Five Ways to Be Positive When You Know Your Life Sucks

Thinking negative all the time will make you feel worse, and brings you nothing but more problems into your life. Here are some Tips and strategies to help you stay positive. 

1-     Be Grateful - Being grateful is one of the best ways for building self-esteem. It is easy to be happy when we are grateful for what you have. The person who is grateful sees the whole world differently. It helps you find inner peace of life. You will realize that life is beautiful and therefore, you will be happy. It will help you stay positive.

2-     Yoga - Yoga is known to be very effective in developing positive thoughts. It is known as best exercise that keeps you fits physically as well as mentally and has been practiced for centuries. It is not only known as best form of exercise but also helps you in spiritual growth. Yoga helps you cultivate a positive relationship with your mind through postures, breathing techniques and meditation which strengthen your mind and body. Yoga develops Positive body awareness, concentration, patience, problem solving skills and improves your self confidence. So, definitely it is the best way to stay positive when Life sucks.

3-     Keep reading Funny Life Quotes - If you keep reading funny life quotes and sayings, it will help you beat the stress of your life. It makes you laugh throughout the day. You can go to thousand of websites on internet and read them. After all, Life is for fun and what could be better way then funny life quotes to realize you that life is for living and not for destroying. This is another way to stay positive when you know your life sucks.

4-     Resolve, why you think your Life Sucks - You are sayings that your Life sucks. But do you know the reason? If not, then probably you need to find out the exact reason. Is it because of Money? Is it because of health or Is it because of love problem? Know your exact problem and make a step-by-step clear plan to solve your problems. Make a few goals which can be reachable and commit yourself to achieve them.

5-     Talk with your friends - Friends are our best support. They help us in the time when we need them. When we are stressed, they become our sounding board. When we are sad they make us laugh with their funny sayings and jokes. When we are happy, we want to be with our friends to share our joy. They help us in every aspect of our life. Talking with your friends will encourage you and make you fell happy and positive when it feels like your life sucks.

6 Reasons For Consulting With Your Doctor Before Taking St. John's Wort

I was first diagnosed as having clinical depression ten years ago by a marriage counselor who recognized that I had reached a psychological state in which I felt that "things were getting steadily worse" and that I no longer enjoyed activities that I used to like to do. I was also having fits of temper which seemingly came out of nowhere and had problems with sleeping and memory loss.

The counselor sent me to a psychiatrist who immediately recognized the symptoms of clinical depression. He prescribed Prozac.

"You'll have to take this for at least a couple of weeks before you see any results," he cautioned.

I was thankful for his cautionary advice - and not so thankful for the fact that he failed to tell me about the side effects of Prozac. While I began to feel more "peaceful", my sexual libido instantaneously dropped to zero.

My wife "wanted her husband back". Yes, somehow he had disappeared, to be replaced by a kind of detached Buddha with no sexual interest whatsoever.

I began to despair. Wasn't there a single antidepressant out there that didn't have moderate to serious side effects connected with it? I began to ask around, and a friend introduced me to St. John's Wort.

I noticed an immediate effect. My mental outlook drastically improved. I began to enjoy life again, and my fits of anger disappeared. And best of all, there were no side effects.

None that I could detect anyway.

Was this the panacea for depression, I wondered? The magical cure everyone could take without fear?

It has seemed that way for awhile...

SEROTONIN AND THE CHEMICAL SYNAPSE

Clinical depression has been traditionally attributed to a depletion of serotonin in the cells responsible for neural transmission, known as chemical synapses. These are gaps across which neurons signal each other, a process that involves serotonin, one of the three monoamine neurotransmitters in the nervous system. Neurotransmitters are synthesized by the presynaptic neural cell (the one that precedes the gap) to communicate with the post synaptic cell (which follows the gap).

It follows that once the neurotransmitter has been synthesized and accomplished its task of communication; it needs to be absorbed so that it won't go on stimulating the postsynaptic cell. This absorption is known as "uptake" or "reuptake".

Three types of monoamine neurotransmitters have been identified: norepinephrine NE, dopamine DA, and serotonin 5- HT. A drop in the level of serotonin was usually identified with clinical depression and is caused by abnormal uptake. Recent research has been showing that the cause of depression may be considerably more complicated, involving the other neurotransmitters, hormones and the immune system.

Serotonin levels have been traditionally enhanced by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) such as Prozac.

MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SSRI'S?

For the past several years depression sufferers and the mainstream medical community have increasingly recognized that St. John's Wort is effective in treating clinical depression.

Until recently, nobody knew how it worked.

In a recent study, St John's Wort has been shown to influence serotonin and noradrenaline in the forebrain of the limbic brain circuits, an area that controls mood. Researchers in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Frankfurt in Germany have observed that St. John's Wort increases the effectiveness of norepinephrine, dopamine, L-glutamate, and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), as well as serotonin; in other words, it has a "broad uptake profile".

In short, it may be more effective than the SSRI's.

REASON #1: SIDE EFFECTS - I THOUGHT IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY!

In double-blind studies, research in Missouri has shown that of the 43 people taking St. John's Wort, 84 per cent reported an improved mood, while 47 percent reported SSRI type side effects, such as

o mental confusion

o nausea

o cardiovascular and motor abnormalities

o food-drug interactions

o withdrawal symptoms

o depressive relapse

Of the twelve percent who discontinued use, 13 people experienced withdrawal symptoms, and 1 reported to the Emergency Room

REASON #2: SEROTONIN OVERLOAD

In addition, taking St. John's Wort concurrently with one of the SSRI's may result in a serotonin overload.

REASON #3: CONCURRENT DRUG LEVELS CAN BECOME DANGEROUSLY HIGH

Taking it with other drugs can reduce the drugs' effectiveness. St. John's Wort has been shown to activate a set of enzymes in the liver which is used to break down many substances.

One should not suddenly stop St. John's Wort if it is being taken with other drugs, because the drug level in the bloodstream can become dangerously elevated. The herb and the drug need to be carefully adjusted and balanced with the help of your physician.

REASON #4: SKIN SENSITIVITY

It has long been known that skin sensitivity to sunlight is a side effect of St. John's Wort. Just be careful about sun exposure. Use a lot of sun block, a hat, and a long sleeved shirt while in the sun.

REASON #5: MANIA AND BI POLAR SYNDROME

St John's Wort has been shown to trigger mania in people with bi-polar syndrome, and can result in psychosis, according to a recent study by researchers in Amsterdam.

REASON #6: PREGNANCY

So far no studies have been made to determine the effect of St. John's Wort on pregnancy. Until studies have been made, it seems only wise to avoid taking the herb during pregnancy.

THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BOTTOM LINE

The good news is that double-blind clinical studies have definitely established St. John's Wort as effective in alleviating mild to moderate clinical depression, and the side effects, for those who do experience them, are similar to SSRI's. Drastic side effects are experienced only in a very small number of cases.

The bottom line is that it's probably best to consult with your physician before taking St. John's Wort, especially if you are taking other drugs. With the herb's new found credibility, your doctor will take it seriously and be more than happy to advise you and monitor your usage of St. John's Wort.

Where Are The Emerging Growth Opportunities?

This is the fourth article in the Riding the Recession series. It aims to provide you with some food for thought regarding potential emerging market segments and opportunities, as we approach the new year facing a market that is less robust than it was 12 months ago.

Before we get into that, I'd like to make a point about 'less robust' markets and opportunities that can come out of them, even back in the Great Depression of the 1930s.

It was during the '30s that Australia's commercial airline industry really took off (pardon the pun) after the growth in the airline industry resulting from World War I. The commercial industry started with the transportation of mail and then developed into passenger flights. During this time the fledgling industry was dominated by a small number of determined entrepreneurs, who were able to raise the funding they needed to back their respective airlines. There was plenty of funding available during a time when the world was gripped by a fierce depression.

Point 2, on the other side of the world in New York. What happened in New York in the '30s? It was during this time that New York's architectural design and construction focused on display of great wealth and the goal of erecting the tallest building. These buildings were all built in the 1930s and reflect the commercial success of their namesakes and the industries they grew (prior to the '30s): Rockefeller Plaza, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, General Electric Tower, Lincoln Building, RCA Building, Time & Life Building, and Waldorf Astoria Hotel, amongst many others.

Here are a couple of quotes from a book by Samuel Fuller called 'New York in the 1930s', just to set the scene:

"Manhattan may have had bread lines during the Depression years, but it rivaled Paris when it came to restaurants, good times and entertainment in general. Above all, there were the nightclubs on Upper Broadway, where you could hear groups like the Chick Webb Band, Benny Goodman and his musicians, and a skinny newcomer named Frank Sinatra. There was The Big Apple, a Harlem nightclub on Seventh Avenue where Billie Holiday sang in 1936, and of course the famous Cotton Club,"

"Black Harlem created a whole new industry out of entertainment that catered mainly to the white population of Manhattan. The atmosphere of Harlem was like ancient Rome; it was a neighborhood that lived by night, and was reputed to have over one hundred nightclubs...."

My point is: there's always plenty of money and funding for all sorts of ventures, technology is a catalyst for development and growth of new segments, and new industries or market segments arise when market conditions change, such as the entertainment industry in NYC in the '30s.

What are the trends driving our economy today, where there cold be new opportunities for all sorts of businesses?

