General Information About Depression

Common Characteristics of Depression

Depression is our most common mental disorder. It afflicts an estimated 50 million Americans, 35 million of whom receive some form of treatment. All of us can be affected, regardless of age and social or economic status. Although it is generally assumed that the disorder is more prevalent among women than men, it may well be that men are equally affected, but that women are more likely to seek help.

Now and then, everyone feels down; differentiating normal sadness from clinical depression is sometimes difficult. In response to life circumstances--for example, the loss of a loved one or job, or an illness--all of us become sad, and some of us become depressed--a condition commonly referred to as reactive depression. Others, particularly people with a family history of depression, seem to have an inherited tendency for depression and may become depressed in the absence of obvious external distress or upset.

Diagnosis of Depression

The American Psychiatric Association has defined depression, in part, as "loss of interest or pleasure in all or almost all usual activities and pastimes." As a clinical condition, depression is usually identified by the extent to which its symptoms interfere with normal functioning. In contrast, the feelings of melancholy that are a natural consequence of stressful or sorrowful life events are more transitory. Grief is dealt with more or less philosophically, the sense of self remains intact and the daily round of involvements is resumed.

Stressful circumstances that can result in depression may occur at any age from infancy through old age. Hereditary depression also may occur at any age, and it tends to recur. Very often, it alternates with periods of extreme euphoria--a condition often referred to as manic-depression.

In diagnosing depression, at least four of the following symptoms must be present most of the time for a minimum of two weeks (except in children under 6 years of age, in which case at least three of the first four must be noted): (1) altered eating habits, manifested by marked increase or decrease in appetite and significant change in weight; (2) insomnia or excessive sleepiness; (3) hyperactivity or slowed movement; (4) loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities or decrease in sexual drive; (5) loss of energy or fatigue; (6) feelings of worthlessness, guilt or self-reproach; (7) reduced ability to concentrate or think, and (8) recurrent thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide.

Some symptoms of depression, such as feelings of guilt or inadequacy, may be apparent only to the person experiencing them. But these feelings in turn bring about changes in attitudes and behavior that are noticeable to friends, family, colleagues: a withdrawal from the usual relationships; an inability to find pleasure in the normal joys of living; overreacting to the minor irritations of daily life; emotional instability and inexplicable mood swings; impaired concentration; crying spells, anxiety attacks and an increasing inability to get out of bed in the morning to face the day's responsibilities.

Physical symptoms also may appear--insomnia, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances and, in some cases, a change in appetite or sexual function.

A child of any age may be sending out signals for help in dealing with a depression when he or she complains of headaches and cramps with no physical cause; refuses to see friends; has raging tantrums for no reason; neglects schoolwork, and is self-destructive.

A transitory post-partum depression--also known as "after-the-baby blues"--is a common and normal condition that may affect both parents. However, if the new mother's feelings of helplessness or entrapment and resentment persist to the point where she keeps losing sleep or is afraid to handle the baby because she thinks she might harm it, professional help is needed.

Depression may also manifest itself as a reaction--probably biochemical--to such infectious diseases as hepatitis, mononucleosis and tuberculosis. A number of drugs, particularly central nervous system depressants, or "downers," especially alcohol and barbiturates among others, also may be responsible for feelings of depression.

Treatment of Depression

Some people with a genetic tendency to recurrent sieges of mild depression are able to deal with the problem without medication. They find relief in working at meaningful and productive tasks, in spending time with friends who enhance their self-esteem or in regularly scheduling strenuous exercise, which may be alternated with periods of relaxation or medication.

In many patients, antidepressant drugs along with or followed by counseling may be required. Most studies have shown that psychotherapy and medication are complementary and additive in value. The medication seems to affect the specific symptoms and the psychotherapy affects the problems of living. The most commonly prescribed types of drugs are:

Tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs work through the central nervous system to relieve the symptoms. Most take several days or even up to four to six weeks to have their full effect. Some tricyclic antidepressants are combined with anti-anxiety agents if anxiety is present.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. These drugs block the action of an enzyme that aids in the breakdown of certain chemicals in the brain. They are faster acting than the tricyclic antidepressants, usually working within several days. People taking MAO inhibitors must be careful not to eat foods containing tyramine--for example, certain types of ripe cheese or red wine--because the combination may lead to dangerously elevated blood pressure. They should obtain a diet sheet from their physician with details of foods to be avoided.

