A New Approach For Treating Depression

The one thing I hate more than "self-help advice" is when I hear myself giving it to others. But sometimes it just seems important, so here goes...

I was recently talking to a person about their long history of depression. They had suffered from depressive episodes for many years and had contemplated suicide along the way. Medication of varying sorts had been prescribed at various points by various doctors. Sometimes the pills worked and made a bit of a difference and sometimes they made things ten times worse, but nothing had ever really helped. The person that was talking to me feared that the episodes would just get worse and worse until they were unable to cope.

As well as depression the person was also aware that their life was gradually getting smaller and smaller; friends had drifted away and the few family members they had kept in contact with had also moved away. They spent most of their spare time alone, and as they were self-employed only had their own company at work as well. It sounded a very bleak existence with little human contact.

The longer they talked the louder the voice in my head kept repeating the name "Harry Stack Sullivan". It wasn't a real voice in my head (although it would have been highly appropriate name to hear as amongst other things Harry Stack Sullivan achieved ground breaking work understanding Schizophrenia).

The reason I kept thinking of, who I like to refer to as "The Great Man", was because of his revolutionary view of depression and other mental health related issues. The Great Man was the first to suggest that mental health was intrinsically linked to our interpersonal relationships. That depression, for example, was not a product of a faulty personality or a mysterious clinical syndrome, or as he so poetically put it, the product of "unburied shards of a tragic childhood", but simply a product of something going wrong, or having gone wrong, with our interpersonal relationships.

It's a fairly radical theory now, let alone when he first published it back in the first part of the last century. It's certainly an important idea that is still covered in many psychology degree programs around the world.

As the person who was talking to me recounted their life it became impossible to distinguish between their feelings of depression and their acute loneliness and isolation. The more they talked the more it became apparent that both issues were inter-twined. The more impoverished the interpersonal relationships became the more they became depressed, until it became a vicious circle both feeding from each other.

Often The Great Man's theories do not transpose easily into real life but this could have come straight from one of his text books. I'm also happy to report that the person I refer to has made some important changes and is slowly but surely reconstructing their life to minimize the recurrence of depression.

So, in the spirit of "self-help advice", which, bear in mind I hate, I do think it worth having a look at the quality of our relationships next time we are feeling down and depressed. It sounds obvious, but according to The Great Man it is literally at the root of all evil.

Alex Gunn from The Life Change People invites you to find out how people are overcoming depression and making amazing changes in their lives http://thelifechangepeople.com/read-my-story/153-elizabeths-story

Find out about our award winning programme; how it can help overcome depression and change peoples lives at http://thelifechangepeople.com/news-and-reviews/news/69-10-ways-to-beat-mid-life-depression

View the original article here

Feeling Down? Saddle Up

Depression can be debilitating. It can come out of no where and kick you from behind. Knocking you down for the count. Some people can't even manage to get out of bed when they are depressed. Have you suffered from depression before? Most people have been plagued with depression at some point in their life. New research is showing that horses can help lift your mood and get you on the road to recovery.

People with depression often have trouble focusing on the present instead of past/future events. Interestingly, being in the presence of a horse can help with this. Horses are prey animals and their survival depends on reading body language of the herd for potential dangers. When you interact with a horse you join their herd. Quickly they will begin reading your body language. So, if you are agitated, distracted or aggressive the horse will pick up this behavior and mirror it back to you. Instant feedback from the horse will guide your mood and behavior very quickly. A simple thirty minute connection with a horse can change your mood for hours.

This instant connection and having the horse accept you into it's herd can also alleviate many other symptoms of depression such as feeling lonely, isolated and misunderstood. You won't have the exhausting task of explaining anything to anyone or acting in a way you don't feel. Horses accept you for who you are as long as you are calm, peaceful and mindful. This can be comforting to a depression sufferer when it seems impossible to even smile. In addition, being accepted for who you are encourages healing. Horses have an ability to break through emotional walls and melt away facades, leaving you with a feeling of a whole new you!

Just being on the ground and grooming a horse has all of these positive effects but riding is an even better way to battle depression. Riding is physically strenuous for the core of your body. This physical activity wakes your body and will encourage it to release feel good endorphins after the exertion. Not only will you be releasing endorphins and getting fit, you will also be able to connect with nature.

Winston Churchill said, "there is something about the inside of a horse that is good for the inside of man". This quote couldn't be any more accurate. If you suffer from depression, this may be an option for you. Check out local horseback riding stables and take advantage of the positive effects horses can offer.

View the original article here

Signs and Symptoms of Depression You Should Know About

Depression can be a very debilitating disorder, and is commonly overlooked as something minor. There are many aspects of life that depression affects, including social life, work life and well-being. Many people try to tell someone dealing with depression to just snap out of it, or force your way to do something. However, things just aren't that simple when you're dealing with clinical depression. At some point in time in everybody's life they will experience depression, but clinical depression is much different, and it is something that stays with you throughout your life. For people who don't have clinical depression it can be hard to understand exactly what the person is going through.

The following are some common signs and symptoms of depression:

Changes in your thinking: often times someone who is dealing with depression will find that their thinking patterns have changed. You may also find that it is harder for you to concentrate or focus on anything. Decision-making can often times become more difficult simply because you don't care anymore.

