Natural Cures for Depression Explained

In this short article I want to cover three questions that may be in your mind when you think about natural cures for depression:

1. Why is a natural cure a good choice?

2. What different cures are there?

3. Will they help you or not?

Are you depressed and looking for a cure? These days doctors automatically subscribe medication which may or may not work for you. Counselling may also help but again it may only be a short term solution as the problem causing the depression needs a cure not just talking about or dealing with. If counseling takes this into accont and aims to get at the central problems and causes fine but this is after a kind of natural cure in itself.

Medication carries with it lots of side effects but natural cures for depression do not.

What different kinds of natural cures are there available?

Food. Bananas, soy foods, turkey, low-fat dairy foods can help improve your mood by lifting the levels of seratonin in your brain. Omega 3 foods such as tuna and other fish, purslane, nuts and oils can reduce tiredness and stress. The fewer refined foods you eat the better, natural foods are healthy and will help lift your depression.

Herbs like St. John's Wort work wonders and can in a matter of days give you a natural lift. It's certainly worked for me!

Exercise is hugely effective and actually makes you happy. Fight the urge to be lazy and demotivated and push yourself to exercise.

Supplements. You can take B vitamins, Omega 3 oils and other substances to help.

Depression is a disorder that one way or another lives in your brain so it stands to reason that anything you can do to help your brain work better will help. How do you help your brain? Food we've already talked about but there's also the matter of resting the brain and protecting it from stress. Stress really comes from the brain's reaction to what is happening to you. It is related to your thinking. So relaxing your thinking and slowing down your thoughts can have a great benefit.

Meditation is fantastic. It relaxes you and takes you away from unrelenting negative thoughts and refreshes you.

Yoga can help combat stress and make you feel physically alive and well.

Sunshine gives you vitamin D and unleashes a peaceful, happy mood within you.

These are not the only natural cures for depression but are the ones that are most well-known because they actually work.

Do You Have Trouble Keeping Your Mouth Shut When You're Angry?

"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." If you answered yes to the title question I am sure you have realized the truth in this quote by Ambrose Bierce. In order to gain control over your tongue you must be determined to see things differently. People who lose their temper tend to view life in a negative and judgmental way. You have the ability to direct your mind away from angry and upset feelings. You need to realize that you can have peace of mind instead of conflict.

This article will cover a variety of mindsets and behaviors that will teach you how to keep your mouth shut when you are angry.

1) Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Remember that you have two ears and only one mouth. Use them in this proportion. It's better to be a good listener than to be a good speaker. Listen carefully to what the other person has to say. Take your time before giving them an answer.

2) Don't be double minded. You can't have peace of mind and conflict at the same time. Be clearly focused on the outcome that you want. (Example: "I want to go to bed tonight feeling close to my partner.").

3) You can't be right and be married. You have to decide "Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?" Trying to be right will destroy the connection between you. Instead, strive to do the right thing.

4) Don't jump to conclusions. Slow down and think through the situation.

5) Don't say the first thing that comes into your head. I often hear people say, "I cannot keep from saying the thoughts I have." You can and you must.

6) As I was writing this, my daughter reminded me of Thumper's quote in the movie, "Bambi". "If you can't say something nice...don't say nothing at all." This is always good advice.

7) Don't overreact to criticism. Beneath the criticism is an underlying message. Criticism is a smoke screen for deeper feelings. I compare criticism to cheese on a mousetrap. What happens when the mouse takes the cheese? He gets his tail caught in the trap. That's what happens when you take the bait of criticism. Don't take the bait. Listen for the underlying message.

8) Stay away from negative thoughts and statements like, "I hate this!" "This is driving me crazy!" "I can't stand this!" These types of statements are like throwing gasoline on a fire. You are making it much more intense. Replace these with positive declarations such as "I can handle this." "This is not that big of a deal." "I have unshakeable peace of mind." "Nothing bothers me." Your thoughts will direct your emotions. Choose positive thoughts that help you keep your peace.

9) If someone uses absolute terms like "always", "never", "everybody", and "nobody"; don't take them literally. These are emotional terms. If your wife says "You never take me anywhere." and you know that's not true; don't take it as a personal attack. Try and hear her underlying request that she needs to know she is special and she wants to spend some time with you.

10) Don't overreact and don't give advice too quickly. This only trains people not to be open with you.

11) Don't try to get in the last word. It's not worth the damage you could do by trying to win or be heard.

12) If you are angry repeat this scripture based verse in your head, "In all things be self controlled." Say it over and over so that you don't get derailed into an argument
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13) There is life and death in the spoken word. Make sure your words build people up versus tearing them down.

14) Remember to breathe. Stick with the basics. When you are upset, take a few deep breaths.

15) Strive to use an approach that promotes honor and respect. This can make the difference between a twenty minute argument and a 3 day war.

16) Realize that your anger most likely is not going to help solve the problem and may actually make the matter worse.

17) Calmness will help you get to the heart of the matter. This leads to conflict resolution. Trying to be right or show your might will lead to conflict.

18) Staying connected is more important than making your point.

The only one who is responsible for the way your life works out is you. You cannot change the past, but you can take responsibility for your future. All it takes is a decision. Decide to live a life of discipline rather than one of regret. Remember that discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. Develop the power of a tamed tongue.

Clinical Depression - My Experience With and the Effectiveness of Client Centered Therapy

When first diagnosed with clinical depression in 1986, I did not want to talk to anyone, and I do mean anyone, about my emotional issues. That included my wife, parents, relatives, and friends After I was told that I should go to a therapist for treatment I didn't want to do that either. I figured my issues were my own business and no one else's, not even the psychologists. "Give me some pills and I'll be fine ", I said to the psychiatrist. I figured all I needed was some medicine and eventually I'd get over being depressed for good. It did not take too long to find out how wrong I was.

My doctor also insisted that if I wanted to get better, I needed psychotherapy. There are different types of psychotherapy available to help anyone who is depressed. Psychotherapy focuses on either affect (emotions), behavior (actions), or cognitions (thoughts), Some psychotherapies focus on a combination. The idea is that when either affect, behavior, or cognition get out of whack, they are all negatively effected. Through a series of psychological tests it was determined that my emotions were seriously damaged. For example, I'd cry at the drop of a hat, my self-confidence was in the toilet and I felt totally worthless. I needed emotionally focused therapy and that is what client centered therapy is all about.

I was pretty quiet for the first two or three sessions. Remember, I didn't want to say much of anything and as I reflect back I believe it was because of the stigma associated with having a "mental problem." It wasn't until the fourth session that I really started to open up and participate. As time went by I slowly began to feel better about myself and life in general without the psychotherapist "doing anything to me." I couldn't put my finger on it at first but after I did some research on client centered therapy, I understood why I felt better.

Client centered therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, is a non structured, non directive process between the psychotherapist and the patient. It is the process itself, not something that the psychotherapist does to the patient, that ultimately enables the patient to feel better by relieving the symptoms of depression. Client centered therapy is based on the humanistic philosophy that we all have the ability to strive to be the best that we can be in this life and we can find meaning for ourselves without constant direction from others. It was within this framework that Roger's focus in psychotherapy was less on what the therapist did and more on the client's verbal and nonverbal communication.

In order for client centered therapy to be effective the therapeutic process must contain the following 3 conditions:

1. Genuineness - Just as I was able to (eventually) share many of my thoughts and feelings with the therapist, so too was he able to share his own thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative, with me. Over several sessions I came to trust him and honestly believe that he was the real deal not hiding behind a facade or a mask of professionalism.

2. Unconditional positive regard - The second condition established by my therapist was that he accepted me with all my positive and negative qualities, just the way I was without any ridicule or rejection. I became so comfortable with our sessions that I could yell or scream at the guy without feeling guilty or unaccepted for doing so. This made me feel that how I communicated was just as important as what I communicated.

3. Empathy (reflective listening) - My therapist was able to understand and share my emotions and feelings. He did this by not only listening to what I had to say but actually summarizing and restating what I had to say in his own words. So when he made statements like," I can understand why you felt like you were between a rock and a hard place" or " perhaps you feel that you're unlovable", I came to believe that he actually knew what it felt like to "walk in my shoes" without making my issues his own. This enabled me to take charge of my feelings and work through them.

To be totally honest, I really did not need a battery of psychological tests to determine that my emotions were damaged. I knew that was my problem. However testing was part of the entire process that I needed to got through since I had voluntarily committed myself to treatment. I could have been taught a whole slew of different ways to change my thinking or behavior but I knew that was not going to change how lousy I felt. Keep in mind that client centered therapy takes time. As I made progress, my sessions were eventually cut back to the point that after three years, I no longer needed them.

If you've being diagnosed with depression and it's your emotions that are getting the best of you by negatively impacting the way you feel about yourself, talk to your doctor about client centered therapy. It worked for me, it could work for you as well.

How to Know Whether You Have Depression or Not?

Recently, you do not even have the slightest thought of going out of the house for fresh air. You would turn down all invitations and rather keep yourself isolated then socializing with your friends.

On top of that, you feel tire all the time and easily irritated by the smallest change in your daily routine. You may be thinking to yourself, can this be depression?

Although you cannot diagnose yourself whether you are a depression patient, having some level of understanding to the illness may help in defeating depression.

