Health and Fitness therapy

What to Do When Your Child is Diagnosed With Autism

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:03:00 +0000

Read Read as much information as possible so that you will be prepared for what is to come. This will help you and your spouse prepare to handle the special situations and adjust to them. Treatments in books or on line may or may not work for your child, so keep reading to find what will work for your child's situation. Check your local library to find books on autism and you can find others on-line. The local bookstores such as Borders or Barnes & Noble are great places to start.

Research Research through the Internet, magazines, trade journals and other sources for updated information on autism and how to handle the effects on your child as well as yourself. There are videos and audios available to help your education process. The National Autism Society has journals that you can purchase that will help to keep you updated on new developments in autism. These can be found online and some at books stores.

Join a local support group A local support group can be a wealth of interaction with other parents who are already handling the same situation that you will be going through. Building a relationship with them can give you an outlet to events, functions and outings for your child to attend. Sometimes it is nice to just have a shoulder to lean on in your local area.

Check the Autism Society of America website for the chapter in your area. You can join their email system for free or join as a member for about $40.00. Check your local chapter for the benefits that you receive for joining.

Join a forum Forums can bring another view on your situation and can also help build relationships with other parents who have autistic children. An autism forum is a great place where you can pop in to read info, leave a message or join in a chat. As your child grows up and faces different situations, a forum is a great place to ask questions or discuss the situation. There are all types of people on forums including parents, doctors, practitioners, researchers and people with autism.

Vitamin and Supplementation Autistic children are sometimes picky eaters. Because of this, they may have digestive issues and may not consume enough of the essential minerals and vitamins. Look into providing them with a multi-vitamin and digestive enzymes designed for spectrum disorders. This will insure their comfort and help to keep them healthy. Lacking essential minerals and vitamins will not help their situation or temperament.

Stay calm Patience will be a learned skill that will work in your behalf. One of the most frustrating situations for parents is the ability to have patience with their autistic child. It takes time and patience to be able to learn how to handle each situation.

Staying clam and evaluating the situation before reacting will help the child do the same. Autistic children can be agitated at the smallest change in routine. Over-reacting to routines or situations will only enhance their agitation.

Not knowing what to do or where to get the correct information is very frustrating. Autistic children have special needs for their diet and general well being. You can find out more at Autism Free Information and Reports.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_C_Edwards

Massage Therapy For Autistic Children

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Autism is a brain disorder, usually diagnosed by age 2, in which the child fails to develop language and normal social interaction skills. Withdrawal from social contact and aberrant behavior are common. Parents have been trying numerous treatments, conventional and alternative,the in an attempt to restore what some believe may be permanent damage to brain while others believe that autism is reversible.

The relationship between a parent and their autistic child that has barriers in language and touch is one of the most heartbreaking issues of this condition. An autistic child typically is not able to express feelings of love, whether through words, facial expressions or hugs. Some have even said that children with autism are unable to form a bond or attachment. However, research has concluded that these children do attach to their parents, but some still are unable to act on this bond and do not respond appropriately. Many autistic children have sensory and tactile system issues making them unenthusiastic to certain sights, sounds, smells or touch.

The majority of autistic children are opposed to physical contact, so it is interesting that many massage therapists and parents are finding great success in the use of massage therapy with autistic children. The bonding factor alone would be a major accomplishment. Add massage therapy to the list of beneficial treatments that for some, has a very swift and positive response. There are children that love to get a massage; however, not all of them feel the same way.

Parents should learn some basic techniques and a few different methods of approach to massage before they begin. Always try to start with the child looking at your mouth as you say "massage." This, in time, will also give you an indication of whether or not they look forward to their massage sessions. The helpless feeling many parents often feel will be replaced with active massage treatment between parents and children.

Research has found that these children show less autistic behavior, are more social and attentive after receiving massage therapy. Regular sensory integration and safe, nurturing touch are beneficial in reducing touch aversion, inattentiveness and withdrawal. Clinical trials have also shown massage therapy as a viable complementary treatment positively impacting some of the characteristic behaviors of autism. One important study has emerged in this area within the past few years from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) in Miami, Fla. Escalona, A., Field, T., Singer-Strunk, R., Cullen, C., & Hartshorn, K. (2001). Brief report: Improvements in the behavior of children with autism following massage therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 513-516.

Twenty children with autism, ages 3 to 6 years, were randomly assigned to massage therapy and reading attention control groups. Parents in the massage therapy group were trained by a massage therapist to massage their children for 15 minutes prior to bedtime every night for 1 month and the parents of the attention control group read Dr. Seuss stories to their children on the same time schedule.

Conners Teacher and Parent scales, classroom and playground observations, and sleep diaries were used to assess the effects of therapy on various behaviors, including hyperactivity, stereotypical and off-task behavior, and sleep problems. Results suggested that the children in the massage group exhibited less stereotypic behavior and showed more on-task and social relatedness behavior during play observations at school, and they experienced fewer sleep problems at home.

Through the use of massage therapy, our basic human need for safe, nurturing contact is met with often wonderful results. For children with autism, it provides not only a positive experience of being touched, but the effects hold lifelong benefits. You can find more in-depth information at Autism-Free Information and Reports

Not knowing what treatments or therapies to use can be very frustrating. There are many therapies and no two children are alike. You can find our more at Autism-Free Information and Reports

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tamara_Spencer

Preparing Our Son With Autism to Ride the Bus

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:58:00 +0000

Having a child with autism in a family brings about many situations that leave family members very puzzled. Our family experienced a puzzling situation with our autistic first grader beginning a few weeks before winter break from school. Our son Collin begin to have "melt downs" in the classroom at the end of the school day. This involved crying, falling on the floor, some spitting and hitting.These behaviors are unusual for Collin than usual and we were having a difficult time pinpointing an antecedent to the behavior. What was happening right before these meltdowns to make this behavior occur? After talking with our Collin's teachers, therapists, and aid, we decided he could be having some separation anxiety as he was getting upset when his friends were packing to leave each day. Collin's teacher suggested a new method of transportation home. He was picked up daily in carpool by his mother or me. We decided that leaving at the same time as most of the other children may relieve some of the stress he was feeling at the end of the school day. So, we decided to let him ride the bus..... the typical bus with all typical children.

Collin's teacher did and excellent job at helping everyone prepare for this bus ride. My wife and I, our son's ABA therapist, the bus driver, our son's aid and selected peer helpers all came together to help Collin be successful. First, Collin was taken to the area where the buses were waiting for the children each afternoon for a few days. He got to step up on the bus and have a seat. He met his bus Driver Mr. Albert. He even got to sit on the bus while it pulled through he parking lot one day. He was becoming very excited about riding the bus. Collin's teacher made social story about rules on the bus and we got a copy for home. We used the book as reading material at bedtime and it was used in a couple of his ABA sessions the week prior to riding the bus. Collin was also assigned three peer helpers form the fourth grade to help him with bus safety. these three children were excited to help Collin and took turns one afternoon reading him the social story book as well. So, Collin began riding the bus home and the end of the day "melt downs" have ceased and he is enjoying the experience very much. The small steps taken to help him prepare made all the difference and we have not only changed an inappropriate behavior, but have given Collin more time with typical peers which is something he really enjoys.

Garrett Butch is the father of a 6 year old with autism and the founder of Maximum Potential Group.

Maximum Potential has developed courses that train parents and school systems how to work with children with autism.

http://www.maximumpotentialkids.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garrett_Butch

Out With the Old and in With the New - E-Prescribing

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:32:00 +0000

Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is the use of a data entry system to create a prescription, rather than faxing it or writing it on paper. Automation of the prescribing process has several potential benefits to different sections of the health care industry, especially patients, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) began on January 1, 2009 to encourage the adoption and utilization of e-prescribing systems. E-prescribing can save time, enhance office and pharmacy productivity, and improve patient safety and quality of care.

Electronic prescribing is about more than just generating a prescription on a computer and printing it out or faxing it to a pharmacy. E-Prescribing must also provide functionality and workflow flexibility to work not only for physicians but also for the staff involved in the prescribing process. High prescribers, larger practices, and enterprise systems require software that is adaptable to their practice workflow and that draws the practice staff into the prescribing process.