• Global climate initiatives
  
  • Generate growth in the engineering sector & Government related infrastructure projects
  
  
  • Specialist consulting firms can grow in this space through advising on related issues (and that provides very broad scope)
  
  
  • Suppliers of water saving, electricity saving products
  
  
  • Suppliers of water-resistant landscaping and garden services


• Organic products and produce
  
  • Food growers
  
  
  • Skin care; bath, body, beauty product producers
  
  
  • Baby products
  
  
  • Contract manufacturer opportunities


• Pet industry - Still growing at a huge rate both here and overseas and covers a multitude grooming products, accessories, special foods and supplements, toys....


• Consulting in specialist areas
  
  • Sales consulting and services related to more effective selling activities
  
  
  • Business advice and consulting that focuses on smarter & more efficient practices


• Technology
  
  • Consulting to achieve efficiencies and replace headcount/manual operations
  
  
  • Products and services that do the same


• Aged Care services
  
  • Accommodation
  
  
  • Home help
  
  
  • Medical/nursing support services
  
  
  • Specialist medical practitioners

This is just to start you thinking. Look at your existing market with new questions:

• What has changed in my market?


• Will my revenue and growth come from the same market or a new one?


• Do I need to reposition my business (refer last newsletter for more...)


• How do I match my skills and experience to new market niches?

Once you start brainstorming, especially if you do it with other people, you'll generate plenty of ideas to kick start your strategic planning for the next year!

What Is A Bull Stock Market And Bear Stock Market?

Unless you are involved in the stock market, or understand the jargon you may not understand what the term bull market or a bear market means. Stock prices are reflected in what is known as the financial market trends. These trends can best be demonstrated in a price chart and the purpose is to pick the best investment and trading opportunities. You may ask what drives these trends. Buyers and sellers are the driving factor, they are also known as the bulls and the bears.

When we say that it is a bull or bear stock market we are talking about the driving force behind the market. The bulls are the buyers so that would make the sellers the bears. Incidentally when we use the term bull or bear we could also be talking about specific securities and sectors.

A bull market is a market that is associated with investor confidence. As a result of this increase in confidence investors are more likely buy in anticipation of making a capital gain. The most memorable and longest running bull market was seen in the 1990s. This was the time when the U.S. and other global markets saw their fastest growth spurt ever.

Just to recap, in a bull stock market the investors are buying. They are looking for more ways to increase their capital gains. So then if it is a bear market, the opposite would be true. Investors will be more pessimistic about buying and are more inclined to sell their stocks to cut their losses. A bear stock market does not come about from a small decline, but a considerable drop in prices over a prolonged period of time. From 1930 to 1932 was probably the most infamous bear market in history. This bear market was the beginning of the Great Depression. There was a much less severe bear market from 1967 - 1983, which included the energy crises of the 1970s and the unemployment surge in the 1980s.

As we already stated a bear stock market does not come about as a result of a small dip in stock prices, it indicates sizable fall in prices over a prolonged period of time. It is most commonly accepted that in order for the stock market it to be considered a bear market there has to be a price fall of at least 20% in a key stock market index from a recent peak that happens over at least two months.

To summarize a bull stock market has investor looking to buy to increase their capital gains. They will be seeking out the best investment opportunities. A bear stock market has these same investors looking to sell their stocks so they can minimize their losses. Historically the U.S. has been a bull market. That is one of the factors why we have been considered the land of opportunity.

What Are The Chances That Chronic Depression Leads To Schizophrenia?

Chronic depression is one type of depression that lasts for years and tends to recur after some time. Some call it "being in and out of depression". It usually starts as a mild case of depression where feelings of sadness are very minimal. The symptoms become more severe after some time, though, and that's when one realizes that he or she has been in a state of depression for a while.

Risk Factors

Chronic depression can happen to anyone, but some people appear to have a greater or higher tendency of developing it:

• Women, possibly due to hormonal changes


• Victims of child abuse


• Sufferers of a chronic illness, such as cancer


• Individuals with familial history of depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder

Although there is yet a more severe form of depression, the chronic type of depression needs to be dealt with accordingly. The consequences or symptoms of this form of depression can be threatening to your physical, emotional, and mental health. Specifically, depression of this nature can cause or manifest in the following symptoms:

• Sleeping disorders. Not being able to sleep well or oversleeping may occur with chronic depression.


• Poor nutrition. Some individuals with depression may lose the interest to eat while others may resort to eating excessively. Not making wise food choices may also come with depression.


• Low libido. Depression can make one lose interest on sex, too.


• Low energy. Energy levels can dip so low when you are suffering from depression.


• Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

Perhaps, one of the worst things that can occur with chronic depression is schizophrenia. A form of mental disorder, schizophrenia is characterized by:

• Hearing voices other people cannot hear


• Paranoia


• Hallucination or the inability to identify reality from things imagined

Chances of schizophrenia developing is very high to people who are not getting the right treatment, who refuse treatment, who stop getting treatment against doctor's advice, who smoke and who take illegal drugs like marijuana.

Preventing Chronic Depression

Well, prevention is always better than cure, is it not? Although there are risk factors for depression, there are preventive measures that reduce the likelihood of it happening. Here are a few of them:

• Take vitamin supplements especially Vitamin B complex, and Vitamin C. Here are some reasons why:


• Vitamin B1 or Thiamine converts glucose into useful energy.


• Vitamin B3 more popularly known as Niacin detoxifies the body and helps boost body metabolism. Not having enough supply of this B vitamin can result to fatigue, physical and mental, and may result to schizophrenia.


• Vitamin B5 otherwise known as Pantothenic Acid is necessary in hormone-production. Hormones as we all know affect our stress levels and cause a variety of physical and mental changes.


• Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine is a mood-regulator. It also strengthens the immune system.


• Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid has an important role in the synthesis of DNA. Apparently it is recommended not only for pregnant women but also for everyone, with or without tendency to develop depression.


• Vitamin B12 is Cobalamin. This B-vitamin is necessary in red blood cell formation and in the prevention of anemia. Untreated anemia can complicate into mood swings and mental disturbances.


• Vitamin C in the form of Ascorbic Acid is needed to produce serotonin, the chemical in the brain that affects mood.


• Eat right. Getting the right nourishment is necessary to be in the right state of mind. Avoid processed foods and all forms of toxins, if possible. Feast, instead, on raw vegetables, fruits, and fish. Foods that are high in B-vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids are foods your brain needs the most.


• Exercise. Make time to exercise daily. Exercise regulates mood and balances the levels of your stress hormones.


• Avoid all forms of vices, especially smoking and substance abuse. Smoking and drug abuse affect oxygen levels in your brain, killing your brain cells.

With these preventive measures, you may be able to ward off chronic depression and/or keep it from progressing into schizophrenia.

Superb Advice To Locate The Best Anti Snoring Device For Your Health

No matter who you are or where you are from nearly everybody was troubled by loud snoring at some stage in their lifespan. Unfortunately, the number one clinical dysfunction which causes the break down of personal relationships is snoring. It is common knowledge that Obstructive Sleep Apnea causes several medical conditions. Nevertheless, snoring is the main warning of the dysfunction therefore it isn't going to go undetected. Loud snoring is additionally linked to clinical depression which will in many circumstances might be debilitating if the sufferer is unable to get help. There are a variety of demands these days, especially because of the present economic situation which has made many to feel depressed. Fortunately, a problem like loud snoring can be treated and give you one less reason to feel depressed.

If you wish to comprehend the way to address a health related problem, the first thing you'll want to do is recognize it is origins. All of your muscles in your body relax whilst you are resting. However, for people who snore at night the muscles within the respiratory tract turn out to be extremely relaxed. This leads to deficiencies in muscular rigidity as well as a collapsed airway. As the fresh air struggles to pass into the lungs through the small space it generates a noisy vibration. Aside from having a less than comfortable sleep, snoring is also linked with issues for example irritability, obesity, heart problems, and depressive disorders. Snoring caused by a nasal blockage could be helped by sinus strips that pull the nostrils away from each other. Although if the obstruction is brought on by a blockage within the air passage a snoring mouthpiece will probably be far more suitable. When you have a serious case of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and really are a really loud snorer wearing a CPAP machine may help you. Essentially it is a device that forces high pressure air into your lungs. Numerous individuals don't like making use of these devices because of complaints like dry mouth, as well as the loud noise the appliances make.

Different stop snoring appliances are a lot more appropriate for specific people depending upon their needs. Have a physician look into the origin of the snoring condition to find out what kind of stop snoring product you will need.It really is a good idea to know the distinction in between stop snoring mouthpieces, chin straps, and anti-snoring pillows. Out of these 3 options, mouthpieces are the most popular selling product. If you are interested in learning more about this there are many snoring mouthpiece reviews available online. Each one of those products and solutions serves exactly the same purpose but functions in a distinct way.

If you are over weight and have extra fat near your throat area, this can considerably be making your snoring problem even worse. Excessive weight does not just have an effect on your physical characteristics, it can affect each organ in your body and cause you to snore. Not only will it cause you to snore a lot more, it could also contribute to diabetes and heart illness also. A proper diet with exercise can literally be a life-saver. By slimming down you are going to not only reduce your snoring, but you'll also reduce the danger you will be afflicted by weight related health problems or diabetic issues.

Nasal blockage problems will certainly make breathing difficult, as a result you start breathing through the mouth causing additional problems like chapped lips and xerostomia. Snoring is related to many distinct disorders and difficulties that can easily be prevented.

