Saturday, May 17, 2014

When Does Clinical Depression Start?


Depression is the most prevalent of all psychological disorders. It is estimated that about 17 million Americans suffer from this condition. But while it is very widespread, the disease is often undiagnosed and therefore untreated. The reason for this is that people do not generally know the difference between "normal" sadness and depression that is an unfortunate part of life sometimes, and "clinical depression" which is a medical condition that requires treatment.

Feeling sad and being depressed is often a natural reaction to a stressful life situation. When one goes through a difficult breakup, experiences a death in the family, loses one's home or business, or learns that he has cancer, it is normal for him to feel deeply sad and upset. As a result, he may have trouble sleeping or eating, and he may want to be alone and not see people or leave the house. But after a few days or weeks, and perhaps after venting out his sorrows to a friend, he will feel better and slowly go back to his old routine. This is the "normal" kind of depression.

In contrast, clinical depression involves a significant change in mood, thoughts and behavior that persists for two weeks or longer. Instead of abating, the depression lingers and even seems to worsen at times. Clinically depressed people may then continue to feel sad, eat badly and lose weight, and stay inside their home for months. They continue to be bothered and upset, to avoid work, and to not see friends and family. Worse, they can start contemplating suicide and act on it if unchecked.

When this happens, the person must seek professional treatment. Often, he will not be able to initiate this action because of his depression. Friends and family will then have to help him and convince him to see a health professional.

To diagnose this condition, the doctor will conduct a complete physical and psychological evaluation to find out if the person has a depressive illness. He may use a standard questionnaire that identifies the possible presence of major depression. He may also interview the person, starting with questions that have to do with the symptoms of depression. These symptoms are the following:

• Intense feelings of sadness, emptiness and hopelessness
• Sleep and eating disturbances (that may include insomnia, oversleeping, under- and over-eating)
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Loss of interest in daily activities, and in things that were once enjoyed, including sex, hobbies and sports
• Lack of desire for company or social interactions
• Not caring about one's responsibilities and appearance
• Difficulties concentrating, remembering and deciding
• Crying bouts
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts

The doctor will often ask when the symptoms began, what possibly triggered them, how long they have lasted, how severe were they, and if they have taken place before. If they occurred before, the doctor will ask about any treatment taken and if it was successful. Additionally, he will inquire about the person's alcohol and drug use, and any family history of depression or psychological disorders. He will probe thoroughly using interviews, physical examinations, mental status and laboratory tests.

Once the tests are done, the doctor will evaluate if the person is suffering from a major depression. If it turns out that the person does have the disorder, the doctor will then ascertain what type of depression it is.

The person, his family and friends are often the first to suspect depression, but it is a qualified physician who makes the diagnosis of clinical depression. This diagnosis is the crucial first step to identifying and treating the disorder. It is the beginning of the often lengthy but necessary process that will lead a person back to a normal life.

Sad Poems


Sad poetry are often written by people. The cause for a writer to write sad poetry can be because of depression, the death of someone or the feelings of anger. A lot of times people like to read sad poems because they can relate to it.

When a person is feeling depressed they may turn to writing sad poetry. Their depression can come from a number of things such as loneliness, failure or desires. Poems about loneliness are usually based on the writer having few to no friends. Because so many poets in the world deal with loneliness this type of poem is often written. When writers fail in something such as a test, a game or fail to impression somebody it can cause them to write sad poetry. When most people write a sad poem about failure they describe what the failure was about which can help someone who reads the poem identify why the writer wrote the sad poem. When people want something such as a new car but cannot afford to buy one it can lead to them writing a sad poem because of their desires.

People write poems about the death of a family member or somebody they knew a lot. When it comes to these types of poems they may be about the poet's grandmother or grandmother. Even though it is sad poetry a lot of times in the poem will be good things that the writer has remembered about their family member. So some sad poems can be both sad and happy. When poets lose someone that they knew such as a friend it can cause them to write sad poetry. These types of poems may both describe the person and how they died. Because most people lose friends to death in their life time a poem such as this can be easy for the readers to relate to.

When people get angry about something it can cause them to write sad poetry. The cause could be something simple or something major. Many times when this is the reason behind them writing a poem the poem may not even be about what got them sad but about something completely different. People get angry all the time For many different reasons. A small thing such as a disagreement in opinions with another person can lead a poet to writing a sad poem based on those angry feelings. When a person becomes angry over something that is major in their life such as a relationship break up it can easily cause them to write poem describing the break up.

Sad poetry can be found all over the world. Such as in cards, on pictures, and books. Sad poems can also be found on the internet. Poets may write sad poetry online so that it can be read by others and so that they can receive feedback in many cases. Even though it may not be the most searched for poetry it is one of the most commonly written form of poetry.

Preventing Depression In Elderly People


Although depression can occur in a person of any age, elderly people are more prone to depression owing to the lifestyle transition from a more active working lifestyle to a slow retired lifestyle. The symptoms of depression that they usually face include - a persistent feeling of despair, sadness, hopelessness or emptiness in their minds, inability to enjoy the everyday activities, abnormal sleep patterns such as chronic insomnia or oversleeping, or recurring suicidal tendencies. Other common symptoms include memory lapse, confused behavior, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, and / or even hallucinations. These signs of depression must be recognized and not brushed aside as mere signs of aging.

Here is a list of activities that would help in preventing depression in elderly people.

1. Opening up and sharing one's pain or grief with others has a very soothing impact on the heart as well as the brain. So, it is advisable for the elderly to spend sometime with close friends or supportive family members and give vent to their bitter experiences. If this is not helpful, then the elderly can seek the support of professionals or any non-formal support groups that focus on helping people cope and recover from their grief.

2. Looking at the state of other less fortune beings and helping them to cope with their miseries provides one with a lot of inner satisfaction and improves the feeling of self worth. So, the elders can devote a part of their time helping other less fortune people either at the old age homes or at the orphanages or at the hospitals.

3. Regular exercise and adequate healthy food plays a very important role in preventing depression in the elderly. Elders can enroll themselves in seniors' exercise classes or join a walking/ jogging group, which will keep their mind as well as body fit.

4. Lastly, it is very important that the elders take their prescribed medicines regularly so as to minimize the side effects, which might even include certain signs of depression.

Health Insurance Providers and Pre Existing Conditions


Health insurance providers and pre existing conditions are a volatile combination. Pre existing conditions are health issues that were known of prior to seeking a health insurance policy, such as diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, depression, obesity and more. Having such a condition means that you may be refused coverage. Disclosure of these conditions enables providers to limit the risks they take on. However, if you have an issue in your medical history, you have no choice but to disclose it, as companies do their research too and non-disclosure could result in cancellation of a policy. However, there are ways to get coverage despite having a pre existing condition.

Insurance providers often take on individuals with known medical conditions but put a waiting period in place before they start paying for medical expenses associated with the disease or situation. This allows the person who would otherwise by refused coverage to get coverage. Individuals with health conditions should expect to pay higher rates than healthy individuals, unless they belong to a group plan.

The easiest and most guaranteed way to secure coverage if you have a previous condition is to get group coverage through an employer. Members of the group must be accepted regardless of pre existing conditions, although a short waiting period may be put in place for claims arising from it. Of course, this does penalize the healthiest member of such groups by making the cost higher for everyone.

If you are HIPAA eligible, meaning you have been on group insurance for more than 19 months, have exhausted COBRA benefits and cannot get Medicaid or Medicare, you can get an individual health insurance policy with no exclusion period. Insurers must offer you a health insurance policy that does not limit your pre existing condition if you meet the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines.

Unipolar Depression Symptoms and Treatment Checklist


Unipolar depression is a severe form of depression. It also goes by the terms of clinical depression and major-depressive disorder. It is a severe illness with disabling effects. It affects 10 million Americans every year. Depression affects more women than men.

Unipolar depression causes a person to be disinterested in normal activities and to feel unhappy. Normal activities like sleeping and eating too are affected. It is a chronic disease that recurs at least once in their lifetime. Such a depression occurs across all age groups and no socio-economic background is exempt. However, it occurs more commonly in those between 25 and 44 years of age.

What causes unipolar depression? In some people it is spontaneous and independent of any specific event. In other it arises from trauma or severe shock. Some scientists also believe genetics are involved.

How would you recognize this disease in a person? The checklist below possibly indicates someone suffering from unipolar depression.


  • A lack of interest in the simple pleasures of life

  • Irritable and always sad

  • Drastic changes in your eating and sleeping habits

  • Loss of appetite and do not any kind of food

  • Can't sleep and constantly tense

  • Unable to concentrate or think clearly

  • Feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness

  • Guilty feelings for no reason.

These intense feelings may result in severe headaches and other chronic pain which may not respond to any form of treatment.

People suffering from this type of depression may exhibit one or a few of these symptoms.

Possible treatment options that a doctor may prescribe include:


  1. Antidepressant drugs

  2. Cognitive therapy

  3. Psychotherapy

  4. Electroconvulsive therapy

  5. Lifestyle modification like diet, exercise and smoking cessation.

Anger Management Test - Can You Pass This Quiz?


"Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools."

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Famous scientist and universally acknowledged "Man of the 20th Century".

