Saturday, March 16, 2013

Spot the Common Signs of Depression and Beat It Before It Gets You


Who doesn't get sad? In fact, a lot of us get upset over the littlest things-and that's normal. What is not is when it goes on for a very long period of time, it disrupts the way you live, it destroys relationships, and it feeds negative thoughts into your mind. By then, there's a huge possibility you have depression.

Physical Symptoms of Depression

Though depression is referred to as disorder of the mind, it also has the ability to manifest itself physically. You likely have depression if you suffer from the following:


  • Lack or too much sleep

  • Loss of energy or fatigue (you easily get tired even at the smallest effort)

  • Weight loss of gain (usually at least 5 percent increase or decrease of your previous weight)

  • Headaches and dizziness

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Irregular heartbeat

  • Palpitations

  • Digestive issues

  • Hormonal imbalance

Emotional and Mental Warning Signs of Depression

Everybody goes through a period of depression. When somebody dies in the family, we may grieve for days, even for months. However, that doesn't mean there's an interruption in the way we function. We can still be happy and mingle with people. We can still pursue the things we normally do.

That's why beware of the following emotional and social signs. These are commonly associated with depression:


  • Guilty or worthless feeling

  • Lack of self-confidence

  • Significant lack of interest to usual activities

  • Presence of pessimistic thoughts

  • Personal withdrawal from society

There are also mental depression and anxiety symptoms. Watch out for indecisiveness or lack of proper concentration, as well as for feeling of restlessness.

Note: Just because you suffer from one or a number of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you already have depression. To be sure, always consult your doctor. Moreover, you should do so right away if you're starting to think about suicide and death too often.

How to Beat Depression

Thanks to the increasing knowledge, technology, and greater understanding about depression, sufferers can already choose among a wide array of approaches.

One of these is the use of subliminal messages. What are subliminal messages? These are called affirmations. These messages go through straight to your subconscious, a part of your mind you don't have full control. The purpose of doing so is to ensure you can change your mind-set without restraint or influence (the conscious mind has the ability to filter out the messages it receives).

Some sufferers use subliminal messages alone, especially if their case is just light to moderate. However, usually they are used together with medications and other forms of treatment.

Using affirmations is very easy, and you can do so anytime, anywhere. It works by repeating a couple of positive statements such as the following:

I am much bigger than this depression.
I have a lot of reason to be happy.
I can beat depression.

The more you repeat them, the more they are embedded into your subconscious. In turn, even without realizing it, your manner of thinking is already starting to change to something positive.

How To Be Happy Under Stress


With the stress that has become the part and parcel of our life today, it has become imperative for us to know how to be happy. It can be easily achieved by a simple smile. The old adage, Smile and the world smiles with you holds true even today. Or it may touch us through our relationships and love of work. Anything that gives us comfort or pleasure will teach us how to be happy.

We constantly devise methods of how to be happy. Razor-edge competition and fast paced economy leaves us with little time for ourselves. We are caught up in the rat race to win, compete, fight, and run. And in this race we forget how to be happy.

As we gradually begin to grow; wishing how to be happy in our hearts; we keep losing a track of our happiness in day to day living. Mental stress gets an aggressive hold over our lives ruled by bad health, troubled relationships, peer pressure, social responsibilities, work place conflicts, monetary problems and the never ending ambition.

The stress which drives us up the wall has taken its toll our lives both physically as well as mentally. Physically, the widely known symptoms are high blood pressure, insomnia, boredom, lack of hunger and reduced immune strength. It causes an infinite number of mental disorders like schizophrenia, depression, manic depression or severe malaise. Not even the foetus is safe. The cortisol linked to the weight of the baby, may be a potential mechanism for transmitting the mother's stress to her unborn baby.

There should be ways to decipher how to be happy under stress. The easiest way is to try to absorb only the positive moments of our lives. Search for happiness in the everyday simple events of your life. Know how to be happy with the today's achievements without self-criticism and lack of appreciation. You can de-stress simply by:-

a)Thinking of the happy memories.

b)Taking time out to build beautiful memories today.

c)Dwell your thoughts in the aroma of your favorite flower.

d)Talk to someone when any thought keeps haunting you.

f)Stop. Take a break. Breath in, breath out.

g)Organize your thoughts

If you want to know how to be happy in spite of misery and failure, always look towards finding the solution to the situation at hand instead of dwelling over it. There is a highly effective technique for instant relief from stress. Find the humor in the contents. But, it requires a brave heart to laugh over misfortune or at oneself.

The most important driving factor is your self-determination. It is when we search deep within ourselves we realize that we have the innate strength invested by Mother Nature to fight stress. And if you are still puzzled in the quest of how to be happy, just smile.

Keep Your Digestive System Healthy to Avoid Depression


It might seem a distant logic to assume that digestion can affect the brain-our moods and feelings of depression in particular. But, really, there is something you have to know about the digestive system besides turning all the food you eat into bolus. And it seems all the more a far out topic to discuss hormones and malabsorption in response to depression symptoms. But sometimes, it just won't hurt to try novel things. Vitamin supplements will surely do no harm to the people taking it.

The digestive system is still connected and controlled by the brain so it is safe to assume that the brain is affected by imbalances cause by malabsorption in the large intestines. You might be wondering now that in this case, what you need is Loperamide or anti-Dyspepsia tablets. But actually, simple vitamin supplements can do the job for your troubled digestion. It usually shows in various symptoms that are also the symptoms of common digestive problems so it is important to ask for professional advice before taking in anything.

Fructose and lactose intolerance might interfere with the normal processes of the body since Tryptophan Hydroxylase is essential in synthesizing Serotonin, a neurotransmitter. With a digestive system not functioning well, Tryptophan might not be absorbed and the decrease in the levels of Tryptophan in the bloodstream will consequently lead to lower level of Tryptophan passing through the different parts of the body-especially the brain.

And that is why researches are looking into the possibility of simple addressing the fructose malabsorption issues of people who complain of depression or Pre Menstrual Syndromes. After all, vitamin supplements cost less and are much safer than taking in Prozac for what seems to be a simple hormonal imbalance and not a major suicidal tendency.

Another thing is that most anti depression drugs have lots of side effects. These are rather irreversible and may not be worth the depression being cured (some patients who have taken in fluoxetine reported developing uncontrollable seizures, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders). So, probably this is the time to try out alternative ways of curing depression. This underwent rigorous research so there's no need to worry about it. And, people cannot even die from an overdose of vitamin supplements since they will simply flush excess vitamins and minerals out through their urine.

So now might be the right time to go for alternative ways of treating common diseases. Millions of people all over the world are battling with depression and many more are dying from it. If there is any way the medical professionals can do to combat the leading cause of suicide among teenagers and adolescents in various parts of the globe, it is to conduct further studies on the veracity of vitamin supplements treating malabsorption and consequently helps curb depression. Once that is done, people will be able to make a choice whether to take the riskier anti depressant drugs or stick it out with an alternative medication that will not be harmful to them in any way.

What Are the Causes of Bipolar Disorder? Links to Genetics


Bipolar Disorder & Genetics

Bipolar disorder tends to run in families, as such researchers are looking for specific genes that may increase a person's chance of developing the illness. Genes are the "building blocks" of heredity. They help control how the body and brain work and grow. Genes are contained inside a person's cells that are passed down from parents to children.

Children with a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are four to six times more likely to develop the illness, compared with children who do not have a family history of the illness. However, most children with a family history of manic-depression will not develop the bipolar.

Advances in technology have aided researches to go more in depth of Genetic connection. The research is now much quicker and more far-reaching than in the past. One example is the launch of the Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database. This database, will allow scientists to link visible signs of bipolar with the genes that may influence them. With the aid of this database, researchers have found that most people with bipolar had:


  • Missed work because of their illness

  • Other illnesses at the same time, especially alcohol and/or substance abuse and panic disorders

  • Been treated or hospitalized for bipolar.

The researchers also identified certain traits that appeared to run in families, including:


  • History of psychiatric hospitalization

  • Co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • Age at first manic episode

  • Number and frequency of manic episodes

Traits found in this study, may help researches find the genes that cause bipolar disorder some day. However, genes are not the only risk factor for manic-depression. Studies of identical twins have shown that the twin of a person with bipolar illness does not always develop the disorder. This is important because identical twins share all of the same genes. The study results suggest factors besides genes are also at work. Rather, it is likely that many different genes and a person's environment are involved. However, scientists do not yet fully understand how these factors interact to cause bipolar.

A recent study in germany suggests that rare sponteous mutations are a vital contributor to risk for bipolar as other brain related physicatric diseases, such as schizophrenia. The study also concluded that there is a strong association of rare de novo copy-number-variants or (CNV's) with bipolar. The rare de novo CNV's infuence the age of when bipolar disorder begins. The same instances were found in schizophrenia earlier studies. Although unclear the role of CNVs in bipolar disorder, the study suggests mood disorders could be evident for de novo mutations.

Exercise in the Treatment of Depression


A number of studies, dating from the mid 1990s to more recently, show that cardio vascular and resistance or weight training combat mild to severe depression. It turns out that exercise results in a surge of serotonin, the neurotransmitter which make us feel good right after working out, as well as a long-term mood shift once you've started exercising regularly. These effects may be related in part to an increased growth in brain cells. Regular exercise has favorable effects on the immune system as well, which may promote health, especially in stressed and/or depressed individuals.

