Depression and Homeopathy

Depression is a medical disorder which affects the thoughts, moods, feelings, behavior of a person it can also affect the physical health. There can be various factors like loss of close people, stressful life situations, difficulty in adaptation to the surroundings which can trigger depression.

In certain cases depression might occur spontaneously without any specific cause. In some cases the depression can be due to some organic brain diseases or a space occupying lesion (tumor) in the brain.

Signs and symptoms:

o Depressed mood The person feels Sad, Weeping spells, Hopeless and Helpless feeling

o Loss of interest in the daily activities that the person enjoyed

The above two symptoms are the most important symptoms in diagnosing depression.

Besides these most of the following symptoms should be present for more then 2 weeks to diagnose a case of depression:

o Sleep disturbances

o Impaired thinking or concentration

o Changes in weight

o Agitation

o Fatigue or slowing of body movements

o Low self-esteem

o Less interest in sex.

o Thoughts of death.

Types of Depression

Major depression or clinical depression:

1. Depressed mood, feeling of worthlessness, guilt.

2. Behavioral symptoms include agitation and social withdrawal

3. Difficulty in concentration and decision making

4. Sleeplessness (Insomnia) Too much sleeping (Hypersomnia)

Dysthymia

It is a chronic form of depression in this the person might be free from the symptoms for a period of time and this will alternate with a state of depression. It is a less severe form of depression but it also places the person in the increased risk to suffer from major depression.

Adjustment disorders

This can happen when one losses a close person or a close relative or loss of job one becomes overwhelmed by this. This is a normal process and with passage of time one comes to terms with the loss.

But if the person is unable to come to terms with the loss and he/she develops the signs of depression then it is termed as adjustment disorders. It can be acute if it lasts for less then 6months and chronic if it lasts for more then this period.

Bipolar depression or manic depression disorder

The person suffers from recurrent episodes of elation (mania) and depression is a characteristic symptom of bipolar depression. The person when he/she is in the manic phase will affect the judgment of the person and it might also have periods when the person has increased creativity in his work.

In this type of depression there is a swing of moods to the extremes (poles) that's why it is termed as bipolar depression or manic depressive disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder

It is a pattern of depression related to the changes in season and a lack of exposure to the sunlight.

Causes:

o Heredity

o Stress

o Medications

o Illnesses

o Personality

o Postpartum depression

o Hormones

o Alcohol, nicotine and drug abuse

Diagnosis

It is diagnosed on the basis of the signs and symptoms that are present. Also your physician will do the physical examination to rule out any other abnormality that mimics depression.
If the person is having strong suicidal tendencies then he/she might have to be admitted to the hospital for observation.

Complications:

o Suicide

o Dependency

Role of homeopathy in the treatment of Depression

The first question that comes to the mind is how these Homeopathic medicines are going to help in fighting the disease. As we all know in a diseased state the internal bodily mechanisms do not work in a harmonious way. So to bring back the lost harmony to its original balanced state the correct Homeopathic medicine has to be given.

The homeopathic medicine acts at 3 levels the Psyche, Neuro, Endocrines at the level of the psyche it helps to bring balance which in turn will affect the neurological balance and the correct secretion of the hormones which play an important role in maintaining the harmonious flow. The homeopathic medicines do not treat the disease but it helps in bringing back the lost imbalance back to its normal state.

To find the correct Homeopathic remedy one needs a complete case study so all the aspects of the emotional nature, Fears, Social relations, family relations, ups and downs in life have to be taken into consideration. Also the past history, problems in adjusting, Family history of any major illnesses have to be mentioned.

What has caused the present state is very important and how the person has reacted to it will be very useful. We will consider few remedies in brief and how they will be represented in the depressed state.

In Digitalis

There is depression; sadness melancholy after love disappointment. The patient develops pain in the heart and is sleepless due to this. He is low spirited.

In Natrum.muriaticum the classic medicine we all know which is very useful in ailments coming on after love disappointment.The patient will brood over the events again and again and cannot forget it even after years have passed. The Natrum.mur patient will cry when alone and consolation aggravates all the complaints.

I will narrate a case in brief which will tell how deep a role the emotions play the patient had been referred to me by a colleague as the patient was not responding to the medicines
The patient has developed multiple uterine fibroids and she has severe pain due to them.

It took me over an hour to get the correct information the lady was very hesitant to divulge this information she is a married lady for over 30 years but she is unable to forget her first love affair which was broken.