When the smartest man the world has seen for the last 100 years says something, it pays to listen. Although all know that anger is a negative emotion, very few know when it can become a psychological problem requiring specialized help by means of anger management therapy. With help of this anger management test, you can determine whether your anger is a normal emotion or you should turn to a professional for help. Answer the following questions with either a "yes" or "no":

1. Have you faced arrest over anger management issues?
2. Do you get annoyed waiting your turn in queues?
3. Do you verbally abuse drivers who cut you off in traffic?
4. Do you lie awake at night analyzing the day's upsets?
5. Do coworkers avoid you at work because of your anger issues?
6. Does anger make you experience short term memory loss?
7. Do you find it difficult to forgive others who had mistreated you in the past?
8. Do you ever feel the urge to kill when angry?
9. Do you abuse drugs or alcohol when angered?
10. Have people you've trusted often let you down, leaving you feeling angry or betrayed?
11. Do you often feel stressed and pressured, and do things not going your way leave you depressed?
12. Do you like to keep your emotions bottled down inside you?

If your answers to this anger management test have more than three "yes"s, professional anger management therapy is advised. Since you now know that you have an anger management problem, you can take steps to resolve it. Knowing the existence of a problem is winning half the battle; the war will be won when calm replaces anger in the hearts and minds of affected people.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Clinical Trials - Depression Research


Depression can affect anyone -- whether you're young or old, rich or poor, depression doesn't discriminate. Approximately 20 million American adults suffer from some sort of depressive disorder. That's 10 percent of people aged 18 and over.

Depression treatment varies depending on the person and type of depression. Although many treatment plans involve medication as well as therapy, around half of those with depression don't receive proper treatment, if they even receive treatment at all.

Depression Research

There has been a lot of research on the role of genetics, social environment and family history as causes of depression. Causes of depression aren't easy to pinpoint -- new research continues to show that it's not simply a hormonal or genetic imbalance. Stressful situations, from spousal problems to work strain, can be contributing factors to depression. Many studies show that possible causes of depression involve the function of certain mood controllers in the brain, coupled with stressful life events.

Research found through clinical trials helps medical professionals understand the effect of depression on people with different symptoms and reactions. Currently, there are clinical trials for everything including depression in the workplace and at home, postpartum depression and major depression. The possible effects of depression, such as weight gain, lack of sleep and severe mood swings are all researched through clinical trials.

Free access to top medical professionals and researchers is available to you if you choose to participate in clinical trials for depression. Treatment and prescriptions could also be free, and you may experience an improved quality of life. Clinical studies benefit everyone -- medical researchers get information while the patient receives the newest, most advanced treatment available.

Since there are so many situations that can increase your risk or contribute to depression, the type of treatment or medication someone receives varies greatly. So, research is crucial to finding how people suffering from various factors react to different types of treatment.

Research continues to aim to find the best way to treat people with different types of depression, by understanding other factors and effects that contribute to the disease.

Depression Hurts Relationships

Depression can have a negative impact on both personal and professional relationships. It can cause the person to hide their feelings, react irrationally or become angry more easily. Quite often a person who is depressed will cut themselves off from their family. They may refuse to take part in bonding activities or seem disinterested when spending time with others. This causes strain on relationships and can often lead to a broken family.

Depression Impacts Society

Depression not only causes harm to relationships, but also to the economy. Each year, companies suffer an economic loss because of depression. Depression can cause people to become less efficient at work, or take more sick days and time off. It can also lead to unemployment and homelessness, which in turn have a negative impact on society.

Happiness Perception - Do Your Perceptions In Life Affect Your Happiness?


I read a quote the other day that got me thinking about how perceptions have a lot to do with your happiness and satisfaction in life. I will share the quote with you in just a bit but first, think about how your own perceptions affect your life. Do you perceive things with a negative connotation or do you perceive things with a positive connotation?

The quote that I saw was from Tom Wilson who said, 'You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.' You see, there will always be thorns in life and there will always be roses, but the way you perceive each life situation will dictate your happiness and the level of success that you will attain.

As an example, I will tell you about a friend of mine. Every time I talk to them they always have something negative to say. Even when something great is happening in their life they always seem to perceive the situation negatively. Because of this, they aren't really happy in life. It's not that they hate life or anything, it's just that they perceive more thorns than roses.

What about in your life? Do you see thorns in the majority of your life or do you see roses? If you can learn to see the roses among the thorns you will find that life becomes so much better and you will begin to experience a level of happiness that you may have never experienced before. You only have one life to live so you might as well live it to its fullest and experience life with as much happiness as possible.

The 8 Warning Signs of Dog Depression


Is dog depression real? You bet it is! You may at some point note that your dog is not behaving normally and he may in fact be offering you what seem like classic symptoms of depression.

Depression, strangely enough, is not so different in humans than it is in animals. It is possible that your pet may be a victim of canine depression. It's possible of course that your pet may be suffering from something else. The condition may in fact be medical or physical. As a result, it is prudent to check with your veterinarian to assure that there is no problem with the way that your pet is feeling.

When you first notice your dog behaving as though he or she is depressed, really consider what has happened that may have impacted their moods. Pets, just like humans, can have temporary or short term depression - or they may also have a longer term depression.

The loss of a litter, the family moving, or even the being moved to a different home can have a vast impact on an animal. One family who moved said that their cocker spaniel was not herself for many months afterward, exhibiting all the classic signs of depression.

If nothing has happened that may have impacted your dog in a negative way, then perhaps a veterinary checkup is in order.

Dogs, like people, remarkably can have bad days and good days. They can be in bad moods or good moods. One day they may appear to be unusually moody and the next day is very happy and upbeat. In addition, female dogs that have not been spayed can exhibit mood swings during their heat cycle.

Canine depression can last for an extended period, just like human depression.

Some symptoms that you may see of canine depression will also be similar to human ones.

The signs that you will most likely note:

  • Poor appetite

  • Weight Loss

  • Lower interest in play

  • Slow or lethargic movements

  • Apathy

  • Aggression

  • Restlessness

  • Excessive Shedding

The environment around your dog can make a great deal of difference to his or her mood. Just as environmental or personal changes will impact you, they will also impact your dog.

Having a close human relationship change can trigger canine depression. For instance, if their human companion gets ill, dies, moves out, or goes back to school it can cause loneliness in your pet and lead to dog depression.

Believe it or not, pets can also suffer from a chemical depression that is from an imbalance in their bodies. Your dog can be diagnosed as clinically depressed and may be given an antidepressant medication by your vet.

Try to recall the events that preceded the depression and attempt to compensate for them. Try to give the dog more attention and make them feel less alone or lonely during the daytime. Bring in a neighbor dog that the animal gets along with and take them out for the evening together.

As with humans, depression is very treatable once properly diagnosed and treated. The result? A happy member of your family!

Linking Reiki and Bipolar Disorder


How can reiki treatment actually be considered as a good alternative medication for bipolar disorder? Many people under such condition or who might know someone close to be having such would surely delve into this upon hearing that reiki can be a really good healing technique. First, let us try to look at bipolar disorder and see how it can actually be alleviated by reiki.

Bipolar is basically a disorder by which one person experiences a variation of moods but all in a very extreme state. Most people refer to it as manic depression because a deep depression usually follows high elation and again, all in an extremely alternating process. Manic episodes following depressive episodes are a common thing for a bipolar. Oftentimes, family members and other people around a bipolar struggle with the appropriate actions or treatments and reiki treatment might just do the trick.

As bipolar disorder affects every aspect of the human behavior and with the reiki as a means of channeling positive universal energy, there just might be a spark that could create the link in reiki bipolar disorder treatment. In most cases of bipolar disorders, the medications given can be quite uncomfortable hence patients are being referred to alternative forms of treatment and even therapies. Since bipolar is what you can refer to as a manic depressive state, reiki could very well work in the relaxation and keeping at peace of the manic stage.

Reiki treatment relaxes and rejuvenates the inner state of the bipolar. This is the same as eliminating or washing out all the negative forces and energies that are concealed within the manic depressive person and ultimately pushes itself to burst out in proportions that are not adequate. As bipolar disorder affects significantly the whole human behavior meaning thoughts, feelings, perception and all the rest, so shall the universal energy generated by reiki as channeled through the practitioner be proportionately distributed throughout the areas with particular need to be soothed.

For many who have experienced and witnessed reiki bipolar disorder treatment, it may be deemed that the spiritual healing is able to tame down the surge of uncontrolled negative emotions of the bipolar. Several treatments along the area and line of spirituality is deemed in fact to be more effective than those synthetic medications and even psychotherapies. This is because most bipolar patients need to have an expressive outlet to be heard and at the same time have the assurance that calmness and peace of mind may be very well at hand.

Linking reiki with bipolar disorder can be quite far-fetched for those who have no deeper understanding and first-hand experience of this alternative healing. All it would take for one to consequently benefit from its healing power is for one to understand and learn to properly practice or become recipient of reiki treatment.

Seven Ways to Decrease Or Eliminate Your Depression


Depression can be an emotionally draining illness. It is common among sexual abuse survivors. I know, I have been through it many times myself. Many times it is hereditary as in my case (four out of my five sisters has it!). It also can be situational, such as going through a traumatic event, a divorce, losing a loved one, remembering your past abuse, etc.

The cause can be important if you are remembering your past abuse because it is a good time to get into therapy and begin your recovery journey. Sometimes the cause doesn't really matter. What matters is how you treat it and knowing the signs of it should it return.

I have come up with seven ways to assist you in helping to eliminate or reduce your depression.

