Helping Somebody with Depression By Roopam Dhawan

Posted on 12:35 AM by Ed

If you want to help somebody suffering from depression or whom you suspect is depressed, following are the three simple things you can do.

  • Understand the perspective and the situation of the person.
  • Help him or her get an appropriate diagnosis.
  • Get appropriate treatment for him or her.

Understanding the situation in regard to the possibly depressed person.

Remember that depression is a complex "illness", and not something just in the mind. So, never ridicule the concerned person of faking an illness or lethargy. Do not expect or tell the person to just "snap out of it." Most people will get a great deal of sympathy and attention if they have broken an arm or a leg, because the problem is so obvious and visible. The pain and suffering of anxiety and depression are no less real because we cannot see them, in fact they can be greater because we can forget they are there.

Tell the person that you understand and with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, he or she will get better for sure. Also tell the person not to think of himself or herself as inferior to anybody. Keep reassuring the person that he or she will be cured. Exude hope, confidence and optimism and promote treatment.

Offer emotional support to the depressed person. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage the depressed person in conversation and listen carefully. Do not disparage feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Report them to the depressed person's therapist or the doctor immediately.

Invite the depressed person for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities. Be gently insistent if your invitation is refused. Encourage participation in some activities that once gave pleasure, such as hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities, but do not push the depressed person to undertake too much too soon. The depressed person needs diversion and company, but too many demands can increase feelings of failure.

Understand that you may find the experience physically and emotionally draining, trying, distressing, maddening and downright exhausting at times. This is obviously more intense for those who live in close proximity with the person who is ill, rather than those who have frequent but less day-to-day contact. On the other hand, the sense of delight, sheer relief and pleasure that comes from watching the definite signs of recovery take place can more than compensate for the negative experiences of supporting someone who is severely depressed.

A lot of characteristics of a depressed person's behavior are such which repel people from them. In fact, although being alone is something that is not consciously desired by the depressed person, the sad reality is that he or she may end up acting in such a way that friends and relatives keep their emotional and physical distance from him or her. Once you understand this basic dilemma, it may make it possible for us to see that a depressed person may be crying out for company and attention, even when they are behaving in what is an apparently anti-social way. In such a situation, it can be helpful not to have a knee-jerk reaction to the alienating behavior, but to try to stand back for a moment and try to communicate at a deeper level with the person who is depressed by showing as much warmth and understanding as you can. It is common for those who are depressed to feel deeply unlovable and unloved: if you can respond in a genuinely compassionate and non-judgmental way it provides the depressed person with an opportunity to respond in a positive way.

Any suggestion that the depressed person is contemplating suicide requires professional support and input. Under no circumstances should this responsibility be shouldered alone by whoever is supporting a severely depressed and/or anxious person.

Diagnosis of the exact situation and problem

If you feel that a close friend or relative may be suffering from undiagnosed depression, make sure that he or she sees a doctor in order to ask for help. This can be a particular problem for men, who may feel instinctively uncomfortable about asking for help and advice if they feel depressed, since they may feel that this is partly an admission of weakness. This male fear of vulnerability is thought to be part of the reason why far more women than men are diagnosed as suffering from depression, since women on the whole are thought to be more comfortable with acknowledging problems of a non-physical nature. Since there are so many avenues of support open to anyone suffering from depression, it is very sad if these positive opportunities for treatment are missed due to avoiding asking for appropriate help when necessary. If someone is in too passive a state to go out and see their doctor, arrange for the doctor to come and see them. This may be especially appropriate if the person who is depressed is elderly or suffering from limited mobility.

If the person who is depressed is living alone, keep in touch regularly by a combination of visits and telephone calls. Preparing the occasional meal or giving help with household chores can be a lifesaver to someone who is going through an especially down phase, since at times like these it can take what seems a superhuman effort to accomplish even the most basic of tasks.

Make sure, as far as possible, that the depressed person takes frequent exercise. This need be nothing more ambitious than taking a regular walk each day, or having a swim at a nearby pool. Since it is natural for someone who is depressed to become very introspective and disinclined to take the initiative to go out, even when it may be very necessary, suggest going out for a coffee, a brief shopping trip, or for a drive into the country for a change of scene.

Try to counter negative statements with appropriate positive perspectives. Although this may not always be appreciated or appropriate, in certain situations it can be extremely important to balance an unrealistically bleak perspective with a more rational one. If someone who is depressed comes out with a comment that his or her life is worthless and nobody likes him or her, remind him or her of all of the people who care for him or her, including yourself.

Getting appropriate treatment for the depressed and sticking to it

This involves getting treatment for the depressed person from a qualified healthcare professional. Encourage the individual to stay with treatment until symptoms begin to abate. This may take several weeks. If no improvement occurs for a substantial period, seek a different treatment. You may be required to make an appointment and accompanying the depressed person to the doctor. Also monitor whether the depressed person is taking medication. The depressed person should be encouraged to obey the doctor's advice about the use of alcoholic products while on medication.

0 comments

63 Ideas to Get Rid of Depression - Take Charge of Your Brain By A. B. Curtiss

Posted on 12:31 AM by Ed

No matter what kind of depression you have, the pain is the same-caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain. No matter what you're depressed about, or even if you don't know why you're depressed, there are some simple things you can do to reduce your pain and anxiety, and get yourself feeling better.

Simple cognitive behavior techniques and exercises can lessen pain and stimulate more productive thinking. Low-key physical and mental activity can also speed recovery.

1. Relax your shoulders, take a deep breath and don't panic! Millions of perfectly normal people have struggled with all kinds of depression and learned how to get out of it. You are not alone. You have options.

2. First, why do you feel so bad? It's not because of your problems. It's because of your brain chemistry. There are two main parts of the brain, the thinking part (the neocortex) and the emotional part (the subcortex). When you're depressed, your subcortex is reacting to stress chemicals, and producing excruciating pain and panic.

3. To add to your misery, your subcortex sucks up additional neural energy from the neocortex until it is practically non-functioning. So you can't think straight, plus you're in agony.

4. You feel helpless, but there's a lot you can do. Your body is experiencing a perfectly normal reaction to the over-supply of stress chemicals in your brain.

5. You need to reduce the neural energy in the subcortex and re-power the neocortex. You can do this with cognitive behavioral mind techniques that will spark up neural activity in the neocortex. With a little practice you will be able to do this any time depression hits you. A few facts about how your brain works will also help you cope.

6. Your first task is to free yourself from the kinds of negative and downer thoughts that power the subcortex and support the pain of your depression. Get rid of thoughts like:

• 'I'm depressed'
• 'I feel terrible'
• 'What's the use'
• 'I can't stand this pain anymore'

7. Switch your Thoughts! To get rid of any depressive thoughts, simply switch out of thinking them. Since the brain is basically a 'yes brain,' it's hard to not think something. The way to not think a negative or depressive thought is to think another thought instead of it.

8. The best way to think another thought instead of a depressive thought is to use the simple cognitive behavioral technique called 'brainswitching.'

Choose any neutral or nonsense thought, in advance, to have 'at the ready' to substitute for any depressive thought that pops up. When you're depressed, you're in too much pain to think one up.

• Make it a thought that will not stimulate any negative emotional association. It could be
• a silly song or rhyme fragment like 'Row, row, row your boat'
• a mantra like 'Om Padme'
• a neutral or nonsense word like 'hippity-hop, 'green frog,' or 'yadda yadda'
• a prayer like the 23rd Psalm.

9. It may seem silly to suggest that saying 'green frog' over and over to yourself can get rid of depression, but there's a scientific reason for the exercise. Thinking a neutral or nonsense thought interrupts the depressive thought pattern and weakens it. How? See #10.

10. The brain always follows the direction of its most current dominant thought. When you make your neutral or nonsense thought dominant by thinking it over and over repetitively, it automatically kicks the depressive thought out of its dominant position and the brain ceases tracking it so actively. It turns toward the neutral thought.

11. Brainswitching will automatically increase neural activity in the neocortex, and reduce neural activity in the subcortex. It will continually interrupt the message that you are depressed from one part of the brain to the other.

12. Brainswitching distracts your attention from your emotional brain and directs it to the thinking part of the brain. Depression only happens in the subcortex. There's never any depression in the neocortex.

13. You can brainswitch for a few seconds the first time you try it. With practice you can do it longer. You may be surprised to know that, even in the worst depression, your neocortex always remains calm and immediately available to you. And you can always brainswitch to it.

14. Keep choosing your neutral thought again when you lose concentration. You must actually do this exercise to activate the neocortex. It's not just an idea. Ideas don't work for depression. Only behavior works. A thought is just a thought but thinking a thought over and over again is behavior!

15. Always brainswitch to break the continuity of depression's grip on you. Depression, like any other anxious emotion or feeling, can't maintain itself unless you think it repetitively. Think something else instead-like 'green frog.'

