Feeling Down and Depressed?

By Margaret Sweet  

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Depression hurts. We all feel sad from time to time, but when a person is suffering from depression constantly, it hurts. Depression is a serious mental disorder that many take too lightly, but the truth is, depression is deadly. People with major depressive disorders have committed suicide, taking their own lives. Thus, when someone is suffering with depression it is important to give thorough consideration to what the person is saying.
People with depression lose hope, and often feel like the world has caved in on them, thus making it difficult to concentrate and cope with daily life. It gets worse when a person depressed feels that no one cares or is listening to what they have to say.
I lost a dear friend to depression. The warning signs were ignored. In the small rural area I lived in, my friend owned a glass shop. He was an alcoholic and struggling with depression. One day, he used his handgun to shoot himself, and when he failed, he staggered across the street to the police department and convinced them it was an accidental shooting. They believed him. I knew that this was the first warning sign. I instantly headed to my friends house once he was admitted from the hospital after being treated for his chest wound.
I encouraged him; I did everything within my power to persuade him to get help, and even offered to stay with him. Nothing I did worked. Later, my friend said he was going hunting, telling his family he would be back soon. I knew that was a lie when another friend of mine told me. That day, he shot himself in the head, a few days later he died.
Depression hurts not only those suffering, but those who are hurt by actions such as suicide. It is appalling that few people hear the "Silent Cries of" these "Victims" who silently suffer. It is time to wake up people, have them take notice. If someone you know suffers depression there is help for these people. They do not have to suffer alone.
Programs such as Cognitive Behavioral therapy are available online. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a helpful technique that helps the patient focus on thoughts and behaviors that causes the depression. By looking closely at these thoughts and behaviors, a person can spot irrational thoughts, and learn to deal with ruminating, hopeless thoughts more effectively. There is help.
Signs of depression
• Isolation
• Drinking frequently
• Loss of interest in activities
• Loss of interest in friends and family
• Feeling hopeless
• Deep sadness
• Insomnia
• Loss of concentration
• Fatigue
• Excessive sleeping patterns
• Weight gain or loss
• Excessive guilt
• Reoccurring suicidal thoughts
Depression is no joke. If you know someone who is suffering with depression, help them get emotional support.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy
http://www.online-therapy.com
http://www.cbttherapy.org

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Depression And Suicidal Thoughts

By William Drebin  

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Depression and suicidal thoughts, they often aren't mutually exclusive. At some point in a depression, probably very early on, you're going to have thoughts of suicide.
When you're suicidal, you see things from a different perspective than a regular life loving person. You're incapable of giving much meaning to trivial as well as important matters others value so dearly. In fact, you're highly indifferent to just about anything they shove in front of you.
"What do you think about my new dress?"
"What color should we use for our bed sheet?"
"How do you think we should approach this client?"
"Should we take a mortgage for 20 or 30 years?"
You don't take into account the future. You're thinking short-term, as you probably won't be around for long anymore. It's kind of liberating in a way. Feeling suicidal can actually lead to happiness. There is always a way out, sort of like a hardline seen in The Matrix movie. This can be very motivating in a way.
A lot of people never think about death, as it frightens them beyond measure. It's often a taboo to talk about it. A regular person can't imagine someone wants to die. Therefore they jump to battle stations, hauling arguments long and wide why you shouldn't kill yourself. They're so furious about it, they'll almost kill you themselves.
One argument that I really dread is: "Committing suicide is selfish". I can relate to why people say that, I do. Especially when the depressed person has a lot of responsibilities and is most likely going to cause devastation in the hearts of his family and friends. However, isn't it equally selfish of us bystanders to demand of the suicidal person, who is suffering terribly, to stay around so we personally wouldn't get hurt? We're basically saying: "Well, too bad you're suffering, but you've got to hang in there because we don't like funerals."
When depressed, 'hanging in there' can last a long, long time. It's not like feeling a bit low today and tomorrow it will all be better. Depression can last years. It does not only affect the person in question, but also everyone he comes in contact with. Nobody likes having a depressed person around, they often avoid coming into contact with one, yet society demands he stays alive. Sometimes it's just better to let things go. Isn't there a saying: "If you love someone, set him free"?

If you still have hope, whether you're depressed or you know someone who is depressed and you want to help, it is important to know what you are dealing with. If you know nothing about your enemy, you reduce your chances of successful retaliation. Read more about how to help people with depression.