1) Eat properly : This means, most of all, remember TO eat! With depression, it seems that you either don't want to eat at all or you gorge yourself constantly! The main thing that is important is that you eat healthy nutrients for your body in order for it to help to get back into balance. If you have trouble eating large meals then eat small meals divided up during the day. Remember to eat green vegetables, chicken, fish etc. You need your protein and especially your vitamin B which helps with stress. You can also take a supplement if your doctor doesn't contraindicate it.

2) Get enough sleep: Again, with depression, usually the norm is that you either sleep too little or too much. What we are looking for here is a happy medium! Both too little and too much sleep can make you feel even more depressed! If you aren't tired or you have repetitive thoughts running around in your head, try to read prior to going to bed, watch TV, exercise before bed so that you are tired. Take a hot bath, have your husband or partner give you a massage, use relaxation techniques. Try anything. Remember, don't lie awake in bed if you can't sleep. Get up and do something and then try lying down again. That way you only associate bed with sleep.

3) Get outside: Why? because that puts you back in the world of the living! It is especially helpful for me to go out to the woods and take in all of the scenery with all of the sights and sounds. There is something about hearing birds chirping that helps. Sunshine helps depression so get out in the sun and let it do it's work! Breathe in the fresh air. Even if you have no desire to get off of your sofa or out of your bed, believe me, I have been there and I understand, trust me, you absolutely need to get outside! Go do an errand that needs to be done, even if it is just a small one. You CAN do it if you try!

4) Exercise: Ok, I KNOW that you have heard this one! I used to think "yeah, right! I can't even get the strength to stand up from my chair but you want me to exercise?!!" I hear you loud and clear, but before you completely disregard it, let me inform you that exercise releases endorphins that naturally reduce depression so that it scientifically does help you! When I say exercise, I don't mean that you have to start an aerobics class or anything that intense!! I am talking about just walking around the block to start with..or as far as you can tolerate the first time. Try to increase your endurance and distance every time you walk. You can also try the Wii fitness, if you have it. It can be quite helpful because it offers Yoga as an exercise, which I happen to use. The main point is get your body moving! It may be painful at first..but you definitely will see a difference in the end.

5) Use Relaxation Techniques: If you have not learned how to relax or any easy relaxation techniques, there are many videos out there that will walk you through a full body relaxation and it is something that you can also do for yourself. One example of this is to start at the top of your body, ( your head) tense by the count of three and relax by the count of three, and continue this with every muscle of your body down to your toes until you feel physically relaxed.
Relaxation also applies to whatever it is you do that is your passion. You may not be "feeling" it right now, but attempt to try it. Going through the motions can sometimes be helpful. Write in a journal, paint, go fishing, listen to music, dance...whatever it is to you that can give you peace of mind, even for a moment. Go to your "place of peace" or an imaginary place that you feel safe, secure and free of stress. Basically, it means try to imagine yourself in a place where you feel the most comfortable and safe. Imagine it and memorize it to the fullest detail. This will be helpful for you when you get stressed out. You can mentally take yourself back to that place quickly with practice!

6) Pet a pet: Sound simple? Well, it is! Research has shown that people who have pets are less stressed. Think about how relaxing it is to pet a cat or dog. They love you unconditionally and only want to please you. What more could you want? More and more hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are allowing "pet therapy" for their residents because they realize it's value. Try it for yourself. You will be glad you did!

7) Act "As if..": Most people who are in any type of recovery program knows only too well what this saying means! To explain it.. it means even if you are feeling completely depressed, try as hard as you can to act "as if" you aren't depressed. Go through the motions of your daily life. It is important to keep up your routine. Depressed people tend to get out of their normal routine and find it difficult to resume it sometimes. This does not mean that you will automatically feel completely wonderful and not depressed anymore, however, it does set you on a path of some purpose and routine. I know for myself, this is NOT easy! But, you can't say it doesn't work unless you give it a try, right?

I have listed seven simple ways to help you to decrease or alleviate your depressive symptoms if you choose to use them. I hope you will give them a try. You have the tools, now it is up to you whether or not you choose to use them.

Good luck and think positive. Thinking positive also has a great deal to do with how you feel!
Blessings to all of you!

Singing Prevents Depression


Wouldn't it be great if you can sing your way out of depression?

Imagine, singing away every morning in your car or while washing the dishes, or why not just join a singing group? It will be great fun and will chase away your depression. Sounds better than drugs? I can predict a definite yes for some people.

The thing is, I believe, that singing is a natural protection of our body against stresses, anxieties and all sorts or pressure. And research into advantages of singing therapy only confirms my point of view.

Singing, especially choir singing offers amazing range of benefits for people, but especially for those of us with mental health problems.

When you sing, you exercise major muscle groups in your upper body and receive more oxygen. Research claims that choral singing even boosts your immune system, gives you feeling of happiness, stops your voice from ageing and even helps you to manage chronic pain better.

Here are just a few factors which researchers noticed in singing groups of people with depression.

- Mentally you reduce your stress levels;

- Singing in groups increases your sense of belonging to a group or community;

- Singing also increases blood levels of happy hormone oxytocin, which is released during intimacy;

- Joining choir singing groups also strengthens communication and relationship, you make friends, find and give support, feel empowered from leading rounds of singing, or greeting or assisting new members;

- Depression disorder deprives you of self-confidence, while singing improves your self-esteem. You are proud of yourself when you can remember lyrics correctly. Your vocal skills, breathing and dynamics improve.

- Singing provides treatment of depression by allowing you to express painful feelings and emotions through a safe way - through various songs lyrics.

Music itself instigates interesting changes in our brain chemistry. It influences the limbic area of the brain responsible for memory and emotions. Imagine if you listen to particularly enjoyable songs, even your muscles relax in response.

So, in general singing provides great depression help, it releases endorphins in our brain, "happy" chemicals, which will keep depression at bay and makes us feel healthier and more alive.

What's good, singing along to the lyrics you enjoy doesn't cost you anything, and you can do it anytime anywhere. And don't be discouraged, anyone can sing, doesn't matter if you think that your voice is not up to snuff. Just DO IT. Think of it as vitamins which you take to keep yourself healthy. Singing is the same. Do it often, enjoy it, and you'll keep depression away from yourself.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

How to Earn Big in Small Business Insurance Quotes


Most of the people in the modern era today are getting interested in putting up businesses. This is because the economy is continuously emerging and many kinds of businesses are coming out due to successive progress of technology. In putting up a business, it does not need to be in a big group of investors, or companies and the like; even you yourself can put up your own business if you want to. You will probably start small but do not deceive the opportunity that you can get. Small businesses are more competitive and progressive compared to big businesses and it is profitable in a shorter span of time. You will just need money, of course, perseverance and passion to put up the business that you want.

In entering the world of business, financial costs and problems are never predictable and avoidable. It can happen anytime and it will just waste out your efforts and hard work for your business. Some of these financial fiascos are loss from life, loss of health, lawsuits and even property damage. But there has always been a way of how you can protect or appropriately how you can save and keep away your business in to these kinds of financial problems. The best way you can do is to get insured in to a business insurance quote.

Small business insurance quote is an insurance policy that mainly deals on how you can get your business even yourself insured in protecting it from common financial costs. Through this, it can help your business cover your needs in the event that business depression arrives and especially when you are financially incapable and insolvent. Most of the businesses today start their small business insurance portfolio by purchasing insurance policies that their business needs and that would fit their budget capacity. There are lots of insurance agencies and companies that offer small business insurance quote at an economical value but at very best services. You can check it online or seek help from financial experts.

In dealing with this small business insurance quote, risks are never deficient. It is a part of investing in insurance policies. But these risks can help you evidently in decision-making and in running your business wisely to be profitable and trouble-free. There are four broad risk exposures that you should be aware of: liability loss exposure, income loss exposure, people loss exposure and property loss exposure. These are the risks that could bring your business into a never-ending business depression. Make yourself well-informed and updated, alarmed and wise enough to handle these risks. Be strategic.

Liability loss exposure is usually an event or claim that arises from negligent accidents. These accidents could be intentional or negligent. It is better to get insurance policies that cover this kind of incidence that will help you give the protection that you really need. Income loss exposure is the kind of risk that you will encounter in the event that the financial flow of your business will experience a downfall. This could be due to loss of your manpower or loss of sales.

Holistic Remedies to Treat Depression and Anxiety


One of the consequences to a fast-paced lifestyle is that it eventually takes its toll on our mental and emotional well-being. Depression, anxiety and panic attacks likely stems from the periodic encounter of stress. In response, pharmaceuticals have developed cutting edge medications designed to manage depressive symptoms effectively.

But then the bitter pill to swallow with these synthetic formulas is the risk of 'chemical imbalance' in the brain in its extended use. At the end of the day, neurological disorders require a holistic healing approach that would not compromise routine physiological conditions.

Natural Remedies for Mental Wellness

The extracts of known herbal remedies have been used in alternative practice for many centuries to treat mental disorders. Here is a rundown of herbal remedies affirmed for their therapeutic effectiveness and safety in restoring the brain's natural chemistry.

Lemon Balm. Herbal infusions or teas have been concocted from this herb and used for many centuries to promote mental calm and relaxation. Its bioactive flavonoids are antioxidants purported to support neurotransmitter balance and activity in the nervous system; furthermore regulating the functions of the brain. The herb is also known to relieve nervous conditions such as irritability and anxiety attacks, and has been found teeming with anti-hemorrhoidal properties.

