of preventing depression. Balance your life with enough rest and exercise everyday. Most people require seven to eight hours of sleep per day.

Keep some regularity in your life. Orgaize your activities so they can come at expected and regular times. If your weekly, daily or monthly routine is set then your body has time to get used to the activities. This will lead to a reduced chance for depression to set in.

Don’t push yourself beyond your limits. Keep stress in check and try to avoid stressors if you can. If this can’t be done, then try to deal with the stressors in a manner that minimizes the damage it causes.

Sunlight and exercise can help the brain to function a higher level. Make time to enjoy the sunlight and try to stay active in the daylight when possible.

Keep away from alcohol and drugs. They may seem attractive, but all they really do is cause havoc in a person’s life.

Make at least one warm meal daily a priority. Good eating habits and good health are important when keeping away from depression.

Have fun every day. Nothing takes the load off of depression like some good old fun time. Social activities such as chatting, joining a support group sports, and other hobbies can do wonders towards healing a stressed out and busy mind.

Depression can be avoided and treated and it can be fun doing so. Follow the above mentioned tips for a brighter and happier disposition each day. You will look and feel better for it!

Sintilia Miecevole, Administrator of www.depressiongla.com provides comprehensive information or resources from depression, cause of depression, help and information to treatment and more. Be sure to visit http://www.depressiongla.com/ for further information.

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

How to Cope When Your Spouse is Depressed - Nancy Wasson

Living with a depressed spouse can be extremely stressful for the partner and other family members. Communication is impacted, the couple’s social life suffers, and feelings of satisfaction with the marriage decrease.

Here are fifteen ways to cope and keep your sanity and bearings when your spouse is depressed:

1. Know what you’re dealing with. Don’t just guess and speculate that your spouse may be depressed. Encourage him or her to have a comprehensive assessment to determine if depression is actually present, what the severity is, and the recommended treatment plan.

If medication is prescribed, know that your spouse will increase his (or her) chances for successful treatment if he also participates in weekly counseling sessions.

2. Educate yourself about depression. Schedule a time to meet with your spouse’s doctor or therapist to learn more about depression and how you can best be supportive of your mate. Read books, magazine articles, and information available on the Internet about depression.

3. Expand and strengthen your individual network of support from family and friends. You’re going to need on-going support and encouragement, so resist the urge to try to carry the burden of your mate’s depression silently on your shoulders by yourself.

Let your family and friends know how they can help you and let them know what challenges you are facing. The worst thing you can do is to isolate yourself from others.

4. Research support groups that are available in your community and on-line. Some communities will offer in-person support groups for depressed individuals as well as for their spouses and friends. If no such groups exist where you live, check out the on-line support groups that are available for you and your depressed partner.
One group, The Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance (DBSA), sponsors numerous in-person meetings and also provides an on-line support group for people with depression or bipolar disorder, as well as separate groups for friends and family members. You can check out their offerings at:

http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/OnlineSupport.html

You can also find information and resources at Emotions Anonymous:

http://www.emotionsanonymous.org/

Your spouse can find on-line support through Depressed Anonymous:

http://www.depressedanon.com/

5. Educate your children about depression so that they can better understand your spouse’s behavior. Ask a librarian at your community library or your children’s school for help in selecting appropriate books on depression and chronic parent illness.

If you’re not sure what to tell them, consult with your children’s physician and enlist his or her help or arrange for your children to talk to a counselor who can help them process their feelings.

6. Take the team approach toward managing your mate’s depression and say, “We’re in this together—we’re a team!”

You want your spouse to feel the energy and power of team support. Think in terms of “We’ll figure out what to do” instead of “You need to figure out what to do.”

7. Learn to de-personalize your spouse’s behavior. Remind yourself that your mate is ill—and that’s different from being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn or deliberately trying to make your life difficult.

Try to remember that your mate’s perception, attitude, actions, patience, and stamina are being impacted in major ways by the depression. When people are depressed, they often blame everyone else for their problems and see only the negatives in daily life. This is about the depression—not about you.

8. Work on developing more patience. Depression is trying for everyone closely associated with the depressed individual and can cause even normally sedate partners to become frustrated, agitated, and angry.

It takes time for the treatment to be effective and for significant changes to be maintained. You can protest all you want, but you’ll just make yourself more miserable until you accept that Life is presenting you with an opportunity to develop patience. The sooner you master this lesson, the less you’ll suffer.

9. Encourage your spouse to get some exercise each day. You might take a walk together or go to the gym together. You could exercise to a video at home or put on some music and dance. Anything that gets your mate moving and encourages him (or her) to stay physically active will be helpful.

10. Don’t try to talk your spouse out of his (or her) feelings. Trying to argue with him or convince him that he’s wrong for feeling that way won’t work. You’ll just make him more resistant.

When people are depressed, they often say irrational things, such as “I can’t ever do anything right” or “No one cares about me.” Acknowledge your mate’s feelings and say something like, “I’m sorry you’re feeling so bad. What might we do to help you feel better right now?”

11. Take good care of yourself in every way—physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. You can’t afford to lose yourself and become consumed by your mate’s depression.

It’s very challenging to be around negative, pessimistic, depressive energy without starting to feel the same way. The only antidote is to stay balanced and centered by practicing good self-care behavior and doing things to nurture yourself.

Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, stay in close contact with your friends, participate in activities that bring you pleasure, and keep your spiritual connection strong. Take time for yourself so that you can read, listen to music, meditate, and pray.

12. Laugh every day. Watch funny movies, share funny jokes, and look for the humor in the various situations in your life. Laughter can help you to feel better and keep the negative effects of depression at bay.

Enlist the help of your friends to provide you with funny stories and jokes that come their way through email or office talk. Try to find things to share things about your day that will make your spouse laugh. But even if he (or she) doesn’t laugh, you’ll feel better!

13. Read inspirational books or listen to inspirational audios or music that energizes and inspires you. Surround yourself with resources—books, CD’s, pictures—that make you feel better and “feed yourself” with inspiration and positive thinking and positive feelings every day.

14. Resist the urge to try to “fix” your spouse’s depression. You’ll only frustrate yourself and your mate. There’s no one thing you can do to take the depression away by yourself and to make everything better.

The fact that your spouse is depressed doesn’t mean that you have failed in any way as a partner. You’re not responsible for the depression and you can’t fix it. You can, however, be supportive and encouraging and follow the recommendations your mate’s doctor and/or therapist may make.

15. Get professional help for yourself if your feelings become overwhelming. It’s normal to feel resentful and angry that your personal life and family life are being so radically impacted by your mate’s depression.

You may feel that the person you once knew is now gone and that you don’t know who this depressed person is anymore. You may feel discouraged and despondent if time goes by and things aren’t significantly better.

Caregiving and being the main one to keep everything going can be exhausting and overwhelming. Don’t wait until you feel that you can’t continue any longer. Make an appointment for individual counseling before you “hit the wall.”

In most cases, depression can be effectively treated—80% of depressed patients improve with treatment. But the process of recovery can be lengthy, so it’s important to take steps to ensure that you’ll stay emotionally healthy while your spouse is recovering.

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

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

Childhood depression: Learn how to help a depressed child.