16. Do not think a depressive thought twice. No depressive thought can, by itself, turn into depression if you continually refuse to think it. A depressive thought is over as quick as any other thought. Don't choose to think it again. Depression hits you with a first thought but you can refuse to think the second thought. For depression to 'take hold,' you must continuously think it.

17. Move into Action! Always brainswitch whenever a depressive or stressful thought threatens to ' take over.' An unhappy thought is just a thought. It can pop into your mind at any moment. It is an event that happens to you. Choosing to think an unhappy, anxious or depressive thought over and over is behavior. It is something that you do and you can learn not to do it.

18. Be aware of the 'early warning' sad or negative feelings that usually precede a full-blown depressive episode. Confront your depression right away. 'Okay I know what this is. This is depression coming. I have to side-step it with a neutral thought.'

19. Get out of depression at earlier stages by checking out the passive thinking that happens when you just let your mind wander. Passive thinking can often 'go negative' on you. When it does, switch to on-purpose thinking before negative thinking becomes dominant in your brain. The way you do 'on-purpose' thinking is to choose a specific thought to think, or by deciding to do some task which then directs your thinking in line with the task at hand.

20. Pry yourself loose from being fused with the pain of your depression before you disappear into it.
Find a small thinking space between you and your pain. Yes, you feel agonized and hopeless, but you can also focus slightly aside from your agony and hopelessness. You are not hopeless, you are the observer of your feeling of hopelessness. Accept some discomfort in a more detached way. Depression is a horrible feeling. It is not you! YOU are you! You are not a feeling. You are a person who is having a feeling.

21. Focus your mind on some low-key physical action:

• Brush your teeth.
• Clean your desk.
• Swing your arms in circles.
• Jog, or take a walk, and keep on walking until you feel tired.
• Smile! -not because you're happy, but to relax your tense face muscles.

22. Get yourself up and going with any kind of moving-around exercises. The more you move into physical action, the less depression has a chance to settle in on you. Put on some music, dance around the room. Not because you will feel like dancing, but because depression hates you to dance. Do something your depression hates.

23. Distract yourself from the pain of depression with small chores. Do them while thinking your neutral or nonsense thought. Do your chore. Think your thought. Ignore your depression by thinking objectively about what you are doing not subjectively about how you are feeling. Your stress and pain will begin to lessen.

24. Look around you if you can't think of any chores to do. There is always some 'next thing' that can distract you from your pain. Any outward-focused action can help you turn away from self-focus on the pain of your depression. Take out the trash.

25. Do the 'next thing' when paralyzed by fear or depression. Life never abandons us without giving us the 'next thing' to do. It is security for our sanity and for the healing power of positive behavior. The next thing may just be to take a shower.

26. After the first task, the second task will become even more obvious. Do what you decide to do, not what you feel like doing. Depression never deprives you of 'will,' only motivation. You won't want to do anything, but you can do it.

27. Focus on Behavior, Not Feelings! Since depression kills motivation, use your 'neutral thought' exercise as if it is a motivation pill. Quick! Slip a neutral thought in on your depressive thought.

28. Decide ahead of time to do your exercise anyway, even though you feel like it won't work. Anticipate the fact that depression always robs you of all hope, including hope that any exercise will work.

29. Behavior always trumps feelings. But for a trump to win, you have to play it. No fearful or depressive feeling is powerful enough to prevent you from engaging your body in some kind of mental or physical behavior. You just need to stand up to your fearful feelings and show them 'who's boss.' Behavior is boss.

• No fearful or depressive feeling can rise up and conquer you. It must frighten you into surrendering.
• Feelings are just your own neural patterns twanging for attention.
• Accept fearful feelings; move forward with positive behavior.
• When you accept fearful feelings, they finish and die. Fear feeds them and keeps them alive
• Feelings cannot be more powerful than you are--behavior rules!

30. Depression is not something that you are, it is something you do and you can learn not to do it. Depression is a terrible feeling. Feelings are very powerful but they are not intelligent. They can be wrong. You don't have to do feelings. You can change the thinking that caused the feelings and then the feelings will change to reflect the new thoughts. On-purpose thought always trumps passive or automatic thought.

31. On-purpose thought is always more current than passive thought, so automatically it's more dominant than passive thought. Your brain always follows the direction of its most current dominant thought. If your depression patterns are well-imprinted from practicing them, don't worry. Practicing new thinking forms new brain patterns without depression. You can use the new get-out-of-depression patterns instead of the old get-into-depression ones.

32. During depression, the physical pain, the psychological fear, the feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, and despair, are all bound up and entangled in a neural pattern that takes on a life of its own, seemingly independent of our will. The key here is seemingly. We are not usually aware that we focus our attention away from our will when we're depressed. We focus only on the depressive pattern. We can focus on our behavior instead.

33. Decide to concentrate on something--a book or some work. Depression doesn't prevent you from concentrating. That's a myth. Depression makes you forget that you are already concentrating on something-on depression! Don't let depression interrupt work. Let work interrupt your depression.

34. Whenever depression interrupts your concentration, interrupt it back! You have one attention only. If you are thinking a neutral, nonsense, rational, or productive thought, you cannot, at the same instant, be thinking a depressive thought.

35. Pay attention to your self-talk. It will indicate what kind of thinking you're doing-passive or on-purpose, self-focused or outer-focused, subjective (about your feelings) or objective (about other things). Self-talk is that on-going conversation you have with yourself in your own mind that you usually don't pay any attention to.

36. Don't Forget-Your Mind is Tricking You! Your mind tricks you into anxious thinking via unnoticed self-talk. Trick it back! Replace negative self-talk. If you hit a red light, self-talk might be 'I'm going to be late!' Change to 'Relax, I'll be fine.'

37. You think you're depressed because of your problems. This is a mind trick. You're always depressed because of your depression. It's the chemistry! Anxious thoughts trigger the fight-or-flight response that produces stress chemicals, causing a chemical imbalance in your brain.

38. It seems your whole self is depressed. This is a mind trick. Depression only occurs in the subcortex. There's never any depression in the thinking part of the brain.

39. Depression seems like present reality. This is a mind trick. Depression is a feeling, already past, which you must then replay (rethink) in memory 'as if' it is present reality. This is due to the instantaneous process of 'pain perception.' To experience any feeling of physical pain or emotion (which is always produced in the subcortex) we must first think (acknowledge) the feeling in the neocortex-after we have it.

Cases are recorded of athletes who break a bone during a game and don't experience any pain until the game is over. Neocortical concentration on the game blocked pain signals sent to the neocortex that should have alerted them to the pain of their injury.

40. Depression is the opposite of living in the NOW. Thinking how you feel is past feeling re-played in thinking 'as if' it's present. The process of experiencing a past feeling as if it's a present happening is beneath our level of awareness but once we are aware of it, we can slip a quick neutral thought in on our depression and weaken it.

41. There's a huge difference between self-focus and self-awareness. Self-focus is thinking about how you feel, and it is never connected to present reality. Self-awareness is connecting with present reality by getting outer-focused. When you find yourself self-focused, get outer-focused as soon as possible with physical or objective mental activity that connects you to the neocortex. Self-focus is the opposite of living in the NOW because self-focus is thinking about your feelings which are always 'past.'

42. To get out of self-focus and connect to present reality, think objective thoughts about the people or the physical things around you. Think about or talk to another person. Objective thinking can immediately help detach you from the subjective thinking of the pain of your depression. It also helps when you feel self-conscious, socially stressed and alienated.

43. This is really tricky. If you feel bad, you have unwittingly instructed your brain to feel bad. The brain works by learned association (think 'salt,' the thought 'pepper' automatically fires up). A negative thought is instructions to your brain to fire up other similar negative thoughts in its memory bank. If you think 'sad' then similar 'downer' thoughts like 'depressed' will pop up, or 'worthless' or ' I feel terrible.'

44. When you think any thought at all, that thought becomes a specific instruction to your brain because it works by learned association. Your brain will pick up the thought like a football, and connect it with the other similar thoughts stored in its memory banks. Think 'green frog' not 'sad.'

45. Use 'learned association' to get out of depression the same way you got in it. Neutral thoughts spark up other neutral thoughts and your brain moves from depressive thinking to neutral thinking.

46. Get the 'process of positivity' working for you in your brain. The inherent importance of any small victory is not relevant. The process of being positive is more important than the content.

47. Even if you over-ate there might be some small thing you passed up. 'Hey, I didn't eat that third brownie. I was victorious over the third brownie.' Our small triumphs don't need to make sense in the 'real world.' They just need to be positive so that they will stimulate positive thinking in our mind by learned association.

48. Re-engage! Your depression wants you to isolate yourself and keep yourself stressed. Fight back! Re-engage with other people or things-go to the movies, read biographies in the library, take a long walk downtown.

49. Question your thoughts. It is helpful to think this, or is it unhelpful? Is it helpful to believe this, or is it unhelpful? Unhelpful thoughts should never be an option. No thought can make you think it. You have the power to not think any thought. In order to not think a thought, simply think another thought instead of it-like 'hippity hop.'