A study of 12,028 randomly selected individuals age 20-79 showed that increasing physical activity was associated with a 70% reduction in self-reported stress as well as decreased life dissatisfaction. Even 2-4 hours of walking per week was associated with significant gains. Another study of a group of employees showed reductions in stress levels and depression, and improvements in feelings of health and vitality, after a 24 week program of aerobic exercise compared to a control group. A 1985 study looked at 43 patients with depression; about half were treated for the condition with antidepressants. Patients were randomized to receive 9 weeks of exercise training (aerobic for one hour, three times a week at 50-70% maximum aerobic capacity) or occupational therapy. Exercise was associated with statistically significantly greater decreases in depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (a measure of symptoms of depression). In another study 86 patients with depression who were treated with antidepressants but did not have a therapeutic response were randomized to exercise or health education classes. Exercise involved weight bearing exercise for 45 minutes twice a week for ten weeks. More patients treated with exercise had an improvement as measured by a 30% improvement on a scale for the measurement of depression called the Hamilton Depression Scale (55% got better with exercise versus 33% without, a difference that was statistically significant). In another study 83 patients with major depression underwent aerobic exercise training versus not changing what they were doing before. Exercise training was associated with better symptom improvement in terms of anxiety and general symptoms but not depression.

Other studies have shown the impressive results of exercise in fighting or reducing symptoms of depression. For example, researchers at Freie University in Berlin also found that thirty minutes of exercise a day significantly improved the moods of patients who had been suffering from depression for nine months. In a report published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 12 patients with depression underwent 10 weeks of training on a treadmill at 30 minutes a day. There was a statistically significant 6-point drop in depressive symptoms as measured with the Hamilton Depression Sale. The authors concluded, and I agree, that exercise could be at least as effective as drugs in treating mild to moderate depression.

One study looked at 156 patients with major depression over age 50 who were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise, antidepressants (sertraline) or a combination of the two for 16 weeks. All patients showed an improvement in symptoms of depression with an essentially identical response between the groups (1).

A recent report in 2005, explained the results of a 3-year long study in 80 patients designed to test whether exercise is an efficacious treatment for mild to moderate major depressive disorder and what amount would be needed to see a positive difference in depressed people. The report, published in The Journal of Preventive Medicine (January 2005) found that a half-hour a day of exercise six days a week is the ideal "dosage" to improve the mood of people who have mild to severe depression. Researchers compared two groups of depressed patients and found that while the group that performed 80 minutes of exercise a week received little to no mental-health benefit (30% reduction with 29% in a "placebo exercise" group), the three-hour-a-week group had a substantial (47%) reduction in symptoms.
Exercise may also complement the effects of antidepressant medication in depressed patients. One study added exercise to antidepressant treatment in 17 patients who did not have a complete response to antidepressant medication. Exercise was prescribed using currently recommended public health guidelines - at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day - with both supervised and home based sessions. There was a 10-point decrease in the Hamilton Depression Scale (a clinically significant change) in the eight patients who completed the study.

Exercise is far less expensive, and more easily accessible, than medication and psychotherapy. Plus it has none of the side effects, such as sexual dysfunction as seen with some antidepressants. Indeed, the "side effects" of using exercise as your antidepressant are beneficial to your general well being: improved cardiovascular health, increased strength, and weight loss.

1. Blumenthal, J.A., Bayak, M.A., Moore, K.A. Effects of exercise training on older patients with major depression. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1999;159:2349-2356.

The Connection Between Insomnia and Depression


People suffering from insomnia often also suffer from depression.

And the reverse also holds true - about 90% of people suffering from depression also suffer from sleep disorders. Nobody really knows whether insomnia causes depression, or if being depressed causes insomnia.

What is clear though, is that one important symptom of depression is insomnia. To further complicate the picture it is known that some anti depression drugs in themselves can be a cause of sleep disorders.

Of course, if you can't sleep well for a longer period of time you will become irritated and grumpy, and it is quite reasonable to think that if this persist you will start to show signs of depression.

A big problem here is that for most of us it is hard to acknowledge that we may be suffering from depression, it is far easier to complain about our problems sleeping.

Most doctors will look for symptoms of depression if you ask for help for your insomnia, since they know there can be a close relationship between the two.

Sometimes the warning signs of depression are seasonal - the person finds it difficult to sleep and feels "blue" during the winter, but when summer comes the problems just disappear.

A craving for carbohydrates is also quite common - sometimes leading to putting on weight. This is more common in northern countries with long and dark winters. Young women seem to be more affected.

This is known as "SAD", a very apt acronym, which stands for "Seasonal Affective Disorder". This problem can often be cured by using strong light, corresponding to daylight.

The person affected basically sits in a room with very strong daylight adjusted lights, or has a set of lamps in front of him/her.. This "resets" the body clock and makes the brain and body go back to the normal awake-sleep rhythm that has been disrupted.

Are there any other natural remedies for depression?

Two of the most commonly suggested remedies are St. John's Wort is an old herbal remedy, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, mainly found naturally in some fish.

You can also switch to healthier anti depressant foods, which, coincidentally, also work well as sleeplessness diets!

Sleep is important! If you suffer from insomnia, and if you think you also have signs of depression, then look for natural treatments for depression and natural sleep aids, unless your problems are severe.

Then you should see your doctor!

What Are The Symptoms Of Bipolar Depression?


You might have come across people with bipolar disorder without knowing it or without realizing the extent of the problem to seek medical treatment. Bipolar disorder is also called manic depression, a mental disorder whereby there are extreme or intense shifts in mood, behavior and energy levels from mania to severe depression. Bipolar Depression can go on for days upto months, even.

Symptoms of Bipolar Depression: Individual Actions Suggestive of Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression has two phases, the manic phase, and the depression phase.

During the manic phase, the individual may:


  • Create impulsive decisions.

  • Go shopping and engage in lavish spending habits.

  • Make unwise investments.

  • Gamble.

  • Pick fights.

  • Delusional.

When the individual is depressed, he/she may:


  • Find extreme difficulty getting out of bed.

  • Loathe or even curse himself.

  • Lose the desire to eat or to do anything pleasurable.

  • Lose weight.

  • Lack sleep.

Some Truths and Myths About Bipolar Disorder

繚 It's been said that it's once diagnosed to have the disorder, it is impossible to be normal again. That can't be true at all. If treated properly, individuals with bipolar still can have a normal life. They can pursue the career of their choice and become successful at it. They can even have a satisfying family life and a happy marriage.

繚 Bipolar affects not just the mood but everything else. It influences decision-making, your level of concentration, and even your physical well being.

繚 Medications are not the only thing that can control bipolar. A good support system and your own strategies can go a long way in preventing manic-depressive episodes.

Bipolar Treatment

Treating bipolar is necessary, but be prepared because the treatment program can go on for a long time. It being a chronic disorder, continuous treatment may still be required even if the individual seems not to experience the signs and symptoms of bipolar anymore.

Bipolar treatment involves a combination of medications, psychotherapy, moral support and self-help strategies that include, among others, making lifestyle changes. The client is usually given mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, and other drugs that offer symptomatic relief. Your doctor may also prescribe vitamins and minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids, accordingly.

A Few Self-Help Strategies

While medications can be of great help, helping yourself deal with this disorder is very important as well.

Understand your condition. Make an extensive research about bipolar. Nowadays, getting all the facts is easier with all the essential information just a click of the mouse away. Take advantage of the internet to know more about bipolar.

Learn to cope with stress. You can't really avoid stress, no matter what you do, but you can learn how to cope with stressful situations. Don't overwork yourself, for one thing. Take a break once in a while. Go for long walks, take a breath of fresh air, or make time to appreciate nature. These don't require much of your time, do they? But once you get into the habit, you'll realize that they do make you feel good inside.

Enroll in yoga or meditation classes. What's great about these exercises is that they keep your stress levels down while helping you focus on the finer or more important things in life.

Create healthy lifestyle and eating habits. Make it an everyday habit to exercise, to eat raw vegetables and fresh fruits, and to sleep early.

Appreciate your family and friends. Don't take your family and friends for granted. They can help you cope with your situation more than anybody else can. Spend more time with them.

LOL. Laugh out loud. Have something to laugh about everyday.

Friday, March 15, 2013

5 Natural Cures For Depression - Which One is Right For You?


Everyone's looking for natural cures for depression and why wouldn't you be? They offer hope of providing relief without the side-effects of anti-depressant medications, and they may even be able to treat the depression's underlying cause.

Let's take a look at 5 natural cures for depression:

1) Omega 3 Supplements: Omega 3 is a fatty acid that we have to get from our diets because our bodies can't make it. Many people living in the western society suffer from a deficiency of this fatty acid because of our poor diets and the way our food is produced. An omega 3 deficiency can be involved in depression, autism, Alzheimer's disease, violent behavior, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and postnatal depression. Omega 3 fish oil supplements can treat this deficiency.

2) L- Tryptophan or 5HTP: L-tryptophan and 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) are amino acids which help make serotonin in the body. It is believed that depression is caused in many cases by a serotonin deficiency. L-Tryptophan or 5HTP supplements may help raise your body's natural level of serotonin and therefore improve your mood.