Childhood depression, not unlike adult depression, is a disorder that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Let’s learn the causes and symptoms of depression in children and what you can do if your child suffers from depression.

Like adults, children can suffer from depression, in this case: childhood depression. It’s not uncommon and since children actually are the purest of humans, it might be safe to say if a child is depressed-and they actually tell you that-it’s a rather serious issue.

One of the most common misconceptions about childhood depression is:”what do children have to be depressed about?”. Perhaps this reveals a few misunderstandings about childhood depression and what it is. Childhood depression is more intrusive into the child’s very existence, may be long-lasting and if not attended to life threatening.

Perhaps another misconception may have to do with us thinking, being a child is a care-free, trouble free stage of human life. Not necessarily, with peer acceptance, school and family expectations, it is enough to make a kid worry and could be a huge factor to be considered in regards to dealing with a case of childhood depression.

Other Causes of Childhood Depression:

1. Family History of Mental illness or suicide.

2. Abuse (physical, emotional or sexual)

3. Chronic illnesses.

4. Loss of a parent at an early age to death, divorce or abandonment.

5. Improper diet and lack of sufficient exercise.

6. Excessive exposure to negative factors such as parents arguing, bad neighborhoods etc

7. Insufficient parental attention.

Though this is not a conclusive list of the causes of depression in children, perhaps these factors are the most common ones.

Symptoms of Childhood Depression:

1. Loss of interest in hobbies and activities

2. Abrupt change in Appetite

3. Change in sleep patterns (either increase or decrease).

4. Difficulty concentrating.

5. Making depreciating statements like “I’m not good enough, I’m stupid…”

6. Persistent Sadness.

7. Recurring thoughts of Suicide

8. Excessive clinging or withdrawal

If you notice any of these in your child’s behaviour it may be time to seek help. But, keep in mind, the first step may be a good heart to heart talk with your child.

Reconnect with them. Make plans for a getaway saying things like “How about you and I going to the movies, park etc…?”. Now seize this time to carefully see what could be the problem.

Also, borrowing from Yoga principles , now will be a good time to assess your entire family’s diet. Diet plays, perhaps the most important role in one’s health, especially children in their growing stages so all efforts should be made to ‘pleasantly’ enforce a proper diet.

You may not have to work too hard, most kids LOVE bananas and other sweet fruits and fresh juices. Vegetables…maybe not so much, but you get my gist. Try to replace processed foods with healthier ones.

Remember children are wonderful imitators, so if you yourself happen to be depressed, I recommend drug-free alternatives such as Yoga, and the previously mentioned proper eating. Make efforts yourself to be cheerful as much as possible as kids do mimic what their parents constantly do.

Devote thirty minutes or more a day for open air recreation for yourself and your family. Visits to the zoo, active play, and swimming tend to relieve tension created in the home, school, and work and this may go a long way in assisting in curing childhood depression in the family.

Finally, if you are of a spiritual inclination, try prayer power and introduce your child to it.

Remember this quote “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” I believe a child connected to God is one sure way of preventing childhood depression. (Of course with the factors previously mentioned.)

Parenting or being a role model to a child is a duty that may be tasking at times, even more say when dealing with a depressed child. However with the suggestions given, if tackled properly, childhood depression need not be a thing your kid has to go through.

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

Depression – A Natural Cure That Is Proven To Work - Sacha Tarkovsky

Depression is a condition that makes life a misery for millions and many look for natural cures and here we are going to look at one that has medical substantiation that it works.



Even better it’s cheap and is actually part of the natural food chain and the compound we are referring to may well surprise you it is:



Nicotine – and you don’t have to smoke to get it. Smoking is bad for you but you can get nicotine without cigarettes and that’s what this article is all about.



Nicotine is healthy in organic form



Nicotine is safe in organic form and part of the food chain. For example, trace elements are contained in many everyday foods such as:



Potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, cauliflower, eggplant, chili peppers, and some teas.



Available products



A larger dose is needed and many drug companies are looking to produce a pure nicotine drug to help depression and the first one is already on the market.



More of these later, for now let’s look at why nicotine relieves depression.



Why Does Nicotine Help With Depression?



Nicotine is known to switch on receptors on the surface of cells in certain parts of the brain, causing the neurons here to release the Neuro-transmitter dopamine.



This chemical that is associated with feelings of pleasure and well being.



Nicotine is known to help improve mood, concentration and memory.



Getting nicotine without smoke



Drug companies are spending huge sums to get drugs on the market and the first has already appeared a nicotine drink – Containing nicotine in water.



Water is a safe delivery method and the water contains organic nicotine and fresh water with no added chemicals.



We all need water so taking nicotine in this form means the users get hydrated at the same time.



Nicotine’s image improves



More products will follow as the health benefits of nicotine gain public acceptance.



Nicotine has suffered an image problem because it is in cigarettes. Nicotine does not cause disease or death though that is some of the other 4,000 chemicals consumed.



Saying nicotine is bad is like saying you should not eat grapes as people die of alcoholism when drinking wine!



Nicotine is safe and non toxic in organic form and offers suffers of depression, relief from this life ruining disease and represents a natural cure that is medically proven to help.


NEW ORGANIC NICOTINE DRINK

A new organic drink containg just nicotine and fresh water is available now. Visit our website and try it at a special limited offer price. Go to: http://www.smokefreechoice.com


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Suicide Rates Have Declined The Past Ten Years Thanks to New Depression Treatments - Charles Donovan

Suicide, which is the eleventh leading cause of death, is a very serious subject. . Suicide rates have declined over the past ten years thanks to new depression treatments.

Suicide was among the 10 leading causes of death until 1998, when it was number 8 overall. Since that time, it has been surpassed by deaths due to Alzheimer disease and septicemia( blood poisoning). Preliminary data for 2003 placed suicide at number 11 overall, with a provisional age-adjusted rate of 10.5 per 100000, a 3.7% decline from the 2002 age-adjusted rate. However, it remains one of the 10 leading causes of death among individuals aged 10 to 64 years, and it ranks between second and fourth among those aged 10 to 45 years.

Every completed suicide is a successful attempt. There are 500,000 failed suicide attempts each year serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room. Researchers say that suicide is depression left untreated.

There are many cross currents is analyzing trends in suicide rates. There are indications that the trends are not uniform across age, gender, race/ethnicity, or rural/urban settings. For example, most of the increase in suicide rates among adolescents occurred between 1950 and 1980. Little of that increase is attributable to changing suicide rates among females, which have been more stable.[ Researchers found that the increase in adolescent male suicide completion during this period coincided with a significant increase in alcohol use.

The highest rates of suicide in the United States occur among older white men. Rates among White females and Black males and females peak during midlife. The US population has an increasing proportion of persons aged 85 years and older. If their rates were lower, that could account for declining rates among the 65-year-and-older age group, but the data for those aged 85 years and older show that their rates are higher compared with the 65-year-and-older age group as a whole. However, the decline in rates among the 85-year-and-older age group could be driving the decline in rates among the 65-year-and-older age group.

The implications of decreasing rather than increasing suicide rates are significant. If the conventional wisdom that suicide rates are increasing held, attention should be redirected from current strategies that are considered to be failing.