First, you have to know that depression is a genetic illness. It can be passed down to the next generation. Hence, if any of your close family members have once been diagnosed as a depression patient, you are at high chance of getting it as well.

However, this is not applicable to everyone. Some may have a family history of depression but they themselves live a normal life and show no symptoms of depression.

Having a high risk of getting depression does not necessarily mean you will have depression. Besides genetic factor, there are still many factors that may in turn leads to depression. Depression can be developed in individuals having a miserable life or in individuals that have suffered from the pain of losing their important ones. The individual may not be able to recover from the lost and in turn leads to depression.

Besides that, the lack of quality sleeping time can lead to depression as well. Affected individuals are generally those who suffer from long term insomnia which then affect their mood badly.

In conclusion, depression is highly associated with your mind and no one knows how exactly you are feeling or thinking. All the symptoms mentioned above including lack of sleep, tire, irritated, anti-social may be related to depression but not all individuals who are suffering from the those symptoms is having depression.

The important thing is to be aware of your mood. If your mood has gone out of your control, you should consider seeking help rather than self healing.

Depression will not go away magically. Go to the professionals for help before the situation has gone out from your hand.

Is This the Great Depression Again?

The economy is in the worst shape it has been in since the Great Depression. With no end in sight, many are using the D word when talking about the future of the economy. However, no one knows for certain if the United States is headed in that direction.

The Great Depression was not predicted by economists. The stock crash of 1929 is generally hailed as the beginning of the Depression, although what very few people realize is that the economy rebounded a bit and then slid downward several times during that period. Even at the end of the 1930s, the unemployment rate was in the double digits. During the Great Depression, the unemployment rate was at 25 percent. Today, the unemployment rate is up to 15 percent in some areas of the country and is nationwide just below 10 percent.

The difference between what happened during the Depression and the current recession is the foreclosure element. During the time of the Depression, there was more of a class distinction than there is now. The middle class did not exist. People were either of the working class and on the poor side, or had a great deal of money. The vast majority of those in the country rented their homes. The foreclosure rate has never been as high as it is right now. And this rate is continuing to climb.

During the Depression, no one worried about credit. Credit did not become a concept until the late 1960s. Prior to that, there were no universal charge cards and anyone who wanted to buy something on time went to the store and signed up for an account. Personal references were often used to vouch for character.

Today, all credit appears in a credit report. These reports are used by creditors to determine credit worthiness of an individual. Those with bad credit can restore their credit by using a credit repair service. Credit reversal is possible due to changes in laws protecting consumers. Many people today are looking to credit repair as a way to regain their credit after foreclosures and bankruptcies.

No one knows whether this will be another Great Depression as of yet. There are many differences in government regulations and social services that did not exist in the 1930s. However, the current economic crisis has all of the makings of a financial catastrophe for the country and is also affecting the global economy as well.

Testing For ADHD

Testing for ADHD can be a challenge. There is no available test that 'proves' that a person has ADHD. Thorough testing requires multiple screening tool and assessment. The accurate diagnosis of attention disorders is difficult but essential as there are multiple adverse outcomes related to undiagnosed and untreated ADHD. Unfortunately, the traditional method of ADHD diagnosis, which relies on the completion of symptom surveys by parents and teachers, is considered by many people to be highly subjective.

Russell Barkley has reported that the degree of agreement between parents and teachers for any dimension of child behavior are modest, ranging in the 30% to 50% range. This lack of agreement between teacher and parent can be problematic as the DSM criteria for diagnosing ADHD requires that the ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness be present in at least 2-3 environments.

Many parents are reluctant to medicate a child with ADHD unless there is an objective 'test' which positively identifies the presence of this disorder. Since there is no objective 'proof' for the diagnosis of ADHD, many parents struggle with accepting a treatment plan. A family's reluctance to treat ADHD can result in tremendous detriments for these children and families.

Last year a test known as the Quotient(TM) ADHD System became available. This system, formerly known as M-MAT, was developed by a Harvard Psychiatry professor and was similar to the continuous performance task test but added a motion analysis component. The company that promotes this test reports that this is the most accurate non-invasive testing method for ADHD. The test uses a computer program and motion detectors placed on the individual's forehead and shins to evaluate hyperactivity, inattention, and Impulsiveness.

There is very little information in the literature on using this test for the initial diagnosis of ADHD. The studies that I was able to find evaluating this took looked at the reliability of this tool for assessing the effectiveness of stimulant medication. The Quotient(TM) ADHD seems to work well in this regard but these studies do not answer the question of how useful this test is for identifying ADHD
There have been many studies done on the use of the continuous performance task test, known as CPT, as a diagnostic tool. The results of this test have all been positive for identifying a problem with attention and/or impulsiveness but there are problems with the interpretation of these results. The CPT can identify a problem with attention but it does determine that these problems are caused by ADHD. An abnormal CPT could be the result of another diagnosis such as anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, or low IQ.

It would be exciting to find a blood test or other marker that incontrovertibly determined the presence or absence of ADHD. Currently there is no such test. Other methods being studied to identify ADHD include EEGs, imaging studies, and DNA markers. These test are only now be evaluated as diagnostic tools but I am hopeful that, in the near future, some of these test may prove fruitful in the accurate diagnosing ADHD.

Combat Depression - Beating Negative Thought Patterns During The Winter Months

The winter months are often a terribly depressing time for Canadians. The lack of sunshine alone can lead to decreased energy levels, a loss of interest in daily activities and the need for additional sleep.

But what if you're still feeling depressed once spring arrives and the warm weather and sunshine beckons you outdoors?

Although we may casually refer to "feeling depressed" during a momentary unhappy time in our life, individuals who suffer from prolonged depression feel sad and empty to the point that their feelings impair their day-to-day activities and interactions with other people.

In 2002, Statistics Canada reported that approximately 8% of adult Canadians experience a major depression at some point in their lives. Depression and anxiety continues to be Canada's fastest-rising diagnosis. From 1994 to 2004, the number of visits made by Canadians to office-based doctors for depression and anxiety almost doubled-a staggering 11.6 million people in 2003.

And while medication may be necessary in cases of clinical depression, it needn't be your first line of defense if your altered mood is a result of a variety of negative experiences you've suffered in your day-to-day life and you find yourself in a downward spiral.

Sure, if you're looking for a quick fix, antidepressants may work in the short term. But if you'd like to make a significant long-lasting change in your life, you have to be willing to make a significant long-lasting change in you the way you think- changing negative thought patterns into positive ones.

It's been my observation that depression and low self-esteem go hand-in-hand. People with high self esteem feel confident about themselves and have positive thought patterns; whereas those who suffer from low self esteem often experience feelings of shame, guilt or self-doubt-negative thought patterns.

Most of my clients come to me at a time of depression. They've felt lost, lonely, abandoned and neglected for most of their life. As a life coach, I believe in self-awareness and emotional intelligence. What does this have to do with depression? Well, before you can change your negative thought patterns, you need to learn who you are. To do this, I work with each of my clients and explore their behaviours-both positive and negative. Through this process we learn who they are: their values, strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. And then we use that information to set goals.

One depression-fighting strategy I encourage my clients to adopt is a regular exercise routine. Medically proven to boost your mood and lower rates of depression, exercise removes the buildup of stress hormones in the body, allowing you to sleep and concentrate better. When you exercise, your body produces endorphins, or feel-good chemicals, and leaves you feeling happier even after you've stopped. And with more oxygen flowing through your red blood cells, you become more receptive to new ideas and ready to take on more challenges.

In addition, maintaining a regular exercise routine provides a structure and focus in your life as you set and meet new goals. The accomplishment of these goals-no matter how big or how small-leads to a sense of achievement and improved self-confidence and self-esteem.

Using exercise as a way to combat depression is not a new strategy, nor is it the only method you'll need to employ in your journey to better mental health. But making exercise a priority in your life will bring you one step closer to the ultimate goal of a healthy mind, body and soul.

Signs and Symptoms of Teen Drug Abuse

Teenagers are highly susceptible to drug abuse. Unaware of the risks associated, teens initiate and continue drug abusing habits risking their precious lives. Parents should keep an eye on their children and looks for signs and symptoms of drug abuse to save them from this harmful habit.

Following are warning signs and symptoms that indicate teen drug abuse:

Physical and health issues:

Intake of drugs by teens, mostly affects the brain. The brain is still in a developing stage till the age of 25 years. Therefore, when teens use harmful drugs like nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy or any other illicit substances, they quickly get addicted to it when compared to adults.

Other physical and health issues that are associated with drug abuse are:

•Kidney, liver and heart failure
•Red and glazed eyes
•Weight loss or weight gain
•Coughing
•Sweating
•Fatigue
•Running nose
•Dental problems

Changes in appetite:

Teenagers addicted or prone to drug abuse, either eat more or less than they need. You can notice change in their eating habits. You will also notice that either the teen has gained or lost weight. Some other drastic changes that may indicate drug abuse in teens are, change in sleep pattern and hobbies, angry outbursts and clothing style.

Depression, anxiety or moodiness:

Many teens use drugs to feel the high. But they are unaware that using drugs will deal with problems such as anxiety, depression and mood swings. Sudden behavioral changes in teens could be a sign of hormonal changes or it could be due to drug abuse. Pay attention to such sudden and drastic changes in teens, as it could be an indication that they are in trouble and need help from their loved ones.