Changes in your feelings: when you're in the midst of depression your feelings will often change, you may notice that the biggest change would be in the way of feeling very sad all the time. You may also notice that things that once used to bring you pleasure have stopped doing so.

Changes in your behaviors: you may also notice changes in your behaviors during periods of depression. One of the major changes you may notice is that you start to seclude yourself more often. Entering into a state of seclusion for long periods of times can be very damaging to both your mental and emotional health. You may also notice changes in your appetite whether it be eating more or eating less, as well as a change in your sleep which could be sleeping more or sleeping less. You might also notice a decrease in personal hygiene and a decrease in your sexual drive.

Changes in physical well-being: you might start to notice that you are having a problem with chronic fatigue even though you're getting more sleep than usual. You may also find that you lay awake and are not able to fall asleep at all. There are also times that you may feel physical pains, such as stomach pains, and aches and pains in your neck, shoulders and back.

These are only a few symptoms that someone with depression may be experiencing, there are many more signs and symptoms that you can go in-depth with that are not mentioned here. If you are having any of these signs or symptoms that are lasting for more than two weeks it is advisable to seek out professional help. If you know someone who is experiencing these symptoms it may be in the person's best interests that you recommend the person seek out professional help. This is just a general overview of symptoms of depression there is so much more to learn and understand about depression.

For more information on depression visit my blog Life With Depression

View the original article here

Post-Partum Depression And How To Recognise It

Postpartum Depression is a depressive disorder experienced by some women following childbirth. It is not fully known what causes this disorder, postpartum depression can affect any woman not just those who are predisposed to depressive disorders and just because a woman suffers depression after childbirth does not mean she will go on to have a depressive illness later in life. There are different types or stages of postpartum depression ranging from the mild baby blues feeling to the more serious disorder of psychosis. It is rare for a woman to suffer psychosis with research showing that less than 2 women out of a thousand have this diagnosis.

Symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to other depressive disorders and can also include symptoms of anxiety and panic. In some sufferers the depression will lift within a couple of months of giving birth whilst in others it may remain longer term and require treatment. Postpartum depression can be effectively treated with therapy such as counselling or one of the newer talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, more severe cases will respond to an anti-depressive medication. A combination of therapy and medication may also be used. The first port of call for a woman suffering this disorder should be their family doctor who will if necessary refer then on to a specialist in this type of disorder such as a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Here are some of the symptoms to look out for if you feel you or someone you know may be suffering from postpartum depression:

· Feelings of sadness and being tearful

· Unable to concentrate on normal activities

· Feeling tense or anxious most of the time

· Feeling irritable or short tempered

· Feeling uncomfortable being alone with the baby

· Extreme worry and fear maybe leading to panic episodes

· Palpitations, dizziness and feeling short of breath - probably panic relate

· Repetitive behaviour similar to that experienced by sufferers of obsessive compulsive disorder

Some more serious symptoms which would require immediate help would be:
HallucinationsThoughts of self harm or harming the babyDelirium

It is important to remember that you are not alone and that many mothers go through this, it is not something to feel guilty about or something you feel you must try and hide from your partner or family and friends. You will need their support during this time and they will be understanding of your situation.

© Andrew Tudor Jones

Andrew Tudor Jones is the owner of Self Help For Anxiety, a website dedicated to helping people who suffer from anxiety and depression. The website offers valuable information on these conditions as well as 2 e-books which can be downloaded for free and a Blog,updated on a regular basis with relevant information. You can connect with Andrew on Facebook.

View the original article here

What Every Pregnant Woman Needs To Know About Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is any moderate to severe depression that develops in a woman following the birth of a child. It can develop shortly after the birth has occurred or it can sometimes take as long as one year to manifest. It most often develops within the first three months following the baby's birth.

What Are Some Of The Causes Of Postpartum Depression

Most women experience some mood changes while they are pregnant. This is entirely normal. These mood can become pronounced just after a baby has been delivered and are most mostly related to fluctuations in hormone levels. It is important to know, however, other, non-hormonal issues can also affect a woman's mood after she has had a baby. These include things such as differences to the way in which she perceives her body image, changes in her work and/or social relationships, the often extended sleep disturbances she is experiencing because of middle of the night feedings and the experience of having significantly less time to devote to herself on a daily basis. Some women experience worry a great deal about how they will perform or function as a new mother and this can lead to serious increases in anxiety levels.

In the past, women who had these kind of feelings were said to be having "baby blues" and their feelings usually resolved themselves within a few months. It is when feelings like this persist that they move into the

These kinds of feelings were once described as "baby blues" and usually resolve themselves within a relatively short period of time without the need for any treatment.

It is when they persist for a period of more than about three months that they move into the domain of postpartum depression.

Risk Factors For Postpartum Depression

There are several known risk factors for postpartum depression and they are:

• Being younger than age 20 when the first baby is delivered;

• Alcohol or drug abuse or smoking cigarettes'

• A previous incident of depression or a previous diagnosis of bipolar or anxiety disorder;

• Having a high-risk pregnancy or a difficult delivery

• Having a close family member with either an anxiety disorder or a depressive illness;

• Having a poor relationship with their significant other or

• Having serious financial issues that are unremitting

The Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression Mimic Those Of Major Depression

The symptoms of postpartum depression are very closely related to those of a major depression. Most women who are experiencing postpartum depression feel very sad and can not explain why. Some women might become very agitated and irritable. Still others experience severe disruptions to their appetite. Other women report feeling extreme guilt or a sense of worthlessness and stop being able to take pleasure in things that used to interest them a great deal in the past. Other women report trouble with their concentration or problems with their sleep patterns that are not related to their new infant. Other women begin to experience very negative feelings toward their new baby or might even begin to think about suicide or death.