She said she is very sad and cries when she is alone, she loves music and she just cannot forget the affair and it makes her miserable and also she feels guilty about it. This is a brief information we confirmed the other points and prescribed her Natrum.muriaticum 200c 1 dose. The result the patient never came back to me. After a months time I go a call from the doctor who had referred the case to me.

She told after that dose the pain had disappeared and the sonography showed regression in the fibroids. I asked why the patient didn't report back. I was told she felt embarrassed as what I will think about her. But I was very happy to solve the case.

So what I want to stress on is finding the "Cause" what has led to the problem in most of the cases if we are able to develop the rapport with the patient they will express as it is told by Doctor Pierce Schmidt we have to find where the shoe pinches. This will help us in finding the right remedy and also we can offer solution.

The other important remedy is Ignatia.amara the complaints come on after a loss of close person or love disappointment.The "Sighing" in this remedy is so marked that it is impossible to miss this remedy. The patient is silent complaints coming on after emotional shock. The patient is non communicative will sit silently will brood and weep.

The depression of Aurum is extreme there is loathing of life, no desire to live, Suicidal disposition, and constant thoughts of suicide. There is also marked fear of death.

Depression can be treated with Homeopathy but a correct case history and perceiving the patient is very vital. Along with treatment the patient also will need counseling which should be provided as per the requirement. While handling patients with strong suicidal tendencies it is the responsibility of the treating physician to talk about the state to the parents or the care giver.

Depression And How To Dig Yourself Out Of It With Hypnosis

Some people call it the 'pits' and some people call it the 'blues' and some call it 'feeling down in the dumps'. But whatever you may call it, depression is a horrible feeling that you do not need to live with.

The most common types of depression are:

Major Depression, which is characterized by a sad mood, Insomnia, and a decreased or absent appetite. Often when a person is in a state of major depression, the person feels an utter lack of motivation and drive and the sufferer does not want to participate in life. Some people are severely disabled by depression, and some individuals even consider suicide.

Dysthymia: This is a less severe type of long-term depression that typically does not completely disable the individual. But it keeps the person from feeling motivated and functioning at optimum levels. Sometimes people who are struggling with Dysthymia are also afflicted with Major Depression, and when this occurs it is called double-depression.

Manic Depression is also known as Bipolar Disorder. This type of depression is less common than the first two. It involves phases of the Manic state, alternated with the depressed state. This is often a long-term recurring disorder. Sometimes the mood swings occur suddenly. But generally speaking, they tend to be gradual.

There are a number of variations of depression; the types described here are only the most common.

Some symptoms of depression include:

Sadness; anxiety; pessimism; insomnia and sleep disorders; feelings of worthlessness; guilt; restlessness; pain; fatigue; weight loss; headaches; and thoughts of suicide.

Sources of Depression:

As previously stated, there are several types of depression: Major Depression; Manic Depression; and Dysthymia being three of the more common forms.

Many types of depression are linked to genetics. Living in a stressful environment can precipitate a depression. A traumatic experience such as a serious loss, relationship problems, or financial trouble can also lead to depression.

Women are twice as likely to become depressed as men are, but we do not yet know why.

If you suffer from depression, you will want to seek the advice of your physician. He may prescribe drugs for you. But you should keep in mind that every medication causes side effects.

Wouldn't it be amazing if you could regulate and eliminate your depression just by having certain thoughts? I know that this sounds too good to be true, but quite often, various types of depression are simply caused by having negative thoughts.

Don't believe me? Then try it out! It's really quite simple and basic. Just use your imagination to think about something that you find very sad or troubling. Go ahead, think about it right now! Then return to this article.

So, what happened? If you really got into it and visualized the sad situation, you began to feel unhappy and a little depressed. The longer you allow yourself to stay in that pattern of thought, the sadder you will feel. As you continue having those thoughts and continue feeling sadder, you lead yourself into a gradually intensifying depression.

The good news is that if you think about a positive memory, then you will supplant that depression and sadness and have happy feelings instead.

Please pay careful attention now, because here are the keys to eliminating your depression: Our persistent thoughts emerge from the unconscious mind. These are the thoughts that we find ourselves involuntarily thinking about throughout the day.

If the persistent thoughts that are continually popping into your mind are about your sad experiences or problems, then you raise your levels of anxiety, stress, and depression.

Now here is the 'Light at the end of the tunnel': Since hypnosis can be used to alter our unconscious thoughts, NLP and self hypnosis stress management CDs can rapidly change the way that you feel, think, and behave. The beauty here is that the same techniques that are effective for stress management also work as well for eliminating depression!