A broader discussion about trends in suicide rates and to encourage a more extensive investigation of the larger social, contextual, policy, and treatment trends that may be contributing to the decline in one of the major causes of preventable death. If scientists can understand what has contributed to the recent declines, they will be better able to develop and disseminate effective interventions for preventing suicide.

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

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

His all inclusive book prepares depression sufferers to make an informed decision about this ninety-minute out-patient procedure. It is a "must read" before you discuss this treatment with your psychiatrist. A prescription for the procedure is required from an M.D. and it is covered by most insurance plans. For more information on Vagus Nerve Stimulation, you can find his book, Out of the Black Hole, listed to the right.

He is the founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulation.com Web Site and Bulletin.

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

Depression Suicide: What to do to avoid the fatality - Foras Aje

Depression Suicide is a very serious issue that may best be prevented in the earlier stages of depression. Here are tips on how to see if your loved is suicidal and what you can do to prevent it and steer the afflicted back to a positive outlook on life.

Depression, characterized by erratic mood swings, loss of interest in hobbies and activities is a very serious emotional disorder affecting about 9.5 per cent of the nation.Needless to say, it is could be a lot more fatal if a depressed person is heading towards suicide.

That considered here are some indications to watch out for to know if your loved one is considering suicide as a result of depression.

Depression Suicide: Warning Signs to be Aware of

1. Mentions of Suicide or Death

2. Wanting to tie up loose ends or give away personal belongings

3. Engaging in reckless behavior such as heavy alcohol and drug use

4. Withdrawing from family and friends

5. Erratic mood swings

6. Inappropriately saying goodbye.

7. Verbal behavior that is ambiguous or indirect: (for example: “I want to go to sleep and never wake up.”, “I’m so depressed, I just can’t go on.”, “Does God punish suicides?”

Now the signs may vary according to the patient, however it should not be too difficult to recognize such warnings and take the following steps to help a loved one.

Depression Suicide: Helping a Loved one who is suicidal

If you believe someone is contemplating suicide do seek help immediately, to this effect there are a several suicide prevention web sites and hotlines available to help those in need, but in case these are not within your reach, you can try the following:

1. Cultivate Physical Closeness: Simple hugs, kisses on the cheeks, loving pats and compliments go a long way in healing a broken heart or depressed mind. Remember, sometimes the little things DO count.

2. If the person is acutely suicidal, do not leave him or her alone.

3. Remember: suicidal behavior is a cry for help. Thus if someone contemplating suicide turns to you, it is likely that he believes that you are more caring and more informed about coping with depression, and more willing to help.

Other steps to take include reassuring them that help is available and that with appropriate depression treatment they can feel better.Try to search the house for dangerous items such as guns and knives that could be potentially harmful.

In addition to the factors above, if you are of a spiritual inclination, this will be a good time to pray according to the framework of your faith because prayer when used effectively, can work wonders to aid in curtailing depression suicide.

Moreover, in the hopes that your loved one begins to show signs of improvement from the warnings indicating depression suicide, it will be great to start to include such drug-free approaches for depression treatment such as exercise: namely Yoga, a proper diet for physical health which in turn heals the mind and positive thinking and affirmations.

Naturally we all would get concerned or frightened if a loved one seems on the brink of suicide resulting from depression, however as with all life’s problems, if we can catch it early and nip it in the bud, depression suicide can be prevented. If things may have gotten more advanced, then it may be time to seek professional help or as an alternative double up on our efforts to steer the loved one back to a positive outlook on life.

In conclusion keep in mind that you and the loved one do possess the mental capability to overcome your problems. Inasmuch as you may need assistance to curtail depression suicide either professionally or otherwise, with the tips above, suicide resulting from depression may be altogether halted or at least slowed down drastically enough to gear the loved one back to a positive outlook on life.

In Friendship,
Foras Aje

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

Endogenous Depression - Michael Russell

There are two broad ways in which the patient may present, depending on the relative influence of psychomotor retardation and agitation. When retardation is extreme the patient is in a stupor, mute and in need of constant nursing care; when less severe the patient performs slowly and the increased sense of effort is obvious. The agitated patient is restless, unable to sit or settle and indulges in continuous purposeless activity. The retarded patient speaks slowly with obvious effort and has difficulty in self-expression; the agitated patient, on the other hand, may be voluble perhaps to the point on incoherence.

The content of the patient's conversation displays his restriction of interests and his preoccupation with his illness. Depressive ideas of guilt, self-reproach and unworthiness are common and over-concern with personal idiosyncrasies, spiritual matters, or with physical or psychological problems may form the basis of delusionary beliefs. These sometimes take on a markedly paranoid colouring. Sleep is almost always disturbed, the patient typically waking early; initial insomnia and broken sleep are also common. An occasional patient will experience hyper-somnia.

Even though the word depression may not be used by the patient and he may complain of apathy and loss of feeling, observation alone in these severe cases confirms his despondency, sadness or despair. In many patients, the depression shows a clear daily variation, being at its worst in the morning and improving later in the day, so that the evenings may be more or less tolerable. The depression may show some reaction to the surroundings, but commonly it is relatively unaffected by environmental events. In the agitated patient, anxiety symptoms may dominate the clinical picture; unremitting feelings of tension with their usual physical concomitants such as palpitations, headaches and loss of appetite are common, but the anxiety may be expressed in episodic form, including panic attacks and phobias. Weariness and fatigue are almost invariable. Amenorrhoea is frequent and sexual desire is commonly diminished. Fears of disease are common, particularly when somatic anxiety manifestations are prominent and hypchondriacal preoccupations with aches and pains and bowel or menstrual function may lead to the conviction on the part of the patient that he or she is suffering from cancer, heart disease, or hypertension. Other patients express fears of insanity or intellectual deterioration. Secondly, hysterical features may occur in association with hypochondriasis, leading to an invalid reaction.

In depressive illness there are, of course, no cognitive or intellectual changes, though these may be suspected because a patient emphasizes difficulty in concentration and consequent failure of recent memory. In many of these patients there will be a history of similar or previous episodes coming on without reason and terminating either spontaneously or in response to anti-depressant treatment. In perhaps 5 percent, there will be a history of depression or one or more attacks of mania.

Many mild cases of endogenous depression never seek medical help - many indeed never appreciate that they are ill. For the period of the illness, the sufferer continues to go about his daily existence, with a decreased sense of enjoyment, an increased sense of effort and perhaps some reduction in efficiency.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Depression

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

Sorry Readers.

Sorry guys but I was away for the holidays and was no where near a computer. I will be posting more articles for you soon. Thanks for your patience. Have a good one.

Anna A.

Seasonal Affective Disorder: One Easy, Cheap, Natural Way to Manage It - Denice Moffat

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study that enrolled 20 U.S. Marines suggests that tyrosine can improve mental alertness during periods of sleep deprivation. In this study, the participants were deprived of sleep for a night and then tested frequently for their alertness throughout the day as they worked. Compared to placebo, 10 to 15 grams of tyrosine given twice daily seemed to provide a "pick-up" for about two hours.*

L-tyrosine deficiencies affect memory, ability to handle stress, can cause depression and Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD) by disrupting the serotonin-dopamine neurotransmitters of the brain.