There are not diagnostic tests that can be run in order to determine if a woman is suffering from postpartum depression. If you know of someone who is reporting feelings like this, a visit to her family doctor or obstetrician is necessary. The doctor may administer something called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale which is an extremely accurate test that screens for depression in general.

There Are Many Different Ways To Treat Postpartum Depression

A new mother that is suffering from symptoms that may be postpartum depression should seek help as quickly as possible. It is important to know that she need not suffer in silence. Help is available and relatively easy to come by. There are some measures she can take before help arrives and these include:

• Getting as much rest as possible, sleeping when the baby sleeps;

• Enlisting the help of the significant other and family members with household chores;

• Hiring a mother's helper for a few hours a day;

• Seeking out a support group.

The benefits that can be derived from therapy should never be discounted. There are also a number of anti-depressant medications which do not pass through the breast milk and which can be a tremendous help. Using medication or therapy provided by a professional mental health practitioner can make all the difference in the world and either greatly reduce or eliminate entirely the symptoms of postpartum depression for nearly every woman who is experiencing it.

This article on postpartum depression has been provided by Sari Crossman who runs an article content website called http://eijimedia.com/. She lives in Canada.

View the original article here

The Facts About Teenage Depression And How To Recognise The Symptoms

When the word "depression" is mentioned most people associate it with the adult population, a mental health disorder that older men and women suffer from. However this is not the case as the medical research and statistics now show, a growing numbers of teenagers and even younger children are now suffering from this disorder, often without their parents or guardians even knowing about it or suspecting that anything is wrong.

Here are some shocking statistics:

Around 6% of teenagers are suffering with depression, that's 6 youngsters out of every one hundredSuicide, caused by depression is at number four in the leading causes of death among 10 - 14 year oldsSuicide, caused by depression is the third leading cause of death in teenagers and young people in the 15 - 24 year old group

Research shows that in the past three decades the suicide rate by teenagers has risen by over 300%. A survey of High School students revealed that almost 60% of them had thought about harming or killing themselves and that just under 10% had actually attempted suicide because of feeling so depressed.

While it is normal for a teenager to have "down" days and that nobody feels on top of the world all the time there are some signs to look out for which may signify a more serious condition. If you recognise some of the following signs or symptoms on a daily basis over a prolonged period of time then it should be taken seriously and the help of your family doctor should be sought.

Lethargy - always weary with no energyMoodinessOvereating or not eating regular mealsFeeling dejectedWithdrawing from friends or familyHelplessnessInactivity - when they were always an active person in sport and other out of school activitiesConstant worry

There are various treatments for depression in teenagers and younger children. Your doctor will be the best person to decide on the correct course of treatment or he/she may refer you to a specialist in the care of teenagers with depressive disorders. You may be offered therapy in the form of counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy or an anti-depressant medication, quite often a combination of both therapy and medication is used. It is important to catch this disorder as early as possible as the sooner treatment commences the better chance of a full recovery, in severe cases of clinical depression medication may need to be taken on a long term basis.

© Andrew Tudor Jones

Andrew Tudor Jones is the owner of http://www.anxietydepressionselfhelp.com/, a website dedicated to anyone who suffers from anxiety and depression.The website offers valuable information on these conditions as well as 2 e-books which can be downloaded for free and a Blog,updated on a regular basis with relevant information. You can connect with Andrew on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/selfhelpforanxietyanddepression.

View the original article here

How Can You Be Motivated To Exercise Despite Depression?

Exercise, according to experts, can help ward off depression. Research has it that exercising on a regular basis can reduce anxiety attacks and reduce depression symptoms as well. How? It releases chemicals in the brain that helps with depression while at the same time reducing those chemicals that can worsen one's depressive state. In addition, exercise diverts your attention from your stressors and boosts your confidence.

The problem is how to get right on an exercise program when you are already depressed. When you are having the blues, wouldn't you just wish you can curl up in bed the entire day and forget about everything? Getting out of bed to exercise can be very difficult, indeed. It might seem like your feet are made of lead.