Now I will tell you exactly why and how it's going to happen. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind. Specifically, it's the Alpha state of consciousness. We pass through the Alpha state as we fall asleep at night. And we pass through it once more as we wake up in the morning. We also enter the Alpha state when we are imagining and daydreaming.

The unconscious mind is the seat of our emotions, and it's similar to a computer; the input controls the output! Hypnotherapy is an excellent tool for reaching directly into the unconscious mind and reprogramming it to automatically divert you away from negative thinking, and towards positive thinking. It's a tool that allows you to bypass the consciousness to create positive expectations, which will in turn generate positive feelings. You can beat your depression by using hypnosis therapy.

Bio Chemical Causes of Depression

Depression can be caused by Genetic factors, bio-chemical deficiencies or for environmental reasons.

This article will cover the basics of Bio-chemical depression. Bio chemical depression can be attributed to a lack of brain chemicals, amino acids and nutrients. Bio-chemical depression has characteristics that distinguish it from other the other forms of depression, such as genetic or environmental, although these can contribute to the problem.

The typical characteristics of bio-chemical depression:

1. Feeling bad, having negative thoughts or emotions that are difficult or impossible to get out of your mind, feeling anxious or worried, and having symptoms of depression despite changes in your life.

A good questing to ask of yourself is: Do the symptoms seem to have no common root and seem as if you have always had them?

2. Have you attempted counseling in one form or another? Have you spent hours in therapy without getting better? Are you angry all the time and have no clear answer as to why.

3. You come home one day and learn you've won the lottery. You still feel depressed. All kidding aside, do positive changes in your life still leave you feeling depressed and bad.,

4. Do you wake early in the morning, and can not get back to sleep.

5. Nothing in your past memories identifies the starting point or the trigger for your depressed state.

6. Mood swings.

The common forms of biochemically induced depression are:

1. neurotransmitter depletion This is caused by imbalances in one of two amino acids: norepinephrine or serotonin. Norepinephrine and serotonin have other responsibilities to your body but when they are at adequate levels they do prevent depression.

2. Abnormal levels of triglycerides and cholesterol Low levels of both these substances in the brain can lead to depression. Exercise and changes in diet such as adding foods high in the fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6 are important factors for balancing your fatty acid levels. Fish are a great source for both Omega 3 and Omega 6. Other simple changes in diet that can help, limit your intake of man-made fatty acids: mayonnaise, french fries, chips, and cookies.

3. Thyroid disease or imbalances.

4. Drinking or eating high levels of sugar or caffeine can cause hypoglycemia. Slow down on the soda. Drink one pot instead of two pots of coffee and limit your intake. But, don't quit cold turkey. Cut back slowly.

5. Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin deficiencies that can trigger depression are vitamin deficiencies of B-1, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-12 and folic acid, and mineral deficiencies that cause depression are deficiencies in magnesium, calcium. zinc, iron, manganese and potassium.

Depression isn't a sign of weakness. It is an illness. It is treatable and the good feelings will return. Be patient and learn. Knowing where to begin is critical for getting the proper treatment, the best treatment and recovery.

For example, if your depression is based on environmental factors, divorce, job loss or a death, then counseling may help. Whereas if you're genetically predisposed to depression, maybe you're bi-polar. Then getting medical help, a prescription, along with lifestyle changes will be necessary.

Be active in your treatment. Be involved. Know your symptoms and become knowledgeable. Participate in your diagnosis and recovery.

Understand the Symptoms of the Most Common Hormonal Imbalances

Many couples or individuals fight one another, because there is a common misperception that any disagreement is often caused by some form of hormonal problem. Most individuals simply dismiss it as a mood change or a form of agitation, yet when real hormonal imbalance is present it can cause many side effects which are incredibly uncomfortable for both men and women. When most individuals look at the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, there is a general misunderstanding of hormones and how they impact your body and state of mind.

When it comes to hormonal imbalances it is important you take the time to identify the specific hormones which may be impacting you so you can take advantage of opportunities like bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. When it comes to hormonal imbalances in women, the most common culprits can be found with estrogen, progesterone and androgens. The following identifies the common symptoms of each of these imbalances to help educate the public -

Estrogen

High Levels: Experiencing higher levels of estrogen are often a very common ailment of hormonal imbalance experienced by women over the age of 35. You are experiencing the condition known as estrogen dominance, which common symptoms can be found with PMS, migraines, cramps, depression, unexpected weight gain, low sex drive and mood swings.