It always amazes me when we see a shift in nutrition on a continental scale. What causes this? Why is there such a deficiency? Is it a new additive binding up the amino acid? Or is some type of effective advertising causing a decrease in the consumptions of particular foods that are rich in these nutrients?

Each practitioner picks these things up in different ways, but we do pick it up. Even though we may come to different conclusions, society gets alerted to the deficiency and finds ways to correct it. I’ve noticed this L-tyrosine deficiency in my own practice for several years. It manifests as depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder and there is an easy, cheap, natural and effective way to manage these challenges. It doesn’t work for everyone—only most people. And it does a great job of doing it.

The food which acts most effective to replace tyrosine deficiencies is sesame seeds (except for Blood Type B people who should not eat sesame products according to www.dadamo.com ) Sesame seeds can be taken in the form of raw seeds and tahini, or as halvah. The normal dose is about 2 tablespoons of the raw sesame seeds, or one tablespoon of tahini or halvah. It does have to be taken every day to be affective and it takes a couple of weeks to repair the tyrosine deficiency in your body.

The other thing you can do to help depression and SAD is to increase the amounts of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. The usual dose is between 1 ½ cups to 2 cups EACH of raw fruits, raw vegetables and cooked vegetables every day. The addition of these foods makes everything you are taking (supplements, vitamins and even “real drugs”) work better.

People ask my why they can’t just take the pill form called L-Tyrosine, but it seems like this form is just too strong and is less effective in repairing the deficiency.

As will all programs, if you are on medications, please consult with your medical doctor first as going off antidepressants “cold-turkey” can be very dangerous.

* Reference: Neri DF, Wiegmann D, Stanny RR, et al. The effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance during extended wakefulness. Avit Space Environ Med. 1995; 66:313–319.

Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1995. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free internationally distributed monthly newsletter. To read more about sesame seeds, see the Oct. 2006 Natural Health Techniques Monthly Newsletter or Dr. Moffat's site.

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

The Warning Signs of Suicide - Michael Russell

Have you experienced being told by someone that she wants to end her life? You may not know exactly how to react to it or you may find it absurd. Oftentimes, hearing this kind of statement from someone we know or love will lead us to ask the question, why?

For some people, talking about or attempting suicide is actually an overt cry for help. They do not really want to die but it is their way of desperately seeking for help. Yet for some others, suicide is the only way to put an end to their pain and misery.

A person may think about suicide but this doesn't actually mean that a concrete action is bound to be executed. Sometimes this only measures the level of distress a person is experiencing in her life and how she views life's worth.

There are those who are at greater risk of committing suicide than others. Location can be a factor. Those living in cities are more prone to commit suicide that those residing in rural areas. Age also is a factor. There is a higher tendency of older individuals committing suicide compared to younger people. Women have shown more suicide attempts than men, although there is a higher percentage of men actually committing suicide than women. There is a higher suicide rate also for certain occupations among which are psychiatrists, lawyers, musicians and police officers.

Here are the risks factors that indicate a person's heightened vulnerability to suicide:

1. A previous history of suicide attempts can predispose a person to commit suicide again.

2. A family history of suicide makes a person more susceptible to commit suicide herself.

3. When a person makes plans to commit suicide.

4. A person who is experiencing life's loss may be may be undergoing bouts of depression. This could be due to a loss of a loved one, a job loss or a person may be undergoing the painful process of divorce or even not being able to find a suitable life partner. These are instances that can cause depression. When the experiences of depression worsen, this may precipitate into suicide.

5. Physical health problems including debilitating diseases like cancer and AIDS. Also a recent major surgery that renders an individual in severe pain or chronic and terminal illnesses that offer no positive diagnosis and leave an individual helpless and hopeless.

6. Recent loss of a loved one, maybe a spouse and more so if it is a child.

7. When a person doesn't have a social support system; no friends or close relatives to talk to when problems arise and depression sets in.

Talking honestly and openly about suicide with the person who has a suicidal tendency may actually help the person prevent suicide. Never take suicide threats lightly. If you know a person who threatens to commit suicide, urge her to seek professional help. If you don't know what to do and say if person comes up to you and tell you she wants to end her life, try these suggestions:

1. Help the person talk about how she feels and acknowledge her pain.

2. If there is a specific behavior that the individual is practicing that needs to be addressed, inform her. It could be an increasing frequency of her drinking sessions to drown her misery or her withdrawal from social functions and being alone most of the time.

3. Urge her to seek professional help. It could be depression that is pushing her to suicidal tendencies. Her depression can be treated with counseling or drug therapy.

4. Show the person that you care and her well-being is important to you. Let her feel that you are there all the way to support her. Offer a message of hope and support and let her feel that you mean it.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Depression

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

How To Beat Depression - Alan Hands

How To Beat Depression by Alan Hands

Clinical Depression is the number 1 mental disorder in the world and the 2nd most disabling condition in the world behind heart disease.



A staggering 16% of the population will suffer from depression at some point in their lives.



Why should you be interested in this?



1. Because EVERYONE at some stage in their lives will be affected by depression, either their own or someone else’s.

(Source – Australian Government research)



2. Because only around 20% of those who develop depression will receive adequate treatment.



If you or someone you know suffers from depression it is essential to understand what depression is; what the causes are; what the symptoms are and what treatments are available, both conventional and complementary.



What is Depression?

Depression can be defined as a mental illness which causes feelings of sadness and loss of hope, changes in sleeping and eating habits, loss of interest in your usual activities, and pains which have no physical explanation.



What does this really mean?



Perhaps it is easier to have a look at how a doctor would diagnose a person as suffering from depression.



A person can be diagnosed as suffering from clinical depression if 5 or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2 week period and represent a change from previous functioning. At least one of the symptoms is either (a) depressed mood or (b) loss of interest or pleasure.



(a) Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either a subjective report or an observation made by others. In children and adolescents this can be an irritable mood.

(b) Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.

(c) Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.

(d) Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness or sleep) nearly every day.

(e) Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feeling of restlessness or being slowed down).

(f) Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

(g) Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day.

(h) Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.

(i) Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal thoughts or attempts.



What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Not all people suffering from depression will have the same symptoms.

In addition to the symptoms listed in the above definition of depression, people suffering from depression may report some of the following symptoms:



 Exhaustion on waking

 Disrupted sleep, sometimes through upsetting dreams

 Early morning waking and difficulty getting back to sleep

 Doing less of what they used to enjoy

 Difficulty concentrating during the day

 Improved energy as the day goes on

 Anxious, worrying and intrusive upsetting thoughts

 Becoming emotional or upset for no particular reason

 Shortness of temper, or irritability

 Feeling miserable and sad

 A feeling that even the smallest of tasks is impossible

 Don’t want to see people or are scared to be left alone

 Loss of hope

 No confidence

 Physical aches and pains with no physical cause



What are the Causes of Depression?

There is no single cause of depression.