Well, it may seem difficult at first, but according to experts, doing the following may encourage you to take the first steps to beating depression with exercise:
Know what you want. Make a list of physical activities you normally will enjoy doing. Before depression hit you, did you enjoy riding your bicycle or gardening, or going for evening walks? Were you into sports?
Create specific and reasonable goals. Goal-setting must be made part of your program. This enables you to monitor your accomplishment and help you see where you are and where you're headed. But keep your goals simple but specific and realistic. Don't push yourself too hard. Just take things according to your pace. You wouldn't want to be dealing with another bout of depression if you are not able to attain your goals.
Know that no program is fool-proof. It's only normal to encounter a few setbacks along the way, but these should not get you down or make you feel as if you have failed.
Invite your best friend to do the exercise program with you. Why not? Having a close friend to perform the various routines with makes exercising something to look forward to every day. Not only will you have someone to talk to during the program, you'll also have someone to pump you up when you feel like giving up.
Play some music when exercising. Choose something upbeat.
Prepare your body physically before exercising. It's always a good idea to take something two hours before exercising. This helps to ensure your energy levels stay up for the duration of the exercise.
Remember to hydrate yourself after exercising. Loss of fluids from sweating is expected following any strenuous activity. Blood sugar levels may also run low, so make sure to drink lots of water or fruit juice after exercising.
Eat a high-protein meal an hour or two after exercising. Exercising can make you feel so good you'll feel like treating yourself to a tasty meal. But don't fall into sweet temptations. A glass of fruit juice and an energy bar immediately after exercising should have done the trick already. Then simply follow this up with a high-protein meal.
Keep your thoughts about exercise as positive as possible. Think of it as simply having fun. You'll be surprised by what positive thinking can do!

Exercise is necessary not only in warding off depression. It helps the body in so many ways. Exercising regularly keeps your digestive system working and boosts your metabolism and these alone already have a series of domino effects that count towards general well being. Exercising helps you lose weight and assists in the removal of toxins from your colon, as well as in removing the excess baggage that may be causing your depression in the first place.

If you suffer from depression and anxiety, there is natural relief. Read more information about natural vitamins for depression or visit related website at BestFishOill.com right now.

Copyright © Alexa L. Ryan

View the original article here

Depression And Anxiety Sufferers: How Difficult Do You Find It To Meet New People And Date?

Impaired relationships and social interactions are just two of the consequences of chronic depression or always being in a state of depression. Depression can be very stressful and emotionally draining, to say the least. It makes you want to just curl in your private area and withdraw from social obligations. Sometimes the feeling of depression can be so intense to make you want to breakup with your partner.

If you acknowledge the fact that you are depressed and that your depression is what impairs your relationship with others, then the best thing you must do is to get treatment. Don't think you can handle it all on your own because depression is not as easy as it sounds. Clinical depression or chronic depression requires expertise that can only be given who trained for that.

A possible treatment option for you is group therapy. It delivers treatment in a group setting. It allows you to be with other people, sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings, among others. You may not like it at first, but soon you'll realize that all of you in the group have at least one or several things in common, and so it becomes easier to adapt to each other as you progress with your treatment. Not only that, being in a group therapy allows you to establish friendships with other individuals in the group, and that's a great start if you are dreaming of meeting new people and begin dating again.

If you have anxiety problems as well, your doctor may also prescribe medications to control them. When on medications, however, make sure you do not take more than what has been prescribed. Sometimes, depressed individuals tend to think that downing several pills at the same time will end their depression quickly. Well, that is quite true, only that, you may be in a far worse state than before when that happens.

It is always a difficult time for anyone to go through a state of depression. Along with group therapy and medications, employing the following self-help strategies can help pull you out of your misery and perhaps even put a smile on your face:

Exercise early in the morning. Train your mind to wake up at 5 in the morning to exercise. Exercise helps to balance hormones and brain chemicals that are responsible in causing depression. But go easy on yourself. You don't have to do anything strenuous, at least not yet when it has been a while since you exercise. In order for you not to easily lose motivation, start with some deep breathing exercises and a few rounds of brisk walking around the neighborhood.
Get more sun. One study has it that many people who are depressed also happen to have low levels of Vitamin D, a vitamin that is activated by the sun. So make sure to catch some rays as soon as the sun is already up.
Think happy thoughts. Sounds easier said than done? Well, not exactly, when you have your high school yearbook all spread out before you! Poring over old photographs and letters brings back so many endearing memories you cannot help but smile through your grief.
Have a change of environment. Take a brief vacation to relieve yourself of anything that bugs you. A change of environment almost always works many wonders. Choose a place where you think you can experience a lot of fun.
Volunteer your services. Knowing that there is something you can do for another will build your confidence.
Spend time with children. Being around children will keep your worries away.

You can be happy! Stop suffering from depression and anxiety. There are natural vitamins for depression and natural fish oils at BestFishOill.com.

Copyright © Alexa L. Ryan

View the original article here

How Do You Tell Depression From The Winter Blues?

Winter blues is a seasonal type of depression. As its name suggests, it happens only during the cold, wintry months. Depression, on the other hand, is a general term that refers to "feelings of sadness", extreme or otherwise. Everybody experiences depression at some point in their life, but not everyone gets to experience seasonal depression or the winter blues.

It's been said that Vitamin D helps with depression. This is why getting a daily dose of sunlight is believed to be a great way to reduce depression. In countries where there is winter, this will not be possible (obviously), but of course, it does not mean that everyone will just have to live with depression during the length of the season. There are always alternatives, mind you, so before you give up and merely accept seasonal depression for what it is, consider the following:

Take Vitamin D supplements. If you can't activate the Vitamin D in your body through sunlight, the easiest way you can get your supply of Vitamin D is to try another route, that is via Vitamin D supplements. You can find these in your local health store, or online. It does not matter where you but your supplements from. What's important is that:

One capsule contains 5,000 IU of Vitamin D.

