Bipolar Disorder and Its Unfortunate Link To Suicide

Bipolar disorder leads to more suicides and attempted suicides than any other mental disorder. This fact has been confirmed by many research studies over many years. These studies indicate that up to 20% to 50% of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide at some time during their life. Up to 15% to 20% of all those diagnosed with will die as the result of suicide. These results have been consistent amongst many studies throughout the world. There is always the risk of suicidal thoughts if one is afflicted with bipolar disorder.

These statistics for suicide and suicide attempts are up to four times higher than the average for overall suicides and suicide attempts. They are also higher than for any other form of mental disorder. The statistics clearly indicate that someone afflicted with bipolar disorder needs careful attention. Amongst other reasons this is to ensure they are not entertaining suicidal thoughts. Who is best placed to do the watching? Most often this is their friends and loved ones. This is yet another reason that such people can be so much more valuable to the afflicted person if they understand bipolar disorder.

Recently, I searched an exact sentence on Google. That was "when pain exceeds pain-coping resources, suicidal feelings are the result". There were "about 10,200 results." Given this result it would not be unrealistic to define "suicidal feelings" as being "when pain exceeds pain-coping resources." Accepting the definition stated for suicidal feelings immediately suggests two ways of easing suicidal feelings. These are:

1. to reduce the pain and/or

2. to increase pain-coping resources.

Remembering these two simple steps to reducing suicidal feelings could be very useful. If remembered they could be of great assistance. If you do find yourself in contact with someone who is clearly experiencing suicidal thoughts remember the steps. They could go so far as to save a life. Just knowing that someone is listening to them can go a long way to reducing the pain. Knowing that someone is with them, and willing to help, will increase pain-coping resources for them. This paragraph could be called first-aid for dealing with a suicidal person. For that reason alone it could be well worth remembering the lessons it contains.

I would suggest that even more is needed if you have a friend or relative who is has bipolar disorder. The risks of suicidal thoughts are so much higher than are usually the case. It therefore pays to be even more prepared than usual. When confronted with a life threatening situation anyone can panic. By having a well thought out plan in advance the room for panic is greatly reduced.

The best time to prepare an anti-suicide plan is when then the person inflicted with bipolar disorder is neither high nor low. It is important to involve them in the planning. This shows to them that you really do care. Also, by involving them in the planning, they could react more quickly, and more favorably, if there is ever a need to put it into practice. This is because they could remember the planning and recognize what you are doing on their behalf.

There is one important piece of information to have available at all times. This is the phone number for a respected suicide hotline. In the United States of America the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Most countries outside of the United States of America have a similar hotline available. If your friend or loved one has bipolar disorder make a point of finding out what it is. Once you have done so keep it with you at all times.

What are the key factors in any suicide prevention plan? In fact there are a number of aspects to take into account. However, from my personal experience I once attempted suicide three times within five hours because I was left alone. The key point to learn here is that if you believe someone is suicidal do not leave them alone. Remember, even remaining with them could reduce their pain or increase their pain-coping resources.

There are many resources available to assist with preparing a suicide prevention plan. Many of these are available free online by doing a simple online search. It is well worth while taking the time to prepare a plan together with the person with bipolar disorder. You never know when suicidal thoughts might occur. Having a plan ready could prevent panic. Avoiding panic could save the life of your friend or loved one.

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT), Is It Depression, Anxiety, Immaturity or None of the Above?

The symptoms of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, under arousal, mental fogginess, under activity, and inattention are seen in about 30% to 50% of people with the Inattentive subtype of ADHD. It appears that SCT will earn a place in the soon to be published psychiatric diagnostic manual, the DSM-V. The appearance of SCT in the DSM-V will enable researchers to study people with these types of symptoms more carefully. This is important as very little is known about SCT.

While it is clear that not everybody with the Inattentive subtype of ADHD (ADHD-PI) has SCT, it is unclear if Inattentive ADHD will be separated from the combined type of ADHD (ADHD-C) and Hyperactive/Impulsive type of ADHD (ADHD-HI) in the DSM-V.