According to the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, some of the advantages of e-prescribing include:

- Improving patient safety and quality of care
- Reducing illegibility
- Reducing oral miscommunications
- Providing warnings and alert systems
- Providing access to patient's medication history
- Reducing time spent on pharmacy phone calls and faxing
- Automation of renewals and authorization
- Improving formulary adherence
- Improving drug surveillance

Getting started with e-prescribing:

1) Decide whether you wish to choose stand-alone e-prescription software or a full EMR system which includes e-prescribing functionality.

2) Choose an e-prescribing software vendor that utilizes true Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The e-prescribing vendor will need to be connected to SureScripts-RxHub the universal electronic prescribing network.

3) Install a high speed internet connection.

4) Purchase hardware such as desktop PC's, laptops, pocket PC's, tablet PC's, PDA's utilizing a wired or wireless network.

This article is brought to you by DrFirst, provider of Rcopia, a full featured stand alone electronic prescribing management system. DrFirst is committed to improving healthcare and patient safety by delivering technologies that enable medical professionals and their staff to quickly and easily access critical medical information at the point of care. For more information about e-prescribing, visit http://www.drfirst.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Semie_Lee

More Retailers Offering Free Antibiotics - But Watch Your Total Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:30:00 +0000

We reported previously on Meijer and Publix offering free antibiotics to their pharmacy customers. Now Giant Food and its sister chain, Stop & Shop, are following suit.

This is a welcome development, but keep in mind that these businesses are not charities - they are offering the antibiotics as loss-leaders in the hope that their pharmacy patrons will do their grocery and/or other shopping at their stores also.

The Giant Food/Stop & Shop program also has a time limit - it runs till March 21, after which the retailer says it will begin charging for antibiotics again.

Although Giant is positioning its move as a way to temporarily help consumers during tough economic times, clearly there's more to it than this. Giant wants to see if offering free antibiotics leads to enough of an increase in overall sales to justify the cost. If it does, my guess is the program will become permanent. If it doesn't, then they'll go back to business as usual on March 22.

My advice to you (if you're in an area serviced by Meijer, Publix or Giant) is this: if you're not currently doing your shopping at these stores already, don't switch over simply because of the free antibiotics. Only go there for the free stuff, and continue with your current routine. If you do choose to switch to Meijer, Publix or Giant for the convenience of one-stop shopping, be sure to look at your total grocery bill and compare it to what you were paying at the supermarket you used before.

Remember, the most common antibiotics are available as generics and not that expensive, so if you're paying more for your groceries to go to Giant, it's probably not worth it.

As a side note, I'm a little embarrassed by the Washington Post's reporting on the Giant program. They hail the program as the first case of a retailer giving away free antibiotics, when Meijer and Publix have been doing it for a while now. A quick Google search would have cleared that up.

My Name is Greg and I am submitting articles on behalf of eDrugsearch.com. eDrugSearch.com provides a community, tools and resources to help consumers make smart decisions when purchasing online medication. As the Internet's leading prescription drug guide, we direct you to licensed international pharmacies through a comprehensive, easy-to-use search engine. Our prescription drug guide currently accesses more than 100,000 online medication listings.

http://www.edrugsearch.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_R_Edwards

Some Alternative Medicine Therapies For Bacterial Vaginosis

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:27:00 +0000

With a foul fishy vaginal odor emanating from the Vagina, you would find that Bacterial Vaginosis is one infection that people would like to get rid of ASAP. There are many different treatment methods to help individuals combat this disorder. Some of them are natural, and some medicinal, but in terms of effectiveness of the treatment and minimal side effects, nothing can beat alternative medicine.

And yet, you would find alternative medicine to be an unexplored territory for a lot of people when it comes to talk of treating bacterial infections. Strange, because knowing the effectiveness of therapies like Reiki and Acupuncture, you would find the treatment of this disorder getting simplified with this approach for sure.

That really is the informative point of this read. Acupuncture is an excellent technique that can cure a lot of imbalance conditions in the body. Acupuncture focuses on allowing good energy to flow in all parts of the body. The belief is that good energy will revitalize the vaginal area, and thus allowing it to recover from the bacterial attacks.

Of course, acupuncture treatments would mean pins would be pricked on human body. So long as you are able to withstand the temporary shocks of these pins, you would find this treatment method working fine. But again, you may not find a lot of testimonials on this treatment technique, at least on the Internet, primarily because not a lot of people have used this.

Talk of Alternative Medicine, and how can we ignore Ayurveda - The mother of all Herbal treatments. Treating any body condition with herbs is always advisable, but in the case of BV, you got to be slightly careful, as you do not want to apply anything on the infected area. Drinking concoctions to get rid of this disorder is absolutely fine.

It is an absolute shame that not a lot of information on Alternative Medicine can be found on the World Wide Web. Based on the limited number of treatments done, these facts have been put up, which definitely should not have been the case at all.

Experts say 1 in 3 women will be infected with BV at some point of their lives. It's important that women know the common symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis like a Fishy Vaginal Odor.

Antibiotics and creams are the most commonly prescribed treatment to cure BV, but these treatments don't always work and in many cases just mask the problem, if you suffer from recurrent bacterial vaginosis check out:http://3DayBVcure.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_W_Smith

Can B Vitamins Help Fight Depression?

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:29:00 +0000

Depression is a well-known ailment, but many people don't quite understand what it is; the most commonly-known symptom of depression is a listless, debilitating melancholy mood that lasts for a substantial amount of time, but that is far from the only symptom. Other than "the blues", depression often also consists of sleeplessness, irritability, an inability to focus, mental fogginess and headaches. Often the first response is to treat ongoing depression with prescription medications, but this can get very expensive and may not even be helpful; sometimes all the body needs to fight off depression are certain essential nutrients.

Many of the B vitamins are crucial to normal everyday function. You may not know you have a deficiency in any given vitamin because sometimes the only clues are restlessness, anxiety, fatigue or other such symptoms that may be chalked up to a hectic schedule, added stress at work or similar everyday elements of a busy life. However, if you are consistently having difficulties concentrating, are anxious for no discernible reason or find that you're regularly melancholy, a B-vitamin deficiency may be the cause.

Studies indicate that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid are essential for proper brain function. Without a good balance of these vitamins you may experience symptoms of depression - and it may be preventable or easily alleviated with the addition of specialized supplements. In certain studies about 30% of elderly depressed patients showed a deficiency of vitamin B12, though the deficiency can and does occur in younger patients as well.

If it goes undiagnosed, a serious B12 deficiency can eventually lead to permanent adverse effects such as brain damage or dementia.On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest that B12 supplementation helps reduce mania in mental patients as well as aids in mental clarity and lowers stress levels. Enough vitamin B12 is stored in the body to last a person 3-5 years, so a deficiency will not be immediately discernible and there is often a large time margin for treatment. Many doctors recommend that all depression patients take additional B12 even if they're not tested as deficient in the vitamin; its beneficial effects don't seem to be limited to those who have less than the healthy amount in their systems.

Additional B12 is available in injectable form for severe cases, but those who suffer from mild or moderate depression - who are not at immediate risk for some of the more severe results of B12 deficiency - generally do not need to go through the expense or inconvenience of vitamin injections. A good multivitamin is a good place to start, but it is recommended that an additional specialized B12-containing supplement be added to your regime as well in order to help alleviate depression symptoms.

Whenever an internal imbalance occurs, the body reacts with a huge variety of symptoms ranging from a mild headache to debilitating anxiety or hyposomnia. The best way to isolate and possibly eliminate your body's complaints is to make sure you have sufficient exercise, a healthy diet and all the necessary nutrients. You may find that the proper supplementation will make you feel better and alleviate symptoms without having to result to prescription drugs.

Visit our website to learn more about B12 Vitamins and Depression. Progressive Health Inc provides supplements that help replenish nutritional deficiencies caused by various health conditions such as depression.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Chase

Overcoming Dysthymia Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:28:00 +0000

Living with dysthymia is like swimming in a pool of jello. Everything seems harder than it should be, and simple everyday tasks can seem insurmountable. Fortunately many mental health practitioners now believe overcoming dysthymia naturally is possible.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), dysthymic disorder is diagnosed when a person feels depressed most of the day for more days than not, for a period of time lasting at least two years. During this time, he or she must experience at least two of the following symptoms: overeating or poor appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, difficulty with concentration or making decisions, or feelings of hopelessness.