The capsule is not formulated with oil stabilizers such as cottonseed oil, soybean oil, corn oil, or canola oil which can clog the heart. If at all, make sure it is coconut oil, which is not only healthier but which can last a very long time.

Your Vitamin D comes in the form of Cholecalciferol or Vitamin D3.

Take other essential vitamins. Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C are vitamins that also play a great role in warding off depression.

Eat fish or take Fish oil with Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Eating fish regularly can decrease depression tendencies because fish is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Problem is, eating whole fish every day will not be good to your overall health because the fish are likely to be contaminated with chemicals and toxins. Experts recommend taking fish oil, instead. Pharmaceutical graded fish oil supplements are preferred by most experts as they are processed to ensure removal of toxins without removing the Omega-3 component.

Exercise indoors. If it's too cold outside, get things done indoors. Yes, you can do your exercise regimen at home and still enjoy it. How? Rather than do it on your own, invite your best friend over and go over exercise routines together. Exercise keeps your energy levels up, boosts your metabolism, improves your mood and controls depression symptoms.

Get a hobby. Having a hobby diverts your attention and keeps you from getting a lowdown. If you love to write, try blogging. It's stress-relieving to get your thoughts and your feelings out on the World Wide Web. Try singing also or playing an instrument.

Eat well, eat right. Make wise food choices. Hot chocolate drinks sure are tempting during the scold months, but don't drink more than a cup each day. Chocolates, despite being regarding as a comfort food, still are loaded with sugar and calories. They can make you feel high at one point, and extremely low at another, so be careful. To prevent depression, or reduce its impact at the very least, avoid sweets in general, junks, and foods that are high in preservatives and which are hard to digest.

Get involved in your local community. Keep yourself from being lonely during which depression is very likely to attack. Volunteer your services. Coordinate with government and private agencies in your community so can volunteer your services, share your knowledge, and make a difference in someone else's life.

Whether you're having the winter blues or some other form of depression, these tips can help you cope with it somehow.

If you suffer from depression and anxiety, there is natural relief. Read more information about natural vitamins for depression or visit related website at BestFishOill.com.

Copyright © Alexa L. Ryan

View the original article here

A Personal Struggle

What is depression? To someone like me, it seems to be a never-ending battle that gets tougher to face with each passing day. Maybe because society says normal people should be and act a certain way fitting into a mold; which may work for the vast majority of people but there are some of us who no matter how we try, we can not fit into that mold. We're the outsiders, the rebels without a cause who walk the path alone and turn our backs on conventional ways of living, of growing. It's not necessarily anything to be proud of in all honesty; the lone wolf lifestyle can be as its name implies a very lonely way to fight through the world. Emptiness, misery, the constant questioning of where to go from here; these are the only feelings you actually get to feel inside of you along with anger, pain, and hopelessness.

It's a never-ending cycle that's taken on with no one to blame for it but yourself. Turning your back on many things normal people strive for: love, connection, settling down in the suburbs to live a quiet life; these are all ideas that just seem too far out of reach for people who are lost and yet again it's because of choices we've made that are the real reason why we are the way we are. We can't grasp those ideas of being happy because we can't feel the positive emotions that should round a person out; almost like looking at both sides of a coin the head and the tail, with the head completely scratched out leaving nothing but a disfigured marking. Reasons for this are hard to put a name to because each individual person in the world is different and the experiences each person goes through within their lifetime are what make each of us who we are. So it becomes harder to find the root cause and be able to just 'snap out of it' because as time goes on and the world throws more burdens in your face, what originally may have started you on this dark path is buried under layers and layers of other burdens.

But we choose not to show it and perhaps because of that, we choose not to deal with it. Society doesn't want to hear about people who are down or depressed and so most people facing that problem choose to hide it behind a front and deal with their pain alone. Sometimes you can become so good at hiding it no one would ever suspect that inside, you feel torn up; a recent example would be the death of Wade Belak, a former NHL star proclaimed dead by suicide on August 31, 2011 after which his close family revealed he had been battling depression for years on his own, shocking the hockey world that this laid back, upbeat, friendly guy was in actuality tortured by his own thoughts. Hiding it just becomes natural over time because by pretending it's not there, it gets a little easier to handle at times. Unfortunately it's not always denial that can keep it down and more often than not, the lone wolf stumbles down a path of self-destruction and lands in more dark situations that only add to the misery. As we self-destruct more and more it becomes harder to place ourselves in a state of vulnerability, of being able to open up and express our twisted thoughts. We feel no one will understand because anyone who doesn't battle depression can't fully understand the hopelessness; society confuses depression with being sad or facing the blues that should be able to be snapped out of.

Unfortunately it's not that simple because any belief in yourself or any sense of self-esteem and self-worth are long dead inside along with any hope that things will get better. We can't believe in ourselves because we don't possess that balanced state of mind, again the scratched coin. Something is missing inside and it has its effect on our thoughts, our hopes, our dreams, and our actions.

We find it hard to connect to anyone, to truly knock the down the walls and let somebody in. We feel ashamed of feeling how we do, other people can deal with their pain why can't we? We feel like exposing our true thoughts and feelings is just a pity party, hoping to sponge up some source of comfort even if it is pity. So instead, we don't connect we stay alone and bury our true feelings. It's a choice we make to hide it, to not deal with it and by keeping up appearances for others, we feel even more alone.

