When a Loved One Is Suffering With Depression

For John, it seemed like one day he woke up and life as he knew it had changed. Maura, his wife, was anxious, but it was a different kind of anxiousness. Initially John comforted Maura, reassuring her that her worries were unfounded. However, things got progressively worse, Maura's mood remained low, she began to talk about how useless she was, that she was a bad parent, and how she couldn't understand why John still wanted her. Soon Maura began staying in bed in the mornings. She was unable to foster her usual 'up and at it' attitude that had been such a big part of their busy morning routine.

Maura's weight also steadily increased as she became less active and began to eat more. As her weight increased, so did Maura's feelings of worthlessness. Sex became non-existent between them with Maura turning away from John, complaining of tiredness or a variety of other aches and pains. As the weeks turned into months, John watched helplessly as his once vibrant, happy wife, evolved into a woman he felt he could no longer reach. What John didn't know was Maura was displaying all the signs of someone suffering with depression.

Depression can follow a traumatic event

Right now over 400,000 people in Ireland are experiencing depression but many are unaware and so the condition remains untreated. A first bout of depression often occurs after a traumatic life event however if left untreated it can leave one vulnerable to future episodes of depression. Therefore, early recognition of the symptoms followed by access to support or treatment is crucial for a positive outcome. It's probably worth saying that men are diagnosed less with depression, not because they don't suffer with it, but because they don't talk about it. Instead, men will often resort to self-medicating using alcohol or drugs to cope with their depression.

When a loved one withdraws

For every person suffering with depression there is often someone in the background suffering in a different way. For the partner, who does not understand what is happening, they can feel overwhelmed when a spouse withdraws from the relationship and the family. While the person struggling with depression might ask, "Why Me?" the non-depressed partner will often ask, "Is this because of me? Is it something I did?"

When one partner is struggling with depression, it will inevitably put a strain onto an otherwise healthy relationship. A depressed partner while unhappy may also become critical, argumentative, and non-communicative. For the non-depressed partner, they may feel helpless believing no matter what they do, whether it is comforting, supporting, or loving, none of it helps. The unconditional love and understanding a depressed partner needs may stretch even the most tolerant of partners beyond endurance. Emotions such as frustration, resentment, even anger are not uncommon and often followed by the even more intense feelings of guilt. If this is you, take heart, because it's natural. Living with a depressed partner is not easy.

Taking a proactive approach benefits everyone

If you believe your partner is suffering with depression, the good news is depression is treatable and there is a variety of support options available. One of the first things you need to do is to encourage your partner to seek help. If they are not motivated to do so, try helping them recognise there is a problem and that it can be resolved. This is an essential first step to their recovery. Of vital importance is your acceptance that you cannot control or fix a partner's depression. That power lies only with them. What you can control is your response. Therefore, it's essential you educate yourself about depression so you know what you're dealing with.

Equally crucial is your understanding that the symptoms like those described above are a part of the illness and not a reflection on you or your relationship. Make sure you also become alert to your own mood, as it's easy to get caught up in the hopelessness and end up just as de-energised as your depressed partner. You can avoid this happen by putting support in place for you. Maintain as much as possible the things in life you enjoy like social or sporting activities. Talk with a friend who knows and understands your situation. If you don't have a friend to talk to, find a therapist who will act as your support instead.

Self-Care is Crucial

Remember, you are not at fault, you did not choose for your partner to develop this condition, anymore than they chose to have it. While your love and encouragement plays a huge role in a partner's recovery, it will not be possible if you're not taking care of yourself first. By putting simple self-care routines and supports in place, you'll feel better able to cope, and your partner, children and relationship will all benefit.

Can Spending More Time In The Sun Make Your Depression Go Away?

Throughout the years there had been much anecdotal evidence of people who live in northern climates developing what is known as 'cabin fever'. Cabin fever has often been described as a feeling of being depressed caused by being cooped up in a cabin, home, or other enclosed living space for long periods of time.

The reason for being cooped indoors and limited from outside activities can be potentially caused by many factors including sickness, weather, darkness, and the like. However, the reason for the depression was almost always considered to be the confinement itself.

It was not until relatively recently that researchers validated the existence of cabin fever as a real phenomenon. They also theorized that its cause was not the confinement of living in a small space but, instead, was due to a lack of sunlight.