Lithium salts. These are naturally occurring crystalline salts, used to treat manic depression, a disorder marked by extreme mood swings from exhilaration to deep depression. They may be given in combination with an anti-depressive drug during the acute phase, and then be taken alone to prevent the mood swings. The lithium dosage should be carefully monitored by a doctor, since even a slight overdose may have toxic effects.

Other non-drug treatments are also available, and may be recommended, depending upon the severity and duration of the depression.

Summing Up

Depression can be a serious illness that interferes with one's ability to function and cope with life's adversities. Fortunately, a number of effective treatments for depression have been developed, and most people now recognize that telling a depressed person to "buck up" is not likely to do any good. Most cases of depression improve within a few months of treatment. Even when symptoms continue beyond that time, they are likely to be sufficiently alleviated so that the patient can resume most normal activities; at the same time, he can learn how to avoid unnecessarily stressful situations and achieve an increasing level of equanimity through an individually prescribed combination of self-awareness, suitable medication and--where indicated--a program of counseling, psychotherapy or other treatments.

Danger Signs of Pregnancy Depression

Just about every woman you speak with will tell you of some strange feelings she had during her pregnancy. Most of these types of things are simply due to the normal hormonal upheaval one's body goes through during pregnancy. The intense excitement you feel at the prospect of being a new Mom leaves little room for doubt that the entire processing will be rewarding and filled with anticipation. And yet there are a few women who undergo stress and difficulties during their pregnancy which can lead to pregnancy depression.

To be observant of depression signs in a pregnant woman, one has to look very carefully. Many symptoms, that would otherwise be suspicious, can be considered normal for the average new mom to be. Still, if any symptom is ling lasting or shows worsening behavior, someone should see to it that professional help m intervenes. Some of the things to look for include hyperactivity, emotional outbursts, or changes in eating and sleeping habits. Some of these may be considered nothing to worry about, but it should be a professional that makes that decision. However, if there is a suspicion of drug and alcohol abuse, it is imperative that the individual get help without hesitation. These activities cannot only harm the mother, but can cause serious and lasting harm to the unborn infant.

A primary care doctor should always be prepared to work along with a psychotherapist. Treatment of pregnancy depression can be risky at best. The use of antidepressants during pregnancy can harm an unborn child so it has to be determined if the depression is better left untreated or not. If the depression is severe enough, it can lead to serious side effects on the newborn infant such as slow response and irritability. It can even shorten the gestation period. So the risks of treatment have to be weighed very carefully. Psychotherapy alone can often be enough to get a mother through her pregnancy.

If depression persists after pregnancy, or is found to be an event occurring only during pregnancy, there is still no reason why a woman cannot have repetitive and successful pregnancies. If the depression is so severe that the woman cannot function without her medication, the she needs to be seen by her obstetrician and psychotherapist. It should be in the hands of the professionals as to which way to proceed and which benefits outweigh the risks. If it is felt that depression can be tolerated throughout the pregnancy, then the woman is usually advised to stop her medications about six months prior to becoming pregnant. This is often the case with mild to moderate depression.

It is always best that clinical depression be discussed with ones physician. The doctor, who knows your case best, will take into consideration all aspects of your depression. All critical issues will be examined. So, with all the precautions set carefully in place you can have a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Feeling Depressed? How to Fight the Gloom

The blues get the best of us, but do you allow it to overtake you? Sometimes things seem to go wrong repeatedly and then you start feeling depressed. If you leave things as they are depression can easily conquer your confidence and allow negative thoughts to run your life.

Give thanks.

Thank you are two very powerful words. Send thank you notes or say thank you to people who have made a difference in your life. Write down ten things that you are glad are in your life.