In case your snoring is triggered due to OSA then over-the-counter treatments won't help to reduce your symptoms.One particular exciting snoring product is actually a pajama shirt that makes you sleep in your side to prevent you from snoring. Nonetheless, the most typical products are stop snoring mouthpieces which are related to athletic mouthguards. CPAP machines are the only anti snoring product that makes use of an electric instrument as a way to drive pressurized oxygen into your lungs. Only a licensed doctor may possibly prescribe you a BiPAP or CPAP that will help eliminate your snoring. If you are not able to visit a doctor you will to end up with using otc strategies, or home treatments till you can go to a medical doctor.

Depression And Unsuccessful Marriage - Resolve It To Enjoy Being Loved!

Depression is an innocent but serious illness that steps into one's life silently. There are many social as well as personal causes of depression but here we are going to discuss one of the most important causes - A stressful Marriage. A marriage is the complete spiritual, mental and physical attachment of two individuals. It gives an ecstatic feeling when you are enjoying a happy married life but if the marriage is not working, it turns into a stressor, and a burden to life and both the partners get trapped into severe depression which affects each part of life, personal as well as professional.

A stressful marriage is found to be the major cause among females. For whatever the reason, if one partner is having constant depression, other partner can't be left spared from this evil. And if fortunately the depression is overcome, it is likely to relapse if he or she has an unsatisfying marriage. A marital depression can have its root from the negative behavior of the depressed partner. It is very common and natural among couples that if one partner is depressed, it will add even more stress to the other partner. There may be many things as the root cause of marital distress, like lack of intimacy. Who doesn't desire or need intimacy in married life? Intimacy lets the couple understand each other better intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually without fear of criticism, judgment or rejection. Lack of intimacy may kill a married life and it will struggle even to survive.

Reasons like, parenting, financial stress, unsettled issues & anger, and lack of liberty & forgiveness can allow this silent killer to enter into one's life. Although both the genders are equally susceptible to depression but women are twice as likely to suffer as men are. Surveys have revealed the fact that one out of every four women experiences at least one depressive episode in their lifetime. Studies have given way to another fact that depression can be both the cause and the effect of unsuccessful marriage. Depression can cause a partner otherwise happy to perceive ignored and think negative about his partner.

There are numerous life events that can cause depression but if the partners have mutual understanding and loving relation, together they tend to deal with all the depression causing life events. Here are some symptoms of depression which can help you diagnose this evil.

• Gradual change in behavior, irritating nature


• Unable to tolerate even little noise or laughter.


• Sleep Sickness


• Love to remain isolated and silent


• Lost desire for sex


• Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness


• Lost charm of life, suicidal thoughts

Your married life is an important part or better said the most important part to keep all other do's of life perfect. Here are some tips to steer clear of depression and make your married life healthy and happy.

• Enjoy a healthy lifestyle with lively thoughts, well balanced diet and regular work out. .


• Learn to create balance in your life by saying NO to overload or extra responsibilities.


• Share your feelings with your spouse or close friend. You will feel relaxed after letting lose the burden.


• Educate yourself and your partner about depression. Being aware about the signs, symptoms and causes leaves a great impact on the issue and keeps you away from depression and its negative consequences.


• Never let the issues or marital problems unresolved. Solve them immediately as they arise to avoid future blast.


• Take out sufficient time for your partner and do something you both really enjoy.


• Believe in yourself, your partner and God. Emotions and Lord the prime strength and protector of your married life.

Bipolar Disorder - The First Steps to Managing It

Bipolar disorder, you have just been diagnosed with it. So what do you need to know about it? The short answer is that you best learn as much as you can about it. You should know all about a depressive disorder. You would also need to know what a manic episode involves. Indeed, knowledge of a hypomanic episode would be extremely useful. There are very good reasons this knowledge is essential. If you wish to manage bipolar disorder this level of knowledge is a key to achieving that objective.

Knowledge you gain about bipolar disorder enables you to learn to manage the disorder. By managing your disorder you give yourself the best possible odds for regaining control of your life. Normally this disorder goes in cycles. By this I mean that each person has a regular pattern they follow for each of their cycles. For instance take a person with bipolar type 1. A common pattern for this is hypomanic episode - manic episode - depressive episode. This is frequently followed by a period of stability.

A hypomanic episode can be treated far easier than an episode of mania. This being said there is often a danger in respect of hypomania. The danger is simply this. Many people find that the pluses of a hypomanic episode outweigh the minuses. The result is that they fail to acknowledge that a hypomanic is being experienced. Another possibility is that they fail to seek treatment for the hypomania. The unfortunate result is that a manic episode arrives. These are far harder to treat than hypomanic episodes.

The good old saying "What goes up must come down" certainly applies in respect of an episode of mania. Often these are followed by a depressive disorder. Bipolar type 2 and cyclothymaic's disorder do not normally lead to mania. However, it is very likely that a depressive disorder will follow hypomania. For a person with bipolar, type 2 the depression can last for a very long time. This can be months, or even longer.

In my experience recovering from depression often only occurs when the afflicted person tries to make it happen. By this I mean that they must want to recover and make a strong personal effort to ensure that they do. Remember, not all people cycle from mania to depression. By learning about the disorder the afflicted person (or their friends and lovers) can recognize any bipolar episode at the earliest possible moment. For some people their cycle starts with a depressive disorder.

Whichever order their cycle runs seeking professional help is a must. This should be done at the first moment you suspect that a bipolar episode is being experienced. This gives the best possible chance of managing the disorder. In turn the best chance of regaining control of the afflicted person's life is experienced.

The Process of Buying Life Insurance

Whenever you are going to buy a life insurance policy for your family; you must be aware of the process involved in buying them. There may be requirements of various documents, proof of identity, proof of income and bank statements. In order to work out with an agent for buying life insurance, you must understand all of these factors and act accordingly.

The process of buying insurance involves intensive paper work and it may take weeks to get the policy at your doorstep. At many companies, face-to-face paramedical tests and examinations are required. In order to carry out the test, urine and blood samples are submitted at the mentioned labs.

There are numerous questions which will be asked during the assessment such as: health condition of family members, reasons for buying the policy, intended travel destinations, and heart and cancer history of family members. You will also be asked if you have been taking medicine for anxiety and depression.

Sometimes, the information you provide in the documents are also verified such as: your permanent address, contact details, birth date details, account details such as bank account number and name of you bank. The information is verified to check if the person is who they say they are.

The agency which you will buy the policy from will likely give your medical reports to the Medical Information Bureau which is responsible for keeping the details of the person who have applied for the insurance policies. This is the way they can track the medical details of the insured persons. The main aim of the bureau is to minimize scams and frauds. There are a lot of agents available around you and you can talk to them about various procedures and documents involved into buying life insurance. You have to be patient to get your policy.

The Importance of Identifying Manic Depression Symptoms

Manic depression or bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that affects many people around the world. This condition affects not just the life of the person suffering from such a condition, but the lives of the people that surrounds him/her as well. An individual with bipolar disorder loses interest in the things he/she gets joy from and are often unable to do his/her daily activities. The good news is that, today, this condition can be controlled through treatments or medications. The success of treatments for such disorders, however, depends largely on early diagnosis of this condition. This process involves identifying manic depression symptoms exhibited by the individual thought to be suffering from such disorder.

While early detection of the condition plays a major role in keeping the condition from getting worse and in helping the person who is suffering from the illness have a normal life, it is crucial to know the signs and symptoms of manic disorder. Although the degree of depression symptoms exhibited by the person depend largely on his/her personality, the common symptoms include mood swings and shifts in activity levels. These mood swings usually last for months, causing trouble to the lives of the people that surround the person with manic disorder as well. These mood swings or alternating pattern of level of emotions vary depending on the stage of his/her condition and his mental phase. Although there is no single cause of this condition has been identified yet, studies suggest this illness can be triggered by external or environmental factors, such as career, family or work issues or problems; or internal or genetic factors.

When the person suffering from such condition experiences the manic phase, among the symptoms he/she would exhibit include high self-esteem, rapid thoughts and speech, poor judgment, optimism, euphoria, aggressiveness, high energy levels, and difficulty in sleeping. At the other end of the mood spectrum, the person exhibits anxiety, guilt, sadness, helplessness, fatigue, hopelessness, lack of energy and interest in the activities he normally enjoys, suicidal tendencies, and chronic pain. These are among the manic depression symptoms the person exhibits when he/she is in the depressive state.

The symptoms of this condition also affect the appearance of the individual suffering from this condition. And depending on the individual's personality and the stage of his/her depression, the period of time he/she exhibits these symptoms could last months. The intervals between depression episodes also vary. Some people suffering from such condition exhibit a predictable pattern of manic depression symptoms, while others show no indications. Treatments or medications to administer also depend largely on the type of symptoms and the level or intensity of the symptoms exhibited by the individual.

It is important to take note that having manic depression is actually not a hindrance to a productive and happy life. Anyone with this condition can still live a normal life especially if it is diagnosed at the early stage. It is, thus, important for anyone experiencing manic depression symptoms to consult a physician to determine whether he/she is already suffering from the condition. This should help prevent the condition from getting worse.

Does Male Depression Manifest Itself in the Same Way it Does in Women?

Although women tend to get more attention when it comes to mood disorders, male depression is quite common and must be dealt with in a similar fashion. Studies show that men are more likely to develop suicidal thoughts, and as such it is important that they learn how to best treat their depression.

Treating male depression is a bit different than treating women, although many of the same drugs or supplements can be used. Since the root issue is usually one of feeling inadequate for men, therapy alternatives will be different, as will the resolution of the problem.