St. John's Wort. The herb is regarded as a natural antidepressant that is attributive of its active component hypericin. This medicinal property endeavors healing at the different stages of depression, making it a natural and safer alternative to stimulant drugs. St. John's Wort is a powerful remedy and its compounds have in fact been utilized in many drug formulas in line with its remarkable healing properties.

Passion Flower. The herb contains the natural component chrysin used in medicinal formulas to treat anxiety and panic attacks. The therapeutic benefits of Passion Flower likewise extends to the relief of high blood pressure while ensuing a calmative and relaxed demeanor when taken in decoctions or in capsule form.

Lavender. The oils of this herb is reputed as an all-around relaxation remedy that treats insomnia and nervous tension. It also relieves the body from stress and fatigue.

Today, herbalists have integrated the medicinal compounds of the mentioned herbs to come up with standardized herbal supplements such as MindSoothe that is designed to holistically treat and manage the symptoms of depression.

Another convenient herbal remedy used for nervine disorders like anxiety and panic attacks is PureCalm. These herbal treatments have been developed with the intent of natural healing in mind in order to achieve systemic balance and restore mental wellness.

The World Owes Us Nothing - It Was Here First


One of my favorite quotes of all time:

" Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first" - Mark Twain.

Spoken with his customary practicality and economy of words.

How do you feel when you read that statement? Whether you agree or disagree with what he said, it's true, in my opinion. The world does not owe me a thing. If anything, I owe the world. It's my moral responsibility to be a productive and creative member of the human race. It's not the world's responsibility to give me a job. It's my job to find a job, and if not, create one.

Think that it's tough today? Try living in the plains states in the midst of the Great Depression. That was tough enough. But to then have the great dust storms roll across the plains and blow away your livelihood and everything else that you owned and had worked for, that's a double whammy. Millions of acres of farmland became useless, and hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes; many of these families traveled to California and other states, where they found economic conditions little better than those they had left. Owning no land, many traveled from farm to farm picking fruit and other crops at starvation wages. Think you've got it bad?

Those of us born after World War II had it so good for so long we didn't fully appreciate how good it was. With the exception of the early 80's, things were rolling along quite nicely, thank you. We've never had struggle and suffer like those generations before us. We had it so easy, too easy for far too long. Which is why people of my generation sometimes have a hard time with hard times. Guess what? That's life. When I was born, the doctor didn't slap me on the behind and then whisper in my ear that "life is fair." He slapped me on my rear and then laid me down on a cold steel table and said, " You're on your own, boy ". I wasn't happy. After all, I had been living in the best womb in the house for 9 months. Toasty warm, never hungry, always cozy.

My parents clearly remembered the struggle and hard times of World War II. The blackouts, the rationing, etc. My grandparents were all too familiar with the desperation of the Great Depression. And my generations difficulty in handling and succeeding in today's world is a direct result of our parents and grandparents desire for us to never have to struggle as they did. Problem is, struggle is what builds character and faith. While it may be very noble in concept, the coddling did not adequately prepare us for times like we are currently living. But is it their fault? No!

At some point in your life, you have to figure out that life is not always fair. That the world does not revolve around you. I figured it out at a very young age, at 14 when I was not so politely asked to leave my place of residence. I might add that my parents were totally correct in doing so. But that's another story.

When you see someone on a corner asking for money, what do you feel? Do you feel compassion? Or do you think to yourself that this person is a lazy bum and should get a job? If you think the latter, I feel sorry for you. By the way, how is your job search going? You mean with all your talent and education, you're not getting any offers? You see, we are all just one bad break away from standing on a corner ourselves. And if you truly don't believe that, you're probably are going to have to pay some dues somewhere down the road. It's called humility. We're seeing people on the street who never in their wildest nightmares thought it could happen to them. Be careful about judging others, lest you be judged.

These are extraordinary times. And extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If your chosen career path is not working out for you, it might be time to look at other options. I am extremely fortunate and blessed in that I have been in direct / professional sales for 20+ years. And the only times that I have ever been unemployed are the times that I chose to be. For 15 years I lived in the Caribbean. And believe me I chose to be unemployed more often than I care to admit. I mean really, work or beach? Easy choice, for me anyway. And my goal now is to back to the Caribbean. And I will, within 24 months. And the reason that I was able to enjoy that type of lifestyle then, and will live again is because one day, many years ago, I made a decision. A decision to get out out of my comfort zone and try sales. Was it hard in the beginning? Yes. Was it frustrating at times? Without a doubt. Am I glad I didn't quit, that I stuck it out and figured it out? Absolutely!

So much of sales has to do with attitude. Unfortunately, the sales profession has gotten such a bad rap that many professionals have a preconceived notion of what a sales career is all about. The image of a gold encrusted dude wearing enough cheap cologne that you can smell him a half a block away comes to mind to many. And it's a shame, because many professionals in other fields have already developed the necessary skill sets that would allow them to be very successful at sales. And of course, many people think that to be successful at sales, one has to be pushy, high pressure and soulless. And that could not be farther from the truth.

The problem with traditional sales practices is that all parties to a transaction are put on the defensive, right from the get go. And this is why objections are created. What if there was a sales process that eliminated the tension, rejection and objections that arise in a traditional sales process? Would you consider a career in sales if that were the case? Well, there is such a sales process. It's called natural selling and it's what we teach to all of our associates. ( I didn't invent it, I just teach it. ) It has allowed many people, from many different backgrounds to experience tremendous success in sales. It is a dialogue based selling and it is highly effective. It does have one caveat however. You must learn to remove yourself from the outcome of the process ( creating a sale ) and first determine if there is a sale to be made. In other words, if you determine that what you're selling does not fill a legitimate need for someone, you have be ready to say thank you, and walk away. Just the opposite of what has always been taught in traditional sales training. This is quite obviously the short version.

Do yourself, and the economy a favor and give a career in sales a shot. If you get with the right organization that trains you in the above techniques, and you learn them thoroughly, your life can change forever. And I'll see you in the Caribbean.

To your success.

Depression From Estrogen Withdrawal May Accompany Menopause and PMS


One of the current theories in the scientific community is that women may experience depression from estrogen withdrawal after the birth of a child, during menopause or during the last few days of their menstrual cycle. Numerous studies have been done concerning the positive and negative effects of plant estrogens in food. Here we look at some of the available information concerning increased consumption of specific plant foods and symptoms that may be associated with decreased levels of estrogen in women.

Scientists are still studying the affects that estrogen and other hormones have on parts of the brain, including the hypothalamus and the hippocampus, which are responsible for memory and spatial navigation, among other things. A recent study by Japanese scientists indicates that levels of estrogen in the hippocampus are greater than those in blood plasma. However, their findings do not seem to support the theory that depression during menopause is depression from estrogen withdrawal.

Reduced levels of estrogen occur during menopause because the ovaries have stopped functioning. While the ovaries are a major estrogen producer, estrogen can also be synthesized in the body, and specifically the brain, from cholesterol and other hormones. While studies have shown that plant estrogens in food, specifically soy isoflavones have the potential to reduce premenstrual symptoms and menopausal symptoms, there is no clear evidence supporting their use for the relief of depression.

A study by the Bio-Psychology Group at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom concluded that soy isoflavones "may have potential to reduce specific premenstrual symptoms". The "specific" symptoms mentioned are headache, breast tenderness, cramps and swelling. Soy isoflavones are the best known phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. In food, however, the quantity of these components may vary. Studies have shown that women who ate muffins made from soy flour did not experience a reduction in menopausal symptoms. But, women who took a standardized supplement containing isolated soy isoflavones noted a significant reduction of menopausal symptoms.

A review of publications and studies concerning complementary and alternative therapies for menopausal (often referred to by researchers as "climacteric") symptoms by Reinhard-Hennch, Strowitzki and von Hagens concluded that black cohosh, lifestyle modifications and phytoestrogens may relieve climacteric symptoms. Specifically, they noted that black cohosh may relieve hot flashes. Phytoestrogens, hop and Salvia are promising, but less convincing at this time. St. John's wort may be helpful for moderate depressive symptoms. Phytoestrogens have a potential for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

This study concluded that phytoestrogens and black cohosh should not be given to breast cancer survivors, but other studies contradict this conclusion. Laboratory analysis has shown that black cohosh has no effect on estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cell lines. Studies in Japan indicate that women with a high dietary intake of soy (rich in phytoestrogens) during their lifetime have both a reduced risk of developing breast cancer and an increased survival rate when breast cancer does develop. Even scientific researchers rarely agree about the benefits of plant estrogens in food.

The most recent scientific evaluation of black cohosh does not indicate that it contains any compounds that would have an estrogen-like effect on the body. No one is sure why black cohosh relieves hot flashes, but many women swear by it (this writer included). Black cohosh was used traditionally by Native American healers to treat symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, as well as many other conditions. It was widely used because it was widely available.

Some research suggests that black cohosh works by binding to serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, meaning that it transmits signals among nerves in the brain and body. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression. The newest anti-depressants work by inhibiting the rapid breakdown of serotonin in the body, increasing its ability to perform its many functions. 5-HTP is a dietary supplement which the body can covert to serotonin. It has been used in Europe and other countries to treat mild to moderate depression.