The research into this phenomenon was triggered by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, a psychiatrist at the Bethesda National Institute of Mental Health. In his practice, he made the observation that many of his patients who suffered from depression, mysteriously seemed to recover from it as the spring and summer months arrived. He further noticed that many of his patients who visited warmer climates in the Winter were less depressed than they were at home. That is, until they returned home and begin to experience higher levels of depression again. He dubbed this affect, seasonal affective disorder, or SAD for short.

This recognition, prompted Dr. Rosenthal to begin a study into why this was so. And as his research neared its conclusion, it became obvious that what was causing the depression was a lack of light. The research dramatically showed the extent to which light affects a person's mood. It seems that, among people who are prone to depression, the more time they spend in sunlight, the less depressed they are.

The working theory is that what causes this shift in the person's attitude is a hormone called melatonin. The body naturally produces melatonin. And, psychiatrists know that an excess of melatonin in the body can cause depression in a person. It is now recognized that sunlight can inhibit the production of this hormone.

It is also believed that sunlight increases the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. And if the levels of serotonin is high enough, it can offset the negative effects of melatonin. The natural conclusion is that, if you are prone to depression, spending more time in the sun will improve your outlook significantly.

The Confusion Between Mania and Hypomania

I have a friend whom we'll call John. For nearly two decades John was diagnosed as a manic depressive. He had been given this diagnosis on four different occasions throughout those years.

John's medical assistance with the condition was on again, off again because of his financial situation. He was never actually on a program long enough to get the right medication. Medications for bipolar disorder are not one size fits all and it can be extremely difficult to get on the right medicine.

Finally, John was able to get into a system that was going to offer long term help regardless of his financial situation. There was finally hope for him.

However, a most curious thing happened when he went through the consultations with his new doctors to verify his condition. After having been diagnosed four times as a manic depressive, they were now telling him that while he may well have depression, he did not have mania and what he really need was anger management classes. He was told that at best he had hypomania.

How could this be? Why was he told so many times that he did have it, and what is hypomania?

Mania vs. Hypomania

John had episodes where he would fly into rages, yell and throw things around. He also had happier episodes where he would go into states of hyperactivity. In these situations he would sing, tell jokes and act silly. That doesn't sound too bad in itself, but when you do it constantly to the point that you are driving people around you nuts, you might have a problem. Especially if you're running up and down the halls doing it.

So John was asked how long those times lasted. The answer was that the rages might go on for days at a time, maybe even a week or two. The super silly part might be on and off for two or three days.

He was also asked if he ever got in his car and drove very fast and recklessly. The answer was no. Then he was asked if he had times of abnormally active sexual behavior. Again, the answer was no. That's when he was told that he did not have mania, but hypomania.

Apparently, hypomania is a much milder version of full-blown mania. In true mania, you may have racing thoughts, hear voices, have delusions of grandeur, increased irritability and anger, and very fast speech.

In hypomania, you have increased levels of creativity and ideas, energy, and feelings of euphoria. While it may not sound all that different from regular mania, it is milder. In fact, many productive workaholics have this condition. That may sound ideal, but the truth is that as time goes on it can progress into full-blown mania, which is not at all desirable.

The treatment for both conditions is essentially the same. A mood stabilizer must be used to keep the mania or hypomania from occurring, and an antidepressant must be used to keep the depression from occurring.

Now that John was all confused about what he was told as opposed to what he had previously been told, it seems the diagnosis was later reversed. The more the doctor's worked with him, they eventually learned that he was indeed a manic depressive and not a 'hypomania depressive'. The difference now was that he was a confused one.

Five Steps to Stop Your Food Cravings and Prevent Overeating

Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you are well on your way to eating more than you had intended. Maybe it's a meal that you've already eaten too much of, or perhaps an unexpected binge. How do you stop? It is not going to be easy, and that is certainly an understatement, but it is possible to find a way to put the brakes on. Use these five steps and discover your inner power to say "no" to food and "yes" to a happier, thinner life.

Step A. Wake Up!