Some researchers have speculated that the diagnosis of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) is simply the presentation of Inattentive ADHD in a person who is also depressed. Other researchers have proposed that anxiety can present as under arousal and can look like the symptoms of SCT.

A study performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham by researchers Annie Garner MA, Sylvie Mrug, and Bart Hodgens Ph.D. set out to answer the question of the relationship between SCT and depression and anxiety. The researchers looked at seventy-three children with SCT and administered questionnaires to both the children and their parents inquiring about symptoms of depression and anxiety.

What the researcher found was interesting. They found that there was not relationship between reported anxiety and SCT and no relationship between reported depression and SCT in kids diagnosed with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo. The researchers did find that parents of kids diagnosed with SCT were more likely to report that their children were depressed but not that they were anxious. The researchers were unsure if this was because kids with SCT tend to 'look' depressed or if this was because parents were more aware and knowledgeable of the symptoms of depression.

I have heard of SCT referred to as a disorder that children 'outgrow'. In this context it is a developmental disorder tied to an immaturity of the part of the brain that manages motor and mental arousal levels. Using this model, the Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD child would be at one end of the spectrum and the Sluggish Cognitive Tempo person would be at the other end of the spectrum.

SCT have been referred to as a mood disorder tied to the internalizing behaviors of anxiety and depression often seen in people with Inattentive ADHD. We have discussed this model above. Using this model, the symptoms of "sluggishness" would improve in people diagnosed with SCT if their anxiety and depression was treated.

The third model of SCT is a model that involves a problem with the part of the part of the brain that manages stores, organizes and retrieves information. These activities are called the executive functions of the brain. In general, the executive functions orchestrate numerous aspects of thought, memory, learning, emotion, arousal and action. When SCT is thought of as a problem of executive brain function it fits much more concretely in the ADHD camp.

It is important to determine whether the symptoms of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo are the result of an Executive Function problem as opposed to a problem with immaturity or a problem with a mood disorder as properly treating these symptoms depend on these determinations.

Natural Way of Treating Depression and Anxiety

Suffering from depression? Some doctors prescribed Anti-Depressants, Tranquillizers and Sleeping Tablets in order to treat postnatal depression.

There are caring doctors out there but there are some who over prescribe medications.

These medications that was mentioned earlier are only be used as a last resort in order to treat depression, anxiety, or insomnia, which is already severe like for instance if a person's daily routine are being affected and when his or her problem is no longer responsive with any medication or treatment. But most of the time, people who are suffering with depression or anxiety are being prescribed with such medications which in due time becomes a problem with the patient's health. It can even lead to other complications or problems.

If you are being prescribed with strong medication, after a while since your body get used of strong medication, soon need more and stronger medication. But this could now happen if only health practitioner will spend some of time to listen to the patient's problem and try his or her best to help the patient overcome it problem but that doesn't happen, they rather prescribed drugs for patient's problem.

But the good news is that there are a lot of healthier alternatives that can work well with your depression and anxiety. This article will mention few of these alternatives, so read on.

- Exercise. A lot of people find it hard for them to do this, but you have to bear in mind that this can be helpful to you. Doing regular exercising can make you healthier, it will even increase the good feeling in your body and will boosts your self-esteem, so it will lessen the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. But take this note, it should be done regularly. You can give about half an hour of your day by doing walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, aerobics and so on, as long as it makes you sweat and will increase your heart beat. Actually, if you only carry on, you will find yourself enjoying it already.

- Social Support. When you are depressed, you usually just want to stay at your room and be alone. But you have to bear in mind that loneliness is one of the causes of depression, so better to go out and join groups. You may not want it, but do it anyway; this can be helpful to you. If ever you do not have any group yet, start joining a social circle, you can do it by volunteering on church, sport clubs and so on. You can try out different alternatives, besides there are plenty of social groups that you can join in.