In order to treat male depression, we need to first identify the symptoms. These differ from female symptoms in many cases. Men are more likely to act out by having casual sex, over-indulging in alcohol and drugs or taking part in other reckless behaviors. They will also tend to hide their depression more because they feel it is a sign of weakness that will mark them.

It is vital that the symptoms of male depression are recognized as men tend to plan and commit suicide with far more frequency than women. Also, men tend not to advertise their intentions of suicide until they are in the act, so recognizing depression before it reaches this point is extremely important.

Once the symptoms of male depression have been identified, the man should be treated immediately. Going to a doctor or therapist is often low on the man's list of priorities. He might prefer to go online and talk with others struggling with depression in anonymous chat rooms and forums.

There are a variety of antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Norpramin on the market, but due to the stigma and weakness attached to the disease, men may prefer natural methods of treating depression, including herbal supplements. No one questions the use of ginkgo biloba, it is a well-known memory and clarity enhancer. Chamomile relieves stress and also soothes and men may feel more comfortable taking it than a prescription drug which could raise questions.

Men may also be worried that if they take a prescription antidepressant, or seek therapy for their problem that they may suffer repercussions at work and in the community. This is another reason many decide to go with supplements, especially folic acid and other B vitamins which have a proven track record for reducing depression symptoms.

Other alternative methods of treating male depression include changing the diet to include a balance of vitamins and minerals, getting enough sleep and taking steps to reduce the stress at work and at home. Daily exercise may also help.

Depression in men is still not fully understood. It is suspected that many men successfully hide their depression, so the estimates of 6 million affected in the U.S. may be grossly under the true number of men affected by this disease.

Manic Depression and Its Symptoms

Also called "bipolar mood disorder", manic depression is a very serious disease of brain associated with extreme shifts in moods, body functioning and behavior. Just a few years back, manic depression was glorified as a trait so common with many well known artists, composers and brilliant writers; but in reality, thousands of lives have been lost or their career ruined due to this strange disease. An extreme case of manic depression has even lead to many people committing suicide. This debilitating disease affects almost 3 million Americans and 1.5 millions Europeans, and both men and women are equally troubled by this disease.

Manic depression usually starts occurring during early teenage or even during childhood; the symptoms are manifested by irregular cycles or episodes of maniac tendencies, depression and mood swing, often disrupting normal daily life. Three different types of episodes are associated with manic depression and each one of them is quite different from the other. Episodes of depression signify a persistent sad or withdrawn mood, while an episode of mania may show frequent or abnormal mood swings from one extreme to another. However, a mixed or combined state that consists of both mania and depression is probably the most difficult stage to manage and treat.

Signs and symptoms which occur during an episode of mania are:

1. Enhanced energy, high state of excitability and increased activity

2. Feelings of euphoria, greatness and generally excited mood

3. Gets irritable even at the smallest of incidences.

4. Lightening speed talk, thoughts and changing ideas.

5. Lack of concentration accompanied by less sleep.

6. Feelings of grandeur and false belief in their own capacity.

7. Lack of a good judgment

8. Unusual behavior that is easily recognizable.

9. Easily provoked, excessive intrusion in other's affairs, state of aggression and angry.

10. Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior

Signs and symptoms which occur during an episode of depression are:

1. Frequent sad, melancholic or empty mood

2. Feelings of dejection, guilt, or helplessness

3. Progressive loss of interest in day to day activities.

4. Depleted energy levels and feeling of tiredness.

5. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decision

6. Suicidal talk and tendencies

During early part of the illness these episodes are usually separated by a period of no symptoms and the patient usually feels very good and behaves normal. However, when five or more episodes of illness occur within a year, rapid manic depression sets in and becomes too frequent, leading to extreme consequences. This is also sometimes called a state of rapid recycling, when the degeneration of body and mind sets in at a rapid rate.

A chronic and severe manic depression may lead the patient to a stage of psychosis, when typical symptoms like hallucinations and delusions occur, and such a stage is probably an offshoot of highly dangerous, Schizophrenia. Many people with manic depression will get immense help from a sustained level of treatment and good results are usually achieved by stabilizing their mood swings and other associated symptoms. Highly improvised drugs and medicines like Lithium, atypical antipsychotic medications and high-potency benzodiazepine medications are usually prescribed to patients, depending on the history and intensity of the symptoms. Apart from drugs and medicines, patients are also recommended session of psychotherapy and behavioral therapy.

5 Natural Methods to Combat Depression Without Prescription Drugs

Sometimes, beating depression may just take a few lifestyle changes. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair are common symptoms of depressed people. This further causes isolation from the world around them and withdrawal from the normal daily activities of life. Sometimes these mental symptoms are accompanied by fatigues, weakness, changes in eating patterns and weight loss or gain in the person. Here are 5 natural methods you can use to treat depression.

Method #1

Check what medications you may be having. A number of times certain medications may cause depression in people who are prone to it. Tranquilizers, ulcer medications, birth control pills, high blood pressure medications and anti-inflammatory medications may cause depression. Talk to your doctor about whether there could be a medication that is affecting your mood and how you can go about changing it.

Method #2

Engage yourself in an activity that is fun to you. It may include you starting a hobby, volunteering to help in a social activity, learn a new language or join a club. Do something that makes you happy. It will not only boost your self-esteem, it will also help you fight depression and anxiety.

Method #3

If you are severely depressed, chances are that you may not want to get out of bed in the morning at all. But you have to. Make sure you change your clothes everyday, eat well and get enough sleep. Fresh vegetables, fruits should be a part of your daily diet. Also, exercise should be a part of your daily routine. 30 minutes of moderate exercise everyday will improve your mood. This is because exercise causes the release of chemical in the body which drives away the blues. Choose an exercise which you like doing, such as walking, jogging, riding a bike or swimming. Make sure you keep to your routine.

Method #4

Having a social life is the best natural depression cure. When you are surrounded by people, there is a lesser chance of your feeling down. If meeting new people is difficult for you, strengthen the relationship you share with your family and friends. Meet friends for lunch, talk to them over the phone and make them a part of your everyday life. It is also a great idea to let people know that you are depressed. Talking to people and opening up to them is a wonderful way of treating depression naturally. Also, the love and support you get from them is therapeutic.

Method #5

Finding out the cause of your depression is important. If a bad relationship, family problems, work life or some other thing is making you feel blue, its time for you to mend it. If the cause cannot be mended you will have to concentrate on the good aspects of your life. Avoid wallowing in self-pity and looking sad all the time. Instead maintain a positive outlook towards life.

Beating depression will take time and effort. But if you are determined, nothing is going to stop you.

Manic Depression Symptoms - The Highs and Lows

Manic depression is a mental disorder that is also called manic depressive disorder. To some, it is known as bipolar disorder. Manic depression symptoms are known to be on the extreme sides of the spectrum. They are either on the high end or the low end. The high-end symptoms are known to be the manic symptoms while the low end is known as the "hypo" symptoms or the depressive symptoms.

This type of mental disorder is hard to spot because the patient may appear to be going well after an episode of depression. Unknown to people around him, he becomes sunny all of the sudden not because he has overcome depression; it is just that he shifted to mania, the other symptom of his illness.

Manic Symptoms

The following are manic depression symptoms observed in patients who suffer from the manic or high end of the mental disease:

o Extreme kindness and euphoric mood.

o Being provocative.

o Inability to concentrate, always and easily distracted.

o Talking very fast due to the racing thoughts that flood the mind.

o Extreme energy level, hyper activity and restlessness.

o Excessive and uncharacteristic spending.

o Incoherence and mixed ideas.

o Increase in sexual drive.

o Intrusive behavior.

o Overly aggressive behavior.

o Very poor judgment

o Believing in his own super powers and unrealistic abilities.

o Extremely irritable.

o Sleeps too little but still have too much energy.

o Abusive use of substances such as cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications.

o Falling into a denial stage and not believing that anything is wrong with him.

Depressive Symptoms

The following manic depression symptoms are observed from patients on the low or depressed mode of the disorder.

o Sadness that stays for a considerable length of time accompanied by anxiousness and feeling of emptiness.

o A constant feeling of fatigue and a very low energy level.

o Feeling hopeless and always pessimistic.

o Loss of sexual drive.

o Inability to feel pleasure from anything.

o Inability to concentrate.

o A gnawing sense of guilt and feeling worthless.

o Forgetfulness.

o Restlessness.

o Extreme irritability.

o Inability to make rational decisions.

o Insomnia or oversleeping.

o A drastic loss or gain of appetite that leads to either weight loss or gain.

o Constant body pains that can not be confirmed by medical examinations.

o Suicidal tendencies.

Psychosis is another phenomenon that can be observed as a manic depression symptom. It occurs in both manic and depressive modes of the disorder. It is characterized by hallucination and delusion that is sometimes mistaken for schizophrenia (another form of mental disorder that also manifests hallucination and delusion).

It is important that proper diagnosis be done to tell whether it is manic depression symptom or schizophrenia because the two types of mental disorder need different types of psychological and medical attention.

There are people who exhibit mixed manic depressive symptoms. They manifest both the high and the low end symptoms of the disorder at the same time.

When To Seek Help

As mentioned, it is not easy to determine if a person has manic depressive disorder. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from this mental illness, it would be best if you go and see a psychiatrist to fully assess your condition immediately since the person with this illness has a very erratic and unstable behavior. It can go from shoplifting to promiscuous sexual behavior to suicide. What's more, these behaviors may be manifest within a short period of time.