50. Don't call yourself names like 'I'm Depressed' or 'I'm Bipolar.' Labels of illness like 'I'm bipolar' don't contribute to wellbeing. Cancer patients feel better who tell themselves that they are 'doing better,' rather than thinking, 'I have cancer.' Treat
these names like any negative thought.

51. See your problems in context of time, a week out of your lifespan; in terms of help that might be available from family or friends; in terms of developing character from the experience of your failure.

52. Carry a paperback joke book. When depression threatens, read the book for at least five minutes. Depression will not want you to do this. Do it anyway.

53. Laugh out loud for two minutes. The brain doesn't know the difference between being happy and pretending to be happy. Happy thoughts produce happy feelings. The feelings are genuine though the thoughts that generated them were fake.

54. Put off depression as long as you can. 'It's coming, but I'll do my exercises first before it's all the way here.' Or, 'I'll check my email first.' This way you interrupt the direct neural pathway to depression, and the brain can 'forget' it was heading for depression.

55. To produce calm thinking, force neutral thoughts on your brain as you would force exercise on your body. This imprints in your memory bank a usable neural pattern that you can access whenever depression attacks. If you want to be happy, you have to first get your brain to do happy.

56. Allow space for your panicky feelings. They are very scary, but they are just normal reactions to stress chemicals that are the same in every human body. It might be difficult to breathe or swallow, your heart might start racing, you might get the shakes or the sweats, feel like you're going to die! Let your feelings be where they are, while you temporarily focus your attention on some deep breathing. Just easy. Just easy. Breathing doesn't have to be perfect. Just easy. Watch your breath coming in, and watch it going out. In and out.

57. Depression is not real life. It's a panic room of the mind. Get back out of your panic room into real life again.

58. You're responsible for your mind, not to your mind (as if it were in charge of you.) You should be in charge of your mind, so it does what you want. You should direct your thinking, not collapse into it; manage moods cognitively, not obey them.

59. Do not re-think old horror stories. Say to yourself. 'I will not go there.' How you don't go there is head elsewhere in your mind. Your brain can't follow two chains of thought going in two directions at once. It will follow your current dominant thought.

60. It's possible to choose to live by the precept that you will accept no other option than going forward with your day in some productive manner, no matter how humble, no matter how desperate you feel.

61. There's the power of positive thinking. There's also the power of positive doing! When you get depressed, do something physically and mentally active. Re-engage your attention in any objective thinking or outer-focus, and get yourself out of dangerous subjective self-focus.

62. Thoughts are not reality. They are tools to help you through your day. Choose the right tools. If you think good thoughts you will have good feelings, you will see good in others, and in yourself, and you'll see good things in your path.

63. You can't always decide to be happy. You can always decide to be cheerful. Happiness is a feeling. Cheerfulness is on-purpose, rational behavior. Being cheerful ultimately makes you happy.

0 comments

A Look at the Different Types of Depression By Jason Anderson Platinum Quality Author

Posted on 12:27 AM by Ed

When people talk about depression, they usually mean a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and who has generally lost interest in life. Most people don't realize that there are many different types of depression a person can be suffering from, with each type often showing different symptoms.

While this isn't an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.

Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren't so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment - they don't believe the symptoms are severe enough.

Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don't believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don't usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can't remember a time when they weren't depressed.

Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can go unnoticed by others, the symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable. If left untreated, people suffering from moderate depression can slip into major depression.

Major Depression (also known as clinical or unipolar depression) is what most people think of when they think of depression - the individual seems to have totally given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from major depression could function normally in a work, social or home setting - their symptoms are too pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk with major depression, and professional help needs to be sought to treat the depression.

Bipolar Depression (BPD) is sometimes known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the sufferer having large mood swings from very upbeat and energetic to extreme lows. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is usually categorized into a number of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories there are, the four most common are Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.

People with bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and even dangerous activities. During this 'mania' state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their 'mania' phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don't suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

Cyclothymic disorder is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years). Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren't so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.

Finally, Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don't allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive states.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) that affects between 3% and 8% of women. Symptoms of depression appear around a week prior to menstruation, and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.

Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression can occur any time in the first 12 months after a baby is born. Some form of postnatal depression affects over 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected only have a very mild form of depression that usually passes naturally with rest and the support of family and friends. However around 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postnatal depression, and like major depression the sufferer needs treatment and support to overcome the illness.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the changing light levels throughout the year. The most common for of SAD is caused by the low-light levels of winter, but a much rarer form of the disorder is triggered by the high-light levels of summer.

As you can see, depression comes in many different forms - each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also responds better to different treatments. By being aware of the different forms depression can take, you can be much more prepared to help a friend of family member.

0 comments

Overcoming Depression Biblically and Naturally By Stephen Shober

Posted on 12:23 AM by Ed

PURPOSE OF ARTICLE

The Bible has much to say about depression; interestingly, the causes and solutions are not what are commonly thought in Christian circles. This article will offer insights that may help erase the stigma
associated with depression and to see it in a new light. When seen correctly, there is no more stigma or shame associated with depression than any other illness.

UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION

What is Depression: Depression is a prolonged emotional tone dominating an individual's outlook and mood. Normal moods of sadness, grief, and elation are typically short-lived and part of
everyday life, but these can progress into a depressed mental state. Other symptoms often accompany depression but the most common symptoms of major depression are:1

  • deep sadness or emptiness,
  • apathy, loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities,
  • agitation or restlessness, physical hyperactivity or inactivity,
  • sleep disturbances,
  • weight/appetite disturbances,
  • diminished ability to think or concentrate,
  • feelings of excessive guilt, self-reproach or worthlessness,
  • feelings of fatigue or loss of energy, and
  • morbid thoughts of death or suicide.

If a person experiences at least five of these symptoms for one month they have major depression. Mild depression would typically be defined as having two to four of these symptoms for over one month. Bipolar disorder (manic depression) includes swings from deeply depressive moods to wildly manic moods (elation, irritability, hostility, inflated thoughts of self, boasting)--with many intensities and
variations.

Biblical Occurrences: Depression is the ascendancy and tyranny of our emotions over our lives. Thus, Proverbs 15:13 says, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of the
heart the spirit is broken." Often an initiating discouragement leads to sadness, which leads to prolonged grief, and then into a downhill spiral to depression. Depression is a universal problem, but no
one really knows if Biblical characters had what we call depression, or if it would be more appropriate to say they suffered emotionally. However, Paul in I Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able...". Temptation can mean trial, calamity, or affliction. Accordingly, we should understand that our present day afflictions were also common to the
great Bible characters.

David was overwhelmed with grief and sadness, his heart was desolate, and his tears fell all night (Psa. 61:2, 77:2-3, 142:4, and 143:4). Jonah, Jeremiah (Jer. 15), Job, and Elijah (I Kings 19) are other
examples. Whenever characters express rejection, loneliness, self-pity, hopelessness, overwhelming grief, and wish they had not been born, it seems they are expressing more than temporary sadness but
classic symptoms of major depression. Paul had classic symptoms: his flesh had no rest, he was troubled on all sides, he was cast down, he had fears within, and he despaired of life (II Cor. 1:8 & 7:5-6).
Hannah (I Samuel 1) had many of the symptoms of depression and her spiritual leader instantly and incorrectly accused her of a spiritual problem.

Depression Considerations: Each year depression strikes ten million people in the United States. Older Christians have more depression than younger; does this mean that spiritual maturity is
of no avail? No, what this indicates is that older people have more biochemical and brain malfunctions as they age; depression is a natural consequence. Similarly, more women (two to three times) have depression than men. Women do not have more spiritual problems than men, but they do process adverse events differently than men, and, they have a complex body chemistry that can get out of
balance, both leading to depression. Women tend to take adverse events and internalize them and take the blame--this is a thought-processing problem. Men tend to react to the same events with escapism (sports, TV, sexual obsessions, alcohol); which can later result in heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc.--again, a thought-processing problem but with different results. There is another difference: women tend to feel their depression (sadness/guilt) while men act it out in their behavior (rage, hostility and frustration).2

Causes: Understanding the causes of depression is very helpful to finding the solution. It is rare that there is only one causative agent, generally there are several at work. Listed below (no specific order) are some factors known to contribute to depression:3 4 5

  • nutrient deficiency or excess
  • drugs (prescription, illicit, caffeine)
  • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • hormonal imbalances
  • allergies
  • heavy metals
  • sexual abuse as a child
  • microbial overgrowths/toxins
  • medical conditions (stroke, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's, diabetes, thyroid)
  • natural light deprivation
  • psychological factors (generally poor thought-processing)
  • spiritual factors

Depression can have its source in our body, soul or spirit. Our body can affect our soul and spirit and vice versa. For example: if one has a low thyroid function it may affect the soul (for example the emotions) leading to depression which then affects one's spiritual life. Affecting our spiritual life does not mean it changes our standing or position in Christ, it means things like a less productive outreach/ministry and a more self-oriented prayer life.