Neglecting physical appearance:

Normally teens are very conscious and concerned about their physical appearance, grooming, clothing and personal hygiene. Teens who abuse drugs often focus less on their physical appearance. They don't want to maintain even their personal hygiene and cleanliness. They don't care about the way they look.

Change in friends:

Teenagers addicted to drugs drop regular old friends. They join new groups of friends. The change in friends and new hangouts, and getting very secretive about the new friends, is a clear indication that the teen is with a wrong group of friends, who will encourage the teen to experience drugs.

Unexplained need for money:

Illicit drugs are expensive. Teens consuming illicit drugs may ask for money quite often, without giving any specific reason. Their unexplained need for money, if not fulfilled, may lead to loss of money from their parents' wallet, valuables missing from home or borrowing money from friends and relatives. Parents should keep a close watch on their teens, when it comes to money matters.

To detect/confirm drug abuse, use reliable drug test kits:

On discovering your teen abusing illicit drugs, you can prevent situation from worsening, by detecting/confirming drug abuse in the privacy of your home, by using reliable, accurate, fast and FDA-approved drug test kits.

The Truth About the Wrath of God

Nobody likes the thought of God's wrath; people get really angry about it. That should give you a clue as to what God's wrath really is.

The wrath of God is that great gaping chasm between you and Him, and how you really feel about it deep within your unconscious. It is you standing on the lip of that bottomless pit, and some joker coming up behind you, pushing you and holding you back saying, "Saved you!" with a gormless grin on his face. And that joker is you. Remember this seven-word mantra: You are being lied to, by yourself.

It is the feeling of having someone's hand clamped over your nose and mouth. It is you believing you deserve to be thrown into the abyss, forever falling, always wanting it to end, but it never does. It is guilt and punishment and pain. It is wishing someone else could be thrown into the pit, that they suffer, and that they know it. It is wishing God himself be thrown in. And, when we feel like this we turn to other things to fill the yawning maw, or we collapse in on ourselves like a manic depressive black hole.

The wrath of God is not God's wrath, it is man's. Man has plenty enough anger to go around. Plenty enough anger to keep this world in a state of perpetual terror. God's wrath is me; it is you; it is him, her and six billion other people.

"Comfort, comfort my people," says your God (Isaiah 40:1)

Without presuming that God could never get angry, of this we can be certain: God has never drowned a world of mankind; he has never killed a nation's first-born; he has never had the ground open up and swallow down hundreds of men and women; he has never slaughtered whole families, or been complicit in genocide, or had fire rain down from heaven. God is love, not fear. The fear is all our own.

God wants to offer comfort. He wants every valley to be raised up, every hill to be made low. In other words, in Jesus' words, he wants mountains to be moved. He wants the abyss to be filled. The book of Revelation has the great dragon being dumped into the abyss, and a lid being slammed shut on him. Satan is our own chaos, the lies we tell ourselves, the slander, our opposition to God. Deal with that, sort that out and our pathway to God is made smooth. The word "comfort" can otherwise be translated, "Repent!" And, believe me, repentance doesn't mean what you think it means.

So, what are you angry about? What is your IQ - your irritability quotient? What sparks you off? What are you frustrated about, scared about, ashamed of? Get to the bottom of that and you can be one person closer to ridding the world of "God's Wrath". And if you say, "I'm not angry about anything," then you need to go back to the seven-word mantra. Have it printed on a mug, on a t-shirt, on a poster.

Treatment for Anxiety and Depression - What's the Best For You?

Treatment for anxiety and depression varies depending on the individual patient, the depression type and the cause of the disorder. Medication and psychotherapy are commonly combined. What other treatment modes are there?

Options Available For You

In treating anxiety and depression, one starts looking at the medication types involved. Then you start looking at dietary supplements that augment the medications. Then there is psychotherapy that many espouse as the more effective means for treating depression permanently.

There are also other trends in treating anxiety and depression that include transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and electroconvulsive therapy. Alternatively, one can also opt for acupuncture, light therapy, and even meditation and physical exercise. Or would you go for deep brain stimulation? And ultimately, when all else fails, would you like to just go self-medicating?

Let's look at these treatment schemes and how they stack up against each other.

Medications

Starting off with medications, there are a lot available in the market. Each one will brand itself as the best medication there is to treat anxiety and depression. While most of these medications have been available for decades, they have not changed nor evolved, and as before, are always the first lines of defense for anxiety and depression treatment. These medications include SSRIs or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors like Celexa, Prozac fluoxetine, Paxil paroxetine, and Zoloft sertraline. But can you depend on medication alone sans the psychotherapy?

Change In Diet And Supplements

Diet regimens including dietary supplements may augment the medications used. Supplements are known to add to the provision of the body's natural raw materials for serotonin which is essential in mood control and depression treatment. Methionine derivatives like the SAM-e or S-adenosyl methionine are also used as prescription antidepressants in the US and Europe. Omega-3, the fatty acid found in fish, hemp seeds and walnuts is also being used as a supplement to antidepressants to improve efficacy. Another supplement is the DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone. Magnesium is also used to supplement if not treat depression outright.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy comes next. Basically this is counseling where the depressed or anxious patient is advised or counseled on problems and how to deal with them as these problems or conditions result in depression. This may be done one-on-one with a psychiatrist, or through a support group of family or friends and conducted and facilitated by medical professionals.

Psychotherapy aims to improve personal bearing, well being, and social functioning. Some psychotherapeutic approaches include CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy wherein therapy that is usually combined with behavioral advice and therapy focuses on self-worth and self-recognition and relating with others. Therapy improves relating skills and allows the patient to overcome aversion or social phobia and reduce depression brought about by feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

Other Treatment Methods

Other treatment methods for anxiety and depression include the rTMS or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, the vagus nerve stimulation, the more invasive electroconvulsive therapy and electroshock.

Alternative treatments include acupuncture, light therapy, meditation, deep brain stimulation, and aerobics exercises.

Self-Conditioning

This is one of the oldest ways persuading oneself to be "someone," yet this is one of the most effective methods of molding the mind.

A person fails to bounce back from a depressed state when he doesn't have enough defense mechanism to do so. Thus, in order to prevent anxiety and depression from getting worse, you must think of ways of how to protect your mind.

Self-conditioning is another treatment for anxiety and depression that works as though you were "brainwashing" your own mind. You teach your mind to think this or that way by consistently telling it what it should feel. A simple example is if you fear heights, you will tell yourself everyday that, "I am safe in a building even if it is tall. I am safe in an airplane. I am comfortable with heights."

Reverse Mortgage Information For Seniors

A reverse mortgage used to be considered a last resort option for the so called, "cash strapped" seniors who needed to tap into home equity in order to get financial help during retirement. However, with home prices across the country declining at astonishing rates, and financial assets evaporating in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, more and more retirees are turning to a reverse mortgage as a necessary remedy to the financial crisis. This article will cover general information so that you will have a basic idea of what a reverse mortgage is and what the qualifications are in order to obtain one.

As you might be aware, reverse mortgages are becoming more mainstream by the day. More lenders than ever before, are offering this type of loan and each year the demand grows. It's not just the economic crisis that has fostered this, but it's also the rise in life expectancies, the rise in health care costs for seniors, and the overall increased costs of daily essentials.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A REVERSE MORTGAGE?
A reverse mortgage is a unique type of home equity loan that can provide lifetime Tax-Free income to seniors 62 or older. Senior homeowners that have accumulated large amounts of equity over many years of homeownership, now have a way to tap into this asset through a reverse mortgage and never make another monthly mortgage payment as long as they live in the home. Before this financial tool was available the only way to tap into this asset was to sell the home. Most people do not find this an acceptable option at this stage of life.

HOW DOES A REVERSE MORTGAGE WORK?
A Reverse mortgage works in exactly the opposite way that a "forward" or regular mortgage loan works. American Association for Retired Persons suggests, that one way to think about this mortgage is to visualize it as a "rising debt - falling equity" loan. This is very different from the purchase mortgage you used years ago when you first bought your home. That loan was considered a "rising equity - falling debt" loan. Although it was comforting to know you were building up equity over the years and working toward becoming mortgage free, now that you are there, you might be feeling a bit house rich and cash poor. Yes, the home is paid off or nearly so, but you may be having difficulty making ends meet from a cash flow standpoint. Your largest asset might very well be your home. But the only way you can access the cash, other than through a reverse mortgage, is to sell your home. Consequently, now might be the perfect time to consider reversing tapping into your home equity in order to have the financial freedom you deserve.

With a reverse mortgage, the lender pays the homeowner tax-free disbursements based on the amount of equity in the home, the interest rate and the age of the owners. The senior is not required to give up title, sell the home, or make monthly mortgage payments. The payment stream is "reversed" and the lender now makes payments to the homeowner as long as the senior continues living in the home. There are no income, medical or credit requirements to qualify for this type of home loan. The money can be used for any purpose.A Reverse Mortgage is a safe way for seniors to access home equity without making monthly mortgage payments. The HECM Reverse Mortgage Loan, endorsed by HUD and insured by FHA is the most popular reverse mortgage offered today. The purpose of this kind of loan is to allow you to receive cash from your home, without the obligation on your part to make monthly mortgage payments. The true beauty of this loan is that it does not require any repayment for as long as you live in your home.

HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU GET?
The Loan Amount is Determined By:
The Value Of The Home
The Age of The Youngest Borrower

The Current Interest Rate
Some people are under the misunderstanding that in order to get a reverse mortgage all they need is to own a home, regardless of how much is still owed on the existing mortgage. They think of this loan as a typical conventional refinance transaction where the loan amount can be very close to the value of the home. However, this is not the case with a this type of mortgage. Equity is the key component in determining a borrower's eligibility for a reverse mortgage.

To be eligible, there must be significant equity in the property. Minimally, the amount of equity should be in the area of 50 to 60% of the market value, depending on the ages of the homeowners and the current interest rates. The reason the equity requirement is so high is because the equity must last the expected life-time of the youngest borrower. For example if the youngest homeowner has just turned 62 (which is the minimum age requirement to be eligible) the money being paid out to the seniors from their accumulated equity, could potentially have to last 30+ years.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
All owners on the title to the home must be at least 62 years old There should be a large amount of equity in the home The home must be the primary residence for all borrowers The home must be: Single Family, Condo, Town-home, 2-4 owner occupied home or manufactured on a permanent foundation and built after June of 1976. Criteria that are NOT considered are:

Income
Credit
Health

Although, not right for everyone, this mortgage can be the perfect answer for seniors who wish to remain in their home but are finding it a challenge to make their monthly payments and meet other financial obligations.

It is important to collect as much reverse mortgage information as possible before you decide whether this kind of loan is the right solution for you. Reverse mortgage consumer guides offer some of the best reverse mortgage information available today. Some great sources are: HUD and the National Council on Aging (NCOA.)

Tinnitus and Its Relationship With Stress And Depression

Research and studies by respected institutions have shown there is a strong relationship between tinnitus and a whole range of psychological conditions - commonly known by the acronym SPADE.

The presence of one or more of these factors - Stress... Panic disorder... Anxiety... Depression... or, Emotional disorder - have been shown to play a significant role in;

a) whether a person will be affected by tinnitus,

b) how severe their condition will be, and,

c) how effectively they will respond to treatment for it.

And now we have come to understand that most forms of tinnitus actually stem from the brain - rather than the ear - I think this is easier for most of us to accept why this would be.

If you are someone who is more susceptible to stress, anxiety or depression - your brain will process information in a different way - and draw different conclusions - to someone who is not.

Michael gets so anxious about taking his driving test that he is physically sick while waiting at the test centre for the examiner to arrive. Frank, who is taking the same test, with the same examiner... immediately after Michael - is totally relaxed about it.

Sue is so stressed because she has just been made redundant from her job - and she worries everyday about what the future will bring. Tracy has also been made redundant from the same factory as Sue, but is confident she will get another job after she has enjoyed an extra couple of months off work - funded by her payout.

These people are in exactly in the same position as each other, but their mind interprets the same information - a very different way. Some may see it as a massive difference in our internal "fight or flight" mechanism - which probably evolved as far back as caveman times.

So is stress, anxiety and depression a major cause of tinnitus?

Stress and depression doesn't directly cause tinnitus - but it has been shown to predispose a large percentage of sufferers to the condition - and also that they are much more likely to be affected more severely by the symptoms ie, higher levels of noise and distress.

It seems clear that the "emotional" part of our brain is critical in the experience, suffering and relief from tinnitus.

The fact that some anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressants are some of the most effective medications to reduce volume of noise - backs up these findings even further.

It is actually "good news" that Stress, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Depression and Emotional disorders are major contributing factors to many peoples tinnitus - because these are all very treatable conditions. If your tinnitus has been brought on or exaggerated by SPADE - then your recovery may be easier to achieve.

Just as people are able to overcome their addiction to smoking, their phobia of spiders, or their fear of public speaking - you can retrain your brain to reduce or even eliminate the controlling effect that tinnitus has on your life.

Factors Affecting Depression

Some people are more prone to suffer from depression easily because of their own biological structure. This brings greater suffering to those affected than those who do not have these dangerous factors. There are four major biological factors that maximize possibility of depression to a person. These include biochemical factors, genetic factors, sleep irregularities and alterations in hormonal flow.

Biochemical Factors

The brain consists of billions of neurons. It is also a highly complicated organ. There are many proofs telling that depression is a chemical or biological disorder. This is where the central nervous system neurotransmitter irregularities are likely the reason of clinical depression.

Moreover, these neurotransmitter irregularities can be the outcome of environmental or inherited factors or other medical conditions like hypothyroidism, cerebral infarction, AIDS, or substance mistreatment.

The brain's specific neurotransmitters are thought to be associated with mood altered parts. It was first believed that the two major neurotransmitters included were norepinephrine and serotonin.

Recent studies show that depression is a result of the malfunctioning of various neurotransmitter systems together with norepinephrine and serotonin. Furthermore, the acetylcholine, dopamine, and GABA systems are also part of the pathophysiology of main depression.

Genetic Factors

Examinations tested with twins have presented that genetic factors perform a part in the growth of depressive disorders. The average rate of split mood problems among identical twins is 45 percent to 60 percent according to a large number of examinations conducted.

Therefore, when one half of the twin experiences depression or any other mood swing, there is a 45 percent to 60 percent possibility that the other will also suffer. However, dissimilar issue may happen in the fraternal twins where the percentage falls severely to only 12 percent.

Mood swings are hereditary for some. This also justifies that those who are genetically subject to mood swings may have an earlier age of inception. It increases the chances of getting other disorders and become more prone to frequent sicknesses. However, any visible genetic factors should coordinate with environmental factors for the improvement of depression.

Sleep Irregularities

Sleep electroencephalogram irregularities can be proven in 40 percent to 60 percent of outpatients and up to 90 percent of inpatients during the main depressive occurrence. People have depression tend to experience a slow delta wave sleep, pre-mature absence of sleep, and altered fast eye movement latency.

The state of fast eye movement sleep together with dreaming happens in two thirds of people with bipolar and main depressive sickness. This is the decreased fast eye movement latency. This is also fixed with the expected appearance of an inherited characteristic.

Decreased fast eye movement latency and shortages in slow-wave sleep basically continue following recovery from a depressed situation. Data also recommended that depressed patients without this notice are not subject to respond to healing with tricyclic antidepressants. This contains early fast eye movement sleep.

Alterations in Hormonal Flow

Hormones act a responsibility in depression according to the inconclusive proof. The recent research about neuroendocrine characteristics related to depression has been hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical access.

The proof of intensified cortisol secretion is obvious in 20 percent to 40 percent of depressed outpatients and 40 percent to 60 percent of depressed inpatients. Additionally, outcome of a dexamethasone suppression examinations are irregular in about 50 percent of patients with depression. This refers to the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal cortical axis.

Therefore, the result of this examination can also be irregular in people with obsessive-compulsive abnormalities and other medical states. More importantly, patients with psychotic main depression are among those with the highest scales of cortisol's nonsuppression on the dexamethasone suppression examination.

The Significance of the TSH Blood Test

The Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) blood test is often performed to determine how the thyroid gland is performing through the measurement of the amount of TSH in the blood. A common reason for ordering a TSH blood test is to determine whether a patient has hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism means that the thyroid gland, which is found in front of the windpipe, produces too much of the thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Hypothyroidism means that there is a lack of these hormones in the body. A person with hypothyroidism usually has symptoms such as weight gain, frequent menstruation, constipation, fatigue and dry skin. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism can cause a person to have symptoms like weight loss, fast heart beats, irregular menstruation, nervousness, and diarrhea.

The TSH blood test may be ordered for people who have goiter or an enlarged thyroid gland and those who have symptoms indicative of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It is the hypothalamus that produces the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) that in turn causes the pituitary gland to produce TSH. It is TSH that controls the production of T3 and T4 by the thyroid gland. Normally, if the pituitary gland senses a low level of T3 and T4 in the blood, it releases TSH to cause the thyroid to release more of these hormones.

To help in the interpretation of the results of the TSH blood test, a physician usually requires also the measurement of the levels of T3 and T4 in the patient's blood. Thus, if the patient has unusually high levels of TSH but has low quantities of the T3 and T4 hormones and vice versa, it can be determined that it is a thyroid problem. However, if both the thyroid hormones and TSH are too high or both are too low, then it is the pituitary gland that may be diseased.

However, some medication or drugs, such as aspirin, can affect the level of TSH in the blood. During the first stages of pregnancy, TSH levels may also be low. Other conditions, such as too much stress, exposure to radioactive materials or an x-ray using iodine dye, can also influence the amount of TSH in the blood.

When You Are Down And Out, How Do You Get Up And Go Forward?

Have you been prospecting for months on end, only to end up with no one? Or have you been trying to sell a product or service that has not been selling? Or you just kind of depressed about your current employment? There are many reasons to get down and start to get depressed about your situation. When you are down, do you know how to get back up and heading in the right direction? When learning some techniques in your personal development growth, I believe there are four good principles that you can use to get you headed back in the right direction.

I am going to get these four principles from two passages in the Bible, Psalms 42-43. In the passages, the Psalmist is in a depression. He is searching the depths of his soul looking for God. He talks about how to get one's self out of a depression. I am going to take these teachings and apply them to feelings of giving up because nothing is happening in your home based MLM business opportunity, your online sales, your job, and etc. We all get down for one reason or another. The trick is to not give up, but get up and go forward in the face of adversity.