Low Levels: The symptoms related to low levels of estrogen production are most often associated with women who are currently experiencing menopause. With this form of hormonal imbalance you will discover that mood is significantly impacted as well as symptoms including fatigue, hot flashes, memory lapses, joint pain and arthritis. Many women have found opportunities like bioidentical hormone replacement therapy have significantly impacted their imbalances to help relieve these symptoms.

Progesterone

High Levels: This hormone is produced by the ovaries and women utilizing birth control pills or taking advantage of menopausal hormone replacement therapy experience symptoms of this hormonal imbalance. The symptoms include breast tenderness, feeling bloated, mood swings, and dizziness.

Low Levels: On many occasions finding low levels of progesterone is a result of having higher estrogen levels and can produce negative symptoms including infertility, depression, thyroid dysfunction, waking, low blood sugar and water retention.

Androgens

High Levels: Androgens are utilized to help produce estrogen and when treated, they can come with many serious health consequences that will influence organs. Without treatment high levels can cause insulin resistance, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Seeking resources like bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can address this life-threatening hormonal imbalance.

Low Levels: Lower levels of androgens can also cause complications and have been linked to bone loss with symptoms including a reduced sense of well-being, vaginal dryness, fatigue, and a low libido.

Each of these imbalances has negative side effects which can significantly impact a person's quality of life.

How Mania In Bipolar Patients Affects Decision Making

Bipolar illness is a disease that millions of Americans suffer in varying degrees. One of the things that many of them have in common is the effect that mania can have on their decision making.

The common theme in the lives of people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disease is the dizzying shift from depression to mania and back to depression again. While in the depression stage, those affected can get so far emotionally down on themselves that they may seriously consider, or even attempt, suicide. Conversely, when they are in the mania stage, they may feel so invulnerable and upbeat that they feel that they can do no wrong. And it is this sort of supernatural confidence that gets many of them into trouble.

The prefrontal lobe is the portion of the brain that is primarily responsible for cognitive behavior and decision making. When we are born, of course, this part of the brain is not fully developed. In fact, in the average person, it doesn't really begin to develop until sometimes in their adolescence. This, in part, helps to explain some of the erratic and unfathomable decision making on the part of children. Without a fully functioning prefrontal lobe, we cannot visualize the future impact of our actions.

In a person with bipolar, if they are in their depression phase, this part of the brain is functioning OK. However, if they are in the midst of a severe mania phase, it is as though someone shut off their prefrontal lobe with a switch. In other words, they really cannot accurately evaluate the future consequence of their actions.

This is the state of mind that could lead someone to, in a spur of the moment decision, cash in the thousands of dollars in their 401k plan to spend on a half thought out multi-level marketing plan. Or, it might lead someone to suddenly quit their accounting job and fly out to the west coast to fulfill their long held dreams of being an actor.

Being in this state of mind is like having no control switch in your brain to stop you from making impulsive decisions that could end up hurting you and your family.

So, if you have bipolar, is there any way to avoid following through on a questionable mode of action when in your mania phase?

Fortunately there is. It starts with fully realizing that you are susceptible to these kinds of emotions when experiencing mania. It also helps to learn to consciously identify when you are in the midst of a mania episode. And, lastly, let your friends and family know of the symptoms so that they can help you to put on the brakes when they recognize these symptoms in you.

PMS Signs and Symptoms and How to Overcome Them

The signs and symptoms of PMS or premenstrual syndrome varies considerably from one woman to another, because they are influenced by the person's diet, lifestyle and mental attitude. One symptom may be problematic to one woman, but it may not be experienced at all by another. In addition, the levels of severity can be different from one month to the next.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of PMS:

1. Fatigue

This is the most common symptom in women who are suffering from this condition. There is the sense of being restless and uninterested in executing any activity, mainly because these women feel totally drained. Although they may have done little to make them feel this way, their life force seems to have been taken from them.

2. Anger and anxiety

During this time women are being controlled by their hormones and emotions can be at a high level. There is annoyance over the slightest thing, causing a need to argue about anything and become uncharacteristically irate.

3. Irritability

Women with PMS generally are easily aggravated for no specific reason. There is a feeling of being disturbed and unexplainably upset. Tempers can become uncontrollable and normal everyday problems are blown out of proportion. Sufferers can sometimes hear themselves saying unusual things, but still are unable to correct this even when they know you are being unfair.

4. Difficulty in focus

During these times, women tend to have a hard time concentrating on any particular task. Completion of one single activity seems impossible because there is a feeling of detachment from the real person and thoughts tend to be jumbled and confusion sets in.