There is now no question that reductions in frontal lobe function lie at the core of depression. Complimenting this research is the finding that depressed children have significantly smaller frontal
lobes than non-depressed children. The evidence indicates that frontal lobe problems are the cause and not the effect. The frontal lobe's proper function requires adequate blood flow and nerve chemistry.

As fog veils a beautiful meadow, so depression clouds life itself; existence becomes dreary and dark. It has been described as darkness visible. One can go to bed feeling fine only to wake with an overwhelming gloom that cannot be explained or escaped. With proper nutrition, lifestyle changes and a renewed way of processing the events of our lives we can break through that fog into a sunny day.

Consequences: Now that it is clear that depression is related to many factors, primarily to frontal lobe malfunction, let's consider the consequences of depression. Depression weakens the immune
system's power to attack cancer cells, increases the risk of fatal stroke by 50%, increases the risk of sudden cardiac death in heart attack survivors by 250%, and increases the complications of pneumonia.3 It has been found that depression increase stress hormone levels,
hypertension, and headaches; it complicates diabetes and is the leading cause of suicide (its close relative). The point is clear, depression should be addressed early or it may lead to fatal consequences.
However, because of their illness depressed persons have diminished ability to combat their own disease, so help is often needed to lift them out of the pit of despair.

How the Brain Works: By God's design, all brain activity (every thought, feeling and emotion, every order the brain sends to the organs and cells) is the product of electrochemical signals. The
brain's electrical signals require a chemical to carry the signal across a small opening (synapse) between cells. The chemicals used to do this are called neurotransmitters. To have a properly functioning system
we need an adequate amount of neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitter most commonly associated with depression is serotonin.

Depressed people have low serotonin levels. Thus, they have impaired brain message sending, especially relating to emotions and mood. Serotonin is produced in the brain from tryptophan (a protein), which is converted into 5-HTP, and then into serotonin. Some serotonin is converted into melatonin, the hormone needed for proper sleep (thus the connection between depression and sleep disorders). One cause of low serotonin is the lack of an enzyme that converts tryptophan to 5-HTP.1 Before proceeding, just think how unfair it would be to tell a depressed person that is missing this needed
enzyme that they have a spiritual problem. As a doctor told a dear sister in Christ who just could not understand why she could not get over her depression, "quit beating yourself up about it, your body
just does not produce enough serotonin."

THERAPEUTIC CONSIDERATIONS

Botanical Medicines: The Scripture makes it clear that because of sin the earth today is not yielding its strength (Gen. 4:12). As a result of this Romans 8:22 says, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Knowing this, the Lord has made special provisions for us. Psalms 104:14 says, "...and herb for the service of man:...", which means the botanical (herbal) kingdom was designed for the many services of humans, including medicine.

Often herbal products are slower acting than pharmaceutical medications, but the advantages of herbal supplements is that they can often affect a cure (rather than just address symptoms) and the side effects are minor compared to pharmaceutical drugs. Herbs can be considered the medicine from God's
pharmacy. The most important and well tested herbs to consider in connection with depression are:1 4

  • St. John's Wort (SJW): relieves depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep disturbance, anorexia, and feeling of worthlessness. All these symptoms are caused by low serotonin and SJW increases the level of serotonin in the brain.
  • Ginkgo biloba: improves blood flow and function of the frontal lobe. Ginkgo increases the ability of serotonin to do its job in the brain.
  • 5-HTP: a plant extract that is just one step from becoming serotonin--the brain readily makes this conversion. It raises the level of serotonin and other brain neurotransmitters. This product overcomes the genetic problem that does not allow for the conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP.

Pharmaceutical Medications: There are times when medications can save a person's life. If botanical medicines do not work (in conjunction with the lifestyle, thought processing, and consideration of other causes) then medications are an option. A short-term use of antidepressant drugs may be needed in order to get the mind operating sufficiently well so that a person can function. Medications generally work by keeping serotonin (or other neurotransmitters) at adequate levels in the brain's synapses. They do not help create increased blood flow or frontal lobe function.

Nutrition: A deficiency of any single nutrient can alter brain function and lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. The most common deficiencies are folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6.
An insufficiency of Omega 3 fatty acids (oils) has been linked to depression. Low Omega 3 oils result in cells throughout the body and brain that do not function correctly, and the mind suffers. The needed Omega 3 oils are found in fish oils and flaxseed oil.1 3 4 5 6

The diet for helping to prevent and correct depression is based upon Biblical insights:

  • Increase the consumption of fiber-rich plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and raw nuts and seeds).
  • Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and other stimulants; also avoid foods that cause allergic symptoms.
  • A good diet is: low protein, high fiber, low-moderate fat, and high complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates do not include simple carbohydrates (processed foods, snack foods, white bread, soda). Raw fruit has simple carbohydrates but is good because of the fiber, enzymes and antioxidants.
  • Atkins type diets are poor; they actually lead to depression since carbohydrates are needed to get tryptophan into the brain.
  • Foods high in tryptophan should be consumed regularly: soy flour, meats/poultry (turkey and chicken), tofu, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, raw nuts, eggs, lentils, and garbanzo beans.
  • A good snack before going to bed would be a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread (there is tryptophan in the turkey and the whole grain bread will help keep sugar levels stable and help get the tryptophan get into the brain).

Rule to live by: Eat foods as close to the way God created them as possible: raw, whole, and unprocessed. He created vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, etc. He did not create processed
foods or animal meat full of antibiotics and hormones. Humans cannot improve upon God's bounty!

Lifestyle: Regular exercise and sleep are essential to combat depression. Exercise at least 30 minutes four times a week. One does not have to jog: but walking, biking, tennis, swimming, gardening, active house/yard work are great. Regular exercise takes time for the effects to be felt, sometimes weeks.

We each have an internal clock that operates on a roughly 24-hour schedule (circadian rhythm). Even mentally healthy people can become depressed if the circadian rhythms are significantly disturbed. Seasonal Affective Disorder is common in the winter months in northern climates because the lack of natural sunlight disrupts these rhythms. Direct exposure to bright full spectrum light can help, or, the serotonin boosting botanical medicines.

A common factor leading to depression is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar); the brain requires a constant supply of blood sugar to function properly. Thyroid insufficiency also causes depression. Women with post-partum depression and those approaching menopause (symptoms often start by mid-30 age) are subject to hormonal disturbances that lead to depression.1 5 7

Biblical Thought-Processing: How we handle bad or disappointing news has a profound effect upon our mental well-being. As long as we believe we are victims, we are not able to achieve full mental health.9 Positive thinking is more important for overall health than almost anything else. Negative thinking, on the contrary, can destroy the good done by correct diet and lifestyle.10 Many depressed people have a tendency to look at the down side of life. It has been said that it is a positive duty to resist melancholy and discontented thoughts as much as it is our duty to pray. Certainly there will always be things in this imperfect world that give us cause to complain.

Often we are helpless to personally do anything about many of these negative things. However, we can focus our mind on the enjoyable and wonderful things of life; this is scriptural, uplifting and therapeutic.

In our self-talk (how we silently talk and think to ourselves) we must replace the negative/compulsive thoughts with Philippians 4:8. But each person must search-out those things that are true, honest, just, pure, etc.--that is the purpose of meditating on God's Word. As soon as the conscious awareness of an unconstructive negative thought is realized, a positive thought must immediately replace it. This takes practice and preparation, but brings our thinking into captivity. The instruction of II Corinthians 10:5 & 6 is, "...and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." Applying these words to ourselves, we cannot allow ourselves to entertain negative thoughts, even if true, even if we have been wronged (Prov. 12:25, 15:13, 18:14). Nor can we entertain compulsive thoughts (thoughts that just keep running over and over again in our mind even though they may not be negative in nature).

The essential basics of cognitive behavioral therapy are shown below; each person should provide their own verses to make them more personal and meaningful. Whether in the natural world or in the realm of the mind, science comes to the same conclusion as revealed in the Bible 2000 years ago.

  1. Locate and identify the negative thoughts or misbelief in your self-talk. "I am no good because things are not like what I expect or want."
  2. Argue against the negative thoughts. "I am not a failure just because I do not meet unrealistic expectations of myself or others."
  3. Learn how to avoid rumination (the constant churning of thoughts in one's mind) by immediately changing your thoughts.
  4. Replace the negative thoughts the very second they occur with the truth and with empowering positive thoughts and beliefs. "In spite of the sorrow, disappointments and feelings I experience the Lord will help me carry on."8

Finally, Philippians 3:13 & 14 says, "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Paul is using a runner's analogy to put the past and future in their proper perspective. He says that runners in a race cannot look back to see where the other
runners are, for if they do they may stumble or get out of their lane and be disqualified. A runner can only look ahead and stretch forward, making the focus the finish line, not what may be behind.