The first principle to remember is to talk to yourself instead of letting yourself talk to you. In chapter 42:5, the psalmist says, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?" Have you tried everything that you knew possible and see others becoming successful, but doing the same thing is not working for you? In the back of your mind, you start telling yourself that you will never be successful. When those thoughts start cross your mind, you need to stop, take a deep breath and say to yourself, "I am going to be successful". Think outside the box. Don't let your conscious get the best of you. If you have a mentor, talk to them. If you do not have a mentor, set up a small support group that will raise you up when you are down or vise versa. Remember this quote when dwelling on the past, "Success comes in cans, failure in can't"

The second principle is to quit dwelling on things that are in the past and start dwelling on the present. In chapter 42:4, the psalmist says "This things I remember..." He also says in chapter 42:6 "my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar." Plainly said, "What is done, is done" Quit worry about things that did not work for you. Do not beat yourself up for things that you cannot change. Only think of ways to not make the same mistakes. Try new things! Again, think outside of the box. A famous quote from Ben Sweetland states "Success is a journey, not a destination." You have to continually think about the present and your journey to success.

The third principle is though there are many reasons to fail, there are far more reasons to succeed. The psalmist states in chapter 42:5, "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him" This mean to not be bogged down in negativity. You may fail at one of your goals, get up, dust yourself off and try again. Always be focused on the big picture. Visualize yourself succeeding. One of my favorite quotes is by Dorothea Brande who states "To guarantee success, act as if it we impossible to fail"

And the last principle is the affirmation of success must be repeated again and again in spite of failure. Within passage 42 and 43, the psalmist repeats the verse "Why are you downcast, O my soul?" three times. Three times he asks himself why he feels down. The psalmist is affirming that he has blessings to be thankful for. Think positively. Have you ever heard the expression to "will" something done? You have to do just that. You have to visualize your success. You have to see yourself in the new house, the new cars, money in the bank, running a successful business, etc. And you do this repeatedly, visualizing yourself succeeding no matter of the setbacks. Willie Davis says, "The road to success is uphill." To succeed, you will constantly need to tell yourself that you are going to be successful.

By reading the passages, you see a man downcast and downtrodden. He is question himself. But we see that he talk himself out of depression. We also see him quit dwelling on the past and concern himself with the present. Even though he has reasons to burden himself with failures, he expatiates on the success. And last, and probably the most important, he affirmed his belief several times. When you get down, you need to do the same things. And one other important thing, you should only surround yourself with people who are positive and like-minded. You do not need any negativity in your life beating you down. "Will" yourself to success!

Bible Quotes On Love - Overcome The Struggles

All of us will end up going through hard times at one point in our lives. The fact of the matter is that this life just isn't easy. We lose friends and loved ones to sicknesses and accidents, and we also have our own share of personal struggles. Amidst all the depression and disasters there is hope that comes from the Bible. Many of the passages in this sacred volume of scripture were meant to lift up your spirits and help you to overcome the struggles that are presented to you. Here are some reasons to frequently read Bible quotes on love.

First of all, it can help with your personal life. If you are always depressed and lonely, thinking that no one loves you then it is pretty hard to go out and make a difference. There are many Bible quotes on love that can help you understand how important you are to God and how much he actually loves you. There are many encouraging scriptures that you can study that will inevitably change your life.

Another good reason to study Bible quotes on love is they can help you in your relationships. Whether you are dating, married, or just want to improve your relations with friends and family, these inspired words can help you.

Bible quotes on love will help you remain positive with in yourself and to believe in the power of love. Love being so powerful that happiness will always be prevailed and strength in your relationships always achieved.

Treating Depression Successfully Without Drugs

In the past treatment of depression was done by many different types of talk therapy by psychologists. There are over 250 psychotherapy "techniques", and NONE of them have been proven to work any better than any other.

But, the fact remains that very few depressed patients were ever "cured" by talk type psychotherapy. As a matter of fact, it has been shown in several studies that talking to a sympathetic friend, even a bartender, or almost anyone who will listen is about as good as talking to a clinician (at $100 up per hour).

The APA has neatly classified several different types of depression (manic, bipolar, unipolar, post-partum, grief, etc - mostly for the purposes of legally making them covered by health insurance.)

Psychiatrists would seem to have somewhat of an advantage here. They have the battery of drugs that "seem" to help depressed persons at least get through life without too many suicides from depression. Here's another fact. Nobody ever got depressed because of poor toilet training as a child. Freud had a lot of good ideas, but this wasn't one of them. There's been a lot written about stress causing depression, and stress is a component (as poor toilet training may be). But, it doesn't CAUSE depression directly.
So, just what does cause depression?

The Orthomolecular Theory and my experience in taught me that there were three basic causes of depression. Clearing up these "stresses" cleared up the patient's ability to withstand the normal stress of everyday living as well as the heavy stresses put on some at times.

These three basic causes are:

• Mineral Toxicity (perhaps 10-15%)

• Nutritional Deficiency (perhaps 15-20%

• Allergies and Other Stress Factors (perhaps 75-85%)

The following is pretty brief, and my book “The Health Revolution” has much more information and actual case studies of many different types of depression and anxiety, etc. It also describes the actual therapy I used in each case, and how it worked. This book may be found at:
[http://Alternate-Health.com/health.html]

Mineral Toxicity

There are several minerals that may cause depression (at toxic levels) directly. These include toxic levels of mercury, copper, lead, and others. (In the case of copper, medium toxic levels of copper can cause depression, and higher levels may cause schizophrenia.) Lead is still a problem, but becoming less likely due to removing it from gasoline and paint. I even had one patient with arsenic causing depression.

Nutritional Deficiency

As mentioned above, almost every kind of stress causes the body to use up various vitamins and minerals faster. This means that when you are under unusual stress, you should be taking more vitamins.

Allergies and Stress

Now we come to the real meat. Allergy! Or, more precisely, both allergies and/or food/chemical sensitivities. To allergists, they are two separate problems, and until recently, few MD allergists even considered food sensitivity at all. Both allergy and sensitivity can cause all the same symptoms/disease as the other. Ranging from schizophrenia and depression to hyperactivity and bedwetting, arthritis and skin itching. The list of potential symptoms of allergy and/or sensitivity is as long as your arm.. It surprises many people that most of the "brain problems" of depression, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, epilepsy, etc can be, and often are caused by allergy and/or sensitivity.

Talk about stress. Either allergy or sensitivity causes huge stress to the body, and stress is additive. So, if you have an emotional strain in your life at the same time as an allergen is affecting you, the overall stress becomes much more, and your body needs much more in the way of good nutrition to help get through this stressful period. Post Partum Depression and PMS are often examples of additive stress.

In virtually every depressed patient I ever saw in my practice the depression "lifted" when the combination of stress from allergy and/or mineral toxicity was dealt with. (I estimate about 80% allergy/sensitivity and 20% mineral toxicity with a lot of overlap.) By curing the underlying physical problem, the "ordinary" stress of modern life can be dealt with.
I should mention at this point that whenever I saw a depression patient for the first time, I immediately started them on what I called "Immediate Relief". This was a combination of 500 mg of Tryptophan, and 500 mg of Tyrosine - from 1-3 times per day along with at least 50 mg B complex at the same time. None of these cause any side effects (unless you are allergic to capsules or some of the "fillers" used.) This helped to lift their depression during the search for the underlying problem, and helped defuse thoughts about suicide. There are now nutritional supplements with these combinations on the market.

Neu-Becalm'd is the one that I recommend. Info about Neu-Becalm’d can be found at: http://www.StressTalk.com

In April 2002, I leased two EEG biofeedback units to two different people that have reported back to me. One, was a suicidal and depressed young man. With 40 1/2 hour sessions, he has completely turned around, and is quite normal. No depression symptoms at all. The other was an older woman, and she reported that after training her son (ADD/ADHD), she felt much better just watching him train, so she did sessions herself. She didn't report how many, but not only was her son free of his ADD/ADHD symptoms, but her depression was gone as well. (Since that was written, many more cases have been successful.)

Dr Von Hilsheimer reports 100% success with all types of depression in his biofeedback practice in Orlando Florida. How does it work? My theory first voiced to Dr Von in 2000 is that this EEG BF training somehow trains the brain to change the effect of some allergens on the brain/body. My first test of the Bate Auditory Training system proved that this theory is at least partially correct. Many of the people in this test lost several allergies/sensitivities.

The Bate Auditory BrainWave Training System

In 2004, I realized that if EEG Biofeedback (neurofeedback) could solve various “brain problems” such as: ADD/ADHD, Autism, depression, insomnia, etc, by simply changing some specific brain wave bands, then it should be possible to do the same thing using passive audio. I made up a test audio, and tested it on over 40 volunteers (who all paid to take part in this test). The results were mixed, but overall it proved that raising one brain wave (called SMR) did change the allergen effect(s) on the brain. Every depressed person, and every person with Insomnia who used the audio for more than a month solved their problems. (Insomnia/sleep problems is often a component of depression.)