Change your focus.

Perhaps you are worried about your financial situation, a conflict with others, your lack of true friends or something else. Worrying about those does not help. If you focus on other things you might find solutions or something that can alleviate those situations.

Change your environment.

This can mean going for a walk, taking a drive or leaving where you are. You can also physically change your environment. If you are feeling stressed or depressed you might be surprised at how much change can help. Rearrange the lights, clean off your desk, remove unpleasant decorations. Add things that make you happy.

Get with others.

If you are feeling alone, getting with others can be a boost. If your friends are unavailable go to a place where people are naturally more causal. Attend church. Visit an entertainment center that has bowling, pool and other activities. Go to a park where people often are, you might strike up conversations with others, or just being in the company of others may make you feel lighter.

Exercise.

When you exercise you release endorphins that elevate your mood. It also helps you work out some of unused "fight or flight" energy that stress builds inside you. You get moving which circulates the blood reducing your mood of feeling depressed. You may even meet others to build up new friendships.

Add nature.

Play with your pets if you have them. Ask to walk a friend's dogs. Go to a natural park. Visit a park with a pond and feed the ducks. Animals are not worried about bills, fights or feeling depressed. Even if they fight they are over it quickly. Nature has a way of healing.

What makes you laugh?

Watch a movie that you makes you laugh. Go online and watch a comedy show that gives you the giggles. Call your friend with the great sense of humor. Add laughter and your depression and gloom may fade. Laughter will bring a big boost to your day.

Ask yourself what do you need to fight the depression.

You often have the answer inside your heart if you reflect on it. It may be one of the methods here. Maybe it will be something else. You can pick and choose, use one or several. The thing is to make your mood a little lighter. Then repeat, do something else to elevate your mood a bit more. Each thing you try can help you until you no longer feel depressed and instead feel happy.

Domestic Violence and 5 Ways to Recover

How to recognise the non obvious domestic violence and 5 effective ways to heal the wounds from all domestic violence

Domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family type relationship and forms a pattern of controlling behaviour. Sometimes psychological domestic violence is referred to as abuse too.

Domestic violence is any behaviour that is threatening or violent. There are many signs of domestic violence to look for:

Verbal abuse-anything that is shouting, naming calling or threatening
Pressure tactics- sulking, disconnecting the phone, with holding your money, taking the car away or faulting statements about you.
Disrespect- putting you down in front of other people, not listening and responding to you when you talk, refusing to help with childcare and housework.
Isolation-preventing you from seeing your friends and family
Breaking trust-lying to you, withholding information from you, breaking shared agreements.
Harassment- following you, checking up on you, embarrassing you in public or opening your mail.
Threats- shouting at you, intimidating you, make violent threats, raising their voice against you.
Sexual violence- using force to perform sexual acts etc
Physical violence- slapping, hitting, biting, pushing or shoving

Domestic violence can lead to stress disorders or common reactions such as:

Fear and anxiety- This can become a permanent emotional state. Memories of the events can trigger very strong raw difficult emotions.
Nightmares and flashback-The mind cannot stop itself going through unwanted, shocking and intrusive thoughts as the experience is so intense. Nightmares can become common.
Guilt, shame and blame- Survivors often blame themselves for letting the abuse take place. The survivor starts to create a negative self-image and a negative view of the world. They often loose trust in themselves and others.
Grief and depression- Feelings of loss, sadness, and hopelessness are signs of depression. Crying spells, social withdrawal and suicidal thoughts are common when grieving over a loss of a disappointing and disastrous relationship.

To recover from domestic violence we recommend:

Stopping the self-blaming - Take responsibility for the current decisions and future decisions.
Stop isolating themselves-Build a support network and reconnect with people.
Stop minimising and dismissing their feelings-Seek to understand your feelings and thoughts on the situation by talking to a friend or a professional.
Stop identifying self as a victim- Join a support group, and start taking control of your life and make choices that benefit you.
Stop the cycle of abuse-Get help, and learn healthy ways to function in the world.