3) Adrenal herbs: Adrenal herbs such as ginseng can also be used to treat depression. These types of herbs are most effective in those people that are suffering from depression because their adrenal glands are overworked, worn out or stressed out. If stress was or is a contributing factor in the onset of your depression you may need to get your adrenal gland's function tested and treated. Adrenal herbs are one way in which the adrenal glands can be supported.

4) SAMe: SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) is a molecule that is involved in a key process in the body known as methylation. Methylation is known to help balance neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. When the methylation cycle in the body is over or under active it can lead to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, addictions and suicidal tendencies. SAMe can help some people with depression that are 'undermethylators', but the problem is that it can have negative affects on those that have an overactive methylation cycle.

5) Remove foods from your diet that your are allergic or sensitive to: One often overlooked cause of depression is food allergies and sensitivities. By diagnosing those foods that you react to, and then removing these from your diet, it can alleviate or even cure your depression. Consider doing an elimination diet to find out what foods are affecting you. Alternatively, have a food allergy or sensitivity test performed.

So there's just a sample of the natural cures for depression that are available. I know it can be overwhelming choosing which natural supplement or strategy to take, not to mention time consuming, frustrating and expensive. Another problem with supplements is that if you don't take them at the right dose (even if they are the right supplement for you) they still might not work. So would you like some advice?

The fastest way to find effective treatments or cures for depression is finding out whether your depression has a physical or biochemical cause. Biochemical causes of depression are so often overlooked and doctors unfortunately don't spend the time ruling them all out. The great thing however is that once a physical cause of your depression has been discovered it can be treated specifically. For example, if you are found to have an omega 3 deficiency then an omega 3 supplement would be the best treatment to start with to help resolve your depression. For those that have a hormonal deficiency that is contributing to your depression, if you define what hormone is out of balance (thyroid, estrogen, testosterone etc.) you can then find the right herb or hormone medication to treat it.

Natural cures for depression can work. The biggest challenge however is finding out which one is right for you.

Treating Clinical Depression - The Myth Behind Pills That Make You Happy


Treating clinical depression, and depression in general, has become so easy, perhaps too easy. Our society has never had so many unhappy people. It is shocking that we may be victims of unprecedented psychological misery in face of unprecedented prosperity, world power, and material well-being. We live in an age where sadness and helplessness is the predominant emotion.

Clinical depression treatment: pills that rescue
It must be a bad habit to consult a doctor to ask for Prozac when your mood is low. Like a band-aid on a cut, Prozac and its fellows make-happy-pills dress emotional wounds without the need to deal with the underlying issues. We start popping rescue pills that will save us from feelings of disappointment, loss, failure and rejection. They shield us from negative feelings that are essentially connected to us being fully human.

How can you be certain about being happy if you have never been unhappy? How can you tell the difference? Rescue pills are crutches, no less, no more. It is dangerous for your health to resort to a fashion drug.

Treatments for clinical depression: pills that work when brain messengers are low
I'm not a big fan of antidepressant drugs (ADs). They have their place to treat depression, for sure. They have got a long tradition, I know. However, I feel that their status in therapy is hugely overrated. Of course, there will be always people who benefit tremendously and who are not able to live without them but this doesn't hold true for most people with depression.

There is one thing that you should know: Research has shown that treating clinical depression with ADs only work for people with a neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain. Only 50-60% of these people benefit from ADs when taking medication alone. They do not work for people with depressions of other provenience. Before taking ADs, I recommend you to visit your physician to get a special blood test done to identify that your specific brain messengers are low.

Clinical depression treatments: treat mild to moderate depression naturally
St.John's wort (hypericum perforatum; plant) and SAMe (sammy: chemical naturally found in the body) have been scientifically researched and proven effective to treat mild to moderate depression. However, it is not clear how they work. Both increase the needed messengers in the brain for the 'soul and the body' to function in a healthy way. Good news is that they have hardly any side effects.

When you think that you are depressed, and you've identified depression signs and symptoms don't take antidepressants drugs lightly. They have got a lot of side effects. Think first about healthier alternatives, especially when you belong to those who are only mildly to moderately depressed.

Severe Depression at Its Best and Worst


In its worst stages depression becomes severe depression. Until it's so severe that months or even years of treatment are required, most people do nothing about it. Depression of some type afflicts 15 million people in the USA annually. Unfortunately 2/3 of these people never seek medical treatments. They try to hide it, wish it away, because of fear of being labeled crazy or insane. But there's no good fairy to magic away severe depression. Those who suffer this disease have no control over it and the condition will only get worse with time.

Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either: (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. (Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.)

* depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
* markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
* significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
* insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
* psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
* fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
* feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
* diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
* recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideas without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

Many sufferers won't admit they show the signs of this condition. Severe Depression is no reflection on you as a human being. You're still a full person. Depression is a disease like any other disease. Medical aid is required. The normal symptoms of depression are multiplied in severe cases. Everything associated with the illness becomes more intense. It becomes harder to deal with every day situations. Negative feelings intensify to make you a total loner. This disease can't be avoided. But it can be addressed. Early detection is vital to success.

When you hear the term severe depression, it merely means the depression is severe enough to require treatment. When a person is badly depressed during a single severe period, he or she can be said to have had an episode of clinical depression. More severe symptoms mark the period as an episode of major depression (also known as unipolar depression and major depressive disorder). Many mental health experts say the key to judging this gradation lies in the amount of change a person undergoes in his or her normal patterns along with a loss of interest and a lack of pleasure in them. An almost-daily tennis player, for instance, who began to break her court dates frequently, or a regular bridge player who lost interest in weekly games, might be edging into an episode of major depression. The more severe the depression, the more it is likely to affect its sufferer's life.

Diagnosis and treatment require an expert eye to notice the signs of depression. Depression is associated with many symptoms. A transparent one is that the sufferer will withdraw into themselves. They find it hard to deal with those around them. Hopelessness, helplessness and even remorse consume them. They are constantly agitated and irritable. It's been known to have a patient claim the devil speaks to him in severe cases. Suicide often becomes a way out for victims of severe depression. Only treatment and the support of family and friends can help.

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on the patient's self-reported experiences and behavior reported by relatives or friends. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians generally test for physical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. The course of the disorder varies widely, from a once-only occurrence to a lifelong disorder with recurrent major depressive episodes. The most common time of onset is between the ages of 30 and 40 years, with a later peak between 50 and 60 years. Major depression occurs more often in women than men, although men are at higher risk for suicide.

Severe Depression is a terrible disease. Those who suffer it cannot live normal lives, as they once knew it. Losing the ability to control your own life is terrible. Treatment is the only option.
Depression often co-exists with other illnesses. Such illnesses may precede the depression, cause it, and/or be a consequence of it. It is likely that the mechanics behind the intersection of depression and other illnesses differ for every person and situation. Regardless, these other co-occurring illnesses need to be diagnosed and treated.

Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder, often accompany depression. People experiencing PTSD are especially prone to having co-occurring depression. PTSD is a debilitating condition that can result after a person experiences a terrifying event or ordeal, such as a violent assault, a natural disaster, an accident, terrorism or military combat.

People with PTSD often re-live the traumatic event in flashbacks, memories or nightmares. Other symptoms include irritability, anger outbursts, intense guilt, and avoidance of thinking or talking about the traumatic ordeal. In a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study, researchers found that more than 40 percent of people with PTSD also had depression at one-month and four-month intervals after the traumatic event.

Typically, anti-depressants and 'talk therapy' are prescribed to treat depression. Discussing the issues in a support group can also be effective. Once victims seek treatment they can be put on the road to a better life. They can again be the ruler of their own domain. But first the illness must be admitted and treatment sought.

Truckers and Amphetamine Abuse


Many workers are fortunate enough to have the benefit of a regular daily schedule that fits into the normal cycle of waking and sleeping. Long haul truck drivers, however, are required to be much more flexible and adaptive to the demands of clients and a particular load of goods. The physical strain of spending lengthy hours behind the wheel of a massive commercial vehicle can cause a driver to develop extreme fatigue that may not only interfere with his or her ability to make a timely delivery, but may also threaten the safety of other motorists on the roadway as drowsiness takes its toll.

Federally established regulations governing the hours that a driver can spend working and mandatory hours of rest are designed to limit this danger. Yet some drivers may not feel that these measures are sufficient to enable them to maximize their miles and wakefulness. Unfortunately, this can push a truck driver to use or abuse amphetamines or other substances. The influence of these drugs can turn an otherwise reliable commercial vehicle operator into a dangerous roadway liability.

Detecting Amphetamine Dependency or Addiction

As the owner of a small trucking company, you potentially stand to lose considerable revenue and other resources if one or more of your drivers develop an amphetamine problem. Beyond the concern that you have for your own enterprise's success and financial stability, you are also likely to be heavily invested in the health and welfare of your drivers, so it would behoove you to be aware of any of the following symptoms of amphetamine dependency of addiction in your drivers:

  • Excessive sweating

  • Visible shaking

  • Paranoia

  • Chronically failing to carry out expected duties

  • Abnormal and excessive irritability

  • Sleep disorders

  • Depression

These symptoms are often signs that a person is suffering from amphetamine dependency and needs medical help.