- Talk thing out. Talking about it is one of the most effective ways to relieve your depression and anxiety. You can share your problems than just keeping it all up by yourself. Soon you will find how good it is to b relieved with the problem you have. You can share your problems with family, friends and even with counselor.

- Herbal remedies. There are a lot of herbal remedies out there that you can use to relieve and also prevent your depression, anxiety and stress. The use of herbal remedies can help you with your depression and anxiety naturally, safely and effectively. One of these herbal remedies for depression is relagen. Relagen is a 100% all natural product that efficiently addresses the different and devastating symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

Suboptimal Thyroid Can Cause Weight Gain and Depression

One of Oprah's viewers diagnosed her as having a problem with her thyroid. That was one factor in her constant struggle with weight. Your thyroid is the main hormone of metabolism and it affects your energy, weight, mood, temperature, fertility, menstrual cycles, hair growth, bowel movements, sleep and more. It's a hormone that is sometimes misunderstood and it is suggested that the range of normal be changed. I will shed some light on the symptoms and tests. These are the most common symptoms and is not a complete list:

Symptoms of Overactive Thyroid- Hyperthyroidism

• Rapid heart beat


• Chest pain


• Diarrhea


• Insomnia


• Weight loss


• Irregular menses


• Anxiety


• Feel hot & sweaty

Symptom of Underactive Thyroid - Hypothyroidism

• Weight gain


• Fatigue


• Constipation


• Excess sleep


• Depression


• Dry coarse hair & skin


• Poor memory


• Hair loss


• Muscle pain and weakness


• Feeling cold

These symptoms can overlap with other conditions. You may have one or more of these and should report these to your doctor, have a check up and get laboratory studies to determine if an overactive or underactive thyroid is causing the symptoms. You may find a difference in opinion when it comes to measuring and interpreting thyroid levels. Here are some tests you should be aware of:

Thyroid Tests

• TSH - this is a common screening test and most doctors order this. It is the signal from the pituitary gland in your brain that tells your thyroid to make more hormones. If it is high, it means it is shouting at your thyroid gland to make more hormones because your levels are too low. The common misinterpretation is that high means high thyroid levels and it is actually the opposite.


• New range of normal - The current range of normal for TSH is quite wide 0.5-5. Normal and optimal are not the same. People with symptoms who are on either end of the range, may be considered normal and won't be treated. The American Association of Clinical endocrinology and the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry have recommended changing the range since people who don't have severe symptoms may be suffering and can benefit from treatment. They recommend a range of 0.3-2.5.


• Free versus bound - most hormones are carried through the blood stream by protein carriers. If they are bound to protein, they are inactive. When it comes to thyroid, the free hormone is what counts.


• Free T4 - has 4 iodine molecules, it is a reserve or storage hormone that becomes active when it is converted to the active hormone free T3 by removing one iodine molecule.


• Free T3 - is the active hormone. This conversion can be halted by aging, stress, nutritional deficiencies, trauma, infection, surgery, medications, hormone imbalance and diet. The hormone's actions can also be blocked by thyroid antibodies (Antithyroglobulin or Anti Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibodies) and/or Reverse T3. The standard of care is to measure TSH and free T4 or to calculate free T4, however you can see that there is more to it than that. There also seems to be a subset of people with depression that respond better when a combination of T3 and T4 is given. The most commonly used thyroid replacement medication, synthroid, only has T4 and if you have a problem converting to the active form, it may not feel as effective.


• Reverse T3 - binds to the same receptor as T3 and blocks its actions. If it is too high, even though all of the other lab tests are "normal" you may have symptoms of low thyroid function. The most common causes are stress and hormone imbalance. Anything that interferes with the conversion of free T4 to free T3 can also cause an elevation of reverse T3. The ratio of free T3 to reverse T3 is important. Just think of one as the gas (free T3) and the other the brake (reverse T3). If you are below the midpoint of the range of free T3 you have less gas, and if you are above the midpoint of the range of reverse T3 you have too much braking action.