People who use food to feel better often report overeating when they are in a time-out or food trance. This trance provides an escape from inner criticism, difficult emotions, or stressful life situations. The first step is to find some way to wake up from the trance. No matter how intense your food craving, or how much you have already eaten, you have to snap back to reality before anything else can happen. There is no one proven guaranteed way to bring your self back to conscious awareness. You will have to experiment with several different ways to grab your own attention. Below are some suggestions that may work to bring you back into the here and now:

o Walk to the nearest mirror, look yourself deep in the eyes, and say hello to yourself.

o Talk aloud to yourself. Call yourself by name and say, "wake up."

o Shake your head to clear out the cobwebs.

o Take a deep breathe and say to yourself, "I am okay now. I am fine now. I am in control now."

o Plant visual cues in your kitchen. For example, place a special blooming potted plant on your kitchen table. Looking at it might remind you of your potential to bloom and prosper.

o Tape your baby picture on your refrigerator. Look at how pure and happy you are. Decide that you want to feel happy and eating is not the way to get there.

List a few methods you can think of to bring yourself back to living in the present moment:

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Step B. Listen to Your Thoughts

Now that you are awake, stop for ten seconds. Consciously notice the thoughts running through your head. Separate yourself from your thoughts. Just listen without judgment or without trying to stop or change your thoughts. Notice what your thoughts are saying. Are you worrying about the future or reliving the past? Are your thoughts critical and self-sabotaging? Are you thinking in black and white, or believing the worst always happens to you? Perhaps your thoughts are something like this:

o Look at what you've done now.

o Everything that you've worked for is now undone.

o It's going to take so much longer to lose weight now.

o Since you've eaten this much, no reason to stop now.

o What the heck, you've already failed.

o Might as well enjoy it now that you've given in.

o "It's useless. There is no point now in stopping.

Once you hear your thoughts, stop, and acknowledge them. Talk back to them with a non-confrontational style. Something along the lines of, "Yes, I hear what I am saying to myself." Just notice your thoughts without agreeing or arguing with them. You are not required to agree or disagree with them. Simply hear them as an observer. Take a moment and notice the feeling that goes along with the thoughts. Observe where in your body the feeling is, and see if you can identify your feelings or beliefs.

Step C. Breathe

Now, take a deep breath and close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose, allowing the breath to go deeply into your lower belly. Breathe out naturally. Feel yourself breathing. Allow the breath to enter the area of your body that is holding onto the feeling from the step above. Slowly release any tightness or constriction in your body. Let go. Breathe. Relax.

Step D. Compassion and Forgiveness

Talk compassionately to yourself. No matter what has happened or how much you have already eaten, begin speaking kindly to yourself. Yes, I can hear the protests already: "How can I talk nicely to myself when I've just blown it? I hate myself for what I've done." Beating yourself up will not improve your situation or create the overall success you want. Being critical only serves to maintain and reinforce status quo. One episode of overeating will not affect anything in the scheme of things. Choose criticism and you learn nothing, move nowhere. A lack of self-supporting self-talk will lead to negative emotions, decreased motivation, and will turn one episode into an ongoing event. Choose compassion for self and you move forward.

Even if you have already given in to the craving, now is the time to remember your dreams, relocate your desire, and be clear about your direction. Positive thoughts, even in the face of a setback or disappointment will reinforce your destination. It is up to you, and you alone, to make the choice to strengthen your goals and your determination.

Here are some examples:

o I forgive myself for what I have done.

o Now is the time to begin again. I do not need to wait until tomorrow.

o I haven't failed. The only failure is failing to learn something from this experience. What have I learned?

o I am back in control now. I can choose my response from this point forward.

List a few sentences or quotes that will begin to bring calmness and control back to you:

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Step E. Success Tape

If you already know that you have regular episodes of cravings, overeating, or binge eating, you might consider putting a positive self-talk speech on tape. Buy a small, easy to carry digital tape recorder and prepare a self-motivation tape for yourself. The next time you are about to give in to your craving, you can pull out your recorder and hit the play button. You can even use your motivation tape if you are in the middle or the end of overeating. Below is a example of what your pre-recorded self-supporting message might sound like:

"Hello! I see that you woke up from the trance you were in. Congratulations. That's something new. Now that you are back in real time, notice what a good job you did of waking up when you did. You are really putting in the effort to learn these new skills. I am proud of your determination! Yes, I can see that you are disappointed in your actions. It's okay to feel disappointment. It's also okay to forgive yourself. So, close your eyes and listen closely. You are a wonderful person. Yes, you overate, and it's not the end of the world. In truth, it was just one meal. Everything is going to be okay. Remember your goal and remember how good it feels to know what you want. (Fill in your goal). You can do this. I have faith in you. I love you."