In general, ‘causes’ can be categorised into 3 main points of view:



1. Depression is a medical disease caused by a neurochemical or hormonal imbalance.

2. Depression is caused by certain styles of thinking.

3. Depression is a result of unfortunate experiences.



There is a school of thought that believes that the chemical imbalance referred to above is actually a SYMPTOM of depression and not a cause and therefore anti-depressants which treat this imbalance can never cure a person of depression as at best they can only alleviate a symptom and will do nothing to find or cure the cause.



Conventional Treatments For Depression

 Medication

 Counselling

 Complementary Medicine



Medication has some benefit to around a third of sufferers and as suggested above can only ever treat the symptoms not the cause.



Counselling can be of help to some but success is largely dependant upon the skill of the counsellor.



More and more people are now turning to Complementary Medicine and Self-Help in their battle with depression and finding amazing results with this approach.



To benefit from Complementary Medicine and Self-Help it is important to fully understand what depression is and how it is affecting the individual concerned.

This may be as simple as treating an underlying anxiety problem with self hypnosis CDs or by using aromatherapy to help promote relaxation.



Another great method of self-help to consider is modelling.

We can all learn from the experiences of others in many aspects of life and beating depression is no different. Simply find someone who has successfully beaten the condition, find out how they achieved their results and copy and adapt their methods to suit your own circumstances.



The benefit of this technique is that what took one person months or perhaps several years of trial and error to find the right results, can be modelled immediately and the results can be achieved so much quicker.



In order to free yourself from the shackles of depression I urge you to fully research the modern thinking relating to the condition, reach out to others who have gone through a similar experience and don’t be afraid to try a different approach – you may be surprised at the results.



Alan Hands is a former sufferer of depression, stress, anxiety and panic attacks who now dedicates his time to helping others overcome these problems.
He has authored several self-help ebooks on the following subjects –
Beat Depression http://tinyurl.com/jpokn
Conquering Anxiety http://tinyurl.com/njks5
Combating Stress http://tinyurl.com/e4vnn




Article Source: www-mega-articles.com

Depression Faq: Finding Help For Someone With Depression - Dane Loveless

* How do I know if a friend of loved one is experiencing depression?



Each person experiences depression differently. Depression generally comes in episodes and the same person will usually experience it similarly with each episode. Symptoms almost always include these three symptoms:



- Loss of interest in regular tasks.



- Feelings of sadness.



- Mood swings.





Other symptoms may include a combination of any of the following:



- Feelings of despair and doubt.



- Feelings of unimportance



- Guilt



- Impatience and unpredictability.



- An increase or decrease in weight from desire or lack of desire for eating.



- Thoughts of suicide.



- Irregularity in sleeping which may include sleeping too much or being too wrestless to sleep for long periods of time.



- Loss of energy and lack of will.



- Difficulty or inability to concentrate, focus or to make a decision.





* How do I know when a depressed person needs professional help?



A depressed person needs professional help if the person:



- is thinking of suicide



- is experiencing severe mood changes



- is thinking depression is connected to other problems needing professional help



- does not feel in control of his/her life



- feels overwhelmed, troubled, anxious, dejected, or out of control



- is not able to resist harmful behavior such as addiction



- is experiencing chest pain





* How can family and friends help a depressed person?



There are actually two important ways in which you can help a depressed person, but these must be done with kindness and consideration in order to avoid making things worse.



1) Help the depressed person find a suitable treatment for depression. This may include encouraging the person to continue with treatment until the signs of depression start to subside. You can also help the person by finding another treatment if there is no progress is being made.



2) Offer emotional support. This includes being considerate, calm, and loving. Involve the depressed person in a conversation and listen to him/her attentively. Do not downplay any of your impressions about suicidal tendencies. If possible, consult with the depressed person’s physician yourself. Be tenderly persistent if your request is rejected. Persuade him/her to join in some activities that will give pleasure.



Do not accuse the depressed person of being lazy or faking illness, and do not just wait for them to "snap out of it." In time, with healing, most depressed people do get well again. Remember, and keep comforting the depressed person with the knowledge that, with time and appropriate treatment, he or she will feel better.





* Where do you go for help with depression?



If you are concerned and think a friend or loved one may be experiencing depression, you can get help for them. Depression is not uncommon. In fact, anyone can experience depression. Try to get your friend or family member to talk about what they are experiencing. If you feel that the problem is beyond your ability to help, try to get them to consult a counselor or a physician. You may also choose to go to the nearest mental health center and talk to a specialist on depression. Depending on your relationship, you may want to go with them. You may find that the person doesn't feel anything is wrong with them and doesn't feel the need to see a doctor.


Dane Loveless is editor of Depression Lab, the online guide to Depression. He also writes Depression FAQ's for PrettyGreatAnswers.com.


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Basics of a Healthful, Antidepression Diet

By Michael B. Schachter, MD, with Deborah Mitchell Authors of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About™ Depression

For some people, the phrase healthful diet is enough to send their mood tumbling. "Guess I'll have to give up everything I enjoy, like chocolate and hamburgers and french fries," sighed one patient. "That's enough to make me even more depressed!" But healthful need not be equated with unappetizing or boring. Different, perhaps, and for some people a change to a more healthful diet requires big adjustments -- in the foods they buy, where they eat out, and how they prepare their choices. The rewards, however, are many, including improved mood, more energy, enhanced immune system, better concentration, and invigorated sex drive, to name but a few.

I've found that laying down a few basic but critical guidelines for a healthful diet, and then tweaking them for individual patients, works much better than expecting people to follow a complicated program that involves counting grams of carbohydrates or protein, weighing foods, referring to charts, or combining certain items in complicated ratios. That being said, here are my lists of "Positive Foods" and "Foods to Avoid."