Whether women experience depression from estrogen withdrawal or because of changes or imbalances in levels of other hormones, low levels of serotonin or other chemicals in the body is unclear. It is known that women are much more likely to suffer from depression than are men.

How to Get Your Ex Boyfriend Back - Just Like the Movies


It's always the same with breakups: initial shock, pain, hurt, resentment, depression, and so on. But don't fret, once the dust clears you'll realize that getting back with your ex is not impossible. But first, focus on feeling better about yourself. You can't get your ex back if you mope around all day. The show (or in this case, life) must go on. Have a look at these dialogues or quotes from the movies. They could clue you in and be your guide in your relationship dilemma.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
(Shaw Shank Redemption)

If you really want to get your ex back, then it's important that you don't lose hope. Right now, hope is the only thing you going, the only thing you can rely on. If you truly believe that what you and your ex shared was special then there is chance you'll get it back. Like they say in the movies, "no good thing ever dies".

"We are who we are, how we got here doesn't matter. What matters is what do we do now?"
(Deep End of the Ocean)

Problems are inevitable in relationships, how you handle them is what counts. Whatever issues you and your ex had belongs in the past. What do you do now? How about resolving your issues and burying your anger. Consider each others' opinions and don't be too critical.

"I'd rather have a lifetime with you than to live all the ages of this world alone"
(Lord of the Rings)

There are some things in life worth saving, and a relationship with the man you love is one of them. When the breakup is still new, then it's better to respect his wishes and keep your distance. Use this time to become emotionally stronger as well. After all the arguments, you both need a breather.

"Love is about making chances"
(The Sweetest Thing)

You can't resign to the idea that it's all over. If you feel that there's still something there, then take the chance and try to get your ex back. Remind him that you're still the same girl he fell in love with. If you are truly meant to be together, then it will happen. Be patient and play your cards right. Prove to him that you're willing to make the relationship work by making the necessary changes like changing bad habits and attitudes.

Accident Sickness Unemployment Insurance


The ASU insurance offers individuals the financial protection that they need during redundancy or sickness. This means that in case the policy holders find themselves in a situation whereby they are not in a position to work resulting from unemployment or accident sickness, they will have the financial assistance they require till they get back on their feet again. The insurance will take care of the expenses on a monthly kind of pay until the situation improves when you either recover or find another job.

In some instances, the ASU policy will not only cover the hospital bills and essential family needs but also loan repayments, credit bills and even mortgage repayments making them even more suitable for lots of individuals. The insurance policies come designed different and you will therefore need to choose the level that will suit into the circumstances well thus leaving you and also your family well protected financially in case the worst happens. It is a decision that needs to be made sooner than later since it can be hard when you will be faced by such circumstances.

When looking for the best ASU insurance, you can use online comparison. You will find dedicated experts who will make the comparison process easy for you. They will have an extensive list of the best ASU insurance providers and will even offer advisory services that you could need in determining the cover type that is best for your kind of needs. The professionals will in most cases give you all the quotes you need free of charge and without any obligation.

They would have done their research for the best providers and gathered every bit of information that you could find helpful as far as the insurance is concerned. This means that you will enjoy a secure, safe and fast way of finding the best insurance providers and the best ASU policies. The policies come with their own benefits and it is important that you check to see that you are in agreement with the terms of service.

The accident sickness and unemployment policy is one of the best choices you can make with insurance. Even though everybody hopes for no sickness and no unemployment, the risks are still there and the situations can arise at any given time. You will easily get past them when you have a good insurance policy at hand and the ASU is definitely a good choice of a policy.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Manic Depression - Important Factor in Mental Health


Mental health is mostly about how we feel and think. Mental health problems people face are rarely easy to understand or discuss. however it helps to get the facts. There is a ton of misinformation that's passed surrounding mental health.

Manic-depression, also known as bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual changes in the atmosphere, energy, and ability to function. They can cause damage to labor relations or poor school performance and even suicide. Good news: manic-depression can be treated, and people with this disease can lead a productive life.

Most of the children, especially adolescents experience mood fluctuations as a normal part of growing up, but when those feelings persist and begin to interfere with the child's ability to function in everyday life, manic depression may be the cause.

Slight to moderate level of mania is called hypo mania. Hypo mania may feel good person, who experience and may even be associated with good performance and increase productivity. Thus, even when family and friends learned to recognize fluctuations in mood as manic depression, a person can deny that this is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypo mania can become a major craze in some people or can switch into depression

Mania stems from narcissism and has two usual reasons: the desire to escape a depression or the desire to escape from fear. The first escape produces an intense mania and the second a mild mania. It is always anxiety or depression (whether actual or starting) that sets off the mania. So in manic depression the control and management of the disease should be aimed at treating depression and poor quality of life of the person. Mania reflects the idealism of poverty in the person of normal way of life. Mania reflects the lack of quality in human's life.

The symptoms vary in intensity and pattern and should not be recognized in the beginning. People suffering from manic depression can have long periods in their lives without episodes of mania or depression, but manic-depressives have the highest suicide rate of any group with a mental disorder.

Exercise is a good way to treat of manic depression. It determines the production and use of neurotransmitters and hormones in the body, and its antidepressant effect is well known. A preliminary study of the effects of vigorous exercise on the body chemistry of patients with manic depression found that exercise increased a specific chemical associated with a better frame of mind. However, exercise can negatively influence the effectiveness of some medications used for bipolar disorder. Many people with bipolar disorder taking lithium because it is lost in sweat, exercise involving significant sweating may change blood levels of lithium. This change was reported in one person, so people wishing lithium launch a vigorous exercise program should be supervised by their doctor.

To learn more, consult with a doctor or a mental health professional and also contact your local Mental Health Association.

The Best Diet for Depression and Anxiety


Making simple changes to your diet can have profound effects on your brain and body. Scientific organizations all over the world have found that eating the right foods can reverse depression, reduce anxiety, boost energy levels, improve mental alertness and concentration, and fight a variety of chronic health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

To help heal your depression, make sure to get these foods into your diet:

Nutrient-Rich Foods

Nutrients help to maintain your body's health. They come in the form of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and some fats. Some nutrients give us energy, such as complex carbohydrates and proteins. Others boost our metabolism, like water, vitamins and minerals. Nutrient deficiency prevents the body from working at full capacity. Not getting all of the nutrients you need can result in a host of health problems.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Participants in a 2002 study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry took just a gram of fish oil each day and noticed a 50 percent reduction in depression symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, unexplained feelings of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and decreased sex drive. Omega-3 fatty acids can lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. Foods that contain significant amounts of omega-3s include:


  • fish oil

  • tuna

  • salmon

  • mackerel

  • flaxseed

  • canola oil

  • soybean oil

  • walnuts

  • dark, leafy greens

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is a balanced, healthy eating regime based on the traditional cuisine of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of lots of fruits, nuts, vegetables, cereals, legumes, and fish. These foods contain nutrients essential to proper brain function, making it an ideal diet for depression.

One study involving over 10,000 adults, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, showed that those who most closely followed the Mediterranean diet were more than 30% less likely to develop depression than those who least adhered to the diet.

Scientists have linked folate and vitamin B-12 deficiency to depression. The Mediterranean diet consists of high levels of these two nutrients, as well as heart healthy omega-3s, monounsaturated fats ("good fats"), and dietary fiber. Folate is found in legumes, nuts, fruits, and dark green vegetables, and B-12 can be found in all lean and low-fat animal products, such as fish and low-fat dairy products.

Antioxidants

Damaging molecules called free radicals are produced in our bodies during normal body functions. These free radicals speed up the aging process, and contribute to many health problems. Antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins C and E fight the effects of free radicals, stripping them of their destructive powers.

Francine Grodstein, ScD, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, studied the effects of beta carotene on memory and cognitive functioning, concluding that beta carotene can boost memory and reduce chances of dementia. Beta carotene's cognitive benefits can also help lessen symptoms of depression.

In a study 40 chronic psychiatric inpatients received 1 gram a day of ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C). Significant improvements were seen in depressive and manic symptoms as well as in overall well-being. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it has been reported that depressed people have lower levels of vitamin E.

Complex Carbohydrates

Eating foods high in complex carbohydrates (whole wheat breads and pastas, cereals, brown rice) raises your levels of serotonin, a mood-lifting brain chemical. Serotonin fights the effects of depression and anxiety.

Researchers from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation found that over the course of one year of dieting, people who participated in a low fat, high carbohydrate diet had better moods than people who participated in a high fat, low carbohydrate diet.

A study reported at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) compared depression scores of women on a low-protein high-carbohydrate diet to women on a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet. The women placed on the high-protein low-carbohydrate diet showed significant improvements in their depression scores and self-esteem, while the low-protein high-carbohydrate women showed no improvement.

Protein

Protein-rich foods contain high levels of the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine aids in the production of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. These chemicals boost your energy, improving alertness and concentration.

Protein is utilized in the in the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals which enhance alertness and concentration, and improve symptoms of depression.

Try to include proteins in your diet several times a day. Good sources of protein are:


  • beans and peas

  • lean beef

  • low-fat cheese

  • fish

  • milk

  • poultry

  • soy products

  • yogurt

Vitamin D

Vitamin D increases serotonin levels in your brain. Researchers from the University of Toronto found that people who were suffering from depression, particularly those with seasonal affective disorder, tended to improve as their levels of vitamin D in the body increased over the normal course of a year. Vitamin D can be found in most dairy products and fish.