Dysthymia is a disorder that robs you of the ability to appreciate life and experience joy. Those who suffer from dysthymic disorder know the sadness permeates every part of a depressed person's life, and it affects everyone in his or her life.

The usual treatment for dysthymia is to prescribe antidepressant medication, and this has provided relief for many sufferers. Antidepressants can give depression sufferers a kickstart out of their depression, and enable them to get started on a road to recovery. Unfortunately, some people do not get relief from taking antidepressants, and many stop taking the medication due to the unpleasant side effects.

With the rise in the number of studies that have shown good results with natural remedies, more experts are coming around to the realization that natural remedies can help sufferers overcome dysthymia naturally, alleviate symptoms of depression and expedite the healing process. Researchers have found a number of natural remedies give relief to depression sufferers, and some are just as effective as taking antidepressants.

The best part about treating dysthymia naturally is that natural remedies can be combined with any traditional treatment plans to give an extra benefit and help patients get better faster.

Some natural remedies have been found to be just as effective as antidepressants in relieving symptoms of depression. Learn which are the Best Natural Remedies by clicking here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Ricks

Holiday Emotional Hangovers

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:26:00 +0000

Even if you don't drink, the aftermath of holiday celebrating has a funny way of effecting people. The holiday season is filled with high expectations for the majority of people. However the reality in many ways falls short of these expectations. Delightful family reunions tend to reveal the hidden stresses and strains that we were able to ignore during the course of the year. Families all have their hurts, and disappointments that are somehow magnified by the rose colored lenses of our expectations.

Then we also add our tendency to use this time of the year as a time of reflection and resetting of goals. The 20 lbs you didn't lose last year has been joined by an additional 5 lbs. More of you to love, or is it only more of you to lose? The career/financial goals that had been set that didn't quite pan out now leave feelings of failure in their wake. These issues as well as trying to prepare for your taxes and clean up from the last two months of hyper activity on your credit card may be leaving you feeling down in the dumps. You are not alone.

Some things for you to remember as you navigate this season of emotional hangovers are; " Its only a season, it will pass. " The future is what you make it; the past is not a predictor for your future. " Many people are more prone to depression and anxiety around this time of the year. You're not alone. " Set bite size goals for yourself, week by week, month by month. " Measure your success by all you have accomplished not by what still remains on your to do list. " Nurturing you spirit should be one of your goals. Taking care of yourself is very important if you are going to achieve success in 2009.

Remember your success in 2009 is assured if you start it focusing on your accomplishments not on what you believe to be your failures. You have already accomplished something significant for 2009, you made it! And only you know all the obstacles that you had to overcome to even get here, so give yourself some credit and keep moving forward.

Allison Bonilla MSW, LCSW
Awareness Counseling Center
2425 S. Volusia Ave. Ste. B-4
Orange City Fl. 32763
(386) 774-1330
http://www.awarenesscounseling.com
http://sanityinsight.blogspot.com/

Allison Bonilla has been in private practice for 10 years in Orange City, Florida. She has been in the field of Social Work for over 20 years. Her experience includes working with children and families in crisis situations, through governmental agencies. She has been a presenter at various professional conferences. She also volunteers with her local church. Her Masters in Social Work was obtained at Adelphi University in New York. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work in New York State, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida.

She is a professional Christian Counselor who successfully integrates a biblical world view with psychological theories in an attempt to assist her clients achieve optimal health. Her approach is holistic, with a strong slant towards Cognitive Behavioral theories. Allison Bonilla is a member of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, and National Association of Social Workers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Bonilla

But I Feel So Depressed!

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:23:00 +0000

Good morning and welcome to the first day of the rest of your life (It really is!) I Have some news for you: 99.99% of people feel depressed at some point and time in their lives (FACT) Now if you are one of the small few that are clinically depressed, you really need to seek out medical attention and help. I am not the one that believes you need to go and lay down somewhere if you are feeling depressed (Wrong "move" for me ).

Depression is a state-of-body and mind; it is very much in your control to do something about it (You ask what) Here is what happened to me the other day: For no apparent reason at all, I just started to feel depressed (So I did what 99.99% of folks do) started acting like it...looking at the ground, walking slow, shallow breathing, and the all famous the sky is falling attitude (Then I said "Wait a minute, this is not me or where I want to be")

Here are a few power steps that worked for me:

1. I looked up in the sky and said "WHAT IS THAT!" and a lady near by said "WHERE?" and I said "O nothing, I thought I saw something."

2. I picked up my pace and started walking faster (Like I was in a hurry.)

3. I started to take really deep breaths through my mouth until my lungs could not hold any more air, and exhaled until it was all out.

4. Then I started thinking about all the things I was grateful for right now... How do you think I felt after all of this (You dog-on-right.)

I was feeling pretty good after that, but I have to ask you, why did I start feeling good? Was it a pill? Was it some good news I heard? Did someone say something that changed my mood? Or was it something inside of myself, could it be that I was the master of how I felt in that moment (You bet!)

In many cases your feelings are a liar (More on that later.) I wanted to share one quick power move I like to use, and it is this: Motion will change Emotion (Please read that again). I want you to do a little test for me: look in a mirror and look at yourself as depressed and notice everything about it (What do you see) ok. Now, clap your hands together really fast, and say " YES, WE CAN DO THIS! MAN DO I FEEL GOOD (Look in the mirror, into your own eyes and say "I CAN DO ANYTHING WITH YOU ON MY SIDE!"). How do you feel now (I'll bet very different then before.)

But why? http://www.personaldevelopmentcube.com

Have a great day, and I can't wait until I see YOU again... James

James Wall
CEO & Founder
Wall Resource Group
Personal Development is the best investment in the universe

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Wall

Mood Vitamins

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:21:00 +0000

Are you depressed? Anxious? Moody? Many of us who are turn to pharmacutical relief, or we play mental and emotional games with ourselves to try and "ride it out." But the reality of the situation is that with the proper nutrition, or "mood vitamins," we can actually feel better than we have in years, all the time, without drugs. Without mental games.

A deficiency in Vitamin B may be to blame for many of our emotional challenges. The B-Complex vitamins are essential to the well-being of our mental and emotional health. Unlike most nutrients, our bodies don't really store a surplus of the B vitamins. Rather, we must regularly consume them to harness their healing power.

The B vitamins can only enhance your mood if they are left intact and healthy within your body. An excess of refined sugar, caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol will essentially destroy the vitamin, rendering it useless. This will only serve to perpetuate anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. If you experience these feelings, immediately discontinue the use of those harmful substances.

Then, begin a B vitamin supplementation regimen by taking the following:

* Thiamine (Vitamin B1) - This is the vitamin your brain uses to convert blood sugar into fuel. When it is deficient, your brain will run out of energy at an alarming rate, causing depression, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and suicidal thoughts. This vitamin is critical in maintaining emotional balance and a "zest for life."
* Niacin (Vitamin B3) - A minor deficiency in this critical vitamin will lead to agitation, anxiety, and mental & physical slowness. A major deficiency can cause Pellagra, or dementia & psychosis. This vitamin keeps you active and sane.
* Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - Two substances your brain combines and uses to keep your mood in check and avoid depression are amino acids and acetylcholine. A deficiency in B5 prevents this from happening, resulting in major fatigue, chronic stress, and depression. This vitamin is so important in keeping you emotionally stable and able to cope with life.
* Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) - Your brain uses this vitamin to process amino acids and create seratonin, as well as melatonin and dopamine. B6 deficiency can result in mental confusion, along with immune system challenges and skin lesions. When this vitamin is in ample supply, you should feel sharp and alert.
* Vitamin B12 - This is a critical element in the formation of red blood cells. A B12 deficiency is perhaps the scariest B vitamin deficiency, as it leads to a condition called pernicious anemia, an oxygen transport problem. Symptoms include confusion, irritability, dementia, hallucinations, weakness, dizziness, and tingling in the extremities, among others. When in ample supply, this vitamin will help keep you oxygenated and centered.

In addition to an all natural, whole-food B vitamin supplement, I also highly encourage you to pick up both a whole-food multi-vitamin and a powerful antioxidant formula. The acai berry and green tea are phenomenal antioxidants that will kill any free radicals that could potentially hinder the effectiveness of your B, and other mood vitamins.