We feel trapped in our lives, unable to move forward and make any attempt to get better and because we choose to hide it from the people we're closest to, we don't get the encouragement we need to try to move forward. We've turned our backs on what others around us may look for out of life unable to comprehend why they strive to find what they're looking for and as a result, they are unable to comprehend what's really inside of us. We sink further into depression and hide it more and more, feeling more alone with each passing day. It sounds repetitive but that's the case when fighting this illness; it's a repetition of the same feelings of emptiness spiraling further downwards until we do end up completely alone. As Alter Bridge says, a band known for it's very dark and complex lyrics in battling loss of faith and hope we are:

Left to face, this alone
Left to die with nothing we can own
Left to break, in the cold
In the void that we made
The moment we let love go.

View the original article here

Get to the Bottom of Addictive Behavior and Move On With Your Life

BAM VP - Be A More Vibrant Person In 2012

M is for meditation. Allow time for quiet introspection and problem solving. Ease into it by daydreaming. Gaze out a window and focus on your breathing. While enjoying nature you are doing a form of meditation. Your thoughts are in the moment. Yesterday's worries and tomorrow's challenges do not exist.

Get to the Bottom of Addictive Behavior and Move On With Your Life While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us." - Benjamin Franklin

Jennifer had a life most women would envy. A beautiful home, well-behaved children and a husband who was a good provider. She also had a self-indulgence that she kept secret. It started with a glass of wine in the evening to relax after everyone had gone to bed. She told herself that one or two can't hurt so she added one, then two during the day. Eventually, the fear that she might be becoming an alcoholic began to alarm her.

Is Three Too Much?

Women who drink at home alone are more likely than others to later have drinking problems according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a component of the National Institutes of Health. Depression is closely linked to heavy drinking. Among women who drink, 13 percent have more than seven drinks per week. A report from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicates this to be above the recommended limits for women based on the lower level of water in a woman's body to dilute alcohols effect.

Getting to the Bottom

Jennifer questioned why she was in such a self -destructive mode. Meditation helped her probe deeply into her problem...take an honest look at what she was doing to herself and ultimately her family. Until recently she was the soccer mom. Her identity wrapped around her children, their activities, their wants and needs. However, as they grew older and more independent, they neither needed - nor wanted so much of her attention.

She felt she no longer had an important role in life. So who was she? What was she supposed to do now? Discontented with staying at home but afraid to venture into the job market made her feel more depressed. She finally resolved to start doing things for herself that would boost her self-esteem.

The **BAMVP stress reduction techniques and "time for me" getaways allowed her to reflect on who she was and what she wanted out of life. She joined a fun exercise activity - belly dancing; registered with a temp work agency to brush up on her job skills and ease back into the workforce. Best of all Jennifer renewed a past passion when she enrolled in a series of art workshops.

Stress Plays a Role in Addictive Behavior

One of the reasons people drink, overeat, chain smoke, gamble compulsively, etc., is to help cope with stress. For people like Jennifer getting to the bottom, uncovering the core issue, is all that is needed to begin to move on. Others may have to hit rock bottom, what I call the "Popeye fed up mode" of "That's all I can stand and I can't stands no more!" That's when they move to action and seek help. Counseling, outreach groups like AA, Gamblers Anonymous, weight management programs, and faith help them to move on with life.

When you deal with what is causing the stress in your life, the addictive behavior becomes manageable. And for some like Jennifer, no longer necessary.

**BAMVP = Breath, Affirmations, Meditation, Visualization, Progressive Relaxation

Barbara Mitchell DCH is a Certified Stress Management Consultant, Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). She is author of "When You Need a Timeout" a self-help guide with interactive relaxation exercises, motivational examples, diet and pampering tips for managing day-to-day stress. Named "Finalist "Women's Issues" 2010 National Indie Excellence Book Awards". Dr. Barbara's newest release is a soothing relaxation CD "Just Relax Like This" featuring the top five relaxation techniques from her book.
Dr. Barbara Mitchell has a consulting practice in Piscataway, NJ. She is a member of ABH, IMDHA, IACT, ABNLP and TLTA. See her full bio at http://www.thecalmingbreath.com/.

View the original article here

Quick Ways to Help With Depression

The failure to cope with traumatic or difficult events in your life can definitely lead to depression. Not only does avoiding to deal with things change the fact that they exist, it is likely to make the situation worse. It is important to understand this when trying to learn how to battle depression.

Remain active in the things that give your life purpose, in my case it was something I found difficult to explain to anyone. My job allowed me to reach out and help others, but when my doctor took me off of work I took a turn for the worse. This illness is not a common cold, chances are it will not be cured overnight. It's something that you have to be willing to conquer everyday, identifying and utilizing healthy coping mechanisms will be vital in learning how to battle depression.

It is always helpful to have faith in something and something to look forward to. Spirituality can be extremely powerful when it comes to coping, this can be the what sustains you in this battle. Documenting goals create hope and will likely give purpose to trying. Surround yourself with positive people, it will heighten your mood. Having someone in your circle to reach out to on those days you need encouragement the most will make all the difference. This person will be a constant reminder that you have people that care about you and your well-being.