Proper diagnosis of the manic depressive symptoms is necessary in order to provide the proper treatment needed by the patient. The symptoms are confusing. The assistance of professional people is important in order to recover properly. Administration of medication is almost always necessary to stabilize the patient. Medications would help a patient respond well to other forms of psychiatric treatments such as psychotherapy and cognitive therapy.

The False Self Depression Syndrome

People wonder why they become depressed. Sometimes the causes are very clear, like the loss of a loved one, getting fired from a job, a relationship breakup, or even losing one's home to foreclosure. Many times, however, depression seems to come out of the blue or it slowly creeps up on you, building so gradually that you never notice it until you wake up one day and say to yourself: "how did things get so bad?" Contrary to the common view that depression is just a "chemical imbalance" (meaning your neurotransmitters are somehow out of whack), depression is usually caused by something, even if you cannot immediately identify the reason. In fact, depression has many causes and can be more like a sign of an underlying problem then what is typically regarded as a medical disorder (like diabetes or cancer). Depression rarely occurs in a vacuum and the underlying reasons for your depression may not be clear. One less obvious, yet common, reason for your depression may be due to living your life out of a false sense of self-what I call the "False Self Depression Syndrome".

All too commonly depression is a symptom of essentially being "out of touch" with yourself. In this sense depression is an inner sign that things are not going so well. You may be depressed because you have lost focus on your life or path, on what is important to you, on your true, authentic self. Your depression may be inviting you to take a look inwards. Are you leading the right life? Are you being true to yourself? Are you too often ignoring or avoiding painful thoughts or feelings and not dealing with them? Are you checked out due to alcohol or other drugs? Are you getting so caught up in the latest, greatest, modern fad, that you do not know who you are anymore? You may be living life through a false self! It is easy to form a false self because many social situations demand that you stuff your true feelings (especially anger, sadness, fear, & embarrassment) and present with socially acceptable ones (like being humorous or happy). For instance you may be furious with your boss but cannot really let him or her know because it could jeopardize your job. So rather than yell, you smile or crack a joke, when on the inside you are hurt and angry. Gradually you build a false self and depression creeps in.

A false self may have formed early on in childhood to protect yourself or fit in with your family and can lead to depression. Perhaps if you showed anger, you would get hit or punished. Or if you showed sadness or grief, your feelings were minimized, ignored, or belittled. Or perhaps nobody helped you develop your own interests or hobbies, and you conformed to what your parents wanted or demanded. Overtime you learned that it is easier to choke down your true feelings and "pretend" not to be hurt or angry. Or you learned to let go of passions and interests because your parents did not approve. Maybe if you grew up with neglect you never even formed interests to begin with. Eventually you lost touch with yourself, your dreams and passions, as well as certain basic feelings. You were not allowed to have them and in an effort to fit in or protect yourself, you created a false self-a kind of mask or false identity to fit in. The "true self", the part of you that experiences your real feelings, strivings, hopes, and dreams, got lost in the shuffle and finally you became depressed.

In this way a "depressed self" gradually formed as you identify more and more with your false self or persona (a false mask you show to the world). If you adopted a false self at an early age, you may have forgotten that you ever had a true self to begin with! In a nut shell the true self is covered up by the false self -your true needs and feelings are ignored causing you to become depressed! When the false self takes over, you need to make changes! You need to be honest with yourself and connect to your true feelings. Authentic living and genuine feeling is a powerful antidote to this form of depression.

Here are four things you can do to reconnect to your true self. First, be as honest as possible in your interactions with others and refrain from hiding out behind a false mask. Get into the practice of telling people how you really feel. This is especially important with significant others but you may find you can be more honest and assertive with your communications at work as well. Be real and stop pretending. Second, begin some practice that allows you to be fully present and in the moment, examples include yoga and meditation. These activities have a grounding effect and allow you to get centered and more in touch with yourself. Simple mindfulness based meditation where you focus on the in and out of your breathing is an excellent practice. Just take 5 minutes a day and focus all your attention on the simple in and out of your breathing, gently pushing away distracting thoughts and reengage with your breathing. A variation of this meditation involves using imagery and healing statements to reconnect. Third, engage your creativity-painting, molding things with clay, drawing, music, creative writing or any other practice that stirs your creative juices connects you with your insides and allows the real you to emerge in creative, spontaneous ways.

Finally, give serious consideration to seeing a well qualified, experienced therapist. Living a false self is no joke and many people need professional help getting back into their true selves. Reconnecting with your true self can involve encountering painful feelings and you may need a professional to help you tune into yourself and work through the pain.

How Can You Improve Your Light Depression Symptoms At Home?

If you are experiencing light depression symptoms it often means that what you are having is a simple or mild case of depression. That kind of depression can be managed easily. It usually does not require medical treatment, unless it occurs frequently over the course of several months. If it does, then your depression is more serious than what you think.

Mild Depression Symptoms and How To Reduce Them At Home

Depression often manifests in the following signs and symptoms:

• Feeling of sadness


• Loss of interest in physical and social activities


• Sleeping problems


• Eating problems

With mild depression, the symptoms are generally the same, only less extreme so as not to cause a major impact on your health. Anyhow, here are some helpful advices aimed at reducing depression symptoms at home:

• Start eating right. Get on a healthy diet and stick to it. Know what to eat and what to avoid.
  
  • Junk foods are loaded with junk, and must be avoided as much as possible.
  
  
  • Foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar content, caffeine, alcohol, and preservatives only serve to worsen depression symptoms, and you'll be better off without them as well.
  
  
  • Finger foods will be very helpful for people with mild cases of depression - keep them handy.
  
  
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables and food items high in Omega-3 fatty acids.
• Try to get a restful sleep by:
  
  • Having a warm, relaxing bath at night. Try infusing your bath water with lavender salts to make it more relaxing.
  
  
  • Having a light dinner, topped with a cup of hot ginger tea or relaxing chamomile tea.
  
  
  • Shut down your computer or TV set or anything that can get in the way of your resolve to sleep.
  
  
  • Maintain a sleeping routine.
• Give yourself a break. At the end of a stressful day, make time to unwind.
  
  • Go for leisure walks or do some window-shopping.
  
  
  • Go on long drives from time to time or have a vacation trip once or twice a year.
  
  
  • Read anything that will make you laugh or put a smile to your lips. Try reading comic strips if you are not fond of reading at all.
  
  
  • Work on a favorite hobby. If you know how to play the piano, hit on some keys. If you are a writer, write your thoughts down. Do anything creative to express yourself.
• Exercise.
  
  • Try meditation techniques and deep breathing exercises.
• Take vitamins.
  
  • The B-vitamins are especially known for their role in warding off depression. Make sure you get a daily dose of the essential B-vitamins.
  
  
  • Vitamin C has a key role in the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that controls mood.
  
  
  • Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are needed in the development and maintenance of a healthy brain.
• Talk to someone. Verbalizing your feelings is a good way of coping with depression. Seeing a psychotherapist can be very helpful in controlling depression at this stage.

Mild depression typically lasts but a few days. If your depression symptoms last longer or if you are losing sleep (or oversleeping), losing (or gaining) weight, losing concentration, or showing signs of anemia, getting professional help will be extremely wise to keep the depression from progressing. As you know when it comes to the point that your physical health and mental well being are being challenged or compromised, a more serious mood disorder is in the making and you need to take more drastic actions as soon as possible.

Coping With Feelings of Depression and Anxiety

Feelings of depression and anxiety can increase around the holidays. Millions of Americans suffer from anxiety and depressive disorders. In fact, over 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, and depression afflicts over 21 million Americans. It is likely that someone close to you is or has suffered from one of these conditions.

Mood disorders can occur about for a variety of reasons. In many people, there is a strong genetic component to their brain chemistry, which directly impacts their mental health. For others, it is a result of their life experiences, anywhere from childhood to adulthood - upbringing, lifestyles, substance abuse, romantic relationships - they all play a part. These underlying life experiences often come to the forefront during the holidays, increasing a woman's feelings of depression and anxiety. In almost all cases, depression and anxiety arise due to the avoidance of the underlying issues, whether unconsciously or consciously. Only about one-third of those suffering from anxiety receive treatment, even though the problems are highly treatable with professional support.

Inside Depression and Anxiety

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and in fact your physical health can be directly impacted by the state of your mental and emotional health. Just as you would seek treatment for a broken arm, so should you seek treatment for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

Anxiety is chronic, debilitating worry over everyday life events, such as social encounters, test-taking, job interviews, relationships, or just paying the bills. Depression is "the blues" lasting for weeks, months, and even years on end. There are many different specific varieties of depression and anxiety disorders. Common anxiety disorders are social anxiety disorder, where a person suffers from an extreme fear of being judged in front of others; obsessive-compulsive disorder, where the individual performs obsessive rituals or routines in order to alleviate compulsive, pervasive thoughts; and post-traumatic stress disorder, where a person who has witnessed a traumatic event (such as a natural disaster, war, rape, violence, or sudden death) suffers from extreme and long-lasting anxiety and depression. Women are twice as likely as men to develop many anxiety disorders. Common depressive disorders include postpartum depression, after a woman has a baby, and chronic depression, which can occur over a span of decades.

Treatment for Depression and Anxiety

Thanks to advances in our understanding of the brain and mental health, mood disorders are mental health issues that, with the proper attention and support, can be overcome. Treatment starts with recognizing that the problems have more impact than just everyday stress or sadness. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy is perhaps the best and only way to truly understand and move past the underlying psychological issues. Although there are many self-help books that teach readers techniques such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, it is best to seek treatment from a professional mental health counselor. Behavioral health professionals can tailor mood disorder treatment to the individual's unique needs and situation.