Are My Feelings Normal? The 7 Stages of Grief Explained


Unfortunately, most individuals will face the loss of a loved one throughout their lifetime. That loss may be from a death, divorce, or the destruction of a friendship. Whatever it may be, most individuals will respond to this loss with grief. Grief is an expression of emotional pain that is specifically associated with the feeling of extreme pain and sorrow. When a person is grieving, they will often experience several different stages of their grief. The Seven Stages of Grief are loose interpretations of the stepping stones an individual experiences when facing a loss. These seven stages are good guidelines as to what to expect, however, there is much variance between individuals and the stages can occur out of order, multiple times, or at the same time as another stage.

The first stage is Shock and Denial. This stage is defined by an individual denying the loss of a loved one in an attempt to avoid the pain and suffering that is associated with their loss. Individuals often have a difficult time accepting reality and have trouble determining what has really occurred.

The second stage is Pain, Guilt, and Fear. With this stage comes a feeling of intense pain along with feelings that life is extremely chaotic or out of hand. Thoughts of guilt may occur and individuals may become fearful of their life ahead. They are fearful that they can not go on with life without the loved one.

The third stage is Anger and Bargaining. During this stage questions may arise like, "why me?" or "what did I do to deserve this?" This is a period of intense anger and hatred where emotional outbursts, the blaming of others, and bitterness often occurs. Other valuable relationships may possibly be destroyed as a result. An individual will begin to attempt negotiations with God in hopes to relieve their extreme suffering.

The fourth stage in the Seven Stages of Grief is Depression, Loneliness, and Reflection. This is a period where the loss fully sinks in, and an individual feels the full effects from the loss of a loved one. He or she feels like it is a battle to wake up every morning, and classic signs of depression appear including insomnia, loss of appetite, and hopelessness.

The fifth stage is called The Upward Turn. This is a period where an individual begins to make a turn for the better and starts to adjust to the loss. Their life becomes a little less stressful and a bit more organized. Depression symptoms start to disappear and the individual begins to feel a sense of calmness.

The sixth stage is called Reconstruction of Life and Working Through. In this stage, a person begins to rebuild their own life without the presence of the loved one. There is a desire to fix themselves and face the truths of their loss. They begin to realize the promise of the future and start to release the pain of the past.

The final stage is called Acceptance and Hope. This is a time where the individual may not be happy, but the grieving individual is capable of remembering the lost loved one without feeling devastating emotional pain. They are slowly recovering from grief with a new sense of life and responsibility. They may not return to the person they were before the loss, but they learn to deal with reality and move forward.

These stepping stones are just the beginning in ones journey in recovering from grief. The individual still has much to face, but they start looking forward to the future and find happiness in what the have. Once more, it is important to note that these Seven Stages of Grief are not the same for everyone, and every individual may face different challenges within their own personal journey to find the joy in life once again.

Effects of Alcohol on Mood Disorders


People affected by mood disorders or depression often rely on drugs or alcohol instead of seeking treatment. While they may not know they have a treatable condition, they will use stimulants and other substances to change the way they are feeling. This often causes even more problems when the effects of the alcohol or drugs wear off, prompting bouts of depression.

Alcohol

When people affected by mood disorders, such as manic depression, feel sad or out of control, drinking alcohol is one method of changing the way they feel. This can numb feelings of sadness or make body aches and pains associated with the mental health condition. Once the effects wear off, however, the person is usually left with a hangover. Physical effects include nausea, headache and dehydration, making them feel worse than before. In order to feel better, this may become a habit and then a cycle.

Drugs

Rather than using alcohol, some people experiencing mood swings or bouts of depression may turn to recreational or prescription drugs to help make themselves feel better.

One popular drug of choice is cocaine. When used, this stimulates the brain, giving the user a euphoric feeling. After the effects wear off, however, the user feels more depressed. In order to alleviate the feelings of sadness or boredom, the brain is fed more stimulant, cocaine. The more it is used, the more it is needed to combat the moodiness and feelings occurring when the individual is not under the influence of a stimulant.

This can also happen with certain prescription drugs when the patient is not monitored or obtains the medications from people with a valid prescription with or without their consent. This can spiral into a more serious condition.

Dual Diagnosis

Alcohol or drug dependency coupled with mood or behavioral disorders is referred to as a dual diagnosis. They must be treated simultaneously to help the patient to overcome the feelings and symptoms associated with both. Otherwise, they will likely teeter-totter back and forth between the two problems with neither being controlled or relieved for any length of time.

This problem is often misdiagno0sed as another condition when the patient is dishonest with the health care provider about use of substances. Certain recreational drugs with very strong effects on the user can be misunderstood as symptoms of other mood or behavioral disorders. Schizophrenia, for example, includes hallucinations in its list of symptoms. Unknown use of hallucinogenic drugs, such as certain types of mushrooms, may lead to a wrong diagnosis. The hallucinations would likely cease when the person stops using the drugs.

When the two problems are treated together, the patient will likely improve when the use of conflicting drugs and alcohol stops. Psychotherapy and prescription medication may be given to help the patient. This often includes an in-house treatment program at a mental health facility that specializes in dual diagnosis.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Five Reasons Why 5-HTP Benefits May Outweigh SSRI Risks


When depression and anxiety are severe, they can have an impact on every area of life, and most people welcome any form of relief. SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors, are the choice to treat depression and anxiety for millions of Americans, but the risks of these medications may outweigh their possible benefits. The side effects and complications of these medications leave many looking for a natural alternative. More and more depression and anxiety sufferers are turning to the naturally occurring amino acid 5-Hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP. 5-HTP may be a better and safer option for many suffering from depression and anxiety symptoms, and here are five reasons why.

1. 5-HTP does not antagonize your brain's normal functioning. The neurotransmitter serotonin is manufactured in the brain, and causes regulation of sleep, mood, and the perception of pain. The symptoms of depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and insomnia have all been correlated to reduced serotonin levels. Certain brain receptors absorb serotonin, and SSRIs work by blocking those receptors, which in theory slows our brain's use of the serotonin we produce. This artificial slowing of the brain's physiological regulatory system does not boost the actual manufacture of serotonin.

In contrast, the chemical precursor to serotonin itself is 5-HTP, necessarily used by our brains to manufacture the neurotransmitter. By taking a 5-HTP supplement, we provide our brains with more of the substance it naturally uses to produce serotonin. Increasing serotonin levels has been found to improve the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions.

2. 5-HTP doesn't cause a fraction of the side effects common to SSRIs. When taking an SSRI, it's common to experience a number of side effects, the most common of which include weight gain, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea or constipation, insomnia, dry mouth, heart palpitations, fatigue, agitation, muscle pain and tremors. In a small percentage of patients, an increase in suicidal thoughts has been reported. Studies have shown that nearly 45% of SSRI users will have sexual difficulties or be unable to orgasm, over 20% will report a noticeable weight gain, and 2%-4% will have more suicidal thoughts than before taking the medication.

Very few side effects have been associated with taking 5-HTP supplements. Minor gastrointestinal complaints are the most frequently reported side effects of 5-HTP therapy. Users have reported these often completely subside with time. No studies have found correlations between 5-HTP and any of the serious side effects commonly associated with SSRIs.

3. 5-HTP works. SSRIs have been found to have a positive impact on the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and are therefore commonly prescribed by medical professionals. However, 5-HTP has also been shown in clinical trials to cause significant improvement in these symptoms. 5-HTP was shown to be as effective as fluvoxamine, a prescription antidepressant, in one study. Because of it's ability to encourage natural serotonin production in the brain, 5-HTP has been shown repeatedly to have a positive impact on mood, decrease anxiety, and aid in healthy sleep.

4. Dependency is not a problem with 5-HTP. SSRIs have the effect of artificially manipulating the brain's natural processes. Because of this, suddenly discontinuing their use may result in severe bouts of depression and anxiety. 5-HTP can be discontinued quite easily if felt to be no longer necessary, because it's natural effect of increasing serotonin production does not interfere with the brain's normal physiology.

5. 5-HTP comes from nature. The 5-HTP which is usually found in supplements is extracted from the seeds of a plant, the West African griffonia simplicifolia. Small amounts of 5-HTP can be found in a variety of foods such as shellfish, cheese, eggs and milk. SSRIs are completely synthetic, and exist nowhere in nature.

Doses ranging from 50 mg to 300 mg are standard when using 5-HTP to treat depression and anxiety. It's advised to begin with 50 mg and add more over a period of time if necessary, as some people obtain more favorable results while taking a lower dose. 5-HTP should be taken with a full glass of water and within 30 minutes of a meal for maximum absorption to occur. Taking more than 200 mg of 5-HTP at a time should be avoided. 5-HTP may not be right for everyone, and should be avoided by those currently using prescription antidepressants or anti-Parkinsons medications. It's recommended that you consult with a health care professional before beginning a 5-HTP regimen.

6 Signs of Depression Or Other Psychological Issues in Dogs


When Dr Joey contacted me, he wanted my help with his dogs. He had been putting up with really bad behavior from them for a long time. He was grieving terribly for his Forever Dog Friend, Satin, who had passed away. On top of that, his other best dog friend, Shami, had also recently passed away after a terrible and mysterious illness.