When you are a survivor of domestic violence it is important to recognise what you have been through and then deal with your feelings before you move on.

Neglecting and not talking about the experience can make the recovery harder and longer. At the same time, ensure that you don't over talk about the experience and do not stay stuck with a repeating cycle of unhelpful thoughts and feelings. Whatever approach, you take, be willing to let the experience go.

3 Overlooked Methods of Handling Depression

Depression doesn't hurt just the person dealing head on with the depression, it also affects everyone that person interacts with. It can be a frustrating and challenging experience handling the lows that clinical depression can push onto the body. Unless you take steps to control depression, it can seriously affect your professional as well as personal relationships with the people around you. There are three overlooked methods in handling depression that may be beneficial if you're looking for additional methods to try in controlling the symptoms of depression.

The first method is through keeping a journal or diary. If you are not keeping a journal on your moods during the day, you are missing out on a valuable tool that can help you shift out of your feelings of depression and back to a more relaxed state of mind. Writing a journal, even if no one sees it is a great way to unload the stress of the day and get down on paper how you feel about people, places, and things around you. If you want to select a supportive friend or family member that has permission to read your journal, this can be effective as long as they are very understanding and not judgmental. You can even bring your journal to a therapy session for your therapist to look over, if this has not already been arranged in a previous session. For those looking for privacy, there are journals that have locks on them to prevent prying eyes looking at your most sacred thoughts.

The second method is through driving. Many people handling depression have taken to the open road for short trips away from home. Choosing off peak hours with little traffic can lead to having the feel of having the open road all to yourself, making driving a fun pleasure that can be enjoyed in short bursts. You can even make a special CD for such trips to further bring you deeper into the peaceful moments that are just around the corner. If you choose this method, make sure to set aside plenty of time. The key to making this work is to enjoy the activity when there is nothing else that needs to happen in your life.

The third and final overlooked method of handling depression is to channel the frustration and stress of depression into a hobby that involves serious movement. A gentle hobby for this purpose is dance, something that allows you to move to music without fear of judgment from others. You don't have to go down to a dance studio just to get the benefits - 15 minutes of getting up and just moving to whatever your favorite music of the moment is can be more than enough in terms of getting past the blues.

All things considered, depression is a very challenging mental disorder that can leave you feeling frustrated, stressed, and feeling overwhelmed. However, with these three overlooked methods in mind, you should have everything you need to get started moving past depression and towards the bright future you deserve!

The Science Behind Natural Herbs and Supplements for Depression

Numerous studies from leading scientific organizations, including Harvard, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Toronto, have shown that natural nutritional supplements can be used to treat a host of physical and psychological ailments. Among these are depression, anxiety, obesity, bipolar disorder, insomnia, schizophrenia, hypertension, Alzheimer's, ADD/ADHD, arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, fibromyalgia, fatigue, headaches and more.

Here are some key nutrients that have been proven to reverse the effects of depression.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s strengthen the immune system and produce chemicals in our body that help to alleviate inflammation. These fatty acids have been shown to protect us from many major health threats, such as stroke, heart disease, and arthritis. In addition, they aid in fighting depression, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, and ADD/ADHD.

A Harvard pilot study found that fish oil, found in krill oil, tuna, salmon, and mackerel, can be used to effectively treat depression and bipolar disorder. Another study of 70 depressed patients who had not responded to other treatments found that the group who took one gram of fish oil produced dramatically better results than the placebo. Omega-3s can also be found in nuts such as walnuts and many fruits and vegetables.

Chromium

Chromium has been shown to be effective in treating depression, lowering blood sugar levels, reducing insulin resistance and helping to control weight gain. This essential mineral plays a primary role in the body's ability to burn sugars, carbohydrates, fats and proteins to produce energy. Chromium has been shown to reduce appetite and contribute to weight loss.

Scientists at Duke University have found that taking chromium supplements reduces symptoms of atypical depression, and reduces carbohydrate cravings. Researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine say that chromium picolinate can relieve depression in overweight people with a background of overeating.