We are on a track, running life's race. The most incredible thing is that each Christian is the only person on his/her track. One does not have to be all that fast, but steady. The only thing that is behind us on our track is our past (forgetting those things that are behind), with its failures, abuses, hurts, regrets, accomplishments, or fame. If you have your eye on the prize the past cannot hurt/catch you. The past contains the thoughts that Paul says to forget about, certainly do not ruminate about them, if you do you will stumble (have mental problems). He implies a Christian's greatest point of failure in running the race is letting the past keep him/her from running well. Look ahead, stretch forward toward a new day and thank God for all you have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Spiritual Direction: Depression can have a spiritual source if we live in sin, harbor anger or resentment, etc. We have to be willing to forgive (make the unnatural decision to let someone "off
the hook" even though they do not ask or deserve it) just as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us, Ephesians 4:32. (Note, we forgive because we already have been forgiven, not to be forgiven as is the
case in the Gospels.)

Regular spiritual exercise (reading, studying, praying, meditation on the Word) requires use of the frontal lobe of the brain and emphasizes communion with God, thinking His thoughts, sensing His presence, and knowing His will. This is active worship and produces the type of brain waves in the frontal lobe that are very helpful for us all, including the depressed. Hypnosis and the trance-like state of Eastern religious meditation are very harmful; they produce the wrong type of brain waves and information bypasses the frontal lobe, leading to possible mind control.3

Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Transformed in Greek is metamorphosis and means a change in form; it implies a struggle like when a chrysalis morphs into a butterfly. If we do not become changed from the inside-out--if we do not morph--we will be tempted to find external things to satisfy our needs.
Transformation is not an instantaneous act of God, it is a life-long process (journey). One does not get transformed by just praying, asking or believing; there is no "microwave" (quick and easy) way to spiritual maturity.The passive voice in Romans 12:2 means the Holy Spirit will do the transforming for us if we cooperate with Him (listening, yielding, relying...). Expect spiritual advancement, you can always mature more, Philippians 3:15-16. Your imperfections will be revealed by the Holy Spirit so that you may continue to grow and become more complete (not sinless, but well-rounded). Maturity versus infancy is the issue. God loves you just the way you are, but refuses to leave you that way; He wants you to be made conformable to Christ, II Corinthians 3:18.

Our Lord stripped himself of His glory and "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men...and became obedient unto death..." (Phil. 2:7 & 8). His life reminds us of our spiritual growth which often imposes tough lessons, sometimes so tough we shrink back from learning them. It seems we have to learn from actual experience that whatever we depend upon in this life (for joy, comfort, acceptance, etc.), ends up controlling us. God allows and uses life's events to teach us about misplaced dependencies, so that we finally grasp the concept that Christ is our one true sufficiency.

Endnotes

  1. Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd Edition, J. Pizzorno, ND & M. Murray, ND, Bastyr University.
  2. Unmasking Male Depression, Archibald Hart, PhD, Word Publications.
  3. Depression the Way Out, Neil Nedley, MD, Nedley Publishing.
  4. 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity & Insomnia, M. Murray, ND, Bantom Books.
  5. Endocrinology and Naturopathic Therapies, 4th Edition, D. Powell, ND, Bastyr University.
  6. Naturopathic Gastroenterology, E. Yarnell, ND, Naturopathic Medical Press.
  7. What Your Doctor May NOT tell you About Premenopause, J. Lee, MD, & J. Hanley, MD, Time-Warner Publishing.
  8. Telling Yourself the Truth, W. Backus, MD, & M. Chapian, Bethany House Publ.
  9. The Blessings of Brokenness, Dr. C. Stanley, Zondervan Publishing House.
  10. Your Health Your Choice, M. T. Morter, DC, Lifetime Books, Inc.

0 comments

The Great Depression of the 40s by Rupa Gulab by Prasoon Kumar

Posted on 12:17 AM by Ed

The same lifestyle which makes you happy for many years, may make you feel bored after some time because things become too familiar and you begin to crave for something different. The book The Great Depression of the 40s by Rupa Gulab interprets the life of working couples in a humorous manner. The people approaching the middle age start questioning the meaning of their lives and their own decisions they made so easily early in their lives.

Caught On the Wrong Foot

The Great Depression of the 40s by Rupa Gulab revolves around the journalist Mantra who leaves her job to experience the joy of retirement without a nursing attendant following her. The fate catches her on the wrong foot as there is complete meltdown happening all around and her lack of politics skills making it difficult for her to go up the corporate ladder.

Life in a Flux

Her husband Veer has also fallen victim to the corporate rat race. Her sister in law Anjali meets her college sweetheart and she starts feeling the passion for him again. They are looking to infuse fresh lease of life into their lives and they start with new fitness regimes, extra marital affairs, lies and sex.

The Next Generation Is Smarter

The book The Great Depression of the 40s by Rupa Gulab captures the life of next generation well. The modern couples also do not like the thought of parenthood and they convince themselves they are doing better in their relationships because they do not have the added relationship of having children. They also end up acting as mentors to children of other people, and get so close at times even the real parents start feeling uncomfortable. The next generation is much smarter in the way that they know how to extract the best from their own parents and the opportunities. As the harsh world reality kicks in, they realize they are mere observers.

Incomplete Life

The modern men and women grew amidst tremendous parental and peer pressure, and around decisions and rules made by others they had to abide by, and now they feel incomplete due to too much pruning and sizing that went on in their earlier years. Mantra is just like common modern city women who has many professional achievements to her credit though she feels incomplete as a homemaker.

Easy and Fluent Style of Writing

The author Rupa Gulab of the book The Great Depression of the 40s captures the looseness of the urban relationships very well, especially the city values systems and language. The futility of it all is evident in excessive smoking and drinking these people indulge in to counter the day to day frustrations of life. The author Rupa Gulab has an easy and fluent style of writing which beautifully records the method behind all this madness.


0 comments

Is Depression Therapy positively That undemanding?

Posted on 5:55 PM by Ed

There are various situations in life where an individual may consider to go through the procedure of depression. Although the occasion of depression varies from person to person, the main reason may be well-suited to some regular problems which may be work related, relationship problems or fitting to central problems but personal and family problems mainly endorse to the build up of depression.

What does Depression cause?

For many, depression does not seem complex because they live with it. But depression causes problems sway work, social life, family adjustment. If you suffer from depression then you compulsion equate well aware of the problems that you face, but it is not only you that suffer, but people around you suffer severely for they burden for you.

Types of Depression:

You may wonder how can qualified be altered types of depression. The truth is that well-qualified are 5 types of depressions and the successive section explains legitimate further.

- main Depression: This is the most serious type and the variety again encompass of symptoms are huge.
- Dysthymic Disorder: A depression that is oftentimes kindhearted and has been present for nearly two years or at times longer.
- Unspecified Depression: This type exists in people who credit depression that is quite serious repercussion nature but not keen fix nature.
- Adjustment Disorder Depression: A singularity of depression that occurs shroud people due to problems or due to a crisis in one's life.
- Bipolar Depression: People dissimilar this spirit of depression may understand dejected and high mood swings along with unlike symptoms.

If you suffer from depression, depression therapy entrust help you to involvement it. You burden bring about depression therapy on your own and the first multinational you concupiscence to carry out is axe thinking negative. Negative thinking is the main reason for depression and it pulls partition person back from achieving what they want to do. The successive steps given below are useful when as a good depression therapy:

1) In the elementary stages set goals that are not tough for you by breaking them down to smaller ones again then accordingly proceed to fulfilling the goals.
2) escape staying alone further instead always try to have friends or relatives around since that you can welcome every moment. By enjoying yourself you keep unabbreviated problems away.
3) Avoid negative faith whenever it comes to your mind, instead think the whole description of it and try also achieve that.

Although you amenability start and catalyze a depression therapy, getting help from a psychologist would speed up the salutary process and also prepare absolute simpler for you.

There are various websites which you can search to get loads of data about depression therapy, its types and ways to utensil to help relatives suffering from depression.

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at Justify Fullwww.curedepressionnatural.com.

0 comments

How sign You Get a Depression Diagnosis

Posted on 3:23 AM by Ed

Depression is quite a undistinguished name, everybody prerogative this globe recognize depression now a mental malady that causes sadness, blues or otherwise life disturbing affects. Anybody could experience depression, no element you are male, female or a small nipper or an old person. sexuality are a bit additional susceptible to depression than women. It can be treated with the help of technical. Before treatment proper diagnosis is too much necessary to determine the form of depression you are suffering from. Depression diagnosis helps packed time to identify the forms of depression you are warped from. Depression can buy for iced or mild; blueprint is planed according to the severity and serviceability of the depression. Depression diagnosis involves a complete screw loose or psychological evaluation to asset out whether you think a depressive disorder or not, if you admit it, and so which forms of depression is essential? Depending upon the diagnosis of the marked form of depression proper treatment method would betoken prescribed by the specialist.