Food cravings are not only tough to resist, they are also a typical experience for most people attempting to lose weight. The good news is that by planning ahead you can take action when you need it most. Follow the five steps above and give yourself the tools for permanent weight loss success.

Critical Facts About Autism - Grandparent Is Your Grandchild at Risk?

Autism is a word that brings much sadness to a parent when told that their child presents with the symptoms.

Grandparents please be on the lookout for symptoms. Especially if you by chance are a "nanny" to your grandchild like so many grandmothers and even grandfathers are these days.

In the profession I was in, I encountered cases of autism in children. In the beginning it was a rare issue concerning childhood disabilities. By the time I left the profession 38 years later, autism cases were a regular issue. I began to wonder throughout the years on the job "what was going on?" It seemed like an epidemic!

I later discovered that other conditions had been added to the mix and called "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior" even mental retardation is included.

The latest statistics show that 1 in 88 to 1 in 110 children have been diagnosed with Autism.

But it appears that too many conditions were added to the autism category. There is a possibility that it will be modified.

Apparently medical studies think that the number is too high and plan to re-asses the diagnosis.

My friend has a niece who was five years of age when she became autistic. Before the diagnosis, she was happy, bright and social. Then practically overnight she changed!

I found out that this is rare but cases have been found where a child suddenly deteriorates between the ages of 3 to 10 years and show marked autistic behaviors.

After seeing the doctor it was determined that she was autistic, cause, unknown.

How shocking and befuddling was that? No explanation could be given as to why or how this occurred.

Autism appears to be a genetic brain disease. I heard that pregnant women can now know if their baby is at risk.

It was also stated that women avoid taking Valproic acid (a chemical compound and an acid that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and, less commonly, major depression. It is also used to treat migraine headaches and schizophrenia) or Thalidomide. I thought this was banned? Found out that research is ongoing in its use to treat cancers and autoimmune conditions, although its use is controversial.

Here is a tidbit of information regarding a suspected cause of autism.

SCIENTIFIC PROOF: MILK CAUSES AUTISM & ADD

Florida researcher, Robert Cade, M.D., and his colleagues have identified a milk protein, casomorphin, as the probable cause of attention deficit disorder and autism. They found Beta-casomorphin-7 in high concentrations in the blood and urine of patients with either schizophrenia or autism.

Visit - notmilk.com click on Autism for the full report. This gives one cause to ponder.

How do you know or suspect if your child could be autistic? According to the CDC, you can begin to notice as early as nine months of age. The CDC has a list of markers that present at specific ages of a child that are warning signs and for you to present to your child's doctor.

How is this illness treated? There is no magical pill. Treatment varies depending on the category of autism that the child fits into. And of course like many of our modern diseases, there is no cure.

General Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

I am not a pediatrician. You must know that everything I say is simply my opinion. If you do anything I recommend without the supervision of a licensed medical doctor, you do so at your own risk.

I present this information for educational purposes only. I am not making an attempt to prescribe any medical treatment as under the laws of the United States only a licensed medical doctor, (an MD) can do so.

Again, it is for educational purposes only it is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from research and experience of the author. No guarantees are given in any form by the author. And you and only you are responsible if you choose to do anything based on what you read.

This content cannot be relied upon as preventive, cure, or treatment for any disease or medical condition. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CONSULT WITH A LICENSED MEDICAL DOCTOR OR PHYSICIAN BEFORE ACTING UPON ANY RECOMMENDATION THAT IS MADE IN THIS ARTICLE OR WEBSITE.

How to Help Someone With Depression

Depression is the term commonly used to describe emotional changes or it is a mental illness related to body, thoughts, and minds. There are some warning signs of depression and tips that can be used to deal with someone who is depressed. The depression symptoms enlisted below.

Warning signs of depression

Warning signs of depression depends on the age and various other factors. The warning signs of depression for children, teenagers, and adults are different.

Low self esteem: A depressed person always feels that he/she is worthless and is obsessed with a guilt feeling. They mostly have an unclear outlook towards reality. They often criticize themselves and also think about committing suicide and ending this worthless life.

Alterations in energy levels: They also face alterations in energy levels such as sometimes they become inactive or frustrated and angry. They experience difficulty in making decisions, have faulty memory, and less concentration.