He told me his heart was so heavy with grief that he just didn't know how he could go on. His health was very bad (he was suffering from cancer) and he could hardly move because he was in so much pain. To complicate matters, his remaining three dogs were out of control. They jumped on everyone, which was terribly embarrassing. They barked and would not quiet down, and they urinated in the house. One dog would go outside -- then come back inside to pee!

Dutchess was physically launching an attack on the front door anytime someone just walked by, and since the door was largely glass, Dr Joey was afraid she'd break the door and hurt herself in the process! He couldn't take them for walks because they would pull in all directions and one dog would have to be dragged along... terribly frustrating and dangerous for all of them. Plus, little Zena and Zoey were afraid to go outside. And, to make matters even worse, they had begun fighting amongst themselves.

He desperately wanted them to behave and didn't understand why they weren't. He also worried that they weren't happy. And because of the tragic loss of two of his dog companions, he was very concerned about their health.
Recently, the vets had insisted that Zena needed knee surgery and he was terrified she would not survive the surgery. He just couldn't face losing another dog.

After several holistic healing therapy and animal communication sessions, the dogs are much better behaved, no more inappropriate indoor urination, they are happy to greet visitors more appropriately, Dr Joey is healthier himself, and to-date, Zena has not had to have surgery as her symptoms are so much improved.

Without giving your dog a voice to speak what's on their mind, we can only guess at why they are behaving the way they are. After all, who knows better how they are feeling? If they are in pain or discomfort? What works for them or doesn't work? If something is confusing or frightening, and why?
Here are 6 signs of depression or other psychological issues in dogs that would benefit from the services of a professional animal communicator and holistic healing therapies are:

1. Urinating or defecating in their home or kennel is a major clue that something isn't right in their world. A dog's natural instinct tells them not to foul their own den, and when they do, that tells us there is something seriously amiss. It could be coming from an undiagnosed physical problem, but it is most often an emotional or mental reaction to their caretaker's distress and anxiety, creating an unstable mindset.

2. Aggression to others indicates that they are not feeling emotionally stable in mind, body or spirit, or are being mishandled, misunderstood or mismanaged. This is most often a response to their caretaker's emotional, mental or physical distress which they then take and focus outward onto their world in ways that seem appropriate to them, from their viewpoint. Proper rebalancing of both parties is critical to resolving this issue.

3. Hot spots and chronic skin problems are symptoms of an underlying condition that has to be addressed and resolved at the root or source of the issue. These problems often come from a reaction to improper diets or treats, allergies, a buildup of acquired toxicity that overwhelms their system, a messed up digestive tract because of antibiotics treatments, parasites, lack of proper supplementation, or frequently it can be a symptom of vaccination side effects. It is also a very clear indication that their caretaker is experiencing too much stress in their world, which then bleeds over energetically onto their animal.

4. Lethargy or loss of interest in exercise, play and activities is a clear indication that there is something seriously wrong. Regardless of the animal's age, they should always be interested in their surroundings and happy to engage with others. Pay attention if they aren't. The contributing factors can include their experience of grief or loss (of a friend, human or otherwise, or even a favorite toy or object), sadness, or undiagnosed physical discomfort. Other factors can only be discovered by communicating with them directly.

5. Fearful or skittish behavior indicates they have lost their confidence. Allowing our animal friends to continue to live in fear is a disservice to them. What they are asking for is help in regaining their confidence, their sense of place and purpose. Improper management or training efforts that are largely misunderstood or not the right approach to them have to be examined and discussed, to come up with an appropriate training style that works for them. There can also be underlying physical distress that contributes to them feeling out of balance. And of course, we have to look to their human friends to see what fears or underlying anxieties they are carrying in their own bodymind that is contributing to the problems.

6. Physical health or pain problems often have underlying emotional, mental or spiritual components that may actually be coming from their caretakers issues. If this is the case, then you will take them to the vet and they'll get misdiagnosed or worse, and you'll spend a lot of money in vet bills. And you'll be no better off than if you hadn't gone, and sometimes actually worse off because the real problem got missed and now your animal has even more stress to deal with.

So what if the real issues in all these cases is something going on in you that is causing distress in your animal? Without communicating with your animal first, you'll take them to the vet and maybe you'll get lucky and it will clear up anyway. But the truth may be that it wasn't ever about the animal themselves, it was about a problem with you that they were unable to express in a way you could understand.

The bottom line is that if your animal is not properly balanced and stable in their own body, mind and spirit, or are not healing quickly and easily as their body is designed to do, then they may be picking up and carrying their caretaker's own energetic imbalances. To get the best long term result, we often have to explore deeper to discover the root of the matter. If we are imbalanced, then they will be too, because we and our animals are intricately connected in body, mind and spirit.

Are you wondering what happened to Dr. Joey and his bad dogs? I heard from him a few months later on the one year anniversary of his best dog friend Satin's passing. Amazingly, he had been able to move his clinic that summer. And, he said his personal health recovery felt like a miracle. NO more cancer of the bone marrow. Plus, his dogs, Dutchess, Zoey and Zena were all doing fine - no more bad behavior. Dr. Joey said that his and his dog's lives had drastically changed in our work together, and he had become alpha once again creating more stability for his household. As you can imagine, Dr. Joey was deeply grateful for everyone's recovery!

10 Tips to Build Self Esteem


Self esteem...what does the term mean to you?

Most people define it as the opinion they have of themselves. They usually base it on their attitude towards a number of factors like the way they look, the work they do, their achievements, what they believe others think of them, their purpose in life, their potential for success, their strengths and weaknesses, their social status, their ability to be independent and so on and so forth...

For all those who have a positive attitude towards the same always have high self esteem while those in self doubt usually have a low self esteem. Low self esteem - the secret of lack of achievement! The unfortunate part is that it's a vicious circle, low self esteem results in non-achievement which in turn reinforces the feeling of inadequacy and low self esteem. So is it a no- win situation?

Definitely not...

Your self esteem can easily reach new heights if you have a keen desire to do so and a willingness to learn. This article is only going to touch the tip of the iceberg and give you 10 simple techniques to start with.

Step 1

Define the attitudes that make up your self-image. Your self-image is how you see yourself in relation to others. This may be how you see yourself physically, professionally, socially and so on and so forth...You need to define and identify what determines your self-concept for you.

Step 2

Closely observe the language used by you. Is it more negative in nature? If you're low on self esteem, chances are there would be a lot of negative content. So here's the challenge... convert each one of those negative statements into positive ones. Yes yes, I hear you saying "but that won't be the truth". That's perfectly okay. We are not looking at getting the 'honesty award'; we are looking at getting 'high self esteem'!

Step 3

Highlight in bold letters everything that you love about yourself. Make a list of a minimum of 30 strengths. I know... you don't have 30 strengths is what you're saying now. So I'll make it easier for you. Over the next 2 weeks I want you to make a daily note of a minimum of 2 things that you believe are your strengths or 2 compliments received or 2 small or big achievements accomplished or 2 skills known or learnt or 2 changes you brought about in yourself. I'm waiting for your list to touch a 100 before you start to believe you're done with this step.

Step 4

Stand in front of the mirror. Now read aloud to yourself both the positive lists a minimum of 10 times, twice a day. Sounds silly? But it works... Practice it for the next 6months without a question and see the difference for yourself.

Step 5

Kill the bug called 'comparison'. 'Comparisonitis' is a deadly disease. It kills our self confidence in seconds because our energy is wasted in checking the environment for better or worse rather than focusing on what's good in us. If this bug runs deep in your system and you just can't get yourself to destroy it, make it work for you. How would you do that? Only make comparisons with yourself. Monitor your progress in various respects and try and outdo your performance each time!

Step 6

Lighten up! You don't have to take yourself and others seriously all the time. It's good to add some fun and frolic in everyday life and situations. Each time you smile and laugh your mind, body and soul relaxes. This helps boost the 'feel good' within us and adds to our confidence.

Step 7

Have you ever wondered why they don't have a noble prize for 'perfection'? That's because no one can ever be perfect! If you are one of those who are striving to be perfect, my guess is you're mastering the art of self-criticism. This means your mind, body and soul is steadily being killed with this slow poison without you even being consciously aware of it! Contrary to what a lot of people believe, self criticism is not a motivator. By default, criticism is negative in nature and negativity cannot yield positive results! Stop criticizing yourself.

Step 8

Pick up a hobby or develop an interest in a subject that you can be passionate about. It will not only help you learn new things but also give you something to look forward to do when you're not feeling good about yourself.

Step 9

Make a list of positive affirmations and paste them in places which you notice a number of times a day. For example, you could paste them on the inside of your cupboard, your mirror, your screen-saver and so on. Positive affirmations could be sentences, quotes, short moral stories or anything else that you can relate to and is motivating for you. Few of the common positive affirmations used are:


  • I deserve to be happy and successful.


  • I have the power to change myself.


  • I can make my own choices and decisions.


  • It is enough to have done my best


  • I am a lovable person


Step 10

Read. All successful people read positive books. They can be self help books, biographies of successful people or even books related to your field of work or study. If you make a habit of reading for at least 20 minutes a day, you would be able to see significant changes in your thinking, feeling and actions.