On a final note, please avoid your corner grocery or drug store. They deal mostly in synthetics. We want whole-food vitamins, as they are the only kind your body will actually recognize, assimilate, and use. Get to know the nice people at your best local health food store.

Mood disorders like depression, anxiety or panic, irritability, and apathy can be debilitating. They can ruin lives. They even did me in, once upon a time. "Mood vitamins" will give you the best fighting chance, I assure you.

You're going to do great! Thank you for reading.

Lee Murray is a musician and nutrition consultant living in Spokane, WA with his wife, Dana, and brand new baby boy, Cadence Benjamin.

Feel free to visit VitaMiracle, a premier online resource for amazing natural vitamins & minerals, beauty products, and alternative medicines.

If you'd like more information on the incredible acai berry, please Click Here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leland_Murray

Aromatherapy For Depression - Does it Really Work? By Kyley Zimmerman

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:20:00 +0000

If you've ever suffered from depression, you know how debilitating it can be. It can touch every part of your life, from eating and sleeping to your work, relationships, and how you see yourself as a person. Feelings of sadness and disconnect can range from a mild case of the blues to clinical depression requiring medical treatment.

Can Aromatherapy Help?

Yes, it can. This is not to say that aromatherapy can "cure" depression - but it can help ease the anxiety, tension, stress and fear that are often part of the depression package. Aromatherapy is also useful for insomnia, low energy and poor concentration.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

Aromatherapy works by boosting the body's internal healing process. Inhaling essential oils stimulates the olfactory nerves (sense of smell), which send signals to the brain's limbic system, which, in turn, triggers an emotional, physiological, endocrine and / or immune system response. Voila! You get the therapeutic effect!

Published clinical studies show positive results on (among other things) sleep problems and emotional, stress-related disorders. Although aromatherapy can help ease the symptoms of depression, it's best to use aromatherapy to support other treatments if your depression is severe or unmanageable.

Essential Oils for Depression

Try using some of the following essential oils to help ease the various symptoms of your depression.

* Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon and Orange to lift mood. Caution: these oils can cause sunburn when applied to your skin before sun exposure.
*
* Cedar, chamomile, frankincense, lavender and sandalwood for anxiety, tension and frazzled nerves.
*
* Peppermint and rosemary for an energy boost and to help improve mental clarity and concentration. Caution: DO NOT use rosemary if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
*
* Clary sage, geranium, lavender and rose to balance your system (including hormones.)

Essential Oil Safety

Always dilute essential oils when applying them to your skin (in a bath or massage oil, for instance.)

Pregnant women need to be careful about using essential oils. Only some essential oils are considered to be safe when used in small, well-diluted amounts. Safe oils include: geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, spearmint and ylang ylang.

If you're highly allergic or have extremely sensitive skin, do a spot test before using essential oils.

Make Your Own Aromatherapy Inhaler

This is great because you can carry the bottle in your bag or keep it in your desk (keep an extra one in your car - it's great for road rage!) and use it whenever you need a lift.

Pour a teaspoon of coarse sea salt in a very small dark glass or PET plastic bottle and add:

* 10 drops Bergamot essential oil
* 5 drops Grapefruit essential oil
* 4 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
* 1 drop Geranium essential oil

To use, take three long, slow, deep breaths of the aroma. If you're really stressed out, take a short break, then take three more deep breaths. You can do this up to three times.

There are many more excellent aromatherapy remedies you can quickly and easily make for yourself or someone who needs a lift. Bath salts and oils, massage oils and even aromatherapy perfumes use a few simple ingredients that pack a powerhouse of mood-lifting, stress-relieving benefits. Try making some the next time you need a little something special!

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, prevent, diagnose, or cure any condition.

Kyley Zimmerman works from home and focuses on making her family life happy, healthy and eco-friendly. She shares her love of making natural bath, body and home products at http://www.easy-aromatherapy-recipes.com/ Check it out!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kyley_Zimmerman

Is Your Child Depressed? 6 Ways to Help Them Cope Kids and Depression Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:18:00 +0000

In Part II of our series on episodic childhood depression, we'll discuss concrete ways you can teach your child coping skills. If your child seems distressed, despondent or sad for a prolonged period of time, have them seen by someone with diagnostic skills. Be sure to have a pediatrician rule out any underlying issues that might be causing depression.

I can't say it enough: teach kids problem-solving skills from a very early age. If your child has developed problem solving skills but lost access to them because they are depressed periodically, you have to help them regain access to those skills. So how do you do this? Here are some suggestions for ways to help you coach your child through it:

* Help Kids Identify Coping Skills: When you ask a teen or pre-teen, "What are your coping skills," if he can say, "Oh, I go to my room. I listen to some music, I count to ten," that's good because he understands that coping is a skill, not an art or magic. And once you teach kids that behavior is a skill, the next step is to get them to identify problems and develop the behavioral tools to deal with them. And so it becomes, "You're feeling sad, you're feeling depressed, what can we do about that problem? What would you find helpful?" It gives you a place to stand where you can both begin talking about how to solve the problem of feeling sad.

* Keep Them Busy: When people are depressed, kids as well as adults, they still have to meet their responsibilities. Again, I'm not talking about kids who are so clinically depressed they're immobilized. For everyone else, one of the most important treatments for depression is to get the person up off their butt to do the dishes, make the bed, take a shower. It doesn't have to be done in a harsh manner, but you should be firm. If your child can't handle a complex task, give them simple ones, but keep them busy. Depressed people should not be allowed to lie in bed under the covers, because it just makes the situation worse.

* Responsibilities: As far as responsibilities go, I don't think a lot of special consideration should be given to kids who are episodically depressed. Rather, maintain the same expectations. They will probably need more support to perform at the same level. Know that you have to give them more opportunities to regroup. Be more available to them when they start feeling overwhelmed, but don't let them avoid their responsibilities. You can say, "We understand you're down, but you still have to do your homework."You may want to ease them into tasks by having them do the dishes with you in the kitchen, do their homework while you work nearby, or go to the store with you. Again, get them out and moving about. Remember, a good parenting style for kids who are depressed is like a coaching style. Coach your child to learn new skills. During a time of episodic depression in your child's life, I would recommend that you use more coaching and less limit setting.

* Why a Quiet Room is Important: Children who are depressed often exhibit distractibility and impaired concentration, so it's important to get them in a soothing environment. Don't try to have a talk with them about their behavior or about their coping skills when a lot of other distractions are present. In a school setting, if you're in a special education class where there's a lot of noise in the classroom, an upset child will not be able to engage in a conversation in a way that's helpful. That's why many schools have a "quiet room" where kids can go to calm down. Once that happens, the adult in charge can talk with them about whether or not they're angry, whether or not they're depressed, what the problem is and how they can solve it. The same goes for kids at home. If possible, take your child into a room where there are no distractions and let them calm down before opening a conversation about why they're upset. And let your child know that you're willing to listen to them and talk with them about what's making them sad. You can say, "We won't force you to talk if you don't want to, but we're here."

* Recognize That Moodiness is Part of Growing Up: We all go through moods, adolescents especially, and parents have to be understanding of that. The idea here is, "Yes, we tolerate moods, but you still have to do your homework." You can say, "All right, so you can be moody, you can feel irritable, you can be down, you can be sad. We'll talk with you about it if you want to, but you've got to get your homework done either way." You can also do a bit more coaching with kids around this. Try saying, "Hey, you seemed okay yesterday, what happened? Did something happen in school?" You can probe it a little bit more, but don't let your child avoid responsibilities through these mood states.

* "Everyone Gets Sad Sometimes." Let your child know that we all have periods of feeling down, that problems can seem overwhelming to everyone at times. Feelings of sadness are a part of depression, but they're also very human. Even intense feelings of sadness can be experienced without it being considered unhealthy or abnormal. And for most kids, the depression they go through is a period of sadness, a period of being down, a time when something's going wrong and they don't know what to do about it. Parents can talk that through with their kids. And they can use the teaching style and a coaching style to help them manage those feelings and learn more skills./li>

What kids need to know is that no matter what, the rules still apply to them. A generation of kids is being raised to think that because they're depressed, they don't have to follow the rules. They believe if they say they're depressed, if they act out, somebody will give them a pill or give them easier homework or tell them, "you don't have to do your homework, you're depressed."By the time they're in adolescence, there are a lot of kids who are pretty comfortable using clinical and diagnostic excuses to avoid responsibilities: That has become their chief coping skill.