With so many treatment options available, there is hope for women who suffer from depression and anxiety. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, for those who are willing to tackle their issues and seek a better life.

If you or a woman you love is suffering from feelings of depression and anxiety or may be dealing with feelings of low self-worth or fear that are preventing them from living a full and productive life, treatment can help.

Top 5 Tips For Managing Depression

Top 5 Tips to Help You Deal With Depression

Do you have difficulty getting out of bed? Have you lost your appetite or perhaps you're eating more than usual? Have others noticed that you're somehow different, somehow not as up or happy as you usually are? Have your coworkers or boss noticed that you have been missing more work lately or coming in late?

If this sounds familiar, you could be suffering from depression. Depression is a word that is often thrown around without much care being given to what it actually means. It seems that if you're sad, then you're depressed. The word depression is sometimes even substituted for sadness. And while sadness is part of depression, that's only part of it.

Depression is a life changing, and at times, life threatening condition. According to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic Statistic Manual-the book therapists use for diagnosis) depression consists of having certain feelings, behaviors, and thoughts. They include, but are not limited to: a depressed mood; loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to like and enjoy; diminished interest in all or almost all activities; significant weight loss when not dieting or, conversely, significant increase in appetite; insomnia; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; loss of concentration, and recurrent thoughts of death. These things need to be present all day, everyday or nearly every day in order to be considered clinical depression.

The good news is that depression is treatable. Depression can be managed. It does not have to define you. Most people who suffer from depression are able to live the life they want by taking certain steps that have been proven to work. What I have found in providing therapy is that most people don't take the steps that can help. But if you are willing to do the work you can start to feel better and start to enjoy life again.

Here are 5 tools that have been proven to work for those who suffer from depression. I have seen them work for the people with whom I work and they can work for you.

Think Good Thoughts

This is perhaps the hardest of all the steps you can take. Arguably the worst part of depression is not the sadness, but the negative self-talk and thoughts that you have due to the depression.

The most basic way to manage these thoughts is to confront the negative thoughts and replace them with good thoughts. However, this doesn't mean it's easy. It's not. This is the idea behind one of the most successful forms of therapy for depression - cognitive-behavioral therapy. The idea here is that our thoughts control our emotions and behaviors and if we change our thoughts, we change our feelings and actions, i.e. what we feel, say, and do.

When I work with those who suffer from severe depression changing their thoughts is the hardest thing for them to do. One way I have found that works for people is to acknowledge all the thoughts they have and dismiss the negative ones. The idea is to say to yourself that you are having negative thoughts and then to let them go. It's natural to have negative thoughts when you're feeling depressed. The key is to remember that they are just thoughts and not you. You are separate from your thoughts. You can change the way you think.

Exercise

Research has shown that daily activity helps us to feel better about not only ourselves, but also those around us. The exercise you choose to do doesn't need to be vigorous or long, just something that gets you moving. However, when you're depressed you may find it difficult to motivate yourself to exercise. This is common.

So what should you do? Get up. Go for a walk. Do yoga. Go swimming. Walk up and down the stairs a few times. Do anything that gets you active and your body moving.

Exercise has been proven to create endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals that are released when we are active and they contribute to feeling better. The release of endorphins helps us to feel more relaxed, less depressed, and helps us to have a better outlook on life.

When I work with patients in the hospital I encourage them to pace the halls or ride the stationary bike. The movement and motion helps the body create endorphins and the mind to think about something else. It's another way to help yourself to mental health.

Create a Happiness Journal

It's common to loose track of those things about which you are happy. When I work with people who suffer from chronic depression, I ask when was the last time they were happy or enjoyed doing something. The answer nine times out of ten is that they can't remember. Their brain has blocked the way to think good thoughts and is focusing only on the negative.

One way to combat this is to write down those times when you were happy, when you enjoyed doing something, or when you felt good about yourself. This is important as it will help remind you that there is hope; hope to feel like that again. It will also help remind you that there are events, people, and places you like; things you may have forgotten about.

Eat Well

When you are experiencing depression it's common to either want to eat all day or not at all. And if you choose to eat, chances are that you will want to eat junk food. Why is this? Simply because of the sugar high you will get.

In a study out of Britain, researchers found that people eating whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, were 26% less likely to be depressed. Conversely, the same study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found that people who eat processed foods, such as those with refined sugars or fast food, were 58% more likely to suffer from depression.

Wanting to eat foods high in sugar, or comfort foods, is normal if you are suffering from depression. But remember, while it's normal, it's not helpful. There are a number of reasons for this. The first is that sugar only gives us a short boost of energy. It is similar to any drug that lifts our energy and mood for a short time. However, our body will only feel good until it has processed the sugar and then the crash that will happen may even leave you feeling worse then before.

Therapy

And then there's therapy. The simple act of talking about your issues, feelings, thoughts, and ideas can have amazing affects on both your mind and body. Research has shown that talk therapy is among the most important steps someone who is suffering from depression can take.

I have found working with those who suffer from depression that it is common to want to be left alone; to want to hide out in a safe place and just watch the world go by. The problem is that since you are also probably suffering from negative self-esteem, negative self-talk, and feelings of being alone and isolated, what will most likely happen is that you will not be able to make the changes necessary to start to feel better.

However, therapy can help provide a safe place to talk; a safe place to discuss your issues without fear of retaliation, ridicule, or judgment.

Conclusion

There is no one answer on how to deal with depression. My experience in providing therapy has shown me that the act of doing something, anything, creates better results then doing nothing. If you want to start to live a life that has less pain and depression, then now is the time to act. The fact that you're reading this means you have taken the first step in seeking help and that's something you can feel good about.

Misconceptions Of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a very common issue for many folks and is a diagnosis that many people don't really understand. When someone is diagnosed as bipolar this means that they can swing very rapidly from one mood or state of mind to another which can seem quite erratic to those who are around them but many people don't, at least at first, realize that the person is dealing with a disorder.

Confusion arises when the terminology of mania comes up when researching bipolar disorders. The dictionary states mania as an excessive excitement or enthusiasm. Most people would interpret this as a happy state of being. For bipolar individuals it can mean a period of wild behavior or excessive rages. Mania takes on a whole different meaning when used in regards to bipolar individuals.

There are many symptoms that appear in a person who has bipolar disorder. Some are more predominate then others and are more noticeable to the average person. Besides the erratic mood swings you may observe lack of control, angry outbursts, little need for sleep, cannot control their impulses. Other behaviors may be negligent sexual behavior, inflated ego or extreme spending sprees. However, the other side of their elated state is the tormenting and severe bouts of depression.

The ominous signs of a depressive bipolar individual can be seen in the inability to make decisions or concentrate, either an increase of loss of appetite, excessive fatigue where they don't even want to get out of the bed to horrific thoughts of suicide. Many times during thee periods, the individual will withdraw from family and friends which is hard for those who truly care about them. No one knows how longs these episodes can last. Because of this, bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose. For some these episodes switch rapidly and multiple times a day and others stay in one state for a longer period of time.

Substance abuse is a common problem amongst those with this disorder as is suicide. Overall, getting an accurate diagnosis and the treatment that is needed can help a person to keep their symptoms under control and begin to live a healthy and productive life once again. Mental illness can be difficult to address since the symptoms can be in a constant state of flux but it is important to realize that help is available for those who are struggling with this illness.

Bipolar Disorder Test - Ensuring That the Illness Is Diagnosed Correctly

Bipolar disorder is a very serious ailment that affects lots of people in the United States. The ramifications of the disease go much further, with the families of the sufferers being affected badly as well. This problem is also known as manic depression. A person suffering from this disease goes through periods of elevated moods called mania followed by a period of depression. These mood swings can take place without any warning. There are also many people who show both the symptoms of mania and depression at the same time. It is important to get a bipolar disorder test done in order to find out whether the person actually suffers from this disease or from something else.

It is very common for people suffering from this disease to be misdiagnosed with ADHD especially when their manic episodes are very intense and they are hyperactive and have very high levels of energy. This can lead to severe problems because they are then offered the wrong treatment. A doctor will first carry out certain tests in order to eliminate the possibility of certain illnesses. Doctors will need to check for hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism as well as Syphilis or HIV/AIDS. A doctor will normally only administer a bipolar disorder test when these tests are completed and come out negative.

There is no physiological test that will help diagnose this disorder correctly. A bipolar test is usually administered by asking the patient a series of questions in order to eliminate the possibility of other psychological ailments being responsible for the symptoms. There are certain symptoms that are very characteristic of this disease and a good bipolar disorder test will help identify them immediately.

These tests are devised in such a manner that they extract detailed information from the patient. They are usually very easy to complete because they are couched in simple terms that are easy to understand. A person taking the test will not encounter medical jargon but will read about actual symptoms and sensations that he or she would undoubtedly have experienced.

If you get this test for yourself or someone close to you, then you should ensure that you select one of the best possible ones. This is necessary in order to get the most accurate results. You should also follow up the test with a visit to a qualified healthcare practitioner in order to be absolutely sure about the nature of the disease. You have to understand that these tests are no substitute for proper medical knowledge. Only a detailed clinical assessment will give you a correct picture regarding the ailment.