Hormone balance is complex. It requires a nutritionally balanced diet, hormone balance, stress management and other factors. There may be restrictions on your doctor to do the full battery of thyroid tests. If that is the case, consult an anti aging, metabolic or functional medicine physician to help you get to the root cause of your issues and find a natural approach.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression in Children and Adolescents

Depression is an illness that can affect children and adolescents as well as adults. Although for many years it was never thought that children could become depressed clinicians now realise that even young children, below the age of 5, can suffer from depression. The good news is that depression in children and adolescents is quite treatable, but not if it goes unrecognised by the adults in their lives. In this article I will discuss the common symptoms of depression in children and in adolescents. I will conclude by giving some advice about what to do if you think your child may be depressed.

Depression in Children

It is important for parents, carers and teachers to remember that it is through their behaviour that children communicate with us. Rarely do they come out and say things directly about their emotions or moods. We see them looking sad or angry; we observe them withdrawing from their circle of friends or favourite activities. These little signs are often the first hints we may get that something is wrong with the inner life of the child.

Children who are depressed will sometimes display some of the following symptoms:

- Crying, feeling sad, helpless or hopeless
- Feeling discouraged or worthless
- Loss of interest or pleasure in others or most activities
- Fatigue and loss of energy nearly every day
- Bad temper, irritable, easily annoyed
- Fearful, tense, anxious
- Repeated rejection by other children
- Drop in school performance
- Inability to sit still, fidgeting or pacing
- Repeated emotional outbursts, shouting or complaining
- Doesn't talk to other children
- Repeated physical complaints without medical cause (headaches, stomach aches, aching arm or legs)
- Significant increase or decrease in appetite (not due to appropriate dieting)
- Change in sleep habits
-
Signs that must be taken extremely seriously include:

- Suicidal thoughts, feelings or self-harming behaviour
- Abuse or prolonged use of alcohol or other drugs
- Symptoms of depression combined with strange or unusual behaviour
Depression in Adolescents

Adolescence is a time of turmoil under the best of conditions. The many changes in the body and mind, the challenges of school and family and peers, can all add up to an overwhelming pressure on a teenager. When teens get depressed they are, like younger children, more likely to show us than tell us. Interestingly, one of the first sings of simmering depression in teens is when they complain of being "bored" with activities, school and friends that used to give them pleasure.

Adolescents who are depressed will sometimes exhibit some of the following symptoms,

o Sadness or hopelessness
o Irritability, anger, or hostility
o Tearfulness or frequent crying
o Withdrawal from friends and family
o Loss of interest in activities
o Changes in eating and sleeping habits
o Restlessness and agitation
o Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
o Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
o Fatigue or lack of energy
o Difficulty concentrating
o Thoughts of death or suicide

When depression becomes more severe teenagers will sometimes give away their favourite CD's, video games, or any things they have that are special to them. They will often explain they just don't need them anymore.

When Suicide is becoming a Possibility

Children will often act recklessly, taking risks on the playgroup or the road which are unusual for them. Teenager will often write stories or songs expression unusual interest in the afterlife or death. There signs must be taken seriously.
What to Do?

If you have any reason to think your child or teenager is depressed don't hesitate to contact your GP immediately. Help is only a phone call away. Depression responds well to psychological interventions. My next article will outline some of the more common treatments for depression in children and teens.

4 Easy Steps to Overcoming Depression and Kicking the Winter Blues

Mild depression can be expected during the long, dark winter months, and these 4 easy steps might just be what you need to shake the off the winter blues and lift your spirit. It's normal to have highs and lows; because we are human, everybody gets them. Nobody is immune, even rich people get the blues sometimes. The good news is that it can be beaten. Try applying a few of these easy steps to help eliminate the symptoms of your depression before it gets worse and you need outside help. Not acknowledging the early signs of depression will take its toll on you, your family and your life in general.