So that's the start my friends. There is a lot you will find difficult to do at start and that's perfectly alright. In the race of the hare and the tortoise, do you remember who won? Yes, it was the tortoise, because 'slow and steady wins the race'! Steady is the keyword here... just keep going and going and going and... before you know it, you'll be right on top!

The Truth About Teen Depression


With all of the suicides in recent years, teen depression has gotten a lot of press. This is a good thing because it helps alert us all to how serious this problem can be for them. Not all cases of teen depression end in suicide, but the increase in the rate is alarming.

Many parents these days work outside of the home. This means that the amount of time that they actually get to spend with their child is often limited.

Between the demands placed on families and the unwillingness of many teens to share with their parents, it becomes more important for everyone to be involved. This means that no matter how you are involved with teens, recognizing the signs of depression and reacting to them quickly can mean the difference between life and death for them.

Depression can be anything from a simple episode where they are upset briefly because of a break up, a missed opportunity, or a failure in some area of their life. It can also be a constant, heavy cloud that they can not get out from under. This heavy cloud can and does destroy lives.

There are many things that parents, counselors, teachers and even friends can do to keep them out of this deep, dark depression. Teen depression is serious and should be handled carefully.

Knowing and watching for the tell-tale signs can help you to determine when a simple case of depression is not so simple and needs some intervention.

  • Pulling away from friends and activities that they are involved with.

  • Loss of appetite, or weight loss.

  • Restless sleep. Waking up still tired is a sure sign of this.

  • Pulling away from social situations is a key sign of teen depression. Any teen that is not interested in socializing should be a signal that something is not quite right.

  • Consistently down in the dumps. Occasionally being down is normal, but if you notice a pattern of the blues that lasts, it may be time to get help.

  • Isolation. A teen or even a young adult that stays locked away in their room.

  • Consistently quitting activities may be an indication that they do not feel worthy of being included with others.

Although teen depression does not always lead to suicide, it can lead to other serious problems. Teens that are depressed may be more likely to turn to drugs or alcohol to help ease their pain. These same teens are also less likely to do well in school.

Teens often times withdraw from the company of their parents in favor of other teens, it is difficult sometimes to get them to talk. They may even appear to be sullen and moody normally. They can retreat so far into themselves that they may become ill or harm themselves in some way.

One of the things to remember about teen depression is they are able to hide it very well. It is normal for teens to have bouts of depression, but these should be short-lived. It is when their depression becomes more serious that they hide it from those around them.

You may not even realize that they are in trouble until it is too late. Partnering with your teens friends and the other adults in their lives, then acting on any suspicions is the surest way to help keep your teen safe from serious depression.

The Art of Positive Thinking When You're Feeling Negative


Experts say that being a positive-minded person can help make your life easier, healthier, and longer. People who are optimistic are generally believed to be stronger than pessimists, both in psychological and physical terms. They are also known to be better equipped to cope during periods of stress. The Mayo Clinic says people with a negative outlook are more inclined to suffer from depression, more susceptible to catching colds and more likely to die of cardiovascular disease.

Psychologists estimate that we think between 60,000 - 80,000 thoughts per day and approximately 80% of those thoughts are generally negative. They also say that most of these negative thoughts are the same negative thoughts we had yesterday, last year, and 10 years ago. These negative thoughts have been developing in our subconscious for years, often stemming from childhood issues. As we age, we tend to repeat the negative thoughts we heard in our childhood and eventually replace our parents' voices with our own. Becoming more aware of your thoughts gives you the freedom needed to alter negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

Don't blame yourself for having negative thoughts. We live in an anxiety-provoking world filled with stories of natural disasters, wars and illness. As a result, we are constantly being bombarded with negative and fear-inducing information. It is no wonder we tend to think negatively and are worrying so much of the time.

That being said, thinking these thoughts will not make us feel better, maybe more in the majority, but no happier. By being more conscious and vigilant of our thoughts, we can learn to catch ourselves earlier on and prevent going off on a rampage of indignation. This can be achieved by stopping and asking ourselves, 'how are these thoughts going to help me lead a happier life?'

Everyone has their dark moments and many more feel this way as the holiday approaches. This period of the year may culminate in feelings of loneliness, disappointment, sadness or being let down that the holidays won't be giving you whatever it is you feel your truly want, need, or deserve. While that may be very true, how about focusing about some of the positives in your life right now, so that you can start feeling better right now.

Here are some things you can do to bring yourself closer to positive thinking:

Change your negative self-talk:One way to do this is once you have identified a negative thought try to replace it with more realistic thinking rather than pessimistic thoughts. For example, instead of saying to yourself, "why does this always happen to me?" try to remember a time in your past when you had other challenges and then remember how you managed to overcome those challenges. You will feel much different if instead of saying, "Why does this always happen to me?" you replace the thought with, "Okay, it seems I have hit another bump in the road, but I know I have had worse and I am still here, so I know I can find a way to succeed with this as well." This method of focusing on the solution rather than the problem will lead you to feel empowered, rather than overwhelmed or victimized. This works for all situations, whether it is a health, financial or relationship issue.

Feeling more positive means you have a healthier self-esteem. This is not just about slapping on a "happy face" sticker whenever you are really feeing angry or hurt.

It is about having a more positive attitude about life, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt and looking for reasons to celebrate rather than reasons to complain. It is a mental shift of attitudes and choosing a different perception with which to interpret people's actions and behaviours.

Most negative thoughts aren't about the truth. They are just thoughts that you have acquired over time which are habitual. Often these negative thoughts aren't necessarily true. They are just habits you probably picked up in your childhood, maybe heard you parents say and you replaced their dialogue with yours over the years. The good news is that habits can be changed and you can change these negative thoughts and attitudes.

Affirmations:Are another way to use positive statements. You need to repeat them many times, either out loud or in your mind. An affirmation should be constructed in the present tense, and should be said often. Write your affirmations on index cards or post-it notes and stick them on your keyboard, computer monitor, refrigerator, mirrors, and/or car-anywhere and everywhere you can. The more you see them, the more you'll say them to yourself and the more they will become ingrained in your mind. You also may choose to think a positive thought about yourself and repeat it when negative thoughts enter you mind. You will find a list of affirmations in the handouts.

Certain examples include:

"I will have a good day today"

"Circumstances are what they are, but I can choose my attitude toward them."

"I love and accept myself just the way I am"

"It's never too late to change. I am improving one step at a time."

"It's ok to make mistakes. I am willing to learn from them."

Read a positive poem:An example could be the happiness poem

Sing a song: Humming or singing a happy song goes a long way to improving your mood

Exercise: Has a positive effect on your mood and has been known to lessen depression. The exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which are the hormones that regulate your mood. These endorphins create a feeling of euphoria in the given person, increasing positive affect. This process can be achieved by walking or doing low impact exercises. Exercise can also raise your self-confidence and give you a general feeling of well-being.

Laughter: Humor makes life richer and healthier. Laughter increases creativity, reduces pain, and speeds healing. Keep a kit containing funny videotapes, jokes, CDs, cartoons and photographs to improve your levels of laughter.

Positive Friends: Are vital to good health and a positive attitude. Close social ties help you recover quicker from illness and reduces your risk of developing diseases ranging from arthritis to depression. They also help improve your mood and remind you that you're not alone and that there is someone there for you when you need them.

Pets: Can be very therapeutic. They give unconditional love, make you feel needed, and loved you not matter how you look, or what mood you're in. They're great company, don't complain and don't leave their dirty underwear on the floor

Nature:Going for walks in nature or driving in the car and noticing the beautiful scenery is very relaxing and helps you feel more in tune as well as raises you mood.

Uplifting quotes: Reading uplifting and inspirations material will help as well.

Absorbing positive words and reciting encouraging affirmation can be highly supportive emotional ammunition during challenging situations.

Reconnect: With people you have lost contact with. A shared history can bring back positive memories and instill an overall sense of well-being and fullness.

Forgiveness: When we forgive someone for something hurtful they have said or done.

We are really doing it for ourselves. Carrying around anger and resentment only hurts our happiness and ability to stay positive. Someone once said, resentment is like swallowing poison expecting the other person to die.

Lists: Make a list of the things you appreciate in your life right now.

  • I am happy I have a nice, comfortable home

  • I love my bed ?

  • I am happy that my bills are all paid

  • I am happy that my son/daughter called me this week

  • I am happy that I have good doctors who take good care of me

In conclusion, using these tools consistently will improve your overall mood. Just like anything else, altering your mood takes practice, commitment and determination. This is your life; making it a happy one is up to you. While you can't control what other people say and do, you can control how you choose to react, what you tell yourself and how long you choose to hold onto those negative thoughts. Start the New Year with a new attitude.

Happy New Year,
Rhonda Rabow, M.A.

Depression - 5 Steps to Recovery


Taking antidepressant medications is very common in treating depressive disorder. Self-help medications are also very common and are often recommended by therapists. Here are five steps on how to recover from depression naturally.