Positive Foods

• Sweets. In moderation, natural sugars such as rice syrup, date sugar, pure Vermont syrup, unsulfured blackstrap molasses, and unfiltered honey are all acceptable. An herbalsweetener -- that has nearly no calories -- is stevia, which can be found in health food stores and increasingly in mainstream grocery stores.
• Fats. Some fats are healthy and instrumental in maintaining mental health, especially omega-3 fatty acids. When you choose oil for cooking, your best choice is probably cold-pressed olive oil. Butter and other saturated fats (like coconut oil, but not margarine that contains transfatty acids) may be used in moderate amounts. I suggest you avoid fried foods (especially deep-fried).
• Whole fruits and vegetables. Whenever possible, choose fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and eat at least five to seven servings daily. To derive the most benefit from these rich sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates, eat them in as pure a state as possible, preferably raw or lightly steamed. (Sorry, deep-fried potatoes and onion rings don't count as servings of whole vegetables.) Fruit and vegetable juices are good as well, and if you have a juicer, please learn how to make your own fresh juices, remembering to drink the pulp as well!
• Whole grains and cereals. Whole grains and cereals (organic if possible) are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates. These foods include whole grains, brown rice, and unprocessed cereals. Complex carbohydrates break down gradually and provide a more steady supply of glucose -- brain fuel -- thus helping maintain an even or calmer mood. Simple carbohydrates, however, such as those found in sugary foods or those made with white flour, metabolize rapidly, contributing to and causing mood swings and energy highs and lows. Also, be aware that some grains and even other whole-food starches may be problematic for some people.
• Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Choose organic foods in this important category as well. Foods in this group are excellent sources of protein, especially for people who want to reduce or eliminate animal protein. Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds are also high in fiber and many nutrients. Also in this category are tofu and other forms of fermented soybeans (miso, tempeh) and flaxseed.
• Eggs and dairy. Eggs and dairy foods -- milk, cheese, butter, cream, and yogurt -- are good sources of protein, calcium, and other important nutrients. They are also rich sources of saturated fat, which may be fine for many people. The major concern I have about eggs and dairy relates to whether hormones were used in raising the animals; whether or not they were given foods containing pesticides, antibiotics, toxic minerals, or other chemicals; and whether the animals were confined to inhumane cages. Soft-boiled eggs are best because heat is applied without exposure to oxygen, thus reducing free radical damage. I recommend organic eggs and dairy products and prefer nonhomogenized milk. Although pasteurization of milk products is the norm today in order to eliminate harmful bacteria, certified raw milk is preferred in areas where it is available, provided the cows are clean and hygienic principles are used in caring for them. If you are lactose-intolerant because of a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, or you choose not to consume dairy items, nondairy foods may be used. These include products made from soy, rice, or nuts, such as soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk; cheese made from these "milks"; and nondairy desserts. These "dairy" foods are also good sources of protein.
• Organic meats and poultry. Despite a push for people to eat more fish, meat and poultry continue to be major sources of animal protein for many people. For patients who eat meat, I recommend organically raised products, which are virtually free of hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, and other unnatural additives, all of which can have a detrimental effect on mood and general health. Such meat and poultry choices are slowly becoming more accessible and typically are available in natural and whole-food stores. Meats and poultry are sources of methionine, which is critical for methylation; this amino acid is difficult to get from plant-based sources.
• Fish and shellfish. Fish and shellfish can be excellent sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, if you make judicious choices. I'm calling for "judicious choices" because of the persistent and very real problem of mercury, pesticides, PCBs, and other contamination of the fish supply. Fish that I tend to recommend that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, but relatively low in mercury, are wild Alaskan salmon and sardines. I am wary about farm-raised fish because some studies indicate that they are high in PCBs and other contaminants. The smaller the fish (say, sardines), the less likely they are to accumulate mercury. But if you eat fish fairly frequently, I recommend that you have your blood mercury levels checked, because there is no way to guarantee the fish you eat regularly is not contaminated. Everyone whom I have checked for mercury who eats sushi more than once a week is quite high in it. Swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and most tuna tend to be quite high in mercury.

I would like you to consider two factors when choosing foods from this list. One, do you have any reactions to these foods that may be contributing to or causing your depression? Two, do you have any specific food preferences based on religious, ethical, and/or moral beliefs? If you are a vegetarian, for example, you will not select meat, poultry, or fish, so you will need to choose other protein-rich foods such as soy products, legumes, beans, seeds, and, depending on the type of vegetarian diet you follow, eggs and/or dairy.

Foods to Avoid

Most of the foods included in this list should come as no surprise to you. In most cases, foods on the "Avoid" list have been highly refined and processed. Fortunately, for every food you should avoid, there is a healthy alternative on the "Positive Foods" list. You may find that the "Avoid" list reads like your current grocery list; or you may discover that only one or two categories apply to you. Next time you're in the grocery store, here are the items you want to skip:

• Sugar. Avoid all foods that contain added sugar, such as soda, candy, cakes, ketchup, some breakfast cereals, and so on. Become a label reader. If sugar (or one of its companions, such as corn syrup) is one of the first few ingredients, put the item back on the shelf! Sugar can give you a burst of energy, but in the long run it can leave you depressed and tired.
• White-flour products. Just say no to white bread, white pasta, and other products that use white flour, including many crackers, rolls and bagels, refrigerator biscuits, pizza dough, and baked goods. Also avoid white rice. These overly processed food products have been stripped of their nutritional value, and then they are "enriched" with some nutrients, along with synthetic additives.
• Alcohol. This includes beer, wine, and liquor. People often forget that alcohol is a depressant, even though it provides an initial kick. Drinking alcohol can also disturb your sleep, which is a problem with many people who are depressed.
• Caffeine. Avoid coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. (Okay, you can have a limited amount of organic dark chocolate on occasion.) If you must have coffee, choose an organic coffee, since most coffees are high in pesticides. Decaffeinated coffee is fine for most people, provided that it is organic and does not use toxic chemicals in processing.
• Hydrogenated fats. Hydrogenated fats are oils to which hydrogen atoms have been added in the factory in order to harden them and improve shelf life. These hydrogenated oils or fats contain high concentrations of trans-fatty acids, which have recently been clearly shown to disrupt fatty acid metabolism in the body and cause serious disease. Hydrogenated fats are found primarily in margarines, snack foods (potato chips, corn chips), crackers and cookies, baked products, and fast foods. When you read ingredient labels, look for the words hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, margarine, or shortening, which indicate the presence of trans-fatty acids, or look at the nutritional panel for the percentage of trans-fat in the product. Beginning January 2006, food manufacturers were required to list trans-fat content on labels.
• Chemical food additives. To avoid artificial preservatives, flavorings, colors, and sweeteners, you need to read labels. Not all labels list all the chemicals in the food item, but the general rule is: If the product has been processed, it probably contains chemicals. For example, artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, nitrites, monosodium glutamate, and nitrates are often seen in cereals, breads, frozen dinners, boxed meals, and crackers. All foods containing artificial colors (such as red dye 40) or artificial flavorings should be avoided. Artificial additives can cause various adverse reactions, including mood swings, depression, fatigue, headache, rash, aggression, irritability, and attention difficulties, among others. I believe all artificial sweeteners, including saccharine, aspartame, and sucralose, should be avoided. In particular, avoid diet sodas containing aspartame.
• Fluoride. Do not drink fluoridated water or tap water (unless filtered) or use fluoridated toothpaste. Despite the popularity of fluoride dental treatments for both adults and children, I strongly recommend you not get them. Also, avoid fluoridated vitamins for children. There are a number of excellent books and websites that clearly document the lack of efficacy and dangers of fluoride ingestion and fluoride use. If you live in an area where the tap water is fluoridated and you want to drink the tap water but not the fluoride, you need to use a water filter with a reverse osmosis component; carbon filters will not remove fluoride.
• Chloride. Do not drink chlorinated water (unless the chlorine has been filtered out), as chlorine is toxic. A simple carbon filter will remove chlorine from tap water.
  

From the book WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT DEPRESSION: The Breakthrough Integrative Approach for Effective Treatment by Michael B. Schachter, MD, with Deborah Mitchell. (Published by Warner Wellness; November 2006;$14.99US/$18.99CAN; 0-446-69494-0) Copyright (c) 2006 by Michael B. Schachter, MD, and Lynn Sonberg. Reprinted by permission of Warner Books, Inc, New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Author

Michael B. Schachter, MD, is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia College, and received his medical degree from Columbia's Physicians & Surgeons in 1965. He is board certified in psychiatry and has achieved advanced proficiency in chelation therapy from the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). Dr. Schachter has been involved with alternative and complementary medicine since 1974. He is a recognized leader in orthomolecular psychiatry, nutritional medicine, chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease, and alternative cancer therapies. Coauthor of Food, Mind and Mood (1989, 1987) and author of The Natural Way to a Healthy Prostate (Keats, 1995), Dr. Schachter was a major contributor to Alternative Medicine's Definitive Guide to Cancer (Future Medicine, 1997). He was president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine from 1989-91 and is the past president of the Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative Medicine (FAIM). A frequent lecturer to both professionals and the public, Dr. Schachter is often a guest on radio and television, speaking about health and related topics.