Psychotic symptoms: People with serious depression may sometimes have hallucinations or delusions. Such people should be hospitalized.

Changes in food habits and sleep: There are many changes in the food habits. They may lack appetite or sometimes have an increased feeling of hunger. There may be disturbances in the sleep patterns of such person as well. They may either tend to oversleep or sleep for a shorter duration.

Apart from these other warning signs include:

Weight Loss
Suicidal tendency
Lack of interest in social activities
Frequently feeling frustrated, angry, anxious, and worried

How to deal with Depression

The first and foremost thing required for helping someone who is fighting depression is to collect information about depression. It should include information such as what exactly is depression, its warning signs, and depression treatment

Once you have a brief idea about depression disability, only then you would be able to track the problem of your loved ones, depression causes, and the right treatment required for the depression. There are a large number reliable resources available such as the Internet, health magazines, and journals where you can find such information

Know the facts and misconceptions about depression and try to think about the affected person i.e. how the person feels in that situation. This would help you to know the problem in a better way and also help you to handle it properly

Avoid getting annoyed, frustrated, and upset on the depressed person. It would have a negative impact on him/her

Take proper care of yourself and discuss the situation. Vent your anger with a close relative or a friend

Give a patient hearing to the depressed person's problems or emotional break outs. Share with them information and facts about depression and make them understand that they can come out of it. They may have a low self esteem about themselves. Explain to them that they are not weak or useless

They would normally do all their regular chores and activities. They might get angry and refuse to do certain other things. This doesn't mean that the person doesn't love you anymore. Don't pressurize them to do anything they don't want to do

Giving the right medicines and treatment is the most crucial task to be considered while dealing with a depressed person. Take out the fears of the depressed person about the treatment, make them aware that they are not mad, and the problem will be soon sought out

Help them to cope with depression and give them assurances in a suitable form they accept. Refer to online sites and collect information about the ways to cope up suicidal tendencies. Try to bring them out of these suicidal tendencies

Make them feel that you are not frustrated or angry with them. Give them unconditional love and a feeling of belongingness

Understanding The Facts About Bipolar Depression

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression as some people call it, is a very frightening condition to live with. The symptoms of this disorder can be harsh, they can come and go rapidly and they can lead to mood swings that are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Bipolar depression is the particular swing that can present some of the most problems for those who suffer from the condition.

To understand bipolar depression, it's a very good idea to have a basic grasp on this condition in its entirety. Those who suffer from this condition tend to endure very extreme mood swings. Manic behavior is on one end of the spectrum and depressive the other.

The swings are not caused by a desire to get into trouble. They are not caused by a psychological problem, per say. Rather, the root of this medical phenomena is an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. When these chemicals are out of whack, behavior can be, as well.

While both phases of bipolar disorder can cause very real, very lasting problems for those who suffer from the disorder, it is the depressive phase that can be the most troubling. This is so for a number of reasons.

First off, bipolar depression is generally the phase that causes misdiagnosis. Doctors recognize the depressive symptoms and fail to recognize the manic ones. This means a person suffering from this very real, very biological condition is more likely to be treated for the single phase, rather than the entire disorder.

Make no mistake, however, the blame doesn't necessarily fall entirely on the doctors. It is possible the patients and their family members, too, fail to connect the manic episodes with the depressive ones. This can mean a doctor is forced to treat a patient with only half of the picture to go on.

Since this condition involves a chemical imbalance, the medications used to treat depression might not always be helpful. A careful management of bipolar disorder needs to be present to help ensure a patient leads as close to a normal life as possible.

The second major reason bipolar depression is a big problem is the symptoms themselves. Often mirroring true, clinical depression these symptoms can range from loss of appetite and fatigue to feelings of helplessness, sadness and guilt. It is even possible that thoughts of death and suicide will be present and even acted on. The suicide rate for untreated bipolar depression is higher than many might think.

The depressive phase can also be misidentified as nothing more than "the blues." Since the bipolar patient can go through such extreme mood swings, it can be very difficult for the person suffering and those around them to take the depressive state and recognize it for its seriousness.

Living with manic depression requires very careful management. While there is no known cure for the condition, there are treatments that can help keep its most troublesome symptoms in check. When the disorder is properly treated, the signs of bipolar depression and even the manic phases are kept well under wraps in most cases.