A patient suffering from bipolar disorder needs to get the right treatment as soon as the disease is diagnosed. This is extremely important because the person can injure himself or others or even commit suicide.

Is Clinical Depression A Biochemical Disease?

Depression is a biochemical disease passed on through the genes. Did you know that? Well, that's what the drug companies tell us and surely they must be correct, mustn't they? Well no, actually, they mustn't.

Suppose you have a solution. Any solution. The only way you can sell this solution is to find a problem. Depression's a huge problem, so in this particular case it's a problem to do with your health. Is chemical depression a biochemical disease? Yes, say the drug companies, and through massive and intensive advertising campaigns, they've brainwashed everyone into believing it.

So, not only do they have a problem for which they have a ready made solution. They also have most people believing this business of depression being passed on through the genes and that the solution with which the drug companies have developed will cure them of their ills. This is all very convenient and profitable for the drug companies.

We're told time after time in the media and television that there's real scientific evidence to back this up. But there isn't.

Let me tell you another secret. These newer Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors, (SSRIs); drugs like Prozac, Lustral, Cipramil, etc., have been tested and shown not to work any better than the older tricyclic antidepressants. No one antidepressant works any better than the other. The pharmaceutical boys haven't been terribly forthcoming in all this, have they?

The advertisements on television especially, bang on about serotonin and norepinephrine. Depression, they say, is caused through a lack of serotonin in the brain of someone who's genetically predisposed. So the newer SSRIs, we're told, inhibit the reuptake of serotonin after it's been released in brain synapses.

Serotonin, as I'm sure you know, is the 'happy' chemical we have in our brains. Therefore, the more serotonin we have, the happier we shall be. Now this is fine, and you'd think that lowering the serotonin and dopamine levels in the brains of people not suffering depression would make them depressed, wouldn't you?

Well, it doesn't! Even a rapid lowering of serotonin doesn't make a scrap of difference. The top researcher, Irving Kirsch, calls this the final 'nail in the coffin' of the biomedical/low serotonin theory for depression. So let's straighten this out.

Billions of dollars have been spent by hundreds of millions of people for -- what? Snake oil? And here's something that'll shoot your shirt off your back. In France, they market a drug named Tianeptine, which is sold as Stablon. It was developed -- you won't believe this -- to lower the level of serotonin. Here's the kicker! It works just as well as any other antidepressant or placebo.

All this is like an episode of 'Believe It Or Not'

List Of Medicines To Avoid While Pregnant

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prepared a list of medicines to avoid while pregnant. It possesses a system that ranks drugs with regards to their safety during pregnancy. However, not all drugs are subject to tests to ensure their safety to pregnant women. Therefore, it is advisable to take any medication, only after consultation with your doctor.

The FDA Ranking Of Drugs

"A" Category - these drugs have been tested in terms of safety parameters and have been found harmless during pregnancy. They are vitamin B6, folic acid, and thyroid medication, in moderate or prescribed amounts.

"B" Category - these drugs have been utilized much during pregnancy and are not found to cause any big birth disorders or other pregnancy side effects. They include acetaminophen (Tylenol), certain antibiotics, aspartame (artificial sweetener), prednisone (cortisone), famotidine (Pepcid), ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin), and insulin (for diabetes). However, during the last trimester, ibuprofen is not recommended.

"C" Category - these drugs have possibilities to create complications during pregnancy. Some of them are in the trial stage of safety tests. Such drugs contain a warning that they should be used only if they are absolutely necessary and as a last resort. The medications to avoid during pregnancy are Sudafed, prochlorperzaine (Compazine), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and fluconazole (Diflucan).

"D" Catergory - these drugs show clear risks for health of the developing fetus. They contain alcohol, phenytoin (Dilantin), and lithium (used in the treatment of manic depression). The chemotherapy drugs used for cancer treatment also come in this list. However, in certain cases, such drugs have to be administered during pregnancy. They should be done so under strict medical supervision.

"X" Category - these drugs have been proved to cause birth disorders and pregnant women must never take them. Such medicines include psoriasis (Tegison or Soriatane) and cystic acne (Accutane), which are used for skin treatment; thalidomide, which is a sedative; and diethylstilbestrol (DES), which had been used for prevention of miscarriage in America until 1971 and in Europe until 1993.

The other drugs that come in the list are aspirin and salicylate containing drugs. They are particularly harmful in the last trimester. In case it's absolutely essential to use such drugs, they should be used under close scrutiny. You should also avoid the use of certain over-the-counter painkillers, as most of them contain cetylsalicaylate. This compound may make your pregnancy longer and even cause bleeding before and/or after childbirth.

Talk to your doctor, and read books and articles to know more about medicines to avoid while pregnant.

Food Allergies - How to Deal, Ways to Heal

I've heard from countless readers and clients that they suffer multiple food allergies and would appreciate any tips on dealing with them. This article goes beyond ingredient substitutions, offering ways to handle and potentially heal food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities. But first, some definitions:

A true food allergy involves a specific reaction in the immune system (that part of the body responsible for attacking invaders). An allergy occurs when the body mistakenly identifies a harmless substance (antigen) as a threat. The body then creates an antibody, damages cells, and causes a release of histamine. This process, rather than the antigen itself, causes harm. Symptoms of food allergy can include asthma, nasal congestion, digestive woes or, most seriously, anaphylactic shock. If you suffer a severe food allergy, lifelong avoidance might remain necessary.

More people suffer from food intolerances than true allergies. Intolerances can result in a wider variety of symptoms, including respiratory distress, depression, migraines, arthritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), among others. Unlike food allergies, which usually result in immediate symptoms, intolerances can reveal themselves "subtly" even several weeks after ingesting a particular food. As with food allergies, intensities can range from temporary, mild discomfort from too much of a certain food, to celiac disease?a severely damaging intestinal intolerance to any and all glutens (the proteins found in wheat and other grains like barley, spelt and rye).

Food sensitivities can arise from chemical compounds like MSG, caffeine, sugar, or food additives. These substances act like drugs, with some people having lower thresholds than others. The line between food sensitivities and intolerances often blurs, though, since many food intolerances arise from reactions to chemicals like sulfites, nitrates, salicylates, or amines. In Eat Right 4 Your Type, Dr. Peter D'Adamo discusses food sensitivities in relation to blood types. He theorizes that certain components of food, called lectins, react negatively with particular blood types. According to his research, lectins introduced into an incompatible blood type can result in symptoms like abnormal cell growth (cancer), insulin issues, digestive irritation, heart disease, compromised immune system and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. D'Adamo does not consider his observations "the only factor" in maintaining health but believes blood type can play a key role in determining how food affects us. On a side note, Dr. D'Adamo recommends a strict vegetarian diet for Blood Type A, which comprises about 40% of the world's population, compared to the estimated .2-4% of the world currently classified as "vegan."

Many people use the terms "allergy," "intolerance," and "sensitivity" interchangeably, and indeed, treatments and testing often overlap. The most common method of identifying food issues involves an Elimination Diet in which the patient removes all common or suspected allergens from the diet for a set period of time. If symptoms improve, the patient then reintroduces foods and records effects. This technique works fine if one or two main, common food allergens cause the symptoms; however, in the case of multiple triggers or intolerances (which can take weeks to manifest) the Elimination Diet can prove cumbersome and less effective. But there is still hope.

The following suggestions helped me overcome my own allergies, and I've seen them help many clients and friends as well:

"Go Raw" or take digestive enzymes. Each raw food carries its own enzymes necessary for digestion. When heat destroys these enzymes through cooking, our pancreas works overtime, creating "digestive enzymes" to break down food. (Humans have the largest pancreas relative to body weight in the entire animal kingdom.) If the pancreas becomes fatigued, inadequately digested food particles arrive in the intestines. From there, undigested protein molecules sometimes enter the blood stream and cause an immune response. Low stomach acid can also result in incomplete digestion, and some people find raw blended greens a natural means of improving hydrochloric acid levels. (For more information on green smoothies, read Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko.) Some foods have enzyme inhibitors and need to be soaked in order to activate their enzymes. A few actually digest easier when cooked. If you don't like raw foods or have minimal access to them, digestive enzyme supplements taken right before meals can also reduce your pancreatic load until you get back on track.

Control Candida. Commonly known as "yeast," Candida albicans exists in the digestive tracts of all humans. Antibiotics, birth control pills, stress, and sugar can result in Candida Overgrowth, causing Leaky Gut Syndrome, food intolerances/allergies, thrush, "yeast infections" and a host of other symptoms. Though difficult to eradicate, Candida does hate oil of oregano, pau d'arco, sugar restriction, and probiotics like L-acidophilus and B-bifidus. For more information, you can read The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough by Dr. William G. Crook. From a Medical Intuitive perspective, I've also noticed Candida resonates with "victim." As people empower themselves and curb feelings of victimization, Candida symptoms often dramatically improve.

Cleanse your Body. Even though vegan diets tend to be "cleaner" than the Standard American Diet, at times we can pass a threshold of toxic or allergenic overload. Maybe it's hay fever season, we lived entirely on Tofutti last summer, have black mold in our home, or accidentally ate larvae on organic produce. Ewwww!!! Hey, sometimes it happens! A friend of mine always quotes Harry Potter's Hagrid: "Better out than in!" Whether through a full parasite cleanse, a one-day-a-week fast, or gentle herbal support, food sensitivities implore us to lighten our load. Macrobiotic principles suggest people chew food well and detox with the seasons: Liver/Gall Bladder (Spring); Heart/Small intestines (Summer); Spleen-Pancreas/Stomach (Late Summer); Lungs/Large Intestine (Fall); Kidneys/Bladder (Winter). For more information on cleansing with the seasons, I recommend The Self-Healing Cookbook, by Kristina Turner.