For more information, please visit www.schachtercenter.com/depression_book.htm

Holistic Depression Therapy: Treating Signs Of Anxiety And Depression With Natural Antidepressants - Athlyn Green

Holistic depression therapy is gaining respect in the medical world as a viable approach for treating stress-related and emotional disorders. The fast pace of modern-day living exerts tremendous pressure upon people, and depressive illnesses are on the rise, with a corresponding search for effective treatments to counter symptoms.

A common argument against holistic medicine for depression and anxiety disorders is that hard evidence is lacking to substantiate claims made for efficacy of these remedies. But is that really the case? What does investigation show?

Research has revealed that alternative approaches are safer than mainstream drugs and that these remedies are not usually accompanied by same severity of side effects or the withdrawal symptoms encountered when using or trying to stop prescription medications.

What facts are known about holistic depression therapy? What botanical and herbal substances are used? How do these work to treat symptoms? More importantly, what effect do they have on the brain?

SAM-e is a trusted natural treatment for moderate to severe depressive symptoms. In numerous trials involving thousands of patients, it has performed as well as traditional drugs used to alleviate depression: European research has shown it to be as effective or exceeding conventional medication, acting on the brain in a fashion similar to antidepressant drugs but generally free of troublesome effects. In fact, even at high doses, SAM-e is not associated with adverse effects. It has been prescribed successfully for two decades in 14 countries where it has been approved as a drug.

Siberian ginseng improves the balance of important neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) in the brain. It has been shown to be beneficial in treating depression by inhibiting monoamine.

5-HTP is derived from the griffonia simplicifolia plant and it increases serotonin levels. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of endocrine and brain activity responsible for emotional well being and sleep-wake cycles.

Backed by scientific research and clinical trials, confirmed by tangible results in patients, holistic medicine for depression and anxiety disorders offers active ingredients that have a significant impact on the brain and subsequently a person’s emotional health.

Valerian comes with a long track record and is considered one the most effective herbs for healing the nervous system and for treating depressive disorders. And no wonder! It affects production of the neurotransmitter GABA (increasing it at the synaptic cleft as well as prohibiting reuptake). GABA is an amino acid known to play a role in the physiology of anxiety. (Prescription drugs for anxiety (Valium and Xanax) affect GABA receptors in the brain.) Valerian is a recognized holistic depression therapy.

Passionflower offers flavonoids as primary constituents responsible for its relaxing and anti-anxiety effects.

Chamomile supports and soothes the nerves, helping to compose the mind and body. It has been used for centuries and its anti-anxiety effects are well attested.

Incorporating herbal extracts, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, enzymes and specialty supplements, complimentary holistic medicine for depression and anxiety disorders offers tangible medicinal benefits.

Diet changes can have a profound impact on the way a person feels, and supplementing your diet with a scientifically researched supplement, a holistic depression therapy makes good sense. You can restore critical chemical imbalances in the brain that may be sending out red flags: symptoms of malfunction through nervousness and negative mood or overwhelming sadness and loss of hope. As well, supplements offer protective and preventative benefits, so that these conditions do not gain the upper hand in the first place.

It is important to make sure you are consuming, digesting, and absorbing the needed proteins and essential fatty acids. Natural supplements, as a holistic medicine for depression and anxiety disorders, provide critical substances that the body needs for optimal functioning.

Check with your primary care giver or a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine before starting any herbal program. The use of herbals is a time-honored approach to healing, an effective holistic depression therapy.

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

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

Trazodone Antidepressant - Information You Need To Know - Athlyn Green

Trazodone antidepressant is used for treatment of depression. It affects chemical messengers or neurotransmitters in the brain that nerves use in communicating or stimulating each other.

This is a prescription medication that is believed to target symptoms of depression by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin—a brain chemical that plays a role in mood. Using Trazodone for depression may also directly increase the action of serotonin.

Although this drug works in a similar fashion to serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it is chemically unrelated to them. It is the generic name for Desyrel. The Food and Drug Administration approved Trazodone antidepressant for use in 1982.

As with any drug that increases concentrations of serotonin in the brain, this medication should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Commonly noted side effects include headache, lightheadedness or confusion, blurred or abnormal vision, agitation, dry mouth, low blood pressure, tiredness or sleepiness. Stomach upset can be reduced by taking this drug with food. A more troubling complication can be priapism, a painful condition in which sexual organs remain in an erect position. More alarmingly, occasional permanent impairment of erectile function or even impotence has been noted. You will want to discuss this with your doctor before consenting to using Trazodone for depression.

Blood pressure may drop if you combine this medication with a blood pressure medication. Dizziness upon standing may be an indicator of reduced blood pressure levels.

Cardiac abnormalities have been associated with Trazodone antidepressant and it should be used cautiously in people with pre-existing cardiac disorders. Do not take Trazodone if you have had a heart attack in recent weeks. If you have any type of heart disease: irregular heartbeats, chest pain (angina), or high blood pressure, you may require monitoring.

You should use alcohol cautiously in conjunction with taking this medication. When taking Trazodone for depression, you may experience dizziness or drowsiness—and alcohol may increase these effects.

Your doctor will have weighed potential benefits against risks before prescribing this medication for you. He will outline why he feels Trazodone antidepressant may be indicated to treat your depression. If you are suffering from major depression, it is crucial to get these symptoms under control.

If you are concerned about potential side effects, other options are available. Many people have turned to natural remedies when seeking to alleviate their symptoms. Can natural supplements effectively treat depression? Can they act on neurotransmitters to repair and correct malfunctioning?

Evaluating ingredients in natural remedies provides insight as to how they work.

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) significantly improves anxiety and depression and has been clinically shown to increase production of serotonin.

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) reduces depression and is critical in the manufacturing of important brain compounds, such as neurotransmitters.

Phosphatidyl choline increases central neurologic activity, brain energy, and mood. It is beneficial for treatment of anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

L-Glutamine is an amino acid, which, studies show, significantly decreases depression by altering neurotransmission associated with mood disorders.

Other ingredients include Siberian ginseng, ginkgo biloba, passionflower, vitamins B1 and B6. These work respectively to alleviate anxiety and depression. A good quality natural supplement will incorporate these ingredients using a wide range of vitamins and minerals, amino acids and enzymes, herbal extracts and specialty supplements to restore brain balance and functioning in a manner similar to using Trazodone for depression and its troubling symptoms. Ingredients are scientifically formulated, in combination, to provide crucial nutritional, chemical, and hormonal balance needed for well being.

You should always consult your doctor prior to embarking on any course. You can be comforted, however, knowing that using Trazodone antidepressant or a natural remedy can bring desired relief from symptoms that may have been weighing you down.