Since I only used the audio message to raise the SMR brain wave, there were some ADD/ADHD persons who did not get as much benefit as hoped. (Included in this test were 3 kids that hadn’t been helped by EEG biofeedback, and they weren’t helped by this audio either). (I knew that NASA had found that lowering the Theta brain wave increased attention/concentration.)
In 2005, I devised a new audio that included lowering of the Theta brain wave as well as raising the SMR brain wave. This was also tested on over 40 participants, most of whom paid up to $100 each. Every ADD/ADHD person tested, (who used the audio for over 6 weeks) improved dramatically. Even some autistic kids did very well, and the parents are continuing it’s use.
I cannot, and do not claim that the Bate Auditory BrainWave Training system will “cure” any brain problems, but to date, I can state that this system has solved a very high percentage of such problems, comparable to EEG biofeedback (estimated by most at around 85%) at a fraction of the cost.

Male Depression - How to Spot the Tell Tale Signs of Depressed Men

Depression is one of those "modern" diseases that is often misunderstood or just written off by those who aren't suffering from it as a disease that was invented to get people time off work.

But depression is very real and is estimated to affect around one in ten women and about one in twenty men. The problem with male depression is that our macho culture means that it often goes unrecognized and untreated.

Whilst the symptoms of male and female depression are often similar, the way they manifest themselves varies between the sexes.

Depressed men can become more dominant and aggressive. This shows up as flares of temper, anger attacks and irritability. Although this latter trait may be difficult to spot as many men come across as being irritable even if they're not suffering from the affects of depression.

Another way that male depression shows itself is with increased risk taking. This could take the form of aggressive driving and road rage or it could show at work with the choice of strategies that don't have a reasonable chance of success or are even designed to provoke other people. The increase in risk taking that is often seen in depressed men can also show itself with a loss of self-control, so if a man close to you "flies off the handle" keep in mind that the anger could have a deeper meaning and may not be particularly related to what has just happened.

One of the biggest problems associated with male depression is the man's tendency to clam up rather than admit and talk about the problem. From an early age, men learn to bottle up their feelings and this skill is definitely a harmful one when depression is involved. The bottling up of feelings and emotions can also be another trigger for outbursts of anger as the feelings eventually have to be released. Anger is a double edged sword in this instance as it usually helps the person who has the anger outburst but can leave a mental scar on people close by.

A further sign of depression in men is the use of alcohol to attempt to hide the problem. Since alcohol is a depressant drug anyway, this tends to compound the problem rather than help it.

Depression - How To Identify It In Yourself And The Beginning Of Self-Help

Firstly, are you really depressed? Here are some simple little tests to help decide:

1. (a)Do you get relief from talking a lot about your problems? Or (b)have you become uncommunicative and say very little about anything at all?

2. (a)Do you get relief and perk up when friends visit? Or (b) would you rather your friends stayed away?

3. (a)Do you attribute your depression to the ill-will, hostility or incompetence of others with whom you are currently involved in your work or personal life? Or(b) do you blame yourself almost entirely and think badly of yourself?

If you answered "yes" to the second part (the "b"s) of these 3 questions then you might have very serious depression and should go see your doctor as soon as possible. If you said "yes" to the first part of these 3 questions or felt that neither part applied to you then you may have what used to be called "neurotic depression" and have a high chance of being helped by the methods in this program right now.

This even simpler test can give you a clues as to whether or not you need help to deal with depression:

1. Have you been feeling sad or depressed virtually all of each day for at least 2 weeks? 2. Have you lost interest in the things that once interested you and in fact have lost interest in just about everything?

If you answered "yes" to both of these questions then although the self help program may have a high chance of helping you, it is nevertheless very possible you suffer a major depressive illness and should consider seeing a mental health professional for further assessment.

For a more comprehensive but still brief free test for depression you could go here:
depressioncured.blogspot.com

2. Reactive depression. I call it "bad luck depression". If you are sacked from your job especially when you have a big credit card or other debts and obligations, if you are going through divorce or your business has failed, or if your house has just burned down or your superannuation funds have collapsed, you failed your exams, or you've lost a court case, or your children have been in trouble with the police or school - then you can expect to be depressed! How serious is reactive depression? Once the life crisis passes we usually make a recovery and become our old selves. Nevertheless it can be severe enough to lead to suicide and if the stress goes on too long the depression sometimes becomes "endogenous" and hard to shift. We become chronically depressed and negativistic, can't shake ourselves out of it and treatment becomes necessary. Recognising the depression and following this program could help a lot. If you've been daydreaming about suicide as a way to end the suffering and the dilemmas in your life then you must go and see a mental health consultant.

There are 2 special kinds of reactive depression that need to be mentioned, and because they are special, and severe, the DSM1V puts them in a category of their own, even though at a common-sense level they are forms of reactive depression - because they result from meeting unfortunate and unhappy circumstances. These are bereavement with consequent grief, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The grief of bereavement can be very long lasting and sometimes needs medical intervention. The support of family and friends is important. Face to face counselling is strongly recommended. The support of a religious or positive life philosophy also helps many people deal with their grief. Don't "go it alone". With regard to posttraumatic stress syndrome, face to face intervention is needed. If you have "flash backs" to the time of a horrifying or life threatening event, avoid associated places and situations and have a fearful pessimistic view of your own future then it is likely you have posttraumatic stress disorder. Once again, you must not "go it alone" but rather consult your doctor or mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist as soon as possible. The bottom line to genuine posttraumatic stress disorder is that it needs medical intervention and long term monitoring.

Clinical Depression This term really means that you are not just naturally down because of the mortgage payments, the bill from the vet and the bad report card your child brought home but that you do indeed have depression to the extent that it can be considered an illness because it is a source of suffering and interfering with your productivity and enjoyment of life. However, if you find you cheer up when agreeable company calls, that you seem to get relief by talking a lot about your problems, and perhaps can identify people in your life who you think (rightly or wrongly) are committed to making you miserable or undermining you then your depression is unlikely to be the most serious type.

Some sufferers of depression are described as "cyclothymic", "bipolar", or "manic-depressive". The term cyclothymic is likely to be used for the less serious forms of mood swing. The term manic-depressive is used for the more serious cases which at the poles of depression and hypomania or mania are serious enough to be considered psychosis. The time lapse between these poles can vary very widely from person to person and there can be periods of normality in between. In the early stages of the manic phase the patient simply feels good, buoyant, energised and can be genuinely very productive. As the condition proceeds though the patient experiences a "head like a can of worms" and cannot focus attention. Grandiosity is sometimes a feature of the hypomanic phase with the patient adopting an air of supreme confidence, social boldness and careless spending. This can make the person seem charismatic to others who seek to feed off that confidence and aura of success.

The No-Win Dilemma Face a firing squad, or be hung? Sometimes life puts us in a situation of having to choose between alternatives none of which offer us escape from unpleasantness. One of my case histories resulted from a situation in which a very pleasant well liked man committed suicide. He had been carer for his disabled wife. None of their friends had ever guessed he was so depressed and filled with psychological pain he would even consider suicide. One can only speculate on his thinking. He might have felt himself to be trapped with no honourable way out. In suiciding, his wife was still left to find care plus having to cope with the psychological misery of totally unjustifiable self recriminations. When we get into a very anxious and depressed negativistic state we not only "catatastrophise" (a neologism used by American psychiatrist Albert Ellis) but our thinking and creativity becomes grossly restricted. We can't see the obvious and we become prone to "fixed pie" thinking. A parable to explain what I mean: Two sisters argued over an orange:

The sisters finally decided to end the argument by cutting it in half, each accepting just half of what she really wanted. Only then did they discover that one of them only wanted the juice for a drink and the other only wanted the skin to grate for a cake. It is no accident that Fritz Perls, an American psychiatrist famous for training psychotherapists made a training film entitled "The Philosophy of the Obvious". When we are depressed or anxious not only does our "vision" and creativity become very restricted i.e. we get "tunnel vision", but easy tasks look too hard to face up to - we suffer lowered ego strength. In situations like this it very important to get professional help. A psychologist can help you by boosting your ego strength which can put an end to procrastination enabling you to find the strength to do what has to be done, and help you with problem solving strategies.

The Curved Ball Shattering news from the doctor, or from a knock on the door: Everything I've said about dealing with the "no-win" dilemma applies here. Don't go it alone!

Existential Neurosis I used to call this "ageing intellectual" depression but in reality one doesn't need to be either ageing or an intellectual to suffer this kind of depression. Only a few text books mention this kind of "neurosis" as it does not fit squarely with official diagnostic syndromes. It was described by S. R. Maddi in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1967, vol. 72. It involves in essence (a) a sense of meaninglessness and an inability to believe in the truth or value in anything one is doing or can imagine doing - a sense of the pointlessness of everything, (b) apathy interspersed with depression. Sufferers may see themselves as being nothing more than realists and support the view with virtually irrefutable logic. The approach I take in helping to deal with this debilitating and life draining condition is essentially the same as that taken by the famous irascible psychiatrist Albert Ellis in dealing with guilt: Basically, we are either going to continue living or we aren't and if we are then we might as well go about trying to get some satisfaction out of it. There are constructive things one can do instead of beating oneself up or bemoaning the essential futility of everything and all existence. Even if intellectually you sees life as an exercise in futility this is of no comfort to someone else who might be suffering in some way, and could benefit from your talents, time and efforts. Another famous existentialist American psychiatrist, Victor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning) learned in Auschwitz the vital, life saving importance of helping people to find at least one thing in life that is worth staying alive for.