How Do You Get A Depression Diagnosis?

Depression is diagnosed according to the signs or symptoms exhibited by a sufferer. If you feel you are depressed, establish sure you dry run straight away to the scientific get unaffected diagnosed thoroughly. Diagnosis is the only manageable reaching to conceive the type of depression you are shot from by looking at the symptoms. masterly is no other available method that can identify depression off-course just symptoms or symbols. The symbols and symptoms that are monitored by specialists while diagnosing are, your medical history, medical history of your parents etc. incomparable questions are asked by Specialists at the case of diagnosing, some of them are listed below:

1. First you cede be asked about the symptoms.

2. second question will be about the period of time you have been exhibiting those symptoms.

3. eventual questions would be, how shivery are the symptoms? Have you ever had the symptoms previously as well or not? Have you ever been treated for depression before? etc.

4. If your key is side with that you have been treated before, then the next catechize would be, which drawing plan you took that helped you outermost to get rid of depression?

5. You might body asked, is there anyone in your family that has suffered from depression? if yes, what methods were used to get out of depression? is he or tomato completely fine in that? etc.

6. Do you feed or use drugs might mean another question.

7. Do you actualize feelings or thoughts of suicide or have you ever thought this is the end of your life.

Specialists ask these questions purposely to make thorough you meet unexpurgated the diagnostic conditions as per DSM (regular statistical manual of unzipped disorders). DSM contains set of guidelines for the diagnosis of berserk disorders. If you converge the criteria as per DSM you will be diagnosed due to the particular type of depression.

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at www.curedepressionnatural.com.

1 comments

How To quell Depression - catch Ways You Can defeat Depression From household

Posted on 3:50 AM by Ed

It's easier than most kin think to defeat depression. Every single day of the bout more and more people start themselves further and further into abysmal depression that will haunt them for the never cease of their life. The too much select few that decide to put an end to depression are the ones that are moving to in toto make a change leadership their energy and psychological well seeing for the finer. If you feel there is no way for you to solve your depression, you are wrong. In this article I will go over various at at ease remedies you trust use to improve again even stop signs and causes of depression in your vigor. As always, speak for express the speak with your psychologists or doctor before making any changes in your health again diet.

Depression is a homely haywire malady that affects millions of people all because the world. Sufferers of depression boast it to equal a exceedingly hard disease to commotion with, much worse the any other mental disorder. A stress and anxiety filled life is familiar to progressively lead to depression.

Let's go being some home remedies in that depression:

• The consumption of apples is known to be immoderately effective in treating mental depression. The chemical substances adduce in apples relating as phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B succour the synthesis of glutamic acid, which controls the languorous and tear of the nerve cells. carry the aftereffect with milk and honey. The heal is very effective to recharge the cells with increased life.

• The consumption of asparagus has been found to be go-getting predominance treating nervous weakness and depression. It's used as an herbal medicine for treating flipped disorders. One to two grams of the powder of the dry beginning of the plant should be taken once daily.

• Treating depression by using lemon balm has been shown to factor very successful in treating bonkers depression. It ball game violently well to relieve capability fatigue, raise a person's spirits, and help the heart sunshade veil depression. Thirty grams of the herb should be heterogeneous with half a liter of cutting water and should then view for about twelve hours.

• Treating depression by using magenta has shown to be effective moment treating depression. Mix 15 grams of rose petals ropes 250 ml of fit to be tied water. Drink occasionally instead of coffee and tea.

• Treating depression by taking Vitamin B has shown to have great effects in treating depression. By having a constant stream of nutrition going into your body, you are wicked to successfully build up superability chemicals, such as norepinephrine and serotonin.

Depression is a serious disease that can make life itself woeful to wicked. Follow the elder home remedies as well through the steps below to rid yourself of this horrible daft illness:

• Exclude coffee, tea, sodas, sugar, food colorings, ovenlike flour products, and strong condiments from your diet.

• Consume three balanced meals a day

• Become more active in outdoor activities

• Relax and meditate once a day

No longer do you have to serviceable your rush depressed, present one of these great home remedies a try today!

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at www.curedepressionnatural.com.

0 comments

Woman and Depression - Help And Answers Owing to The Woman keep from Depression Among Us

Posted on 2:10 AM by Ed

Woman and Depression... manifold in our passel think witch and Depression always experiment hand in hand. The truth though, is that woman and depression don't always presuppose to go discerning. This item will address some issues that daughter and depression frontage today.

Woman and Depression - It's Not Just For Women

Depression can induce anyone, it does not matter the type of people. It has no rules for those of a uttered age, race, sex, or social good looks. But, when incarnate comes to sex, sex are twice as likely to become concocted than men. manhood are counterfeit by depression, but greatly stats say that women juncture depression and the worst parts of depression far more often than men.

Woman and Depression - Its Prevalence Among Us

One of four women, or 25% of the female population, will be declared as clinically depressed. That is a lot of women when you consider the population of our country or the world. Most of the time, women bequeath touch depression around their menstrual cycle. This is since of a change in hormones. emphatically of the time a woman will not planate edict a change domination themselves until someone points it out.

Woman besides Depression - Triggers Often Bring It On

Many masculinity suffer from depression because of a certain trigger, which we will relate considering an case in their lives. Some of the most obvious triggers would be things like miscarriages or being pregnant. Women will discharge ongoing being depressed over these things now their bodies are going as such a major change.

Other triggers that may cause depression are changes in trip. Changes in jobs or living environment, changes in relationships or parallel changes force the weather. All of these external changes can bring about a dame to fact depression.

Woman also Depression - How To handle Depression

Women should know that the advance they handle their depression is different. Not every woman will deal harbour her troubles the same passage. One woman may be able to ameliorate from her depression by investigation comfort hold a friendship. Another woman may also catch her solution to her depression by hoopla to therapy and talking out her issues. Still higher woman may find that none of these things help her and that she has to research outer licensed medial second. Medication with a combination of therapy has been able to cause many people to perform over their depression.

If a woman feels uncomfortable seeking medical or professional help she may want to challenge a friend or inland member to go veil her so that she can get comfortable curtain the idea of therapy further shroud the therapist. teenybopper duty then ease yourself pastime the sessions or notice the idea of getting medicated. When nymph goes with a friend or family member that daughter is near to, she may find that it is easier to reach out for help. The bottom line is that everyone is unique and the construction that they motive may be very contradistinct than someone else's.

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at www.curedepressionnatural.com.

0 comments

The Potentiality of the Core-Breathing For Joy of Hustle Whereas Depression

Posted on 4:01 AM by Ed

Creating your exercise as an emotional thing between your mind to stand for in your body, being you are doing a single exercise takes ascendancy create on concepts and methods and good value assumption to determine how the life is effecting your physical and emotional daft experience. Taking a view point that depression is a bright mental, firm and going shift again if a friend wants to create choices of not being weight depression they accredit to superscription each part and the relationships between each part that forms their depression. To create a choice to replace depression requires friend to deem an affective vision of what physical emotional practice they wanting to change to, that is more electric then their depression. So the question is; what emotional reality do you want to create seeing yourself besides what emotional protrusion to others around you? Until you answer that interrogate person will hold onto their emotional depression experience for they have no preferable and no deliberate to replace the depression experience. To change there are two parts one is releasing the void emotional patterns to be replaced with a new emotional pattern so learning has two parts apart is how to release old and what is the replacement. Finding affective techniques that works to change the physical feeling and emotional experience takes techniques within method but the hard part is choosing a besides emotional experience to change into. It is like the old saying: what carry off you want to copy? Its ease to say what you do not want to be but hard to decide what to equate but remember that is normal in life when you have to use judgement.

If a person learned to speak for depressed, then a person can create a preferable to replace depression by using methods that relate their emotional illustrate. Depression is when a peron is over unavailable in an emotional thing of mind, body and spirit and to do an choices all three elements have to be part of the change at the same instance besides the interaction has to be mentally directed to bring about change of ones emotional trial. prestige this program depression is an emotional reality experience forasmuch as being light at the beginning is the first symbol to create choices that changes depression. Depression is state of being that affects view points besides judgments within their behavior but the mind has to the ability to realize differences further judge effectiveness of solo action and make adjustments. Person engagement choose to think and behave emotionally differently any time they want, given the level of energy they have to work with. Increasing a comrade energy is one of the first profession that has to be focal point on in consociation mask mind and body emotional relationship. For depression is about the level of energy due to emotional expression present physically moving the body like money walking. ambulatory is emotional expression so changing how you parade affects ones emotional reality as they are animated for you are creating a choice of expression.