They don't learn how to solve problems and figure out how to manage tasks, because they're mainly concerned with convincing you that they can't do it. The sad thing is that they wind up in adulthood with absolutely no skills. What they don't realize is that nobody's going to be there to take care of them and make the world an easier place for them to navigate.

When your child is sad or depressed, it's not good-many parents would do anything in the world to take that feeling away so their child does not have to experience it. But look at it this way: hard as it is, going through an episode of depression is yet another opportunity for your child to learn how to cope with problems. And the more we can teach them to solve problems as they grow, the better they'll be able to function successfully and manage life's twists and turns when they become adults.

For three decades, behavioral therapist James Lehman, MSW, has worked with troubled teens and children with behavior problems. He has developed a practical, real-life approach to managing children and adolescents that teaches them how to solve social problems without hiding behind a faÃ§ade of defiant, disrespectful, or obnoxious behavior. He has taught his approach to parents, teachers, state agencies and treatment centers in private practice and now through The Total Transformation Program -- a comprehensive step-by-step, multi-media program that makes learning James' techniques remarkably easy and helps you change your child's behavior.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Lehman

6 Different Depression Types

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:20:00 +0000

There are several types that varies in symptoms and diagnosis, yet they all have a profound affect on the patients' life. It needs a mental health care professional in order to distinguish between them, since some of them share the same symptoms and signs.

Severe depression
this disorder is, as the name suggests, the most serious. It affects all life aspects. A person that suffers this disorder looses his ability to live a normal life. Working, studying, sleeping and also appetite are all impaired. It is also prevents people from enjoying their hobbies and activities they used to enjoy. They loose their self-worth and they feel guilty and hopeless. Patients can also suffer from suicide thoughts and plans and they are more exposed to often recurrences than the other types' patients.

Dysthymia
This type considered to be a less severe, yet chronic version of severe depression. People with dysthymia live their lives with a constant sense of sadness and melancholy, low energy and lack of enjoyment.

Bipolar Disorder
Also known as manic-depressive disorder, this disorder is one of the easiest to diagnose of all the other types, since it has a set of unique set of symptoms. The main symptom is having dramatic changes in mood. Bipolar disorder patient can suffer a low level of energy and sadness and in fact can show any of the major depression disorder symptoms, including desire to hurt themselves (the depressive polar), and than, after a short period time that can be days, weeks or months, show an excitable behavior (the manic polar) that can manifest in excessive money spending on shopping and gambling.

Cyclothymia
This disorder is another type of bipolar disorder, yet it considered to be less severe and more chronic. In this disorder the person suffers milder manifestations of both manic and depressive symptoms. The changes from one polar to the opposite one can be performed in just a short time.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
This type typically manifests during a course of a season. All symptoms are eliminated once the specific season ends. This is also one of the depression types that are easy to diagnose and it is more common in winter.

Postpartum Depression
This rare type can, of course, only manifest in women, after giving birth to a new baby. Those mothers suffer symptoms of a depressive disorder that can manifest anytime after delivery, sometimes even months after. The symptoms of this disorder are the same as other types symptoms, But Without proper diagnosis and treatment, it can also be dangerous for both the mother and the baby, since symptoms also include lack of ability to take proper care of the baby or lack of motherly feelings towards the baby and even resentment and hate. Without help, some of the patients can harm themselves as well as the baby.

The owner of this article is Shoran Kaplan who is also the owner of "Everything You Ought to Know About Depression" web site, where you can find more valuable information about depression types, diagnosis and treatment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Kaplan

What Caused My Depression?

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:18:00 +0000

It is believed that depression is commonly caused by a combination of different factors. Although the definite causes has not yet been reveled, the two major factors are mainly biological and social.

At the biological level, it can be caused as a result of an imbalanced level of hormones in the brain, mainly serotonin. In this case doctors usually prescribe medications to regain the necessary balance.

At the social level, a depressive disorder can occur due to difficulties such as unemployment, financial problems, death of loved one, loss of relationship etc. In this case use of medications is not mandatory and the preferred treatment is psychotherapy.

Common causes :
1. Family history: The specific gene that is responsible for depression has not yet been identified but studies showed that when a person has a family history , his chances of developing a depressive disorder are higher than average.

2. Major Trauma: Dealing with stressful or traumatizing events such as separation from a loved one, sudden lose of a job, unemployment or financial difficulties.

3. Chronic illness: People that suffer a chronic or life threatening illnesses such as cancer or HIV, can also develop depression. In this case dealing with constant pain aggravates the problem even farther and makes it even harder to treat.

4. Childhood traumas: Childhood sexual or physical abused or any other kind of trauma.

5. Personality: Having a low self-esteem and pessimistic point of view.

What ever the causes are, social or biological, a depressed person must seek a professional help as soon as possible.

The owner of this article is Shoran Kaplan who is also the owner of the What is depression web site, where you can find more valuable information about depression types,causes, diagnosis and treatment.

Sharon uses her site in order to increase awareness of depression.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Kaplan

Depression and Relationships - 5 Signs Your Depression May Be Caused by Your Relationship

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:16:00 +0000

Depression is a common malady that afflicts many people at some point or another in their lives. There may be a multitude of factors to cause the symptoms - unresolved past grief, current life challenges, and/or brain chemistry issues. However, there is one factor that is often missed when determining the origins of depression. Emotionally and psychologically abusive relationships can do a tremendous amount of damage to our feelings of self worth and cause feelings of depression and hopelessness. Often, due to the nature of this type of abuse, the victim blames him or herself for the problem, assuming that their abuser is correct and they are inferior, incompetent, or even crazy. Emotional abuse can be difficult to detect especially in its more subtle forms. Here are 5 signs your depression may be caused by an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship:

1. Your partner puts you down, in public or private. These insults may be as blatant as outright name calling, or they may be more subtle criticisms of the way you do simple things. In any case, the end result is a feeling of inferiority and worthlessness in comparison to your partner.

2. Your partner attempts to control your activities. You may feel obligated to report your activities to your partner, justify your actions, and endure criticism of the way you managed your day. You may even feel pressured to conform to an "acceptable" list of activities your partner approves of.

3. Your partner attempts to limit access to anything that might foster independence, such as work, educational opportunities, and friends and family. Isolation is a very effective tactic for the abuser. Keeping you dependent keeps the abuser in control. In keeping you from friends and family, not only are you under the abuser's thumb, you are also being kept from hearing the more positive, accurate messages about yourself from your loved ones. It may also reduce the opportunity your loved ones might take to criticize your abuser. Your abuser may expressly forbid you to see someone, or be more subtle by appealing to your guilt. "You would choose to see them over me?"

4. Your partner uses sex as a form of control and manipulation. This could take the form of demanding sex from you regardless of your mental state, needs or desires, or it may manifest as a deliberate withholding of sex and intimacy in order to keep you feeling rejected, dependent, and at the mercy of the abuser's agenda.

5. Your partner may imply that you will be punished non-physically for not complying with his or her demands. This tactic may also be punctuated with occasional acts of kindness and generosity designed to throw you off and plant false hope in the future of the relationship and its potential for improvement.

Are you interested in addressing your depression from a holistic standpoint, assessing the physical, emotional, and relationship components?

For a free copy of my ebook, "Natural Methods To Fight Depression", click here: http://www.stoptoxicrelationships.com/gifts-naturalmethodstofightdepression.html

Shannon Cook is a personal growth and relationship expert who has written a number of informative articles and ebooks on the topic of toxic relationships and holistic personal growth, including physical, emotional and relationship health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_E_Cook

How to Speed Up Your Recovery From Depression

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:15:00 +0000

The most powerful plan for recovery from depression focuses on not just one method such as antidepressants. That's merely a step. If that was the case, then there would not be millions of Americans still on antidepressants. You must think of your antidepressants as the crutch to support you while you dig deeper into what is truly causing your depression. The true answer is found in a complete approach. Here are a few powerful steps you can implement for your recovery from depression.