Physical activity is a quick way to battle depression and it is extremely important, without being physically active our energy levels remain low. This doesn't mean you have to run a mile every day, but something as simple as a walk a few times a week can make a huge difference. Some people believe that depression is a normal part of the aging process, and studies show elderly people struggle with this illness most. However I don't find anything about depression normal, it isn't and unnecessary and life altering sickness.

I'm not a doctor but I am a survivor, and there is no teacher like experience. When I first began seeing a counselor I was fortunate enough to have someone who truly cared about me as a person. This fueled her great effort towards establishing a non-medicated treatment plan for me. She learned that I was an ex-athlete and an avid writer, she chose to take these two things and make them the focus of my at home treatment.

The counselor documented everything specifically short-term and long-term goals, and showed them to me later as an example of my true worth and ability to apply myself. Without this specific form of treatment I believe my battle with depression would've been loss. When I reached out for professional help I was aware that I had issues, but I didn't realize how serious they were. I truly believe this psychologist saved me from myself, the fight honestly starts with your mind.

If you would like to learn more about self-help for depression and anxiety. Please visit Minnisha's website that entails more information on how to battle depression

View the original article here

8 Ways to Reduce Your Depression

Depression is an emotional reaction to external situations. Almost everyone experiences depression at some point in his or her life and it is a normal part of life. It should not be seen as a disease. When one begins to experience a sad and lonely feeling, it is usually a sign of that depression is experienced. There are also times when depression causes loss of appetite and lack of sleep. In some cases, depression may cause withdraw from social contact and in more severe cases the condition is further characterized by feelings of hopelessness, despair and low self-esteem.

Depression can be seen as a cycle: Depression = lower motivation = doing less = increased isolation = more negative feedback in your life = more depression

Nevertheless, one thing remains constant; depression can be reduced effectively. Depression is highly treatable, and potentially easy to manage. So here are the 8 ways you can reduce it:

Another way of managing depression is by engaging in fun activities. If you have an activity that used to bring you fun, you should do it for at least 5 minutes each day. It helps to keep the mind active and can reduce depression.Going outside in the morning and sitting in the sun for 5 minutes is also great leap forward. It helps to keep the mind relaxed.Go for a walk in the sun, morning and afternoon even if you don't feel like it. Again 5 minutes is better than no time at all.You need to allow yourself time-out to do things that relax and provide you with positive feelings. For instance, having a bath or watching a funny movie can have positive impact on your mind.It has also become clear that meeting friends helps to reduce depression. It is better than being all alone. You ought to meet friends even if you do not feel like doing so.The war of tackling depression will not be achievable if you do not increase your self-esteem, so you will need to get help in increasing your self-esteem. Do something challenging but rewarding, focus on what you are good at and what you like about yourself (I know it is difficult to feel good about yourself, but you should start finding even small things that you should feel good about)Learn relaxation techniques like deep breathing, or learn meditation techniques through yoga.One of the best ways to tackle depression is by seeking professional help. You do not have to tell everybody around you. Go for a professional who has a vast experience in handling depression. The sooner you seek the professional help, the easier it is going be. Statistics and studies indicate that prompt tackling of depression minimizes the possibility of recurrence or more severe symptoms.

Nic Marcon is the Founder/Owner, and Principle Psychologist of Emotional Balance, a counselling Centre in Logan City, Brisbane, Australia. Nic and his team professionals have a strong desire to help others achieve their goals and dreams. They have helped people with addiction problems, abuse and trauma, those with self-harm and suicide ideation. He also helps people overcome their anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms. Emotional Balance also develops and presents a range of group programs and e-courses to further assist people all over the world

View the original article here

Why Folate Is One of the Best Vitamin Supplements for Depression

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from depression but looking for natural alternatives to prescription drugs? If so, you may be wondering which are the best vitamin supplements for depression. You've read that the B-complex vitamins are especially important when you are experiencing stress, and this is true. There is an increased loss of B vitamins through the urine when your body is trying to adapt to stress, making it necessary to supplement them to keep up with your body's needs. While all of the B vitamins are essential for physical and emotional well-being, there are certain ones that play a stronger role in depression. Folate (folic acid) is one of them.

What is folate and what is its role in the body?

Folate or folic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin, B9. Folate is the naturally occurring form found in food, while folic acid is the synthetic form. Your body requires folate to be able to absorb other members of the B-complex family. A deficiency of folate may result in a deficiency in the others.

Folate plays several important roles in the body. It is critical for the production of new cells including skin and hair cells, and red and white blood cells. It is important for nerve function. It is necessary for the conversion of amino acids in the body. Amino acids are building blocks of the body and are needed in the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters determine how we feel. A deficiency of folate has been linked to low levels of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Symptoms of too little serotonin include depression and anxiety.

How does folate help depression?

Studies have shown that it is quite common for there to be a deficiency of folate in depressed people. One thought is that some people are unable to metabolize folate properly.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a group of antidepressant medications commonly prescribed for depression. SSRIs work by influencing levels of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. However, many people do not respond to the medication, or stop taking it because of side effects. Certain nutritional supplements, such as folate, can also effect neurotransmitters. They work in a manner similar to SSRIs, but don't have the side effects associated with SSRIs. In different studies, folate has been used alone or in conjunction with antidepressant medications. Depressed subjects have shown significant improvement in symptoms.