How Alcohol Causes Depression


It has been proven that alcohol causes depression. Depression is ongoing feelings of hopelessness, sadness, unhappiness, and causes a bleak outlook on life. And when you are suffering from depression you can't be at the top of your game. It is hard to function in high gear when you are fatigued and are experiencing a general lack of interest, also caused by depression. It may also be important to point out here that depression causes anxiety. So many who suffer from depression will also have episodes of anxiety.

Since alcohol is a known depressant, it stands to reason people with depression shouldn't drink. This applies to people suffering from manic depression as well. Studies have shown that doctors miss diagnosing correctly roughly 65% of people who are depressed.

The depression caused by alcohol actually starts with your physical body. First, alcohol lowers the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in your brain. These chemicals are the chemicals that give you your good feelings - a feeling of well being, and they help you to feel normal. The anti-depressant drugs were designed build these chemicals back up. After a long drinking career, since alcohol can take these brain chemicals down to ground zero, it can take a long time for the anti-depressants to bring these brain chemical levels back to where they need to be.

Alcohol also temporarily nullifies the effects of stress hormones. This is why after drinking you feel worse than ever, because alcohol depresses your nervous system and your brain. A study was done that followed people who were only drinking one drink a day and after these people stopped drinking for 3 months, their depression scores improved. And that is only at one drink a day, so it is easy to imagine the impact the kind of volume an alcoholic takes in every day can have.

Alcohol all but wipes out every vitamin in your system after a drinking session. A folic acid deficiency will contribute the brain aging and in older people, dementia. The folic acid deficiency also contributes to overall depression. Further, the alcohol in your system also breaks down and speeds the elimination of antioxidants in your blood. Antioxidants are critically important to our health because antioxidants fight free radicals and free radical damage causes diseases and aging. Our immune system actually creates the antioxidants which then neutralize the free radicals.

Alcohol can activate a gene that has been linked to depression and other mental issues. The result of this activation can cause not only depression, but seizures, and manic depressive episodes as well.

Although the majority of problem drinkers associate depression with their mental and emotional states, the fact is this kind of depression originates in your physical body's response to drinking alcohol.

Teenage Substance Abuse? 15 Signs of a Troubled Youth


Troubled teens throw families into utter chaos. Every teenager goes through mood changes and volatility so it can be hard for some parents to decide on what is in the normal range for teenage behavior. As a psychiatrist that specializes in helping families with addicted teens or young adults, I try to educate families on what are the warning signs that they may have a troubled teen on their hands. Here are 15 signs of a troubled teen:


  1. Is your teen using drugs or alcohol (teen substance abuse)?

  2. Is your teen having significant mood swings?

  3. Does your teen isolate in their room right after school?

  4. Has your teen's school performance changed for the worse?

  5. Is your teen skipping classes and blowing off homework?

  6. Has your teen quit eating with the family and quit participating in family activities?

  7. Is your teen losing weight?

  8. Has your teen's sleep pattern changed?

  9. Does your teen seem depressed or anxious?

  10. Has your teen withdrawn from their former group of friends?

  11. Is your teen hanging around with friends that seem like a bad influence?

  12. Is your teen breaking rules and being defiant of authority?

  13. Has your teen gotten in any legal trouble (shop lifting)?

  14. Does your teen seem agitated?

  15. Is your teen lying a lot?

The most likely reasons you may have a troubled youth is that your teen either is abusing drugs or alcohol (teenage alcoholism or teenage drug abuse), suffering from anxiety, or depression, or your teen has developed an eating disorder (or a combination of these). Most of the other warning signs stem from these conditions. Anxiety and depression can lead to a teen using drugs and alcohol in an attempt to feel better or, conversely, teenage alcoholism or teen drug abuse can actually cause anxiety and depression. RJ, is an 18 year that I saw in my practice. His parents brought him to me because he was skipping school and told them he felt very depressed. He had already been kicked out of 4 schools due to skipping classes and not turning in homework assignments. His parents had sent him to several alternative school environments and were at their wit's end. On evaluation he was suffering from clinical depression and an Anxiety Disorder.

However, he also suffered from teen drug addiction and teenage alcoholism. With a patient like RJ, is unclear if his depression or anxiety came before the drug and alcohol use or after the abuse. He had been abusing drugs and alcohol since he was 14 years old. He also had a family history of depression. To give him the best outcome, I withdrew him from drugs and alcohol with medication that prevented symptoms of withdrawal. I then prescribed an antidepressant that also helps anxiety. Antidepressants are not addicting. I also worked with the family and helped to teach both parents to set boundaries with their son and let him suffer the consequences of any drug and alcohol use. They also agreed to go to Families Anonymous meetings. RJ participated in group therapy with other kids his age who suffer from addiction. RJ, one year later, has maintained his sobriety and is going to a school that has a self paced program. He continues to take antidepressants and is not depressed or anxious. He gets along much better with his parents now who have learned to set limits with him. RJ has done well because his treatment has involved getting him off drugs and alcohol so he did not suffer withdrawal. His therapy has involved dealing with addiction and learning new coping skills and communication skills. The antidepressants have helped with depression and anxiety so that he can function at a higher level. His parents have learned to raise their expectations of him by setting limits if he doesn't honor basic responsibilities. A successful outcome with a troubled teen demands a multi-factorial approach.

The Great Cappuccino Hype


For some, a regular cup of coffee is the perfect way to start the day. For others, a cappuccino or frozen coffee drink is a must. As a matter of fact the specialty drink is so popular that people are willing to wait in long lines and spend as much as $5 per a cup.

And while sipping on that favorite drink may seem heavenly, there's more than meets the eye! So, not only is that indulgence taking a chunk out of your pocketbook, it may also be affecting you your health.

For example:

o Caffeine is the main ingredient in every one of these specialty drinks. Caffeine is also very addictive. Once you're hooked it's very difficult to just give it up and there's almost always some side effect. Some side effects are headaches, dizziness, nervousness, irritability, anxiety and insomnia. Too much caffeine can lead to depression, hallucinations, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

o Milk is another main ingredient found in these specialty drinks. While many people may disagree that milk can be a danger to their health, they're also probably not aware of rBGH. rBGH is a growth hormone that is injected into cows to make them produce more milk. RHGB has been known to cause tumors in the breasts and possibly cause reproductive problems in women. The steroid may also increase the risk of some colon related problems. 

o Artificial sweeteners are often used in these specialty drinks due to its popularity of being known as a less fattening sugar alternative. Yet, artificial sweeteners are far worse than sugar because they're made with chemicals. Many of these sweeteners have been linked to manic depression, panic attacks, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, birth defects, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

o Artificial colors and flavors may also be used in these drinks because it makes them look and taste better. Plus it's often cheaper to use a fake flavoring rather than spend money on the real thing. However, artificial colors and flavors are nothing but man-made chemicals.

If the above still doesn't have you convinced, keep in mind that just one cappuccino or frozen iced coffee can contain as much as 700 calories per a cup and there's no nutritional value whatsoever. So, if you must indulge, keep it simple or simply make your own.

Sexual & Cyber Bullying on Oprah - How Kids Can Fight Bullies, Depression & Suicide


Success secrets for kids to be victorious over sexual & cyber bullying. Tips for kids to fight bullies, depression, suicide and a poor self-image. Oprah's national conversation on sexual & cyber bullying confronts bullies and empowers kids. Parents awake to signs of depression in your children before they commit suicide. Release your kids to fight their social battles and not break under cruel name calling and sexual slurs. Beat sexual & cyber bullying before it beats your family.

I recently saw a segment on cyber bullying on Oprah discussing how three young boys were devastated and brought to depression as a result of bullying occurring at school.

Sexual slurs and cyber bullying was involved in one of the three cases, where a guy and young lady posed as if there was a romantic interest in the young man who was being teased and accused of being gay. The young boy was certainly not gay.

Although he wasn't the greatest student or athlete, he wasn't gay. But these slurs and the cyber bullying further crushed him emotionally to the point he hated school and never wanted to go back.

Eventually unable to cope and take it, sadly the young boy committed suicide. It's unfortunate he did not confide in and speak to his loving parents, but I guess there was embarrassment in even the accusation of being gay itself.

Schools often intervene very little in sexual bullying. Cyber bullying is even less regulated as it occurs online. The young lady posed to like the boy, but later met him face to face calling him a "loser" and expressed her disinterest in him. Very cruel and hurtful indeed.

Here are some secrets for kids to use to be victorious over sexual & cyber bullying.

1. Be secure in yourself no matter what anybody else says.

2. Speak up for yourself and don't silence your voice.

3. Tell the principal and every administrator in your school along with teachers until you find a sympathetic soul who will listen and take immediate action.

4. Get some sarcastic one liners to say back to the bully at the appropriate time when other kids are around to embarrass him or her as they have you.

5. Phone the bully's house around 8:30pm or later to speak to his / her parents and tell them of the abuse occurring against you. Forewarn the parents that unless they take immediate action, you will be going to the principal, police and hiring an attorney. (The last one usually comes with economic restitution and punitive damages the parents of the bully would have to pay financially for not intervening and dealing with their child.)