Chromium deficiency contributes to depression, anxiety, fatigue, and unhealthy blood pressure levels. The average American diet is chromium deficient, due to modern agricultural practices. Only one in ten Americans have adequate amounts of chromium in their diet.

SAMe

SAMe is a substance created naturally in the body from amino acids. As a supplement, it is widely used in Europe to treat depression, arthritis, and other ailments.

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionin) can help people who suffer from depression, and don't respond to prescription treatments, according to a Harvard study. Another study published in BioMed Central Psychiatry found that SAMe significantly decreased symptoms of depression in HIV/AIDS patients over an 8 week period.

In addition to its effectiveness in fighting depression, research shows that SAMe is beneficial for joints and connective tissue, helps with arthritis and fibromyalgia, promotes liver health, protects against cardiovascular disease, and helps to slow the aging process.

Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the digestive tract. They aid in the digestive process, and new research shows that they can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

A colon cleanse incorporating probiotics will clear the body of stagnant waste built up in the colon, restore your immune system, and greatly increase your ability to absorb nutrients. To get the maximum benefit, you need a probiotic supplement that contains more than 50 billion viable organisms, consisting of ten different bacterial strains.

A University of Toronto study found that a two-month probiotics regime boosted chronic fatigue symptoms and reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center found that probiotics slow the growth of certain cancerous tumors.

As far back as the late 1800's, researchers like Nobel Prize-winning scientist Elie Metchnikoff began to acknowledge the importance of microorganisms in the gut and their relation to everything from digestion to immune health. Since then, countless scientists have succeeded in confirming Metchnikoff's theories and developing new ways to effectively introduce beneficial microorganisms into the human body.

You can find probiotics in a variety of fermented or cultured foods, such as cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, sauerkraut, kefir, tempeh, and miso.

L-Tyrosine

Tyrosine is amino acid which helps to produce adrenaline and dopamine, neurotransmitters responsible for regulating your mood. Inadequate levels of tyrosine in the body can result in depression.

Tyrosine is important to overall metabolic health. It is a mood elevator, and can be taken in supplement form to fight depression, anxiety, stress, and chronic fatigue. Tyrosine is an antioxidant and appetite suppressant as well.

One study involving two depressed patients who didn't respond to antidepressants found that l-Tyrosine significantly reduced their depression. Another study involving one woman with a two-year history of depression concluded that she showed marked improvement from l-tyrosine treatment, with no visible side effects.

GABA

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid created naturally in the brain. It is involved with motor function, vision, and other basic brain activities. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and its main function is to block stress-causing hormones like cortisol. GABA is also involved in the production of endorphins. Endorphins cause what is known as "runner's high," the feeling of calm and mental alertness you get during physical exercise.

GABA reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, relieves muscle tension, reverses Alzheimer's disease, promotes weight loss, and helps you get a good night's sleep. A deficiency of GABA may cause anxiety, stress, depression and nervousness, according to some studies. Doctors have recommended taking GABA in 200 mg doses three to four times daily, on an empty stomach.

5-HTP

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid involved in the production of serotonin in the brain. A great deal of evidence suggests that taking 5-HTP can improve the symptoms of atypical depression. 5-HTP is often very effective on patients who are unresponsive to pharmaceutical antidepressants. In fact, several small studies have found that 5-HTP is equal to or better than pharmaceutical antidepressants in treating depression and anxiety.

5-HTP has been found to help with conditions associated with low serotonin levels, including depression, obesity, carbohydrate craving, insomnia, and fibromyalgia. It has been used to treat migraine headaches and promote weight loss as well.