Cleanse your Mind. Stress has been shown to lower the threshold for allergens, so take a few deep breaths and relax. Spend some quiet, reflective time each day. Ask yourself what stands in the way of your being able to eat the foods you like. What expectations, fears or judgments are limiting your naturally free and compassionate mind and heart? On the physical level, allergies and intolerances result from mistaken judgments-the body labels a neutral substance "bad" and launches an attack. The process, not the antigen, causes the problem. We accept the cliché, "You are what you eat" but rarely recognize that the inverse is true as well. We eat as we are. If we want to re-pattern our bodies to embrace the nourishment we offer them, then it helps to stop reacting in other areas of life. In my work, I've also found that people sometimes react to foods simply due to their association with an unpleasant event that no longer consciously registers. In such cases, food allergies offer an opportunity to heal the soul as well as the body.

Eat with Gratitude and Love. A little Mindfulness goes a long way in this fast-paced world of ours. Because gratitude and love are incompatible with fear, cultivating these states encourages our bodies to feel "friendlier" and less likely to overreact. Pausing before we eat also signals the body to transition to a more relaxed state, which optimizes digestion. In case words fail you, June Cotner's Graces: Prayers and Poems for Everyday Meals and Special Occasions offers multi-cultural prayers, poems, songs, and invocations ranging from a Sanskrit sun salutation to Native American blessings, to inspirational words by Helen Keller and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Whether a formal reading or a quick lift of the heart, expressing gratitude and love for our food reminds us of the reasons many of choose a vegan lifestyle.

Cause of Depression - The Truth

It's likely that every person on earth will experience some type of depression at one point or another in their life. More common than not people will come to know these feelings when a relationship ends or a loved one passes away. It is completely normal and very common to experience these types of feelings but for some the feelings will not end. They will continue to suffer through the pains and trials of clinical depression.

There could be many different explanation for what is the exact cause of depression but we really don't have a for sure answer to this question. Many health care professionals believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain. The chemical imbalance they are referring to is a lack of a certain neurotransmitter known as serotonin. When levels of serotonin in the brain drop too low a person will begin to experience the symptoms of clinical depression. This is the basic principle that prescription antidepressants work on. The chemicals in the antidepressants work by helping to level out the level of serotonin in your brain.

Although many people aren't aware of it there are many other means of treatment for depression. These include herbal treatment, self help forms of treatment, therapy, hospitalization, and even electric shock therapy. It is important to do your homework on each of the separate methods when choosing which method of treatment is right for your particular type of depression.

Another thing to consider when looking at all of these methods is what type of depression you are suffering form. Is it mild or would you consider it more severe. Do you suspect or has anyone diagnosed you with bipolar depression? There are differences in the different types of depression and these will play a role in determining the most effective course of treatment.

For example, if you suffer from mild depression there has been promising results in certain studies showing a relief of depression symptoms in those taking St John's Wort. St John's Wort is nothing more than an herb that naturally grows in nature and can be picked up for just a few dollars at your local pharmacy or Wal-Mart. Unlike chemical antidepressants St John's Wort cost very little, has little to no side effects, and requires no visit to a doctor.

If you are suffering from bipolar depression however this may not be the best method for treatment. If the exact cause of depression has not been identified this holds especially true for bipolar depression. This specific form of depression can be characterized by violent mood swings and emotional rollercoaster rides. The important thing to know is even though the cause for depression has not been accurately determined there are effective treatments available based on the information we do have at our disposal. You should never feel alone in your fight as you are only one of many millions who have been diagnosed as suffering from some form of clinical depression.

Funny Quotes - Adding Fun to Life

Fun frolic and festivity is a part of life. All of us like to celebrate together and this needs a medium of communication. Communication without humor would be like a garland without flowers. It would then be a routine process of transferring information without any newness and excitement. But thankfully things are not so. Life is full of plethora of emotions like- love, anger, happiness, anger etc. One such emotion is fun and it goes without saying that fun is an important part of every domain of our life. Amidst these, the funny quotes play a major role. Be it a normal day to day conversation or a formal presentation, a pinch of humor through such phrases makes the complete atmosphere more amiable and interactive

One recent development in the use of such hilarious quotes has been on the social networking sites where people put random thoughts, messages and quotes on public forums like Orkut, Facebook and Twitter. This has been a recent method to catch attention of their friends and acquaintances as this way they can interact with them frequently and with ease. The variety of topics they post on such forums varies but humor is always one of the most favored topics for the same. People write quotes written by them or copy it from different sources, but the motive remains the same, popularity and affinity with the fellow mates. And this successfully works for a majority of people because everyone likes fun and enjoyment irrespective of their color, nationality or any other parameter. This is because other things like choice of music, eating habits or dressing sense may vary from person to person or from region to region but a taste for fun never changes. Almost everyone understands this form of communication and also enjoy it at the same time

Funny quotes can be made for any topic on earth ranging from serious issues like politics and love to trivial every day issues like classroom or cooking. It depends on the sense of humor of the person to extract out the fun of ordinary moments. There are a few exceptionally gifted people who can make up funny phrases from every situation of life. Such are the kind of people who brighten up the lives of everyone around them and spread happiness around

Sometimes these funny quotes are also used to spread serious messages to the vast audience from diverse background because humor appeals to all. This helps people spread the message quite easily. It has also been increasingly used for social welfare and for business purposes. One of the most evident examples of this is the use of humorous sayings in print and outdoor advertisements and also in television commercials. Everyone, be it kids or adults like such advertisements and remember it for a longer period of time which translates into the success of the brand. This formula has been used for ages and is still effective and successful. Such quotes are used in taglines too so that people remember them. As a result of this connection, people also tend to use these quotes in normal everyday conversation which also helps people increase the brand recall

People also use such quotes in greetings and messages to people they care about. They do so to bring a smile on their faces

We can say that funny quotes add that spice to life which helps break the monotony of life and also brings people close to each other by sharing the smiles and laughter together with each other. This helps them build a bond among each other which is built on the base of smiles and laughter. This strong foundation helps relationships to bloom and also create happy memories from them

This tool is used by all for a variety of purposes; right from a normal human being to great authors like George Eliot. Big literary geniuses have said intelligent things in the most humorous way and there lies their skill. This is a very trivial thing but it has so intrinsically meshed with our life that we cannot separate it. They are now such an important part of life that we cannot imagine life without it

What Are Some Natural Therapies For Depression?

Depression is not to be taken lightly. If you suffer from it often, getting professional treatment is necessary. If you don't, you run the risk of getting into a more serious mental disorder that can make you lose yourself or even your life. More specifically, untreated depression can lead to:

• Heart problems.


• Alcohol and substance abuse.


• Impaired relationships.


• Suicidal tendencies.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

The earlier you seek treatment, the better. But how do you know when is the right time to do that? Answer the following questions to help you decide:

• Do you tend to eat more or less?


• Are you losing or gaining weight?


• Is there a significant loss of interest in things you normally have fun doing?


• Are there changes in your sleeping pattern? Do you have difficulty sleeping or do you find yourself oversleeping?


• Do feel persistently low, hopeless, worthless? Are these feelings accompanied by thoughts of suicide?

If you answer yes to all these questions, get professional help at once. A specialist will run some more tests to arrive at a diagnosis and then he/she will come up with the treatment plan that will be appropriate to your case. Usually a combination of psychotherapy and medications is recommended.

If you want to help with your treatment, you can ask your doctor about natural therapies to ease some symptoms of depression. There are mind-and-body practices that appear to offer relief from symptoms, just like:

• Yoga. Yoga is essentially an exercise of the mind. It involves a variety of poses and breathing exercises to boost the levels of serotonin and other brain chemicals responsible in controlling mood, while at the same time reducing the stress-hormone cortisol. Yoga is also intended to create balance between your emotions and physical self. Practicing yoga helps to clear the body of negativities and so at the end of the session, one usually feels contentment, joy and peace.


• Acupuncture. Acupuncture is one of the oldest alternative treatments that dates to as far back as 2,000 years. It involves the insertion or penetration of needles into the anatomical points on the body to treat various medical conditions. Accordingly, the procedure has a positive effect on the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Pregnant women who cannot take antidepressants (or any medicines for that matter) may rely on acupuncture to control their depressive state.


• Acupressure. Acupressure is a simplified version of acupuncture. It's not invasive because you don't insert needles to stimulate anatomical points; rather you simply use your hands to press on the acupoints to balance your emotions. Unlike acupuncture that has to be done by a specialist, acupressure can be done by you. Try these for a start to relieve yourself of depression:
• Deliver acupressure to your foot (specifically on the area below the ball of your foot) using your hands or a hairbrush. Do this for five minutes.
• With your fingers or an aide of a wooden comb, deliver moderate pressure to your scalp, starting from the center line of your scalp out to both sides, and then brush along from your forehead up to where your hairline ends.


• Massage. Getting an ear or a chest massage helps with depression greatly. Next time you are hit with the blues, try pulling your ears in all directions while taking slow and deep breaths at the same time or gently rub your chest.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamins For Depression

Along with these, ask your doctor about taking Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamins for depression. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fatty acids which improve brain function and development, while certain vitamins like Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D, are said to raise the levels of the "feel-good" brain chemicals.