Just Go With The Flow And Enjoy The Ride:

• Step 1. Although at the time things might seem bleak and never-ending, try sitting back and enjoying the ride, accept that it won't last forever. This doesn't mean that being depressed is a good thing or that it should be something to enjoy, but accepting that it is just a natural part of life. Life is full of "ups" and "downs" and at times will feel like a roller coaster ride. Every once in a while you will have a dip, but it won't be too long before you are on the up again. Take it for what it is, just a little bump in the road, a low spot, but most importantly don't exaggerate it and make it bigger than it really is.

Get Active And Start Moving:

Sometimes what can make a depressed situation seem worse is sitting around and dwelling on it. The more focus you put on it, the worse the situation becomes. It's as if it grows, getting bigger and bigger until it's too heavy to carry, that's when depression starts to creep in. A great way to stop the depressive cycle is to shift your focus and energy, do something active that will preoccupy you. Try doing something that takes you out of your current environment and away from your situation.

• Step 2. Get back to nature and go for a run or simply a leisurely walk, maybe take your camera and absorb yourself in the beauty that surrounds you. Exercise is a great way to shift your focus and at the same time can eliminate stress; anxiety and depression. So why not join your local gym or participate in a team sport. Not only will you start to feel better as your body starts to produce "happy" chemicals, you will also start to develop new relationships and perspectives. Go see a friend, have lunch or arrange a trip to the cinema. If you fancy some quiet time how about going to the library and finding a book, choose something that has nothing whatsoever to do with what is going on in your life right now. Try leaving your troubles behind, even if it is only for a few hours.

Let It All Out, It's OK To Cry!

• Step 3. The great thing about crying is it can be done anytime, anyplace and anywhere, you don't even need permission to do it! Do what you have to do to let go of all that negative emotion, it can be very therapeutic and cleansing. Once you have released all that frustration and anger you will be able to see things with from a different point of view, it will allow you to come to grips with whatever it was that depressed you in the first place. It doesn't matter how old or tough you are, crying should NEVER be seen as a weakness, but a strength.

Fix Your Attention Onto Something Else:

• Step 4. This is another great way to distract you and can be done with very little effort on your part. Pick something in your surroundings and describe it in detail, maybe it's the pattern in the carpet, a picture on the wall, or even a view from the window. Then shift your focus onto another object or area and describe that. Find at least 3 things that you never noticed about the carpet, the picture or the view. How many tiles are there on the wall, follow the grain in the wooden flooring and look for patterns. Get creative with crayons, colouring pencils or paints and create your own patterns. This will help to calm your mind and relax body.

These methods are simple and can easily be applied, try them when you first start feeling low or a bit depressed. If these feelings persist for more than two weeks, then you may need to seek professional help. Before it gets to that point, though, try these 4 easy steps and kick those winter blues right out of the door!

Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder - 3 Powerful Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder

When it comes to mental illness, there's little more devastating to your life than major depressive disorder. 1 in 5 Americans have suffered depression at some point in their life, but they've found ways to cure it. Here are some very powerful treatments for major depressive disorder:

Psychotherapy

This involves meeting with a licensed medical expert to find out the underlying reason for your depression whether it's caused by surrounding influences, heredity or a chemical imbalance. With a doctor's help you may be able to help identify ideas and situations which help contribute to feelings of depression.

Anti-depressants

Drugs such as popular brand names like Zoloft and Prozac. These drugs attempt to help depression sufferers by trying to normalize chemical imbalances in individuals. Antidepressants are fairly efficient at helping to alleviate mood disorders, however most users report dependence and eventual addiction to the powerful stimulants.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Also known as "electroshock therapy" in the 60's, this form of therapy involves being put under heavy anesthetics while an electrical current is sent through a patient's brain, using several electrodes connected through the temple. This electrical current causes a seizure in patients, which generally lasts from anywhere between 30 seconds to one minute.

The result is a number of changes in brain waves, and possibly alleviation of depression. As the patient awakens, short term side effects are: temporary confusion, nausea, headaches and muscle stiffness.

This type of therapy is still under scrutiny as the long-term side effects on the brain are still unclear but it is said to induce memory loss in certain patients.