6. Write the facts and truth about the bully online yourself, which is a great way to be heard and shame the bully.

7. Take martial arts classes and prepare to defend yourself if a physical altercation occurs.

Be strong, be wise, and never despise yourself. The next time the bully picks on you, stand up to him / her and be victorious!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Bipolar Disorder Advancements


Bipolar disorder is a mental illness requiring prolonged treatment. People with this disorder experience extreme emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression.) Numerous advancements in bipolar disorder treatments have been made over the past few decades.

Physicians, however, still do not know exactly what causes the illness. The disorder is now effectively treated through a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Since it is a recurrent illness, lifelong preventive treatment is strongly recommended.

Bipolar disorder medications include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Mood stabilizers can effectively control manic and depressive moods in many patients. Lithium carbonate, Valproic acid, Lamotrigine, Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine, and Topiramate are the commonly used mood stabilizers. The majority of mood stabilizers are anticonvulsants, with the exclusion of lithium. Mood stabilizers are sometimes used in combination with one another.

Bipolar disorder is also treated with antidepressant medications. However, they carry a high risk of inducing mania, particularly in patients who are not taking a mood stabilizer. Common antidepressants are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tricyclics such as imipramine (Tofranil), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac.) Antipsychotic drugs are used in severe cases where mania and depression are strong enough to cause psychosis. The most commonly used antipsychotic drugs are risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine. Some of them have mood-stabilizing properties.

Psychotherapy, together with drug treatment, provides many additional benefits. It helps patients resolve their work and relationship problems. The most common psychotherapy interventions attempted are cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and family-focused therapy.

Proper nutrition also helps control the mood swings associated with bipolar disorder. Research indicates that high doses of nutritional supplements such as glyconutrients cure symptoms of manic depression. Alternative treatments such as acupuncture and orthomolecular therapy are also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Depression in Men: Myths Vs Truth


Depression in men occurs less often than depression in women, but it still affects a great portion of the country. Once thought to be a "women's disease," depression actually affects around 6 million men every year in the United States alone. Many experts also feel that those numbers are still too low thanks in part to the large population of men with depression that go undiagnosed every day. Whether they deny their symptoms or don't fully understand them, depression is a very serious illness that can be quite devastating to one's life without treatment. Since May is National Depression Month, we saw it fit to debunk some well-known myths and misconceptions about depression in men.

Myth # 1: Depression in Men Looks the Same as Depression in Women
If you have depression, then regardless of gender you're just really sad for extended periods of time, right? This is a big misconception about depression. While it absolutely affects both sexes and can cause serious disruption in their daily lives, the way men and women express their symptoms of depression is actually very different. While it's fairly well-known that depression in women can cause feelings of sadness and worthlessness, depression in men is actually more likely to cause sufferers to be irritable, aggressive or hostile.

Myth # 2: He Seems So Happy, He's Not Depressed!
If only if were that simple. Someone can seem to be as jovial and happy on the outside as a kid on their birthday, but that in no way means that they're not suffering from severe clinical depression on the inside. We have to remember that on average, depression affects one out of every 10 people in America and the majority of them continue on with their daily activities all the while suffering silently. Depression in men, especially when left untreated, can get so bad that they become unable to function, but most are much harder to identify from the outside.

Myth # 3: People with Depression Can Just Snap Out of It
This is a myth that is due to the extreme lack of understanding the general population has about the mental illness of depression as a whole. If a loved one suffers from clinical depression, as bad as they might want to, they can't just snap out of it or suck it up. Depression in men is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and there is no snapping out of that without treatment. Would you expect someone with diabetes to just snap out of it? No, you probably wouldn't and shouldn't for someone with depression either.

Myth # 4: Wealthy People Can't Get Depression
If you were fortunate enough to be born into money or have a high paying job, then you must not be able to suffer from depression as you have everything you need, right? Again, a giant misconception. Depression is a mental disorder that crosses all socio-economic bridges and boundaries. There is no gender, nationality, educational background or amount of wealth to shield you from the possibility of depression.

Depression in men is a serious, but treatable condition that should not be taken lightly. Untreated depression in men has been known to cause reckless and dangerous behavior like substance abuse.

Chemical Sensitivity: New Cause For Depression?


Chemical intolerance is also called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), sick building syndrome, toxic injury and other names. This has been a controversial topic within the medical community. There is no definitive diagnosis or treatment, leaving sufferers frustrated.

What Is It?

Chemical intolerance is a chronic condition involving a variety of symptoms after prolonged chemical exposure. Symptoms can be mild headache, rash or respiratory irritation. More severe forms include fatigue, seizures, immune system disorder, and many more. Because many of these symptoms resemble other illnesses, chemical sensitivity is often misdiagnosed. Since many suffering from chemical sensitivity also present symptoms of depression and anxiety, these patients are diagnosed and treated for these psychological disorders.

Research Evidence

Over the years, the medical community has been divided on the recognition of chemical intolerance as a true medical condition. Some believe it's a mere hypersensitivity to chemicals, other attribute it to psychological disorders. However, a recent research study may offer some redemption for the misunderstood. Annals of Family Medicine recently published a study that offered more insight into this controversial condition. The study was conducted in two busy family practice clinics in Texas. Out of 400 participants, over 20% actually suffered from chemical intolerance. This is more than sensitivity to chemicals. The sufferers also had co-morbidities such as allergies, depression, anxiety, alcoholism, etc. Overall, they are less functional than those without chemical sensitivity. They also visit doctors and emergency rooms more often for co-morbid conditions, thus incurs significantly higher medical cost.

Treatment

While there's no specific treatment for chemical sensitivity, certain lifestyle changes may help to improve or resolve symptoms. First of all, it's essential to identify and avoid the chemicals that are causing symptoms. These will be different for each individual and sometimes it's a process of elimination before identifying the culprit(s). Secondly, reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol in one's diet may help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms. Third of all, certain medications could trigger side effects similar to chemical sensitivity symptoms. Be sure to discuss your medications with your physician to avoid unpleasant side effects or interactions.

Implications

The above study may be the first step in validating chemical sensitivity as a true medical condition. Currently the illness isn't recognized by major healthcare organizations because of limited evidence. As researchers gain more insights into the illness, then perhaps more effective and targeted treatments will be available to alleviate symptoms.

The new information also proves that environmental chemicals do, indeed, affect our health. And it's happening more often than we recognize. If one fifth of those who visit a primary care physicians office are intolerant to chemicals, then a significant percentage of the population suffer from the condition also. This should be a wake-up call to those turning a blind eye to chemical over-usage. In modern society, people routinely encounter hundreds of chemicals in personal use products, furniture, cleaning products, office supplies, construction, etc. Many of these chemicals are known to be toxic to human and environmental health. Some are carcinogenic. Many have not been tested thoroughly. It shouldn't be a surprise to see evidence of how chronic exposure to these chemicals affects our health. It should prompt people to take action against chemical usage and opt for more natural products.

Conclusion

Chemical intolerance or sensitivity may be more often than previously thought. The medical community long believed that symptoms from the condition are caused by psychosocial factors. As new research evidence shine light on the prevalence of chemical sensitivity, we hope to see more actions in terms of medical treatment and reimbursement as well as environmental changes to prevent future occurrence.

How to Recognize Depression Symptoms in Your Teen


The wild mood swings experienced among most teenagers are usually a normal part of adolescent behavior, although it can become a nightmare for their parents. However, psychologists have conducted studies and have concluded many teens who do experience ups and downs in their moods are in actuality dealing with teenage depression symptoms.

Medical Findings

Although a main list of depression symptoms in teens are still not agreed upon by all medical experts, there are some psychiatrists who believe a small percentage of teenagers do have mood disorders, which are displayed by certain symptoms. And teens that do suffer from depression many times tend to carry their mental illness into adulthood.

Understanding Depression Symptoms in Teens

The number one factor that separates teenage depression symptoms from adult symptoms is that teens have more events and activities to attend that require challenging social interactions, which unfortunately leads to self-esteem issues and symptoms that run rampant during teen years. Also, teens experiencing depression related symptoms usually have increased suicidal thoughts that they act upon.

Teens dealing with depression many times choose to cut themselves off from friendships and social relationships. Other teenage depression symptoms may encompass excessive feelings of boredom, continual lack of interest in day to day life, difficulty concentrating, feelings of anger and sadness, being bothered by small disturbances, problems handling rejection, headaches, trouble sleeping, and eating issues.

Causes of Depression in Teens

Experts are not able to identify one point of origin that they feel is responsible for depression symptoms in teenagers. However, medical experts do believe that a combination of genetic, environmental, and mental factors all tie together to bring about depression faced by today's youth. Also, teens who have strong family histories of depression are more likely to experience depression themselves.

Other factors that may contribute to teenage depression are the lack of ability to create and build friendships as well as the feeling of needing to suppress their sexuality, which is why teenage homosexuals tend to have a higher rate of depression. This is why the distraction of participating in sports and other extracurricular activities helps decrease the rates of teen depression nationwide.

Finally, the personal relationship a teen has with their mother and father can directly relate to their depression symptoms or lack thereof.

Treating and Handling Teens with Depression

Unfortunately, depression symptoms are the leading cause of suicide in teenagers; this is why it is critical for parents, caregivers, and guardians to understand depression symptoms in teenagers as well as to know how to seek help and treatment for their teens. It is the job of these adults to ensure teenagers suffering from depression are cared for and treated in a prompt, efficient manner.