L-Glutamine/ Glutamic Acid

Glutamine/glutamic acid, along with glucose, is one of the essential fuels for your brain cells. It helps with anxiety and depression, increases mental alertness, normalizes physical equilibrium, detoxifies ammonia from the brain, improves and soothes erratic behavior in elderly patients, improves your ability to learn, aids in retaining and recall in memory, helps with behavioral problems and autism in children, and stops sugar and alcohol cravings. Glutamine may improve IQ in mentally deficient children, enhance peptic ulcer healing, and it may be used to treat schizophrenia and senility.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that just two grams of glutamine taken after a light breakfast produced a 430 percent increase in levels of Human Growth Hormone, which plays a major role in muscle growth by helping synthesize additional proteins in muscle fibers. HGH also helps you burn more fat for energy.

DL-Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid, which increases production of the mood-elevating brain chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine. Some clinical studies suggests that phenylalanine can be helpful as part of a comprehensive therapy for depression. Phenylalanine can reduce pain and inflammation, aid in memory and learning, and suppress the appetite. Phenylalanine may also help with arthritis, weight loss, menstrual cramps, and schizophrenia.

A study published in the Journal of Neural Transmission concluded that phenylalanine helped with depressed mood, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

Herbs

Passionflower

Passionflower can be taken to help with anxiety, insomnia, and stress-related disorders. It is a mild sedative, and helps to lower blood pressure.

According to a 2002 study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, passionflower was effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder compared to a pharmaceutical anti-anxiety medication.

Passionflower extract is also effective in reducing negative symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, insomnia, as well as emotional and behavioral disturbances.

Skullcap

Skullcap is useful for the strengthening and support provided in times of stress and is a remedy for nervous tension, headaches, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, hysteria, exhaustion and depression.

Skullcap is an antispasmodic which is useful for twitching muscles, trembling, epilepsy and heart palpitations. It useful as an aid when withdrawing from orthodox tranquilizers and antidepressants.

Skullcap has been used in combination with hormonal balancing herbs (such as chaste tree and false unicorn root) for premenstrual syndrome. As an anti-inflammatory, it can be used for arthritis particularly where the condition is aggravated by stress. Skullcap is useful in reducing fevers, enhancing digestion and stimulating the liver's function.

Bilberry

Bilberry helps to control insulin levels, and is useful for stress, hypoglycemia, anxiety, and macular degeneration. Bilberry is used for chronic fatigue syndrome, hemorrhoids, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gout, skin infections, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is also an effective antioxidant and diuretic.

Green Tea

Green tea is a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect against cancer, lower cholesterol, and regulate blood sugar. Recent research suggests that green tea may be an effective weight loss aid.

The antioxidants in green tea have been shown to boost immune system function, fight the signs of aging, support a healthy brain and liver, and aid in digestion.

Catnip

Catnip is a member of the mint family. It is used as a treatment for anxiety, nervousness and sleeplessness. Throughout history, this herb has been used to produce a sedative effect. Traditional herbalists have used catnip to treat conditions like cancer, toothache and corns.

Chamomile

Chamomile is used to stimulate the appetite, reduce inflammation, and aid in digestion and sleep.

According to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, chamomile treatment using a natural chamomile extract significantly reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Why Attaining Happiness is So Elusive, Part 4

This is the fourth article of the series reviewing The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt. I want to share with you my take on two notions that we do not normally associate with happiness. The first notion is adversity or stress and the second is virtue or being a good person. I have been very fortunate in my life, but I have also faced many setbacks, to say the least, in my more than 60 years. Furthermore, as a Christian, I try to live a virtuous life. So I was very curious about what insights and recommendations Haidt had to offer here regarding happiness.

Let us look back briefly at what I talked about in the third article. I described four thought-provoking concepts: the Progress principle, the Adaptation principle, the Happiness formula, and the term "finding flow." I also examined the differences between pleasure and gratification, do and have, and passionate love and companion love. I saw each of these concepts and differences reflected in my own life in one way or another.

What fascinates me in the work of Haidt is that he is constantly contrasting ideas. For me this quality of seeing subtle and different meanings is the hallmark of a knowledgeable and reflective person. This quality of seeing shades of meanings is something that I greatly admire in my colleague, Dr. Fred Horowitz at happiness-after-midlife.com. He is constantly making what he calls "distinctions," which allows him to see what others do not see. Take for example astronomers. When he looks at the sky at night, what he sees and what astronomers see are vastly different. Astronomers have many more distinctions than he has, which gives them more power in that domain than he has. So the more distinctions you or I have in a domain (business, music, sports, and so on) the more power we have and the more effective we are.