Advanced age has always been associated with depression and the connection might often be largely biochemical. Every age has it upside and downside. The youth suicide statistics suggest that although we like to remember our youth as our "halcyon days" in fact, being young comes with its own particular problems as well as benefits. And this is just as true for our older years when we get to enjoy the benefits that were out of range in youth. At every age we have a choice as to where we focus our minds. We can revel in the benefits we enjoy, or wallow in the problems and the gloomy side of things.

What causes depression? Brain chemistry and genetic predisposition have already been mentioned as an explanation at the physiological level. At the psychological level depression is caused by: (a) Loss: the loss or expected loss of something valued, or similarly a feeling of having missed out on something valuable at sometime in the past; or, (b) Lack of positive reinforcing feedback i.e. having gone too long without experiencing the pleasure of success - "everything I try turns to muck! I'm a born loser", or, (c) Stress in not being able to cope with environmental pressures. Knowing the above provides the clues as to how best deal with depression.

An atavistic theory of depression: According to this theory depression is a natural survival mechanism to ensure we don't expend precious energy on futile or dangerous activity. If the landscape is covered with snow, there are no fruits or berries around and game animals are hard to find, or if this is the season of too many flesh eating dinosaurs in our vicinity, then maybe the wisest thing we could do is huddle together around a campfire in the back of our cave and in between sleeping enjoy grouching about our rotten luck and how nothing these days is as good as it used to be! Depression according to this scenario is a sort of energy saving hibernation. Of course there are other, more scientific theories including "learned helplessness" a concept explained by famed Harvard psychologist Martin Seligman who found dogs could learn to accept helplessness even in the face of pain and would do nothing to help themselves even when the opportunity was available to them. But sometimes depression, especially the more serious forms, may have physiological issues as their primary cause.

What can you do about depression? Well, the simplest starting point, especially if you think you have a serious form of depression is to go see your doctor. You can also try to help yourself. For detailed guidance on this you can get my self help course (link below). Basically, start by trying to identify the source of your depression. It might stem from an unhappy situation at home, finances or from events in the past that have left you with a sense of outrage or of having missed out on something due to you. To help you look for the source of depression you can keep a diary and note down what was going on when your bout of depression started, i.e. look for triggering events and circumstances.

Tackle any tasks that you have not attended to due to procrastination. If you've identified problems or tasks hanging over your head get started on dealing with them.

You can also make a conscious effort to do the things one tends not to do when depressed - pay attention to personal grooming and the tidiness of your home and office.

Make an effort, despite perhaps not feeling like it, to socialise, catch up with people you haven't seen in a while. And providing that you discuss it with your doctor you could try naturopathic preparations. http://www.depressioncured.blogspot.com

EMDR - Treating Depression, Anxiety and Other Mood Disorders the Natural Way

The statistics are staggering! According the National Institute of Mental Health: "An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older - about one in four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. A report on mental illness prepared by Health Canada in 2002 stated that: "Twenty percent of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness during their lifetime."

What is a DSM-III-R disorder? Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder or bi-polar disorders to name a few. But how many people even know what these illnesses look like? If they do, do they know what to do about it or what the best treatment option is?

Often people ignore the symptoms of depression, symptoms such as trouble sleeping and eating, low mood, or lack of motivation. People who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks often think they have heart problems, and only find out they are suffering from an anxiety disorder when they end up in the E.R. department in the middle of a panic attack. I would guess most people have no idea what bi-polar disorder looks like, or what Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is.

Some people go to their family doctor who prescribes some kind of medication (not always the correct one). I have had clients who do not wish to take medications. They don't like the side effects. And then I have others who have come for counseling or psychotherapy because they have tried taking different medications and nothing works or they have been taking the same medication for years, and either have not seen any improvement or minimal gains. They all want better results and a happier life, which they deserve!

Family doctors are not always the most knowledgeable when it comes to these illnesses. And in fairness, how could they be? They are general practitioners who treat a wide variety of issues, problems and health concerns. And like other illnesses, if the symptoms persist, sometimes family doctors will refer their patients to specialists who understand, assess and treat these disorders.

Psychologists, social workers and other therapists are trained in a variety of treatment techniques because different problems require different treatments. In my opinion, because of personal and professional experience, EMDR is one of the most consistently effective treatment options. According to Wikipedia: "Based on the evidence of randomised controlled research trials both the practice guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association[13] and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense[14] have placed EMDR in the highest category of effectiveness and research support in the treatment of trauma."

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk talked about his amazing EMDR vs Prozac study. 80% of adult onset trauma completely cleared PTSD & Depression after 8 weeks of treatments. Prozac people felt better until they stopped taking the drugs. EMDR folks got better and better for months after treatments, and stayed that way.

This is a very cool study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17284128

Do not get me wrong. I am not against medications and I use whatever treatment techniques work with my clients. I just love the positive results that my clients are getting when we do EMDR! And it is all natural -- no medications needed!

Stages of Depression

Depression, like alcoholism, is intensely personal, so please understand that when I give the stages of depression, they're as I experienced them. I wouldn't dream of suggesting that these are written in stone for everyone to follow. This article relates purely to me, and if I'm a little bit fuzzy on the final stages, I would ask forgiveness.

I worked for myself, and I loved what I did. Business was good and work was backed up by about three months. Good quality work too, so I had nothing about which to complain. Indeed, the last job I remember taking in was priced at just under $1500.00, and I recall being very excited about this.

I should mention that I'd taken Valium on and off for a number of years, but at that time I was free of all medication. I felt fit and cheerful and worked long hours. I worked from home, and my poor wife used to sometimes threaten to physically drag me away at the end of the day. I was sensible in one respect. I realized I was over doing it a bit, and I cut my time back so that at least I'd stop work at a set hour.

Now we begin to see how insidious depression can be. Almost imperceptibly, the work started to hold my interest less and less. Here was my first mistake. My wife is extremely supportive and in fact worked in a psychiatrist's office some years ago. She's a very easy and understanding person to talk to and since I'd experienced depression in the past, I should have gone straight to her and told her that my interest in work was dropping off and that maybe I should go and see someone. Actually, just talking to her may well have proved sufficient.

But no, idiot that I was, I ignored the warning signs, the outriders of the storm, if you like. My wife realized that things weren't quite as they should be and questioned me about how the work was going. I was irritable and told her that things were as they'd always been. I pressed ahead, but found myself becoming more and more relieved at the end of the day, and more and more reluctant to climb out of bed in the morning.

So, let's recap. I noticed my enthusiasm waning bit by bit, but I simply ignored that. My wife asked me how things were going, but even at that relatively early stage, my thoughts were twisting and I felt she was interfering. The upshot of this was irritability.

Then I thought that perhaps another course of Valium, or some other like medication, would do me good. So off I went to the doctor and obtained some Valium. All was fine then for a while. I kept strictly to the recommended dose, my mood lightened and life was good again. For a little while. Then my dislike of starting the day kicked back in and I'd lie in fetal position, watching the red numbers on my digital clock inexorably count the hours until it was time to face things again.

Well, there's always the Valium, isn't there? So I'd have one with coffee, and I'd start into work almost with as much gusto as before. It wasn't long before my depression became really angry at being shoved to one side by some puny medication, and I found myself tossing back another Valium at lunchtime. I ended up sitting in a daze. I'd run the stages of depression.

I can vaguely remember my wife coming to me, all ready to go out, gently taking my arm and leading me to the car. I was way past any objections by this time.

So to sum up, the closest I can come is that firstly I ignored the problem. Secondly, I became irritable and denied the problem. Thirdly, I was forced to accept that something was wrong. Fourthly, I self-medicated, and the fifth symptom proved a knock out - in favour of depression! I know I was taken into a clinic then, but I'm afraid I'm very misty about this. There was to be one more, worse, session, but that's for another time

The Grieving Process

Whenever you deal with something traumatic such as a death of a loved one, it can be difficult to cope. However, you should always remember that there is no wrong or right way to grieve and everyone does so in their own way. Many people though do go through a certain process to help them cope with a loss. The process may not be typical for everyone, but most of us do go through this psychological process. Doing so allows us to understand what happened and learn how to cope. So, what is the process of grieving?

Psychiatrist, Elisabeth K羹bler-Ross, brought a theory to the psychiatric world in 1969 that said when people have to deal with something traumatic, like a death, illness, or even a break up, people go through certain emotional phases that help them deal with what has happened. This process was called the "five stages of grief". While there are "stages" that people seem to go through, they don't always have to go through them in order. For some people it may seem they do not actually go through any real grieving stages until after certain arrangements like funerals or wills have been settled. While this may seem unhealthy to some people, everyone goes through their own process and deals with their emotions differently. However, the five stages as suggested by K羹bler-Ross are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Denial is very common when it comes to trying to cope with a loss. A lot of time people who are in this particular stage of the process may seem as though they are numb and don't want to acknowledge what exactly has happened. Some times when a person looses a loved one they may still set the table for that extra person, or pack an extra lunch, or even buy something at the store that they would normally get for them. It may happen just out of habit, but the act might also be simply brushed away without any tears or note to what has happened. This is normal. Going through denial lets our mind slowly deal bit by bit with what has happened.

Anger can sometimes be confusing for the person who is going through it. Some people find that they are angry at a family member, doctor, or spiritual being. It is also common for the person to become angry with the deceased by blaming them for leaving them. A lot of people find that in this phase they ask "why me?" and try to blame someone for what has happened. Anger is very common when it comes to dealing with a loss or bad news.