Thankfully, there are quite a few community centers throughout the country that help the parents of teens dealing with depression symptoms to recognize these symptoms and learn how to deal with them. No matter the situation, the optimum solution is to seek the help of a therapist, psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist who specializes in teenage depression.

Does Depression Make Your Girlfriend Want To Breakup With You When She Is Suffering From It?


Depression affects one's life in a variety of ways. Social interactions become limited when one is suffering from depression. Work performance is also affected, sometimes to the point of costing one's job. Relationship with loved ones may also suffer. So if your depressed girlfriend wants to breakup with you, that is nothing to be surprised about. But it does not mean that it is okay, either. Certainly, it does not mean that you will just let things be and not do anything about it.

Depression is a difficult time for the depressed individual and it also poses a big challenge to the significant other. Your girlfriend is at her lowest point which gives her the tendency to think rather irrationally. It may not really that she wants to breakup with you (unless, of course, you are the one causing her problems in the first place); only that she may feel worthless or that she may need a little space.

Helping your girlfriend cope with depression

It is kind of normal for women to feel that way when they are depressed, but leaving them will only make things worse. Make your girlfriend feel needed, not abandoned. So if your girlfriend wants to break up with you, try these things:

  • Make her feel you understand her situation but be firm in telling her that you are not going to leave her.

  • If she wants space, give it to her. She needs it. But don't cut off your communication lines for too long.

  • Take her someplace where she can unwind. Going for long drives or to the beach sounds like a good idea.

  • Do fun things with her. Go bicycle-riding with her. Bring her to an amusement park where she can go on fun rides and play games without having to worry what others will think. Or why not treat her to an ice cream cone? This helps to make her realize that while life is not meant to be easy all the time, it can nonetheless be fun.

  • Get your girlfriend to talk about or express her feelings in a constructive way. This may not be the easiest thing to do but it is extremely necessary.

If after having done all these things, your girlfriend still appears withdrawn and more depressed than ever, consider getting her a therapist. A therapist is someone who can help your girlfriend identify her problems, make her own goals and get her to achieve them. The therapist may require one-to-one sessions or group sessions, depending on the situation. The therapist may also put your girlfriend on medications. But regardless of the therapeutic approach, you being the significant other, has a big role to play in the healing process. Your love and support are very important in helping your girlfriend cope with her depression.

Depression can happen to any one of us. The problem is that it can be severe for some people to the point that it already affects their lives. Some even manifest signs and symptoms that compromise their general well being. Many can go on hunger strikes and sleepless nights, for instance, or do the exact opposite - overeat and oversleep. Either way, the consequences are really bad to one's health. In this case, depression needs to be controlled as easily as possible so that it does not consume one's life.

Well, you will glad to know that there are foods and vitamins that can stabilize mood, help prevent depression, or at the very least reduce the impact of depression on one's physical and mental self. Accordingly, eating foods high in B-vitamins is very helpful especially to people with increased tendencies of developing depression.

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Writer


What do Ernest Hemingway, Jack London and Virginia Woolf have in common - besides being famous writers? They all committed suicide. This is just the short list, too. Even the "Top Ten" list of famous literary suicides barely scratches the surface. As a breed, creative writers seem to be particularly suicide prone. Why?

Readers, swept away by the beauty, intelligence and poignancy of a great novel or poem, wonder how anyone so creative would even contemplate suicide. Wouldn't someone with such penetrating insight into the human condition possess the detached brilliance of the Buddha? Wouldn't their fame and the accolades they receive from their admirers be enough to buoy their spirits? Is the solitary nature of the vocation responsible for all the tragic deaths?

Psychologists believe they may have the answer to the question: in a word, it's depression. A disproportionate number of creative writers have been diagnosed as manic depressive. In fact, the renowned poet, Anne Sexton, took up writing on the advice of her therapist, who felt it would be a good outlet for her. That was in 1956. She quickly began to receive accolades for her brilliant work, finally receiving the Pulitzer Prize in 1967, only ten years after she began writing. Seven years later, still at the pinnacle of her career, she committed suicide.

Manic Depression, today more commonly referred to as Bipolar Disorder, is characterized by violent mood swings. In artists, a burst of creative energy is followed by a period of intense self-criticism. Some psychologists suggest that it is this very combination that makes creative writing the natural career choice for manic-depressives. They follow a feverish round of creative activity with an equally intense round of proof-reading, editing and perfecting their original work.

Fortunately for writers everywhere, depression is not a requirement for the job. While writing does attract more than its fair share of suicides, the majority of writers live until a ripe old age. Such was the case with the brilliant British novelist, Alan Sillitoe. Sillitoe was at the forefront of the "Angry Young Men" writing movement in the 1950s. Two of his early novels, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner were made into films. A true "working class hero," Sillitoe exposed the cruelty of a social system that relentlessly punishes the vast majority of its workers - the very people who are the backbone of industry. Alan Sillitoe died on the 25th of April, 2010 at the age of 82.

J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, also died recently. Often called the most influential writer of the 20th century, Salinger was also one of the most enigmatic. At the height of his fame, he retreated into virtual seclusion and shunned the limelight for the rest of his life. He was neither depressed nor suicidal: he just liked his privacy, as do most writers. This tendency towards introversion characterizes the writer's life much better than the more newsworthy tendency towards depression or suicide.

Whether battling with their inner demons, like Sexton or Hemingway, communing with angels like William Blake or exploring the Human Comedy like Balzac, writers share a common need for solitude. This is sometimes hard for more extroverted types to understand and they often assume that all writers must spend their lives wallowing in loneliness and despair. This is a misconception. The list of writers, famous or otherwise, who live long and fulfilling lives is much longer than the list of those who have committed suicide. Most writers consider their profession to be a calling rather than a chosen career. The pay is lousy, the chances for success slim, but the rewards that come from answering the call are great.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Monitoring the Signs of Depression


Depression affects your thoughts, behavior, body and relationships. If you have worked on beating your depression, you no doubt know what depression looks like for you. We suggest that you observe yourself and the symptoms discussed in the following exercise from time to time.

Conduct a "Depression Review" at least once a week. Select a convenient time and check Depression Review in your calendar. We recommend conducting this review for at least a year after the depression lifts. In your Depression Review, ask yourself these questions:

1. Have I been having gloomy, dark thoughts?
2. Have I started avoiding people or situations that make me feel uncomfortable?
3. What is my mood on a 1 (extremely depressed) to 100 (completely happy) point scales? Has my mood dropped from its usual rating by more than 10 points and remained lower for more than a day or two?
4. Am I having any noticeable problems with my appetite, sleep or energy?
5. Have I been down on myself more than usual?
6. Have I been more irritable than usual?
7. Have I had an increase in guilty feelings?
8. Am I having problems with concentration?

If you answer YES to one or more of the questions above, pay attention! This list contains the early warning signs of an impending depression. Of course, anyone can experience a few gloomy thoughts, a little guilt and difficulty concentrating without sliding into a full-blown depression. However, we recommend taking these warning signs seriously by re-initiating some form of treatment, or possibly self-help efforts if your symptoms are mild.

Get Educated About PCOS


PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome happens whenever a woman's hormones are out of balance. When ladies have this difficulty, they are going to see challenges with their periods which in return, make it tricky to get pregnant. Obtaining this challenge can influence how you look and over time, and may cause critical health challenges.

What you probably are not aware of is that this issue is extremely prevalent, striking 1 in 15 women. It can be happen in the teen years and wants to be noticed when it happens.

What happens in PCOS?

Hormones are incredibly significant to girls and guys. This is because our hormones play as messengers that trigger processes including development and energy production. This has a huge impact on having the ability to conceive.

When we come across our sex hormones and they are out of whack, we see a few issues.

1.) Our body could begin developing insulin. This is generally known as insulin resistance and causes our blood sugar level to sky rocket. Not just will impact a pregnancy; it will bring about diabetes.

2.) We see that our ovaries make much more androgen's (male sex hormones) than the body essentially wants. This can cause ovulation to quit altogether, give us acne, and lead to us to grow facial hair.

What are the Symptoms of PCOS?

The symptoms of PCOS are listed below:

• Acne

• Depression

• Irregular periods - may possibly result in heavy bleeding and quite couple of periods

• Thinning hair on the scalp.

• Additional hair on the face and body

• Fertility Problems - Will have troubles becoming pregnant

What we see is the fact that females who get PCOS have compact cyst that grow on their ovaries. These cysts will not be harmful, but result in hormonal imbalances.

What is the Cause of PCOS?

PCOS is constantly caused by sudden modifications inside the hormone levels. What causes the adjustments within the hormonal levels is unknown as there are usually various causes for this to take place. We see that PCOS ordinarily runs in families and is inherited. Either the mother's or the father's side can acquire PCOS and pass it along from blood line to blood line.

How is PCOS Diagnosed?

Go to the Doctor and let him diagnose it. Do not diagnose yourself. When going to the physician, he will do a few tests:

• He will ask you inquiries about your over-all health and your menstrual cycles

• Complete a physical exam and look for indicators of PCOS there. He will check for high blood pressure and attempt to locate extra hair locations. You can also notice your medical doctor checking for your weight and physique mass index.

• Run blood tests and other lab tests. These tests could be a large amount of test or possibly a few tests, based on your doctor. Anticipate a Hormone test and other test for example this to rule out any Thyroid matters that may result in your problems.