The first step is to take time out. It is very important to take out time to relax especially after a very stressful activity. Find a safe and peaceful environment such as the beach or park. Let the nature give a relief of depression. Go out of the house and take time to relax in a variety places. Avail of all the support other people can give. Sleep soundly. Attend counselling. Join social activities as these dilute the depression and can help a person forget the past and move to a new and better future.

The second step is to exercise. Sitting and thinking of the things that depressed a person often just worsen the situation. Take time to relax and exercise at least 30 minutes everyday. Exercising helps a person recover from depression as it releases happy hormones into the body. According to specialists, aerobic exercise is the best way to relieve depression symptoms.

Changing your diet is the third step in the recovery process. Eat well-balanced foods to help the body circulate well and distribute nutrients throughout. Avoid processed foods and eat foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats. Researchers say that eating foods rich in Omega 3 and 6 helps depression. Foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids are fishes such as tuna, salmon and halibut, sea foods such as algae and krill and some plants and nut oils. Imbalanced blood sugar and insulin can also cause depression so this should be avoided. Also, avoid alcohol and other recreational drugs.

The fourth step to recover from depression is to do yoga exercises. It improves mood and functioning of the body parts. Taking three simple yoga poses a day accompanied by proper and controlled breathing is a great way to relieve depression. Researchers say that yoga, taking time to relax and doing exercises give the same benefits in depression recovery.

The fifth and final step to depression recovery is acupuncture. It originated in China and it has been said to treat depression symptoms like Western medicine and psychotherapies do. Acupuncture help in the production of natural chemicals in the body such as endorphin which is responsible for a person's mood and well-being.

Remember, people can and do make recoveries from depression and go on to lead their best lives imaginable. Seek help.

Welcome to my world. I grew up and live in a small rural town on the east coast. I am passionate and dedicated to providing resources to help others help themselves. I am embarking on a journey to tell the world that one in five of us, including myself, will suffer from depression at some point in our lives. I want to change peoples' attitudes towards depression and mental illness. My wish is that people who are suffering from depression will access the right help to enable them to recover and go on to lead the best life imaginable for them. I was fortunate to get the help I needed to live my best life imaginable. Come and join me on this great journey! We can truly make this world a better one to live in!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

How To Beat Depression By Yourself - 3 Easy Steps


A difficult task as you can well imagine for someone suffering from manic depression. This may well be the case for the majority of sufferer's, however for those bordering on what may be described as borderline depression, the title "how to beat depression by yourself" may certainly apply. While not the most desirable way to go about a cure, it isn't impossible and can work for those who would prefer this method, providing the will and desire is there.

Three Easy Steps To Beat Depression:

The first step to helping yourself get through a depressive state is to be honest with yourself and acknowledge that you have a problem and decide whether or not you are determined to do whatever it takes to beat it. Easier said than done, but this is the first positive step in the right direction.

The second step is to talk to someone about it, someone you can really trust a good friend, family member or seek the opinion of a qualified person, your doctor or psychologist. There advice will help you focus on the task ahead, provide a support base and sounding board for you. Hopefully there advice will re-enforce what you may already know about yourself and the type of depression you may be suffering from.

The third step is to do a little research yourself on the topic of depression. There is a wealth of information readily available and if applied correctly, you could see yourself well on the way to a steady recovery. Different types of depressive states will obviously require different types of treatments, therefore it is vitally important that you know what type you suffer from.

Self-Help Strategies:

For mild depression, self-help strategies like physical exercise and adhering to a healthy diet can be extremely beneficial. The good news is there is an abundance of information and assistance out there to help you get through this illness. Education in this regard can be of immense benefit to yourself, helping you understand what some of the common symptoms and remedies are giving you a greater awareness of what you may be experiencing. Knowledge takes away the fear of not knowing what's going on.

I read recently an explanation describing what depression was and the writer defined it as a chemical imbalance that takes place in the body and brain. It is a known fact that the mind is such a powerful tool within the human anatomy that it has both the power to heal or destroy the mental and physical well being of a person.

If this is true then it goes without saying that we must be very careful what we feed the mind because we ultimately become what we think about most predominately, be they negative or positive thoughts. Understanding this one thing can make a huge difference in the way we view ourselves and the way we behave and live. The root of all depression rests with this simple truth. Change the way we think and we can completely change the way we feel and live.

The Power Of The Mind:

To illustrate how powerful the mind is, think about a situation of life and death where the mother or father of a child is able to lift the weight of a car or other heavy object that was about to crush the life out of their child. The mind instantly created a super human effort through a chemical change in the body combined with adrenalin. How many times have you heard such stories?

While the mind was put to work in a very positive way to produce a positive outcome, so too it can be put to work in a very negative way producing negative results. Think about this for a while and you will begin to appreciate the enormous respect you must have for your mind and its power to produce both negative and positive outcomes.

Rid your mind immediately of all negative thinking, feelings etc. because this type of thinking, if it has not already will bring you down and could be the root of your depression. Feed it only the very best of positive thoughts and you will have a positive outcome, a healthy mind and body in no time at all. Apply this thinking to the task ahead "How To Beat Depression By Yourself" and you will succeed guaranteed.

Clinical Depression - How Deep Brain Stimulation Can Help


Deep brain stimulation is one of the ways that anyone can use to help with many emotional problems. The psychology behind emotional scarring and depression is that the wound lies not within the physical dimension within the body, but it is reproduced within specific parts of the mind. These are where the centres of emotion, the centres of memory and subconscious lie - working together like a VCR set to loop. This is an extreme example of how the normal functions of the conscious mind and the functions of the preconscious can be disturbed to such an extent. Usually, our physical awareness is able to filter all the negative emotions and rationale thought and critical thinking is able to diffuse these feelings into broken down aspects of thought, which can be subjected to critical thought.

But there is always the problem of emotion, and emotion comes in when there is a certain amount of trauma involved. Prolonged or serious bouts of depression is caused when someone is subjected to a traumatic even or experience, which is so catastrophic that it penetrates the defences of the conscious mind, erupts the emotional stimulus within the body and implants the image and all the sharp emotions within the subconscious mind. When the subconscious mind gets such a direct and heavy bombardment of such stimuli, it will usually stick and stay for a long time. Our normal mechanisms of memory will replay the event and thus create the same emotional pain that leads to a constant state of depression. Depression is really a very serious problem and it can cause much physical deterioration.

With depression, a subject can lose interest in his or her appearance and would also refuse to eat or even drink water. Sleep doesn't come easily and malnutrition can even set in. Some cases of depression can lead to violent acts of murder and suicide, or subjects can simply just waste away with no medical explanation. The power of depression has the 'killing effect' on the body that so many doctors have recognised. Immune-response systems decrease rapidly and the bodies own natural defences simply disappear or lose their effectiveness because of the patients will to not live. While drug and therapy may help, the effects are not guaranteed and they may only bring about dangerous side effects or even overdose.

Depression will eventually lead to despair. The root of the problem lies in the subconscious and the new methods of battling depression that doctors and psychologists have been using is brain wave entrainment. What they do is they use entrainment technology, which is in essence evoking the brain into specific states so that they can either evoke feelings or happiness or even use the power of inserting positive messages into the subconscious that will eventually remove the images and feelings of depression.

The success of this technology is well documented, with reports from the U.S.A and Japan of the success of technology like autogenics, biofeedback and binaural beats in the application of the removal of mental disturbances and emotional issue problems like deep anxiety or depression. Even if you are suffering from mild depression that you cannot get rid of, this is a great way for you to use the deep brain stimulation effects of brainwave entrainment to reset yourself and have a much better outlook in life.

Depression Treatment Center for Regaining Mental Stability


It's a rat race. People are so engrossed in their work that they don't find any time for themselves. In the pursuit of luxuries of life, people have forgotten to cater to their soul. This lack of self-attention gives rise to a feeling of self-alienation and subsequently feelings of negativity. When a person is sad for longer periods of time he is termed to be 'depressed'. It is not easy to deal with such a feeling. Depression is the result of a series of negative feelings one after another. People often wonder whether it is possible to treat depression. Yes, depression can be treated. A depression treatment center can help people deal with such problems. The experts here understand the feelings of a person suffering from depression and try to help him come out of it.

Depression makes life unbearable and unlivable. It is a widespread problem today faced by both men and women. Some people are aware of the symptoms of depression and some are not. Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness obsessive negative thoughts, loss or gain in appetite, insomnia, social withdrawal, irritability and loss of memory or concentration, and suicidal tendency are some of the symptoms of depression. All these problems can be managed and appropriately dealt with at the depression treatment center. Depression usually leads to various types of mood disorders like anxiety, personality split etc. A person can also get treatment at the anxiety treatment center in order to come out of such negative feelings. These centers don't just help patients get rid of their negativity, but also make them regain a positive view of life and lend a new meaning and happiness to their existence. All you need to do is search online for contact details of specialist who treat such patients.

Mood disorder is also known as 'manic depression'. It is determined by extreme mood swings. Here, the victim exhibits sudden changes in his or her way of thinking and behavior. This disorder is observed in people of all ages. It is easy to determine the type of a particular depression with the help of its symptoms. Manic depression treatment center identifies the problems and deals with them thoughtfully. It is imperative to treat this problem soon as it can really aggravate. Depression can be treated only if the patient has the willingness to come out of it. Depression treatment centers have qualified psychologists who can easily read the human mind and attend to each patient's problems. They plan their treatment according to the nature of each patient's problems.