What are you eating these days? A diet high in Omega 6 fatty acids (a junk food diet) is usually the first problem. Omega-6 fatty acids, found in everything from margarine and ice cream to snack foods such as potato chips, have replaced the healthy omega-3 fats. As a result, you can damage your levels of happy brain chemicals - serotonin and dopamine. (Low serotonin is linked to depression, the risk of suicide, and violent and impulsive behaviors. Dopamine is crucial to decision-making.) ((Dr. Hibbiln, National Institutes of Health, 2001)). Your recovery from depression often begins with looking at what you are eating.

After looking at your diet, your recovery from depression requires focusing in on your thoughts. You can easily get into negative thinking habits if you suffer from depression. Rather than coming up with a solution to a problem and acting on it, you may often find yourself allowing your negative thoughts to spiral out of control. It is important to recognize negative thinking patterns and put a stop to it immediately. One powerful exercise is to journal your thoughts to help you recognize this.

A third powerful step to speed up your recovery from depression is to get out in the sunshine or use a specialized light box. Several studies have documented the advantage of specialized light for depression. Patients responded to light within a week verses several weeks for medication, and light posed no long-term negative side effects. A review of light therapy in Archives of General Psychiatry concluded the following:

"The evidence is in that light is an active neurobiological agent. Light therapy is easy to administer in outpatient settings, lacks major side effects, and, importantly, is cost-effective." - Archives of General Psychiatry, October 1998

So remember that recovery from depression requires you to look at a complete approach beyond any medication your doctor prescribes. Ask your doctor about a complete approach to recovery from depression.

There is hope! You are worth it!

Merri Ellen

From suicidal to impacting the lives of others, Merri Ellen Giesbrecht shares hope for those suffering from depression. When antidepressants made her life worse, she began to research the medical journals to find the truth. What she found would not only change her life but also thousands of others around the world through her website: http://www.cure-your-depression.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Merri_Ellen_Giesbrecht

Hypnosis to Counteract Depression & Suicide Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Remember you are not alone:
The first two things you should do, is to tell your doctor, and your family member. If there are counseling sessions available (these are usually free depends where you live- ask your doctor) If not find someone you can trust, I am in Los Angeles, Sun Fernando Valley area and I work with clients who are referred to me by their physicians, But I am not free, so first see if you can get all the help you need for free, I am sure your doctor can help... when you go, make sure you at least go to a handful of sessions, nothing less the 6 sessions..

Watching your eating habit is also important: avoid high sugar in sweets and excess fat in snack foods, since they are sending the signal to your mind as a "haywire" since it does monitor your hormone and chemical levels, not to add the great amount of stress on top of it.

Do your best to keep a balanced healthy food intake such as: fruits, vegetables, none sugar cereals, yogurts, fish, lean meat, when you do that, it will not only improve your mental state of mind but also your physical health. (It is really a win win situation)

Do your best to start a small routine of exercise, do it for a ridiculous amount of two minutes a day and with time you will get use to doing more...since there are no pressures and a difficult task or commitment, I am sure you can do the two minutes walk or starching, can't you?

Now the good part of it is, when you go out and do it at a part, the chances are that you meet new people and you start socializing with nice and interesting people like you...who are looking for some positive attention, after all what is it we all need? LOVE... that what we all are after.. Don't you agree? We want to be excepted, cared, understood, loved, hugged... we all deserve it and so do you... just so you know, when you exercise, your smart brain start to release a hormones called "endomorphines" which as well as increasing your feeling of well being, that will also help in reducing the fat storage, and the end result is a great "sense of well-being" Walla.. That's not it, it will also dull any physical discomfort or pain in your body, that if you do suffer from it.

Now that said, you will also need to take care of the psychological depression, and it is easy to overcome, since with a good therapist you will find out the cause and get to the root of the problem.

Everyone get depressed and suicidal when they have no understandings, and all it comes to, is I am depressed, I feel empty, no one cares, why M I even here, feeling lonely, losing loved one due to a divorce, job loss, death and many other reasons that is related to the individual person...

Just remember, one of the affective tools to survive depression is Hypnotherapy sessions followed with a psychologist or a psychiatrist referral or even your family doctor...together you will be a new person before you say Yabba-Dabba Do.

As a reminder, please remember, Hypnotherapy, NLP or Energy Healing should not be considered as a "cure" for anything, I am not a medical practitioner, nor do I make medical claims, or offer diagnosis for medical conditions, or offer medical treatment of any kind.

All Hypnosis, NLP and Energy healings are vocational and avocational therapy to help educating clients with self improvement and self healing, In any event, cases of depression should be cared with doctors first and to be assist with Hypnotherapy session of course with doctors referral only.

Feel free to email me with any personal questions, if I can help you in any way I can, I'll do my best.

Free your self from the negative thought of "I am not worth it".

You are love, you are life and it can only get better...

Feel free to email me with any personal questions, if I can help you in any way I can, I'll do my best.

Doreen Cohanim MM, C.Ht, HBCH

HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator

http://www.EnterYourMind.com

Doreen has conducted lectures on Past Life Regression and Energy Healing classes at various places and countries such as Israel, Mexico and Canada.

As a Certified Hypnotherapist and Energy Healer, Doreen draws to her practice a great experience in working with psychologists, family therapists, sexual assault therapists and physicians since 1999. Doreen is also assisting therapeutic personal growth workshops for Chakra balancing that is called "The Dance Chakra," as well her experience as a Certified Massage Therapist for six years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doreen_Cohanim

Don't Suffer in Silence With Depression

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Let there be no doubt that depression is a serious mental illness that requires months and sometimes years of treatment on the path to a cure. Millions of Americans across the United States are affected by depression each and every year. To make things worse it is estimated that only a third of those who suffer the disease will ever seek treatment. Depression has always been classified as a mental affliction. Therefore, many Americans choose not to be placed into that category. They would rather deal with the problem on their own than risk being stereotyped should they seek assistance. Depression is more common- place than you might think and it will not go away on its own.

So, what causes depression? The answer can get very complicated because you have to take many factors into consideration. There are so many things factored into the cause of this disease. Lets examine some of the most notorious. Many medical professionals believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. This may be the case, but what causes that imbalance? Typically the causes stem from biological, genetic, physical, mental and environmental implications. There are those inflicted that never really determine what spurned their depression. Many become depressed when they are diagnosed with a very serious medical condition. This is especially the case if the diagnosis presents the possibility of death or impairment.

Another cause of depression can be the emotional pain felt after losing a loved one. In many cases the loss can be very traumatic. Some depression is brought on after years of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. In addition, many cases of depression are given birth by substance abuse, rather it be drugs or alcohol. The mental state of a human can be very fragile depending on their environment and the life events that they have been exposed too. In many cases depression is passed on genetically. Those afflicted have a family history of the disease. There are even some prescribed medications that can bring on depression. It has been clinically proven that some high blood pressure medication can cause depression.

One of the major causes of depression is stress. Stress can derive from many different areas in our life. Some of that stress can even be related to positive events in our lives such as promotions, graduation or moving into a new house. People tend to stress when they face the unknown, like a new job or new financial obligations. In addition, many are stressed from personal conflicts with their loved ones, associates in employment or friends. There are a great number of people who are stressed from simply trying to perform their jobs to satisfaction and trying to support their families from week to week. By determining the cause, medical professionals have a much better chance of administering a treatment. If you or someone you love suffers from depression-please seek medical assistance.

Depression is caused by biological, genetic, emotional and environmental factors. Stress certainly plays a major role in the advent of depression. There are wide ranges of stress related issues that affect us every day in our lives. The online depression test can only assist you in identifying the prospects in your case. It can only educate you to the potential threat and give you the opportunity to follow up on it. There are medications like anti-depressants and natural herbs on the market to treat depression. Medical professionals offer talk therapy and depression support groups offer a way to share those feelings with others who suffer the same disease. If you or someone you love thinks they may be suffering from depression take a depression test and see where you stand.

To learn much more about the different types of depression visit http://www.insightintodepression.net where you will find this and much more including causes and treatment for depression.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Davenport

How to Spot Clinical Depression Symptoms in Yourself Or a Loved One and What to Do About It

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:08:00 +0000

If you are suffering from the following clinical depression symptoms -

- Depressed mood, or

- Loss of interest or pleasure.