5. Troubled sleeping patterns

There is a tendency to oversleep, and conversely there may be times when it hard to fall asleep. Sleep patterns becomes extremely disturbed and erratic. This causes tiredness during the daytime and without a proper night's restful sleep, it is difficult to be positive about anything.

6. Depression

Some women find it hard to understand how they truly feel. They usually have significant feelings of sadness for no apparent reason. This has a lot to do with hormone levels that are in limbo during the premenstrual syndrome period. Sometimes they find themselves crying for no reason at all and they feel uninterested in things that usually cheer them up, resulting in everything appearing black, gloomy and negative.

7. Headaches

Women who suffer from PMS usually complain about headaches that last for a certain period of time. This may also lead to other symptoms such as irritability and mood swings because they are physically uncomfortable.

8. Food cravings

No, there is nothing wrong with their taste buds. Their appetite just becomes bigger than usual and typically they are attracted to sweet confectionery or chocolate and sweet or salty foods during these times. Again this hormonal imbalance causes cravings, which doesn't make them feel satisfied even after eating them.

9. Fluid retention

During PMS, women tend to feel bloated especially on body areas such as the hands, abdomen, and lower extremities. There might also have been some slight weight gain. This is mainly due to fluid retention that is often caused by high salt levels in the body which normally happens in women experiencing premenstrual syndrome. Some women can even have problems for a day or two finding any clothes that are comfortable to wear. Their stomach swells and can even require clothes of a higher dress size.

10. Mood swings

This coincides with depression and is caused by a sudden change in hormone levels. Some women feel extremely happy at one moment then upset a little while later. There is no need to worry too much when this happens. This is not a sign of oncoming madness. It is a normal symptom during PMS because the hormones are in a heightened level of dysfunction and it puts the emotions into chaos.

11. Physical Discomfort

During PMS, joint pain and backaches are common, but the most prevalent physical worry is abdominal cramps. Pain relief may be achieved through application of warm compresses and ample amounts of rest.

This unbelievable list of possible PMS symptoms can certainly be debilitating, and are purely all due to the effects of hormone imbalance. A change of diet to more healthy foods, and also concentrating on eating more foods which naturally contain vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc and natural phytoestrogens, amazingly will cause most of the symptoms to disappear. An increase in the intake of essential fatty acids in the diet and more regular exercise will also help tremendously.

Followers of these simple guidelines soon realize that all the pain, discomfort and disruption in their lives could have been avoided long ago if they had only known the real reason for their monthly problems was nutritional deficiencies.

Add to Your Knowledge Stress Management Strategies

Add to your knowledge Stress Management Strategies

Do you believe that God put us here on this earth to stress?

So, what is stress? Stress according to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language is a mentally or emotionally disruptive or disquieting influence; distress.

You see, our minds react to information received about a situation from our senses. When the mind perceives a threat, it activates a response and equips the body to proceed with that course of action. It can occur in an instant, often before we are conscious of the threat. The mind shifts into gear to deal with the threat so that it may restore us back to our stress free state. If we believe that we do not have control of the situation then we may experience anxiety or panic attacks.

Depression is bound by the works of God. Depression is not happy

Understanding how to relax your mind can help add days to your life. Learn how to refocus your thoughts to that place of refuge when your thoughts come from a coward; it can and will bring peace to your situation. Recognize the power that you have over these mentally or emotionally disruptive or disquieting influences by allowing yourself time to meditate each day and make peace of mind your first priority. Regular exercise, meditation, progressive relaxation, deep breathing and yoga are excellent ways of managing stress in your life especially for those who are at high risk for heart irregularities.

Managing stress can help reduce the development of serious physical conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, stomach problems and even cancer. It can also help to overcome psychological issues such as clinical depression, anxiety and panic disorders.

In a recent article, I read where this person would make the sound of the ocean with their breath. Whenever they focused on their breath, it would calm them to make that deep, resonant whisper sound the way they were taught in yoga class. They would direct their breath at the back of their throat, and listen to the sound of the force and power of their own breathing, there inside their head. They went on to say however, that breathing will only get you so far.

There are many different ways of applying stress management strategies to your life and you will find that each person has their own special way of managing stress. For example, if you are experiencing mild stress, you can drink herbal tea. Some health food stores carry tea that provide herbal stress relief and you may be able to find them available in capsule form as well. Keep in mind however, it is best to consult a doctor before taking any herbal medication especially if you are taking prescription medicines for other ailments; there are some herbs that you should not drink or eat as they may cause a harmful interaction with each other. It has been noted that herbal remedies are more effective when you have a healthy diet, regular exercise and complete rest. And remember to smile. Smiling works wonders.