More recently, a deficiency of folate has also been linked to high levels of the amino acid homocysteine and mental disorders such as depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. High levels of homocysteine in the past have been associated with cardiovascular disease. Folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are necessary for homocysteine to be converted in the body, keeping it at the correct level. Studies are showing that supplementation of folate and the B vitamins are beneficial for cognitive function, depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Food sources of folate include legumes, liver, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits and brewer's yeast.

Nutritional supplements are only one part of treating depression naturally. Changes in diet, especially cutting down on sugar, caffeine and fats are important, along with exercise and relaxation techniques.

Depression is a serious condition that should be diagnosed by a qualified healthcare professional.

Read more about vitamins for depression at Vitamins for stress info.

Darlene L Brown writes articles on natural health products.

For a natural supplement we personally use to combat anxiety, depression and insomnia visit http://best-natural-antidepressants.com/.

View the original article here

Why No One Else Can Cure Your Depression

Have your credit cards bills just sent you into a spiral of depression? Well, you're not the only one. This week is said to be the most depressing week of the year and paying off Christmas is just one of the reasons for it.

Not only are we flat broke after the reckless splurge through the run up to the Christmas festivities, we're also missing the sunshine, feeling run down after our exercise programs have diverted into couch potato sessions, caught a winter cold and broken all our New Year resolutions. Yes if you're depressed, it's no wonder! So how do you get out of the dumps?

A change of attitude may just be what the doctor ordered, or not as the case often is. We tend to think that someone out there can cure our depression. It might be the doctor with his 'cure all' medications, a therapist who can soothe all our problems away or our friends who will bolster us back to top form. But, none of these people can actually do this and we are dealing with a common misconception that they can.

It could even be said that an official diagnosis would be a gift because then we would stop looking to help ourselves - why bother when the NHS is going to take care of us through medications or therapy? Part of depression is feeling helpless and in a weird way, a formal diagnosis may be a step back because we begin to rely on others to look after us.

The bottom line is that only we can actually 'cure' ourselves of depression regardless of all the claims other people make. It's hard to take responsibility for our own recovery but the sooner we start, the quicker we'll find that out and the smarter we'll be in the long run because we'll stop waiting for someone to beat the depression for us.

Having said all of that, it's often easier with others' help. So there is a place for others' intervention but self responsibility is the key to total recovery. It's much easier to recover from depression when working with others who are in a similar situation and that's why self help groups are such an underrated resource.

12 Step programs, for example, are full of people who want to change their lives and are brilliant places to seek peer support, especially if funds are low because they rely on donations and you never have to give anything if you can't afford it.

I'll soon be publishing an article on all the resources available to us that offer great peer support especially for beating depression. Email me if you want me to keep you posted info@alexandramassey.co.uk

Alexandra Massey
A writer specialising in beating depression, without the use of medication. I've been there and recovered without meds.
Author of the new Beat Depression Program: http://www.defeatdepression.co.uk/
If you want to see IF you're depressed, click here: http://www.defeatdepression.co.uk/how_do_i_know_if_im_depressed.html

View the original article here

Know your depression

Procrastinating, sleeping and loathing are the workouts depression makes you follow, leaving no space for productiveness nor any room for joy. The drawbacks are apparent, however the solutions are obscured. After years of tolerating melancholy, and becoming quite an athlete in the self-discipline, I made a decision to act and reverse the vicious routine. The outcomes of my efforts surpassed the expectations I had formerly in mind, touchdown me in a world flooded with alternative and motivation. What I've finished is obvious and simple, making it straightforward to copy:

Follow mindfulness meditation - meditation enables you to achieve harmonious and objective thinking pushing the pessimism, inherent to melancholy, aside. As if it weren't sufficient, frequent meditation has been associated with thickening of the grey matter and elevated exercise of the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region essential in self-regulation.

Aerobic train - physical activity results in, however is simply not restricted to, perceivable adjustments in bodily structure making one look more seductive to the stranger's eye. However, the modifications to which the bare eye will remain blind are more quite a few and comforting - your mental stamina and focus enhance, heart rate drops, blood strain declines, mood-soothing neurotransmitters are released and, astonishingly, the neurotoxic results melancholy imposes upon the brain region, implicated in cognition and memory, termed hippocampus are prevented and reversed.

Know your despair - understanding the mechanism, signs and dynamics of the disorder will assist you change the angle on the issue. As an alternative of succumbing to the symptoms and accepting them as the inevitable faith analyze your despair and trace its sources. As you find out that depression has organic causes, as any state of consciousness does, it is possible for you to to separate your self from the despair and distinguish it out of your unadulterated personality. Elucidation of the sources and habits intrinsic to depression will deliver extra consolation and confidence into your every day life. When you find out how an engine works you'll grow to be more adept at tweaking and adjusting its performance; the same idea applies to depression. Learn books, articles and texts related to depression and so become acquainted with your disorder. There's quite rather a lot of great literature overlaying this subject so seize it.

What to do is clear now, but keep in mind that it takes a speck of effort and persistence at first to incorporate all these steps into your day by day life so don't be surprised if you really feel resentment at first; you'll quickly slide into it and luxuriate in the actual benefits these strategies have to offer!