Are you clinically depressed?

Either of these symptoms must also team up with four other clinical depression symptoms, which include:

- Constant sadness or fear, or inability to feel emotion.

- Loss of interest in enjoyable activities.

- Changing appetite and weight gain or weight loss.

- Disturbed sleep patterns, can't sleep or sleeping all the time

- Changes in activity levels, restless or moving significantly slower than normal.

- Fatigue, both mental and physical.

- Feelings of guilt, helplessness, anxiety, and/or fear.

- Lowered self-esteem.

- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions.

- Thinking about death or suicide.

Depression alters the way you think and react to situations to the point where you may become so pessimistic that you can do little or nothing about your condition. Because of this terribly negative outlook, it is extremely important that you seek professional help if you suffer from any clinical depression symptoms.

Untreated clinical depression symptoms can get worse. You may be temporarily stable or in remission but the depression comes back with a vengeance. If left untreated it may get better on its own within six months to two years, but there are times depression becomes chronic and lasts for many years or indefinitely. In many cases (but not all) treatment can shorten the period of distress to a matter of weeks.

While depressed, you may suffer socially (e.g. the break up of relationships), occupationally (e.g. loss of a job), financially and physically. Treatment of clinical depression symptoms can significantly reduce this damage, including reducing the risk of suicide. For all of these reasons, your treatment of clinical depression symptoms is necessary and could save your life.

There is hope! You are worth it!

Merri Ellen

About the Author:

From suicidal to impacting the lives of others, Merri Ellen Giesbrecht shares hope for those suffering from depression. When antidepressants made her life worse, she began to research the medical journals to find the truth. What she found would not only change her life but also thousands of others around the world through her website: http://www.cure-your-depression.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Merri_Ellen_Giesbrecht

Depressive & Suicidal Tendencies - Understanding & Overcoming

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:07:00 +0000

We all get a little low at times and we then feel life is too much. Now that is quite human. Indeed, life is complex enough for that. But we can and should make a conscious effort to get out of this mental trap. It is Satan in us that suggests any kind of negativity or violence, including self-harm, and we should never yield to this wicked suggestion.

There can be many reasons for feeling low; some people may think it just happens without reason but it's not so. For every effect, there is always a cause. The reasons can of course be varied but they always exist.

Whatever the reasons, here are the things that can help us get over depressive and suicidal tendencies, They are: Daily exercise; taking regular sunshine; eating fruits,nuts and seasonal greens; deep and diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing or better still Yogic Pranayama; faith in a supreme benevolent power; forgiving and loving friends and relatives and praying for others (incl, love for pet, trees etc); accepting others' right to have viewpoints different from ours, reading scriptures with faith and reverence, etc.

For a person habituated to think negatively, the brain gets hard-wired accordingly. There are neural circuits formed by those habits of thought, and further action only reinforces this, needing more and more self-awareness and will to change the situation. But it never sets too hard to change.

We must basically realize that we are all good, though we fail at times to be good. When we fail, we should not feel unduly and overly guilty - we should just make amends and apologize, and move on.

The world is a school, life is all about learning, each experience being a lesson. Those who commit suicide are drop-outs from this school of life. And what happens to students who take drops? They repeat the class. Those who make a timid or confused escape from life by killing themselves unnaturally and cruelly, repeat that 'class', with the disadvantage of an extra karmic debt for killing. A murder is a murder, whether one kills another or oneself. Suicide, in a way, is the murder of the worst kind, because love like charity must begin at home, with oneself.

But those who are more fortunate, stronger and know better, should have empathy for people with depressive/suicidal tendencies and should help them get over it, rather than just criticize.

We should help such people understand that it is in a way selfish to run away from life like that. Everyone has problems, it is how we look at and treat it, that decides whether it becomes a 'ladder' or a 'snake' in life's game. Those we leave behind, were not having a cake-walk anyway (if ever walking on a cake was actually easy; wonder how this proverb came into being!); they had their challenges. If one had relationship problems with them, they must have had problems with that person too because it is usually mutual. By suddenly leaving them like that, one makes it even more difficult for them - more lonely and saddened.

Nor is it any fun for those persons themselves, as they soon discover. The whole thing is so unjust. If only one could pause for moment to take another perspective before harming oneself !

We are responsible for our thoughts which become our actions; life is a sum total of these thoughts and actions. If we are not feeling positive about our life, in stead of regretting and feeling low or finding a timid escape, we should take charge of our own selves, and change our thoughts and actions. Little success will motivate us further. If our today is sad because of bad things we did yesterday, we can improve tomorrow by doing right things today. Good or bad, life is always a journey; progress or regress, it always happens bit by bit. Life is never so bad that it can't get good again. Hope is our eternal truth. That is religious faith in practice.

Hans Dholakia

http://www.hansyoga.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hans_Dholakia

One Meaning of Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Tips And Tutorial) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Long, dark, cloudy, rainy days can be very uncomfortable for those who enjoy sunshine; however, they can be a blessing for those who recognize it as a medication for an unexplainable illness.

Depending on the way one chooses to see it, rain can be unco

Long, dark, cloudy, rainy days can be very uncomfortable for those who enjoy sunshine; however, they can be a blessing for those who recognize it as a medication for an unexplainable illness.

Depending on the way one chooses to see it, rain can be uncomfortable, but also can be very soothing for he who uses it for a medication. In reality, the rain is not a curse; on the other hand it can be a blessing. Rain brings forth growth and healing in many ways. Flowers need rain to grow and it is gladly accepted by a beautiful stem that eventually grows into a loving, heartwarming, colorful rose. Some flowers can never develop into a beautiful bloom because of problems that occur during their growth cycle. We face many storms of live that are hard for us to overcome, but the flower accepts the storm because it knows that it will grow from the water that has fallen upon it.

It came to me as a surprise the day I began to feel a wave after wave of fear as my stomach felt as if it were going to drop and give out on me. I began to hear my hear pound so loudly that I thought it would burst out of my chest. I became so afraid that I was out of breath and I asked, "What is happening to me?" I was afraid of dying suddenly, having a heart attack and I would never see my family, friends again. I felt as if I were going crazy, and thought I would smother to death. My feet felt rubbery, my hands became clammy, and began to tingle. My left arm felt numb and lifeless. I wanted to run, and cry, but was so ashamed of the unexplainable fear and never wanted anyone to know what was happening to me. Not even I knew what was happening. I acted normal to the surrounding people. My hands were sweaty. I felt as if I were having a stroke that would make me disabled for life. I barely could walk for being so dizzy, which caused me to think that I was going to pass out in any second. These feelings lasted only for several long minutes, which seemed more than that. It was one of the most distressing conditions that I had ever experienced. After the feelings subsided, I began to be burdened with lots of worry, humiliation, fear of it occurring again, that I became depressive. This was a mystery and secret for me.

Sadly, I never sought help for these episodes and I experienced them for years without telling anyone. I became very ill with this unexplainable sickness. I bounced around from doctor to doctor with the same symptoms given to each. I expressed complaints of being dizzy, sick to my stomach, sweating during the nights, chest pains, fatigue, no energy, and other dreadful symptoms. Doctors gave a reply, "I do not see anything wrong, but you can come back in a week, if you are not feeling better and we will do further testing." I heard this so many times and held my cry inside.

Weeks later, I did not want to leave my home, being afraid of people, big crowds, and afraid of having a heart attack while driving. I had bizarre thoughts of dying suddenly and no one finding me.

Weeks passed and became very ill with this sickness. I became dehydrated and a friend had to drive me to the hospital. I was hospitalized and diagnosed with anxiety attacks. I had never heard of such illness. I was in my own little world and was unable to think of anything but death.
Clinical research provided me with a solid blueprint of methods that helped me overcome anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia, which is a disorder that leads to fear of everything from long term panic attacks. I was treated with two different medications that allowed me to start the process of recovery. I kept a journal and wrote down my thoughts each day. I sometimes would panic, while writing my thoughts.

A panic attack is a horrible and terrifying experience, but is not in any sense dangerous. For example, the physician informed me, all mammals have an instinctual response to either fight or flee. During a panic attack, I felt the same way. The strong desire of adrenaline was accompanied by strong feelings of anxiety and panic and I felt the strong desire to either flee or escape the situation or circumstance immediately. What is happening to a body when a strong urge of panic is being brought on?