In this article I look at what Haidt terms the Adversity hypothesis described as the need to overcome setbacks in order to grow. He also presents the Virtue hypothesis, the need to practice virtue in order to be happy. Drawing on scientific research, he contrasts post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post traumatic growth. He also distinguishes between virtue and moral reasoning. Will knowing these things make any difference in my life? The proverbial answer is of course "it depends," depending on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, whether you are open-minded or cynical, according to Haidt.

Haidt quotes Neitszche who once said, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." Good quote, but to what degree is it true? It is well known that soldiers returning from war suffer greatly from PTSD. In addition, we know that excessive stress in daily life can cause depression, anxiety and heart disease. On the other hand, we know that people can profit greatly from stress and setbacks. In my own case, losing an important job at a publishing company was initially stressful, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It forced me to reinvent myself.

Are adversity and suffering necessary for maximum human development?

Haidt distinguishes between a weak version and a strong version of the Adversity hypothesis. Scientific research over the last 15 years shows that people can be quite resilient in the face of severe stress. They can discover hidden abilities; they can relate to others more meaningfully; and they can change practices and philosophies towards the present. A challenging experience could lead to joy and self-improvement.

While I was completing my doctorate, I was faced with a traumatic situation when my father died. I felt incredible pain at his loss, even though I hardly knew him (he was in the Merchant Marine and was never home), but he was the most generous person in my life. I will forever be grateful to him and my mother. I recommitted myself to completing my doctorate and finished a year later.

On the other hand, the strong version of the Adversity hypothesis states that people must endure adversity to grow. Haidt quotes Marcel Proust: "We do not receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves..." Recent research supports the strong version. It takes suffering and pain to make you more open-minded, more compassionate and more capable of finding balance between your self and others.

However, for adversity to provide the most benefit some conditions are more favorable than others according to certain researchers. For example, those in their late teens or early 20s respond best to severe adversity. Also, optimists and those with the right social and psychological resources respond best to traumas. Furthermore, the adversity must not be too severe as to overcome the person entirely. I like to think that while each of us has been given the same "deck of cards", it is what we do with the cards that makes all the difference. Each of us has the power to create our lives in spite of the way we are "labeled."

Will cultivating virtue make you happy?

Haidt distinguishes between virtue and moral reasoning. He presents a fascinating tour of ancient wisdom for cultivating virtue. He explores the thinking of the ancient Egyptian Amenemope, Aristotle, Confucius, and Buddha, as well as the 13-week plan for virtuous living of a more recent wise man, Ben Franklin. He admires their "sophisticated understanding of moral psychology." So do I, particularly the approach of the Franklin who tried all his life to develop both personal virtues (temperance, order, resolution, frugality, moderation, industry, cleanliness and tranquility) and social virtues (silence, sincerity, justice, chastity and humility).

Haidt argues that we started getting it wrong with the rise of science and reason. Modern thinkers like Kant and Bentham made great contributions to social theory. However, their emphasis on logical reason in making moral decisions was a mistake.

Haidt recommends that we shift our attention back to character and virtue in being happy with our actions. He applauds the work of positive psychologists, such as Martin Seligman. He came up with a list of 24 character strengths, including curiosity, love of learning, integrity, humility, gratitude, humor to mention a few. By working on our strengths, we can cultivate Haidt calls the six main virtues: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

We must also look beyond ourselves. According to some researchers, altruistic people have depth and virtue to their character and gain happiness from their altruism. So the message for me is I must work on some of these ennobling strengths, not my weaknesses. I must also work on sharing myself with others. In so doing, I open myself to the possibility of being complete and fulfilled.

In Part 5 of the series, I'll look at what divinity and sacredness has to offer and what it means to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.