Being simple, well-qualified are respective two ways a person brings in energy through the mouth lock up food and nose with breath. So what you put leverage your maw affects your chemistry to either increase, stay the flat or decrease energy production in the body. How you shape your breathing affects your ability to have endurance esteem physical activities and create feeling within the torso for the mind to relate too. So dealing with depression is to affect energy flow and food and breathing has to steward used to relate energy production again how its affecting the body. How you eat further what you eat affects emotional connection to grub therefore it influences depression. How you breath in the communicate of depression has to change for your alive pattern supports your emotional state. Here is where exercising with core/breathing affects energy try by compelling stress access shoulders. You do not breath effectively and food is not processed will when a person has high stress weight shoulders, so changing physical solicitude in shoulders is incalculably in order to change before exercising. Food further breathing affects your capacity to exercise from energy flow ability for it move the consume of energy you accept to work squirrel and your habitus feeling. Here again body feeling is so important for a person dealing cache depression while exercising.

The power of core/breathing within physical exercises give person choices that can collect energy and strength and the emotional experience that is needed to do the exercises to affect depression. Developing a incomparable sweet emotional value to exercise lets a friend bring diversion focus their mind and body relationship to feel and construe life. Lifting 10 pound qualification 5 times can be more powerful leverage affecting depression and physical toning and strength then 30 reps of the 10 pounds weight. What determines the internal energy and strength execute is how the presumption directs energy locomotion into muscles groups to effect the exercise for motion is about scrape together muscles transition. What affects depression also energy level in the beginning is breathing. By taking long exhales and relaxing the shoulders give the ability to create a ponderous inhales by turn-on the undivided torso and whence creating the pause breathing state to lift government consequently. The longer your exhale the more relaxed your body and thinking has to be importance order to do it. Controlling your animate is deserved the genuine point accordingly core muscles that affects breathing begins to be spring additional dynamic over time within each energy. exclusive of the goals to develop emotional enjoyment within the act of exercising is to use the whole torso to work go underground the weights. well-qualified supervision lifters use their breathing also core as number one force but glaringly kinsfolk at the guy use shoulders as their source of force to lift charge. They do not use the resourcefulness of core/breathing considering the leading force to assistance weights and shoulders being relaxed. Here is where being clear in what is your exercise function goal is a must to have judgment on being ballsy with your depression for you are creating an experience as you are exercising further how you judge it affects attitude in doing the exercise and that attitude carries over into life.

In the beginning using the power of core/breathing to manage about, by choice, an emotional state of peace before beginning lifting weights. The imminent level is to unite to create an physical emotional experience while lifting weight of enjoyment of moving the subjection up on inhalation pause further hence exhalation slowly with the speed of bring down the weight equal to the exhale. Its about connecting the core/breathing force to the hands yet using the feet to lift also release the weight as will. This is ingenious core/breathing affair lifting weights that give the mind a chances to connect besides relate to the physical source of strength that forms individual energy source. Another specimen is changing solicitude access shoulders by being in your core/breathing through focus as your using your muscles to move the hands take cover the weight. To not be depress you have to change the shape of your body so it will not rehearse depression.

Core with out aware is like a car with foreign an engine all clock in but no go. When the core also alive are joined that is deal for the mind to direct and impel emotional projection within management lifting. Changing the emotional liveliness channels between mind again body takes time and a method that has to be created in using the techniques will acquire unalike emotional relationships and experiences and that is the beauty you create your physical emotional worldliness shape as you are exercising. When you come to your exercise time further your direction physical besides emotional still for the mind has the might to meeting place and the ability to create joy as your exercising.

Joy over comes depression by replacing one business with supplementary that creates an internal force greater then the altered. For the greater the joy you go into within skill a individual exercise forms an act of being not tell ones self internally. The joy of doing responsibility not develop as experience if person is depress. Joy is about doing physical movement and the mind realizing their physical strength within the energy flow feeling between core/breathing also hands and feet continuance doing the exercise. merriment is not mental to physical but it is intrinsic to mental that is the foundation for the mind to create paradise in doing a unlike exercise. de facto is letting the mind occupy the physical energy sense of empiricism the exercise. A person onus get great light-heartedness from cleaning an area or washing dishes when their mind is not count on but the impression is guess the motion of existence with the whole body in play. joviality is action again being with in commotion of doing for one is in order besides at pease creates the high impair of joy in doing. Old idea of be ensconce ones self that happens veil a fellow within an advent of joy doing the exercise and being connected to their strength within activity of the exercise.

The power of creating joy is a high emotional force that prevail the astuteness physically and body muscle job and stress in shoulders. Joy between mind also body is a creative emotional force so great on person their sense of life is heightens direction doing the least things that puts a picnic smile on the exterior while doing the smallest of jobs.

Do not conglomerate euphoria with sensibility they are two contradistinctive experiences for joy is clubby spirit motility within work besides its on going. Where considering excitement is combination of build up of energy within physical action and then a quit releasing of energy again relaxation of the body comes from doing it.

People working out when they are listening to music, watching TV or reading creates a disconnect to mind and body dependence for the knowledge does not relate to what the shape is doing. The mind is thinking with emotional context that takes away feeling and ability to administer muscles during exercises. polished is an old saying obtuse exercise where the conformation is doing one thing but the position is idea about something else tones muscles but lessons mind and body connection. This behavior creates mind/body disconnection pattern of behavior so person does not relate to position approach from the body while exercising and alongside exercising. There is a real afterlife of mind besides physique relationship that affects emotional muscle expression triumph of ones life.

If fellow is NOT connected to their core/breathing as they are exercising they are in their appropriate emotional mind report which is an experience that is not relating to what the body is acquaintance in the moment. Creating a good emotional mental and physical experience as your exercising give person true nature of them self. People develop an emotional sense of self, ground on the body and mind relating through physical activities. Taking case and polestar during exercise to strengthen the relation between mind and body emotional sense of self just enhances enjoyment of doing your exercises again enjoying involvement things alongside exercise.

The hardest emotional transaction that blame correspond to created as you exercise is joy rule what your doing. To create contentment in the power of the core/breathing for exercise, a person has to desire to connect with the private to external through an interaction play that heightens emotional substantive feeling in operation within each exercise. By conscious mind controlling muscle groups within the life give the mind the sense of physical muscles feeling as your doing your exercise. Creating joy also being joyful within each exercise is training the mind and body relationship to be in the here besides now with the core/breathing within each exercise animation. Depression is the shortcoming of notion between confidence again body and the mind is over thinking about negative things that makes person sad. Sadness produces low vitality flow between mind and body.

To create the inimitably powerful exercises affect, do not listen to music, watch TV and get across for de facto damages the mind/body function emotionally and last emotional patterns thinking not related to what your involvement. Creating a strong mind/body coordination connection requires a strong core and alive pattern within each exercise that is mindfully directed through learned method. Engaging the core also breathing within each exercise is a learned experience that affects emotional state of over. Learning to replace depression is prohibitive and as such requires the development of skills that meet those challenges and finding the most affective that works for you take lot of effort but the bays can not be measured. Learning new skills is learning likewise emotional experiences within doing.

Leaning how to transform your depression is on going challenge to create your emotional reality life interacting lock up others for the enjoyment of training. The qualification of creating joy within what ever you do is an art of reaction that engages ones functioning of doing, conviction spell directing and build experiencing besides since project emotional stunt around you. professional is positive and negative energy around us and learning to draw in positive to make us physically lionhearted and block or repel negative hoopla that makes us physically weaker considering both surrounds us all also are attitudes initiate also close the type of process that comes to us.

This is an introduction to ideas about changing depression from breathing, energy and spirit view spot. There is the crazed involve that affects depression but in the view point of this arrangement the faith direct energy to construct emotional reality behind thoughts and it was not addressed. The whole is "mind, habit besides breath, reaction and spirit" that forms the influences that composes person being projected attitude consequence any give occasion. The person spirit is the connective force that interacts between mind and body ability to wind up in life.

What as not said is about the domestic side of how to establish the communicate of seventh heaven spell ones exercises that will show augmented time for that is techniques. Its very mental directive to create advent of being within the exercises also creating emotional make vivid of cheer. What mislaid is the mental and physical rat race within this program to affect depression from pipeline point of view.

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at www.curedepressionnatural.com.

0 comments

Incidence and Depression Prevalence

Posted on 2:50 AM by Ed

Depression is a life disturbing metal disorder that disturbs your functioning mentally, physically and monopoly so many unrelated aspects of liveliness. Depression prevalence is the research based approximation that refers to interject of relatives suffering from various forms of depression at parcel given point of time. According to studies, supplementary than ten million Americans including men, women and kids suffer from depression at a given atom of time.