Many people suffer from depression due to broken relationship. Such nasty experiences can bring in personality disorders in a person. These disorders are properly managed and dealt with scientifically at personality disorder treatment centers. It is not easy to understand patients who suffer from such disorders. Hence, their family members search for a depression treatment center to seek help. An online search can show them various efficient and reliable options.

Your Thyroid - Taking Care of It


Have you noticed why you had difficulty losing weight, had such dried-out skin, your hair and nails always looked breakable, and your hands and feet appeared to be cold when the remainder of you felt fine? Did you at any time get out of bed in the morning feeling exhausted, discouraged and you felt as though your heart beat was slow, rapid, or abnormal? Well these types of signs and symptoms together with others may be from a thyroid problem. Other possible signs of thyroid problems may be regular constipation, joint pain, muscle weakness, skin issues for example dry rough, itchy, scaly skin and puffy under-eye area.

Our thyroid function is very important to be able to assist in keeping our immune system at its very best. There was a study conducted in Germany which says a large percentage of cancer patients had a very low or subclinical low thyroid level. Over the years the researchers have confirmed that low thyroid levels may lead to illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, arthritis, and even more.

Low thyroid functions are considered to be called hypothyroidism. Subclinical low thyroid is where the blood test figures show up normal but they are on the lowest side of normal. Numerous doctors don't take into account the low numbers and will only deal with the thyroid if the numbers are evidently below the "normal range."

When I was in med school, we were taught that if the patient had the symptoms of low thyroid and the blood range numbers were normal however low normal, think about treating the patient with a minimal dose of natural thyroid. It was remarkable at the life transforming happiness it brought to many of these patients within days.

Here is a simple test you are able to perform on oneself at home. This was developed by Dr. Broda Otta Barnes around 1942 and the outcomes were printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Dr Barnes didn't consider his test to be 100% right but he maintained that it was superior to the blood tests that are being used. A lot of physicians specifically Naturopathic physicians will use this test and occasionally support it with the conventional blood work.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Before going to bed at night, shake down a basal body thermometer or an oral thermometer. Set it up next to your bedside so it could be all set for you any time you wake up. The key is that you don't stir all around significantly when you awaken. Do this before you get out of bed, drink your coffee or food.

When you wake up, place the thermometer in your armpit (axillary) coming in contact with your skin, not over your clothes. Leave for five (5) minutes. Note what the temperature is and record it.

Standard axillary temperature is within the range of 97.8 to 98.2 F. Take your temperature at least 5 days before getting out of bed. If your temperature is less than 97.8, it would be a good idea to have your physician look at your blood work. This could indicate your thyroid is under-active or hypothroid. Always ask for a copy of your blood work to take home so you will have your report. The majority of lab reports will give your result along with the normal range so you should be able to see where within the range you are.

There's incredible quantity of information on the Broda Barnes Thyroid Test which can be googled. Please bear in mind, this test doesn't take the place of your doctor but it can give you an idea and an excellent argument for health. Also, there are lots of great natural thyroid medications nowadays so you don't need to be satisfied with the synthetic drugs.

A good working thyroid helps you to keep a great working immune system!

Teen Anxiety Disorder - Signs, Symptoms And Remedies To Know About


Childhood anxiety is on the short list of most-dreaded-events facing parents and families. Like complex development "sponges", kids are vulnerable to any number of incoming influences. Other kids impose tough pressures and choices on your child. School and the values culture are force-fed to your child.

Could all this "stuff" create confusion, fear through patterned repeating behavior, triggering the onset of teen anxiety disorder, phobias, escape into drug abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, general withdrawal and anti social outlook? Yes...it's a serious and present danger for many kids.

Teen Anxiety Physical Symptom - What Parents Need To Look For. What seems like "tough" on parents is dilute compared to the growing nightmare experienced by children. The list of Bad Guy anxiety physical symptoms parents need to spot include breathing difficulties, elevated heart and pulse rate, headaches, dizziness, nausea, sleeping disorder, on-off-again eating habits along with gastrointestinal issues.

Teen Anxiety Depression Symptom - Altered Behaviors To Look For. While the physical insults of teen anxiety represent one serious class of issues, the deeper imbedded behavioral roots of anxiety depression disorder pose a greater and more complicated challenge in terms of intervention and remedy.

* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Signals. Parents cannot be too diligent in focusing attention on their kids, looking for telltale signs of obsessive compulsive disorder...a restless and fidgety obsession with minutiae that might begin innocently enough with things being in a certain place, fear of dirt and germs, eating disorders showing like bulimia.

* Anti Social "Isolating" Behavior. Increasingly, anti social behavior shows itself in a defensive and protective response to growing fears and uncertainties. "Keeping the world out", isolating herself within a "safety" zone of her bedroom or other safe spot becomes her number 1 concern, and obsession.

* Denial Of Self - Drift Into Dream State Filled With Anxiety Panic Attack. Deeper yet grows anxiety depression in your child's mind, where they begin the process of self-denial, where they separate out themselves in a form of ongoing abstraction, de-personalizing themselves. What is your child feeling? Like they're beginning to go mad, a feeling like they've begun to drift away from their very self

Teen Anxiety Disorder Medication - Psychiatric Drugs And Impacts. Stress hormones like cortisol along with other physical and psychiatric symptoms have drawn millions of troubled teens and their agitated parents into a new experience with powerful mood-altering psychiatric drugs.

* Major Classes Of Prescription Anxiety Medicine. The chemistry is complex, however parents need to know the generalities of these profound mood-altering anxiety medicine include beta blockers, anti depressants, mild tranquilizers, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anti convulsants and benzodiazepines such as brand labels Xanax or Valium or Librium.

* Drug Strengths And Target Focus Area. These psychiatric drugs are all about intensity and neural targeting. Drug strength, like carbon dating, is measured in "half life strengths". Parents need to ask, and understand, the basic targeting scope of a particular drug.

* Anxiety Medicine Side Effects. Serious drugs carry serious user risks. While 70% of the user population may experience more-or-less gratifying and stabilizing results, continued drug use sets up a teen or adult for drug-dependency...which is polite talk for drug addiction. Withdrawal creates its own personal hell, unless a months-long carefully managed program of incremental tapering in usage is carried out. Meanwhile, kids and adults may experience intense withdrawal symptoms, with anxiety panic attacks, confusion, sleep disorders, eating disorder and weight loss, mental confusion, muscle cramping, diarrhea, and more.

Considering Non Prescription Teen Anxiety Herb Remedies. Before modern pharmacology dominated the treatment scene, people relied exclusively on plant kingdom remedies and support groups. Botanicals including rosemary, ginseng, St. John's Wort, kava and others have been shown in modern British side-by-side studies with pharmacy drugs to have substantially similar positive intervention potentials, with none of the negative side-effects of anxiety disorder medication.

The Comprehensive Approach Offered by Depression Treatment Centers


Depression treatment centers offer inpatient treatment alternatives to individuals who require a more in-depth approach to dealing with debilitating symptoms of depression.

By playing in an active role in their own recovery, patients are able to improve their personal sense of well-being through the development of custom strategies for maintaining optimum physical, emotional, spiritual and social health.

An inpatient treatment approach allows the patient to leave all worldly concerns outside the door and focus entirely on getting better.

Treatment programs within these centers usually employ a combination of holistic therapies with drug therapies which are specially developed to meet the patient's individuals needs and goals.

Holistic Approach

The holistic approach begins with changes in lifestyle, such as diet, exercise and social activities. Improvements in the way a person eats and moves not only benefit the overall health of the patient, but impact healthy brain function which regulates mood. Healthy social interactions are also key to a person's sense of well-being.

Some of the more-upscale depression treatment centers offer amenities which are designed to enhance the feelings of being specially cared for. These amenities sometimes include luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, spa treatments, recreational activities like hiking and swimming, and a fitness center with personal trainers.

Talk therapy, or counseling is also part of the holistic approach. Working through and expressing your thoughts, emotions and experiences with depression with a trained mental health professional has been shown to significantly contribute to the speed and success of recovery.

Pharmaceutical Approach

In the past twenty years, research into the neurological aspect of depression has resulted in the development of numerous medications which work to correct imbalances in brain chemistry. These medications are not considered "cures" but, rather, treatments for managing symptoms.

Therapist must exercise caution when prescribing medications for depression. The use of certain anti-depressant drugs is usually prohibited for patients who are taking pimozide or MAOIs.

Furthermore, patients must be completely informed about the possible side effects which are associated with taking medicine for depressive disorders. Some of these effects include headache, nausea, diarrhea, nausea, sleep disturbances, dry mouth and sexual side effects. However, most patients report that any experiences with these issues are usually minor and disappear after a few days.

When combined with a well-structured holistic program, drug therapy can provide the "2" in a powerful "1-2" punch that helps the patient reclaim a healthy, enjoyable life.

Inpatient depression treatment centers offer the specialized attention that some individuals require to put their feet back on the path to wellness. With a comprehensive approach which includes the latest and most effective holistic and drug therapies, these centers are fast becoming a welcome resource for people who need the specialized attention which only an inpatient facility can provide.