Many people also find they begin to make different bargains. This means asking God or a different spiritual being if you can do anything to change it such as "I will do anything and everything to keep my wife safe if you just let her live." These bargains and emotions eventually lead to different "what if" or "if only" possibilities, like what if we got a second opinion, what if we caught the cancer sooner, so on and so forth.
The next stage is depression which can make us feel alone, extremely sad, and can even have physical effects on us as well like being tired, or sluggish, or have aches and pains. Depression is not a mental illness but if you feel as though you or someone you love has been depressed for a while, then going to see a psychiatrist may help the process so you can get out of this particular stage.

Acceptance is the next and last stage that people go through. This means that you are ok with what has happened. This doesn't mean that you can no longer be sad or upset; it is perfectly fine to still feel sad about what has happened. However, it does mean that you aren't depressed or having any severe emotional reactions as you had before and understand that you have lost someone dear to you. There is no set way for a person to grieve, and while there are 5 stages of grief, nothing says that someone has to go through them in a specific pattern. If you have lost someone know that it is ok to cry and perfectly fine not to cry too, or to take a few months or even a few years. People grieve in their own way and there is no right and wrong when it comes to dealing with something traumatic like a death of a loved one.

Will Neurofeedback Help With Bipolar Disorder?

According to a recent survey, approximately 5.7 million Americans are living with bipolar disorder, a serious illness that can manifest itself with intense mood swings and bizarre thoughts. A person who has been clinically diagnosed as having this disorder will spend most of their lives vacillating between extreme emotions, from ecstatic highs to devastating lows, which is why this condition is frequently referred to as manic-depressive disorder. Bipolar sufferers spend very little time in the relatively comfortable range of emotions in which most of us live.

Between these episodes of extreme energy and euphoria (mania), which are followed by periods of severe depression, most patients display somewhat normal behavior, but these symptoms tend to occur at random and can present themselves without warning. There are four distinct types of bipolar disorder ranging from cyclothymia, in which the cycles occur over a two year period and are relatively mild, to Bipolar I disorder, where the patient experiences a continuous succession of both depression and mania.

If left untreated, this illness can make living an ordinary life nearly impossible. People with bipolar disorder can find it difficult to keep a job or maintain a relationship. Unable to cope with their disorder, some will commit suicide.

Treating Bipolar Disorder with Neurofeedback Therapy

In recent years, a certain level of success has been achieved using neurofeedback to help stabilize the rapid cycling between moods that plagues bipolar sufferers. Neurofeedback therapy may help bipolar patients to mitigate the two extremes, allowing them to enjoy longer periods functioning within a more comfortable range of emotions.

Neurofeedback therapy is being used successfully in the treatment of other illnesses such as depression and ADD/ADHD in both adults and children. It has even been proven to help dramatically in cases of traumatic brain injury. And some preliminary studies regarding the use of neurofeedback in treating bipolar disorder have had promising results.

Also known as brain biofeedback, this method of treatment makes use of electrodes used in conjunction with an EEG or electroencephalogram machine to monitor your brainwaves. Through several neurofeedback sessions, you may gradually train your brain to function differently. To accomplish this change, you will use your brain waves to control a visual on the monitor.

When your brain is operating with the desired waves, it receives what it considers a reward, such as making a "spaceship" on the screen fly, or playing a DVD. Your brain will seek to stay within these frequencies, and the changes will eventually become longer lasting. These changes will not happen overnight, however, and may very well require more sessions than other disorders require. Keep in mind, though; the possible outcome is full abatement of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

Currently, neurofeedback is being used in conjunction with the appropriate medications and other more traditional treatments for bipolar disorder. At this time, you should not abandon any treatments that you are using, but rather work with both your neurofeedback therapist and your physician to create a working treatment that incorporates both methods.

Many patients who have had neurofeedback therapy say that they would never choose to go back to the way they felt before the therapy.

Factors Triggering Bipolar Disorder - A Complete View Of The Problem

The cause of bipolar disorder is not entirely known. Genetic, neuro-chemical and environmental factors probably interact at many levels to play a role in the onset and progression of bipolar disorder. The current thinking is that this is a predominantly biological disorder that occurs in a specific part of the brain and is due to a malfunction of the neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). As a biological disorder, it may lie dormant and be activated spontaneously or it may be triggered by stressors in life.

Although, no one is quite sure about the exact causes of bipolar disorder, researchers have found some important clues. Bipolar disorder tends to be in the genes, meaning that it runs in families. About half the people with bipolar disorder have a family member with a mood disorder, such as depression.

A person who has one parent with bipolar disorder has a 15 to 25 percent chance of having the condition. A person who has a non-identical twin with the illness has a 25 percent chance of illness, the same risk as if both parents have bipolar disorder.

A person who has an identical twin (having exactly the same genetic material) with bipolar disorder has an even greater risk of developing the illness about an eightfold greater risk than a non-identical twin.

A study of adopted twins (where a child whose biological parent had the illness is raised in an adoptive family untouched by the illness) has helped researchers learn more about the genetic causes vs. environmental and life events causes. Bipolar disorder is primarily a biological disorder that occurs in a specific area of the brain and is due to the dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in the brain. These chemicals may involve neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin and probably many others. As a biological disorder, it may lie dormant and be activated on its own or it may be triggered by external factors such as psychological stress and social circumstances.

Environmental factors in bipolar disorder may be a life event which may trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic disposition for bipolar disorder. Even without clear genetic factors, altered health habits, alcohol or drug abuse or hormonal problems can trigger an episode. Among those at risk for the illness, bipolar disorder is appearing at increasingly early ages. This apparent increase in earlier occurrences may be due to under diagnosis of the disorder in the past. This change in the age of onset may be a result of social and environmental factors that are not yet understood.

Although substance abuse is not considered a cause of bipolar disorder, it can worsen the illness by interfering with recovery. Use of alcohol or tranquilizers may induce a more severe depressive phase.

Yet another cause of bipolar depression is that caused by medications. Medications such as antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder. Therefore, a depressive episode must be treated carefully in those people who have had manic episodes. Because a depressive episode can turn into a manic episode when an antidepressant medication is taken, an anti-manic drug is also recommended to prevent a manic episode. The anti-manic drug creates a ceiling, partially protecting the person from antidepressant-induced mania.

Certain other medications can produce a high that resembles mania. Appetite suppressants, for example, may trigger increased energy, decreased need for sleep and increased talkativeness. After stopping the medication, however, the person returns to his normal mood.

Definition and Key Thoughts of Mental Disorders

A mental disorder is characterized by thoughts and behaviors that cause individuals to experience extreme problems in functioning in significant areas of their lives relationships, employment, education, financial well-being, even spirituality. Mental disorder is not short term, but it is also not necessarily permanent. By definition, mental problems must endure for a certain minimum period of time before a mental disorder can be diagnosed. Most mental disorders resolve after treatment with counseling, medication, or simply the passing of time.

Other mental disorders are lifelong and cause ongoing problems for those afflicted with them and for their families. If someone is mentally ill, he is not simply odd. Labels of mental disorder ought never to be applied without a professional assessment. Mental disorders are by definition serious disturbances. These are some common types of mental disorders:

Psychotic disorders are those that result in bizarre, paranoid, or delusional thinking. The most common one is schizophrenia. Individuals with psychotic illnesses manifest the symptoms most often thought of as crazy seeing or hearing things that are not there, making bizarre connections between unrelated events, or showing grossly inappropriate responses to ordinary occurrences.

Mood disorders are those that primarily affect a person's emotional stability.

The most common are depression and bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depression). Individuals afflicted with depression feel discouraged and hopeless almost every day, have lost interest in activities in which they used to take pleasure, and sometimes consider or attempt suicide. Those with bipolar disorder exhibit cycles of wildly changing emotions and behaviors. Anxiety disorders are characterized by extreme nervousness, panic, or phobias.

Persons suffering from anxiety disorders cannot calm down, feel panicky much of the time, and have physical symptoms of constant nervousness. Those with post-traumatic stress may experience flashbacks of trauma and may react to loud noises or other reminders of the precipitating event.

Personality disorders are disturbances in thinking and behavior that are a part of a person's basic character. They result in lifelong patterns of counter- productive behavior. Unlike the above mental disorders, personality disorders do not often respond to medications or short-term therapy.

There are many other disorders, and disorders associated only with children, but there is not enough space here to deal with them all. There are huge differences between mental disorder, sin, and demonic influence. Treatment must take place after a thorough assessment and careful diagnosis. In a church, mental disorders most often become apparent in relationships.

Mentally ill people who are active in church may have difficulty tolerating the opinions of others, getting along on committees, or accepting limits. Other mentally ill people may be on the periphery of the churcha churchgoers spouse or child who is often the subject of prayer requests. Misdiagnoses and improper treatments are common. Far too many suffer needlessly. The failure to understand the multiple reasons people suffer including the distinction between sin, mental illness, and demonic influence has significant consequences.

Some people are only confessing sin when they should be taking medication; others are blaming an illness when they should be confessing their sin. Demons are being cast out of schizophrenics who need medical treatment; people who need the casting out of demons are put into mental hospitals and drugged to complacency. Christians must understand that even throughout the Scriptures, physicians, balms, salves, and other medicines were used. The church and mental health professionals must value the contribution each can make and work together to relieve human suffering. Take help from Internet counseling.