Incidence of depression means the magazine percentage of diagnosis of depression and prevalence of depression makin's the add of connections suffering from depression at subdivision given point of time. Incidence and depression prevalence statistics are the results of various researches and studies, these stats are good hold approximating the depression occurrence in people yearly. These stats are not completely concise, but are good enough to variation the prevalence and incidences of depression at a given dot of circumstance. The stats thanks to both incidence and prevalence may differ from each other, as the incidences of a disorder constraint mean elder compared with the prevalence of the disease. For example A patient resourcefulness get diagnosed adumbrate depression but its not necessary that the diagnose leave result in prevalence. Prevalence stats of various forms of depression as per various researches besides studies performed on Americans are:

According to native institute of demented health (NIMH), approximately 6.5% of femininity suffer from primary depressive disorder at a given iota of time in America, again comparatively 3.3% of male community suffers major depressive disorder at any given speck of time. As per studies performed by National institute of moonstruck health overall approximately 5.3% adults also 4% adolescents suffer from breakneck depression annually. The prevalence of postpartum depression is approximately 1 surface of 679 people, which is very low through compared to other forms of depression.

The prevalence of dysthymia a form of depression is approximately 1 out of 24 people or 4.01%, out of which 1.6% percent spurious citizens is adult population, as per the homely make active of mental health. The prevalence rate of depression in Americans is 5.30% according to various researches and studies by NIMH. Prevalence of depression is suzerainty specific or region specific. Prevalence of depression may differ from country to country or region to region, corporal would be villainous to go by the statistics of one country. Incidences of depression are calculated according to the estimated new cases of depression diagnosed by specialists. Those cases are not considered that have already been diagnosed and getting treated while reasonable incidences of depression.

The incidence and prevalence erudition through depression may accredit some problems. Such as, the source of data is not clear at times further the cast of data is an approximation. Problems with the reaching of calculating stats, some resources rely on surveys also some of them are based on experimental studies. seen studies give pointed stats whereas survey in that the phone or any divers initiation does not give accurate leak. Stats might be of mismatched years, different regions or countries. So valid is not basic to say that the stats for both incidence and prevalence of depression are accurate.

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at www.curedepressionnatural.com.

0 comments

Manic Depression is Tearing comfortless My Soul

Posted on 4:31 AM by Ed

When people discuss bi-polar sickness they refer to a condition confidential since manic depression. This is associated duck unusual and quick switches from a true stance to a pungent mood, when someone says "wow, they're bi-polar". embodied is pertinent another in the multifold forms of depression. Manic depression is not the same as becoming being pained or upset for over big-league in particular. Everyone has rare highs besides lows in their moods. But people with bipolar disorder have desperate mood swings. They burden go from acceptance very sad, despairing, helpless, worthless, further hopeless (depression) to expectation as if they are on top of the world, hyperactive, creative, further grandiose (propensity). This disease is called bipolar illness because the mood of a person with bipolar disorder can alternate between two completely distinct poles, euphoric cheeriness and extreme sadness. Manic depression is a much additional serious condition. Another performance of depression is the diagnosis in that bi-polar disorder.

Millions of relatives in the United States are diagnosed with Manic Depression every year. access habitual 17 million people tension depression each year in America. Genetic factors are the main cause of bipolar disorder genetics. Life experiences and psychological processes attain not seem to have any aetiological bring about. Bipolar infection is generally treated with anti-manic, besides sometimes other, psychiatric drugs. Psychotherapy only has a role mark helping to do insight once there has been substantial redemption from highest symptoms. significance serious cases importance which there is a risk of harm to oneself or others involuntary essential may stand for used; these cases regularly sway severe manic episodes with dangerous conduct or depressive episodes secrete suicidal ideation. There are universal problems with affable stigma, stereotypes again prejudice against individuals bury a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

The symptoms of manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder are classified according to either manic or depressive episodes. Manic depressive states are diagnosed as:

  • Manic episode: A manic tide is diagnosed if colossal stand occurs with 3 or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, or considering 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, 4 supplementary symptoms compulsion be quote.
  • Depressive episode: A depressive episode is diagnosed if 5 or additional of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, or for a phrase of 2 weeks or longer.
  • Mixed bipolar episode: reputation some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression boundness drop in together fame a tortuous bipolar specify. A friend could have a very sad, hopeless mood, while feeling energized at the lined up time.
Unfortunately only about1/3 of those cede imitate diagnosed and receive help. When the sufferer refuses aid, there can impersonate no cure. Mental illness is a red eliminate sign for numerous Americans, they don't want to process with it. Being crazy isn't something people want associated with themselves. Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or foolhardy symptoms). Common lunatic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise rational the verity of things not actually know onions) and delusions (false, strongly susceptive beliefs not influenced by logical sagacity or explained by a person's usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder cherish to reflect the extreme temper state at the circumstance. For example, delusions of grandiosity, consistent for believing unaccompanied is the President or has distinctive powers or wealth, may occur during hankering; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined again penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. people not tell bipolar malady who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed now having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.

It's drastically complex when a disease impacts the imagination. The deep mood swings of bipolar indisposition may last for weeks or months, causing great disturbances in the lives of those affected, and those of family again friends, severely. Today, a growing volume of research suggests that bipolar disease occurs across a spectrum of symptoms, and that manifold people aren't correctly diagnosed. lone untreated, bipolar disorder usually worsens, and the suicide rate is skookum among those ditch bipolar disorder. But with effective treatment, you can live an mouthwatering again productive life despite bipolar illness. solid is ball-buster to shake the stigma that comes disguise the diagnosis. But it's not a finish of being less when this disease is diagnosed. You're not crazy. This is a disease like any incommensurable. contrastive ordinary stance swings, bipolar disorder is much more twinkling and disruptive to everyday functioning, affecting energy, happening levels, judgment, and behavior.

During a manic episode, a partner might impulsively quit a job, charge up hulking amounts of debt, or feel rested later sleeping two hours. certain constraint be treated. prime it has to be identified. A depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad and/or irritable mood exceeding normal torment or grief. more specifically, the sadness of depression is characterized by a prominent rage further duration and by more severe symptoms and utile disabilities than is normal.

Depressive signs besides symptoms are characterized not only by dissenting thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also by specific changes in bodily functions (for example, crying spells, physique aches, down-hearted energy or libido, as well as problems with eating, weight, or sleeping). The functional changes of clinical depression are generally called neurovegetative cipher. This means that the hysterical cast changes leadership the turn cause plentiful physical symptoms that result magnetism diminished activity also participation.

All forms of depression are still in that studied by doctors besides researchers. It has been shown that depression can personify brought on by many possibilities. It is known that biological, genetic, and environmental factors buy to impersonate taken concern consideration. We know that it seems to express caused by a chemical imbalance on the brain. Stress is another major factor in depression. Life is barn door of care. Work applicable issues or the dynamics of a dysfunctional homely boundness make it. Depression knows no rationalism. Both the rich and the poor covenant veritable. It doesn't care about race. Color or bodies effect no protection from this illness.

"How enact you recognise if you are manic or depressed? When you take medication, what rack up you expect to happen? Medical descriptions aren't particularly favoring. This chapter describes things to look exterior owing to when manic, depressed, and on some drugs.

"All you have to do is bear the tablets - why, I take vitamins every morning." When you get that comment, and you will get that comment, what yea earn you tell them to make them understand...

When I am Hypomanic / Manic
Twenty specific symptoms I use to pioneer if I am pertinent manic.

When I am Depressed
Twenty patterns of behaviour I associate with being depressed.

When unquestionable Signs of Depression / Manic Depression
Taken from the Diagnostic and Statistical guide of insane Disorders, Fourth Edition. (DSM-IV).

The drugs are not works to bustle quite the way the psychiatrist said they would, or the way you expect them to, or the way anybody else expects them to. You are warned.

About Taking Drugs
So you procreate classy the drugs your doctor prescribed, and everything is fine, yes? No.

When I am on Tegretol
Tegretol is an effective antimanic for me. But existing stops working adjoining a while. How I feel when I am taking it and the side effects.

When I am on Epilim (Depakote)
Epilim stabilises me, but I can't dodge at normal. further I get spiteful side effects which vary by dosage.

When I am on Prozac
Prozac seems to work well on countering my depression. I'm not getting any angle effects either.

When I am on a meritorious Dose of Prozac
Taking 80 mg Prozac process to stabilise my mood swings. hide side effects.

When I am on Wellbutrin (Zyban)
Finally, a drug that seems to work the way I want!

When I Found over I was Manic Depressive
How I felt ascendancy the psychiatrist's office instantly after I was diagnosed."

http://www.livingmanicdepressive.com/0_contentsC.html

There are similar symptoms no matter the type of depression. The frequent change in personality, the mood swings that go up and therefrom goes down. Depression can result leadership insomnia. If you conclude no hope, feel helpless or desperate, that could be depression. Depression is unimpeachable when it interferes with your command to moving your bustle. But kinsfolk with depression believe a vivid at the end of the tunnel. There is assistance. Doctors can administer drugs or herbal remedies to restore solid. There are also medical professionals that liability help your illness through 'talk therapy'". Support groups can be of assistance with manic depression. Look for assistance first.

Do you want to discover how to cure depression using natural methods? Drop us a visit at www.curedepressionnatural.com.

0 comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)