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

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

Depression In Adolescence - Janie Jonah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About The Author

Plain text Janie Jonah http://www.perfectdrugrx.com (c) 2006, PerfectDrugRx. All rights in all media reserved.

Bad Habits Can Lead To Stress Related Depression - Christopher Ruane

When a person has bad habits, you can bet that this person will have stress throughout their lifetime. For example, if a person smokes cigarettes it increases the vitals functioning capabilities, which gradually affects the heart, lungs, and other vital organs.

An autopsy will tell if a person smoked or not when the person is internally evaluated. If the person was, a smoker it will show on the body’s organs and the person’s lungs will be black. Now we know that a person’s internal organs are pinkish and when black is current then problems occurred in the person’s life.

When a person has problems, stress is obviously overwhelming. Likewise, if a person drinks heavily it affects the central nervous system and reduces a person’s ability to cope with stress. Heavy drinkers put their self in harm’s way by destroying the body and potential going to jail in the future.

As you can see, bad habits can cause stress and will cause stress. When a person is born, they are often healthy and if this person avoids bad habits that cause harm then the person’s life will be rewarding. If you are free of chemicals and substances that can cause you harm you will have the ability to make good decisions that offers you a successful future.

Eating too much is also a bad habit that needs modified. If a person overeats regularly and avoiding exercise then this person is subject to obesity, heart failure, strokes, diabetes and so forth. We see this causes problems and problems are one of the elements that cause our stress to increase. One of the obvious bad habits that create potential dangers is stress itself.

When a person is lacking the ability to manage his or her life and becomes stress every time an expectation presents itself then this bad habit too can cause harm to the body. Coping means we have the ability to manage our lives successfully without creating stressors that cause our stress to increase.

Minimizing stressors can help us to live a more productive lifestyle and provide us hope when times are hard to deal with. It is never easy to eliminate a bad habit since it is obviously a ritual, but it is possible to work toward reducing and finally eliminating the habits that cause us stress.
If you are use to smoking a cigarette after each meal then tell your self that today you are going to drink water instead of smoking after a meal. If you drink coffee and it opens your smoking cravings up, then start drinking orange juice, milk or some other healthy beverage. If you are a heavy drinker, tell your self every day that you are worth saving.

Sit down and review with your self the many problems you are facing and if some are less severe than others are. If you are often late paying your bills then you know that this is a problem, so you will need to learn and practice paying your bills on time. When you do not pay your bills on time, late charges occur or shut-off notices following.

As you can see, we all cause many of our own problems, which initiate stress. Sitting down and evaluating our situation and decisions can help bring forth rewards by seeing the problems we created and learning how to eliminate the problems in our lives. For example if you are often late for work then you know you have a bad habit that can cost you your job.

You may think that losing your job is not a problem, since someone else will hire you, but loosing your job is not the only problem in the picture. If you continue to adhere to your behaviors by being late for work, you are going to get a bad repetition with businesses.

Business owners talk amongst other owners. Now you can permanent displacement is potential, poverty, potential crime, and so forth. We are adding to the list of problems by ignoring or not accepting that our bad habits are the leading cause of uncontrolled stress. Our decisions are at the top of the list that determines if our stress is overwhelming or not. When behaviors cause stress, it is time to make some changes.

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

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Some Simple To Implement Tips For Reducing Depression In A Healthy And Natural Way - Tim Gorman

Most of us are finding life a lot tougher than it used to be - everything seems to be flying along at such a breakneck speed, it can be tough to keep up. It's hardly surprising that depression is becoming more common as a result. But if you find yourself slipping towards that dark place, there are some things you can do to stop the slide.

Firstly, give the media a miss. I know; we've all reached the point where we can't even go out for a coffee without our mobile phone in our pocket and TV screens in the food area at the shopping mall. But if you really look at newspapers and television, you'll soon realize that most of the stuff they tell you about is negative. They expose all the bad, horrible tings that people do, because that's what sells. By the time you've spent half an hour reading or watching about war, death, destruction, murder and despair, it's very hard for even the most optimistic person to still feel cheerful. So if you're already feeling a bit depressed, it's like hitting the fast forward button. I quit watching TV news and reading papers something like 15 years ago now, and believe me, if there's something going on that you need to know about, someone will tell you. But save yourself the misery of reading or watching it yourself.

Also, listen to what you say to yourself - your self- talk. If it's negative, then you need to stop doing it. This is true of what you say about other people as well - the more you focus on the positives, the better you'll feel. You've probably heard the say "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". It might be hard, but it really does make a difference to your attitude if you're always focusing on finding something nice to say to someone. This is a great way to turn your mind into more positive channels, and defeat depression.

Get outside! Sitting around at home gives you too much time to think. So go outside, walk in the sun, do some exercise. It's amazing how much better you'll feel if you get active. If it's snowing outside, then find somewhere undercover where you can take a walk. Many studies have proven that exercise and sunlight are good for your health, and the good news is they improve your attitude as well. Get moving!

Reality is that there are times life will throw you a curve ball, but instead of immediately starting to get depressed about it, stop and take a deep breath. Relax. Allow yourself time to take a short mental break. This momentary pause can do wonders for stopping the slide into depression, and will give you the strength to deal with the new challenge you've been presented with.

Think about what food you eat. Unfortunately many of the things we love can also have an effect on your mood, and may cause pronounced mood swings. Caffeine and alcohol are two big offenders. Go easy on sugars, starch and fats, too. Many additives can have a negative effect on your mood, including artificial dyes, preservatives and sweeteners. By avoiding them you will help reduce your level of depression, and may even improve your health as well!

Drinking water is also a great way to reduce depression. It's generally recommended you drink a minimum of 40 ounces of water a day. If you drink coffee or soda, though, you should drink even more water to compensate. This is because caffeine is diuretic and leeches water out of the body. Also, consider supplements such as Omega 3 fatty acids or St John's Wort.

Depression can be a very debilitating condition, but by following some of the tips I've outlined here, you can make a big difference for very little cost.

For more href="http://www.depression-relief-tips.com/tips_for_reducing_depression.php">tips for reducing stress and depression quickly visit Depression-Relief-Tips.com where you will find valuable information and resources on bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder and href="http://www.depression-relief-tips.com/clinical_depression.php">clinical depression.

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

Depression In Adolescence - By Janie Jonah

Depression In Adolescence

By Janie Jonah

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Source: www.isnare.com

Would you Recognize Manic Depression Symptoms? - Mark J Emslie

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

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

Manic Stage Symptoms

- An Increased sense of self

-importance

- An inflated positive outlook

- A notably decreased need for sleep

- A reduction in appetite and weight loss

- Reduced concentration and easily distracted

- Extreme involvement in pleasurable activities

- Extreme irritability and aggressive behaviour

Depressive Stage Symptoms

- Feelings of sadness or despondency

- A loss of interest in pleasurable or usual activities

- Difficulty sleeping or getting up in the morning

- Reduced energy and constant lethargy

- Feelings of guilt or low self-esteem

- Problems concentrating

- Increased weight or weight loss

- Suicidal or death talk

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

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

About The Author

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