The flow of adrenaline and resulting extra blood flow increases your strength and awareness of the danger. This extra "awareness" of the perceived danger may cause all sorts of feelings, such as dizziness, nausea, hyperventilation, heart palpitations, confusion, and lack of control, unreality, being dazed, shaking, trembling, and sweaty palms. (The Anxiety Network International)

Each person has a healing path or a special technique that helps them cope with the problem. The healing path can be very creative and such a great experience of joy and love we find in ourselves that we never knew we had. First, one needs the attitude of allowing a person to recognize that one has an illness, not any different from diabetes or high blood pressure. A lot of illnesses are treated the same way with precautions or medications. Secondly, inner safe meditation is a healing form, which allows one's body to realize what is actually going on inside the mind. Third, listen to stories of healing and personal stories from others that allow recovery. Fourth, never be ashamed to take medication for a panic disorder. There must be a reason for the medication and we need to understand that this is not the only illness that needs medication. The synopsis of panic disorder is as follows.

People with panic disorder experience a horrible anxiety attack accompanied by many physical symptoms that are originally interpreted as a physical, medical problem. Socially-anxious people experience horrible anxiety in social situations that lead them to stay away from other people because of the anxiety that it causes. They see anxiety as a "fear" and do not believe it is caused by a physical, medical condition. http://anxietynetwork.com/diff.html

No one knows what it is like to go through such a terrifying experience unless he has gone through it himself. And, of course it becomes even harder because for a lot of us, there is no one to share the pain and fear who will truly understand. It is a hard thing to deal with alone.

Looking back at some of my fears, I remember the rain being the most soothing medication for me. Waking up on a rainy morning, with fog filling the sky, vehicles passing with their windshield wipers moving backward and forth, I found to be one of the best feelings during the time of despair. I can remember thinking," Everyone must be feeling bad today, because of this rain, so I am not the only one." It was a soothing feeling, very easy to describe. It was the rain that helped me through some of the tough times that I had dealt with. Rain made everything grow around me. I was growing just like the colorful velvety flowers outside my window. Everything was being replenished. I needed watered and also desired to nurture out the feeling that I was experiencing. The rain helped me through this terrible nightmare.

Rain motivated my growth, as I sink into my chair, the water sinks into the ground. I was soothed and energized by the rain and found it to be my blessing. Rain helped me with my growth and healing. Some people may never overcome their problems, but the rain helped overcome mine. There is a day for sunshine and there is a day for rain.

Jennifer Lynn Jackson

http://www.jenniferljackson.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Lynn_Jackson

mfortable, but also can be very soothing for he who uses it for a medication. In reality, the rain is not a curse; on the other hand it can be a blessing. Rain brings forth growth and healing in many ways. Flowers need rain to grow and it is gladly accepted by a beautiful stem that eventually grows into a loving, heartwarming, colorful rose. Some flowers can never develop into a beautiful bloom because of problems that occur during their growth cycle. We face many storms of live that are hard for us to overcome, but the flower accepts the storm because it knows that it will grow from the water that has fallen upon it.

It came to me as a surprise the day I began to feel a wave after wave of fear as my stomach felt as if it were going to drop and give out on me. I began to hear my hear pound so loudly that I thought it would burst out of my chest. I became so afraid that I was out of breath and I asked, "What is happening to me?" I was afraid of dying suddenly, having a heart attack and I would never see my family, friends again. I felt as if I were going crazy, and thought I would smother to death. My feet felt rubbery, my hands became clammy, and began to tingle. My left arm felt numb and lifeless. I wanted to run, and cry, but was so ashamed of the unexplainable fear and never wanted anyone to know what was happening to me. Not even I knew what was happening. I acted normal to the surrounding people. My hands were sweaty. I felt as if I were having a stroke that would make me disabled for life. I barely could walk for being so dizzy, which caused me to think that I was going to pass out in any second. These feelings lasted only for several long minutes, which seemed more than that. It was one of the most distressing conditions that I had ever experienced. After the feelings subsided, I began to be burdened with lots of worry, humiliation, fear of it occurring again, that I became depressive. This was a mystery and secret for me.

Sadly, I never sought help for these episodes and I experienced them for years without telling anyone. I became very ill with this unexplainable sickness. I bounced around from doctor to doctor with the same symptoms given to each. I expressed complaints of being dizzy, sick to my stomach, sweating during the nights, chest pains, fatigue, no energy, and other dreadful symptoms. Doctors gave a reply, "I do not see anything wrong, but you can come back in a week, if you are not feeling better and we will do further testing." I heard this so many times and held my cry inside.

Weeks later, I did not want to leave my home, being afraid of people, big crowds, and afraid of having a heart attack while driving. I had bizarre thoughts of dying suddenly and no one finding me.

Weeks passed and became very ill with this sickness. I became dehydrated and a friend had to drive me to the hospital. I was hospitalized and diagnosed with anxiety attacks. I had never heard of such illness. I was in my own little world and was unable to think of anything but death.
Clinical research provided me with a solid blueprint of methods that helped me overcome anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia, which is a disorder that leads to fear of everything from long term panic attacks. I was treated with two different medications that allowed me to start the process of recovery. I kept a journal and wrote down my thoughts each day. I sometimes would panic, while writing my thoughts.

A panic attack is a horrible and terrifying experience, but is not in any sense dangerous. For example, the physician informed me, all mammals have an instinctual response to either fight or flee. During a panic attack, I felt the same way. The strong desire of adrenaline was accompanied by strong feelings of anxiety and panic and I felt the strong desire to either flee or escape the situation or circumstance immediately. What is happening to a body when a strong urge of panic is being brought on?

The flow of adrenaline and resulting extra blood flow increases your strength and awareness of the danger. This extra "awareness" of the perceived danger may cause all sorts of feelings, such as dizziness, nausea, hyperventilation, heart palpitations, confusion, and lack of control, unreality, being dazed, shaking, trembling, and sweaty palms. (The Anxiety Network International)

Each person has a healing path or a special technique that helps them cope with the problem. The healing path can be very creative and such a great experience of joy and love we find in ourselves that we never knew we had. First, one needs the attitude of allowing a person to recognize that one has an illness, not any different from diabetes or high blood pressure. A lot of illnesses are treated the same way with precautions or medications. Secondly, inner safe meditation is a healing form, which allows one's body to realize what is actually going on inside the mind. Third, listen to stories of healing and personal stories from others that allow recovery. Fourth, never be ashamed to take medication for a panic disorder. There must be a reason for the medication and we need to understand that this is not the only illness that needs medication. The synopsis of panic disorder is as follows.

People with panic disorder experience a horrible anxiety attack accompanied by many physical symptoms that are originally interpreted as a physical, medical problem. Socially-anxious people experience horrible anxiety in social situations that lead them to stay away from other people because of the anxiety that it causes. They see anxiety as a "fear" and do not believe it is caused by a physical, medical condition. http://anxietynetwork.com/diff.html

No one knows what it is like to go through such a terrifying experience unless he has gone through it himself. And, of course it becomes even harder because for a lot of us, there is no one to share the pain and fear who will truly understand. It is a hard thing to deal with alone.

Looking back at some of my fears, I remember the rain being the most soothing medication for me. Waking up on a rainy morning, with fog filling the sky, vehicles passing with their windshield wipers moving backward and forth, I found to be one of the best feelings during the time of despair. I can remember thinking," Everyone must be feeling bad today, because of this rain, so I am not the only one." It was a soothing feeling, very easy to describe. It was the rain that helped me through some of the tough times that I had dealt with. Rain made everything grow around me. I was growing just like the colorful velvety flowers outside my window. Everything was being replenished. I needed watered and also desired to nurture out the feeling that I was experiencing. The rain helped me through this terrible nightmare.

Rain motivated my growth, as I sink into my chair, the water sinks into the ground. I was soothed and energized by the rain and found it to be my blessing. Rain helped me with my growth and healing. Some people may never overcome their problems, but the rain helped overcome mine. There is a day for sunshine and there is a day for rain.

©copyright by Jennifer L Jackson

Jennifer Lynn Jackson

http://www.jenniferljackson.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Lynn_Jackson