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Causes, Signs and Solutions for Depression

By C Yvon  

Photo: teenager-s.com

Being depressed can be described as feeling of being unhappy, sad, blue or straight down miserable. Everyone feel this kind of emotion in every aggravating situation, trauma or experience that hit us.
Whenever this situation happens, being sad about it makes us human and perfectly normal. But when depression already interferes with our activities of daily living, it is already classified as a mood disorder under clinical depression.
Causes of Depression
Until this recent time, medical experts stated that the true source of depression is still unspecified or unknown. Depression can be triggered due to a very stressful or traumatic experience, a side effect of medication or can be inherited from your blood line.
The most probable cause of severe depression may came from a stressful event such as death of a significant other, loss of job, financial instability, social isolation, emotional breakdown, break ups, or massive failures.
Other factors that can trigger this mood disorder are familial and genetic markup, medical conditions relating with cancer, chronic pain, problems in sleeping, and side effects of medications.
But most likely, the combination of a stressful event and heredity is the most probable cause of acquiring this disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
A person who is suffering from major or clinical depression may feel or have:

• Highly irritated
• Loss of appetite
• Poor or decreased concentration
• Restlessness and agitation
• Feeling of worthlessness or guilt
• Suicidal ideations
• Ineffective sleeping pattern (insomnia or hypersomnia)
• Negative view of self or low self esteem

Solutions and Treatments
There are a lot of medical and unconventional treatments for depression. Medical treatments involve the use of anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy.
There are also other programs that can help depressed people regain their energy and rebuild their life such as energy tapping, hypnotherapy or hypnosis, laughter yoga and many other mind body techniques.
EFT or energy tapping is a combination of Chinese acupuncture and tapping. This technique can help you restore and rebuild your self-esteem back. It works by tapping your negative energies or your stresses away from the body and inviting positive energy to fill into your soul.
Hypnotherapy or self hypnosis is one of most feasible and cost-effective means to continually battle and break free from the vicious cycle depression brings.
It is designed to target your subconscious mind enabling you to accept your depressive state and eventually help you root out the source of your depression whether it is a painful life-changing event or a physical trauma. It then enables your mind to alter certain behaviors and changes the way you should feel and act whenever these factors are triggered again.

The author shares invaluable information about the sources, signs, symptoms and possible solutions on depression. Bring an end to your depressive state and find light and hope by using hypnosis for depression. To know more about instant self hypnosis, sign up for your FREE mini-course by visiting us online.

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Simple Ways To Combat Stress

By: John Hilbert

We live in a fast paced society which seems to be becoming more hectic by the day. Every day we run into people who lose control and flip out. We, ourselves, do it on occasion. There's no way to change the world around us so we have to try to control our inner world. We have to take care of our own mind, body and soul.

Here's a few very simple things that can make a big difference:

-take a walk every day-
-limit caffeine and alcohol intake-
-instead of watching television, read a book-
-at dinner time, turn off the TV, radio, and phone-
-when it's sunny out, get outside as much as possible-
-avoid negative people as much as possible without being rude-
-try different things once in a while(stay out of ruts)-

It's not difficult to do these things but most of us won't unless reminded of them. So, put these tips on a little note somewhere visible and add a couple of your own ideas and keep adding to the list. It's been said and proven that you get more results when you put your goals in writing.

Try this for a month and see what happens.

http://conquer-stress.info/stress/


About the Author

John Hilbert has an informational website at: http://conquer-stress.info/stress/

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Teenager - How to Deal With Sadness and Depression

By Angela Linton
Depression can grab hold of both adults and children and disturbingly, it has lead some people down the suicidal road. Depression is a state of mind that cannot be shaken off by thinking only positive things. It grabs hold of you and it hampers you from enjoying life the way in which you once did.
As a teenager, if you are feeling sad, several things can be done to move you from this state. To begin with, if you have a relationship with the Lord God then having a conversation with Him with be more than worth it.
Secondly, take a look at what have been going on in your life lately. That is, are you morning the passing away of someone that you loved. If this is the case, then it is understandable that you are sad. Therefore, give it some time and as the days go by, although you will always miss this individual, you can move forward to enjoying life once again.
You can also take a look at the other things that have been going on in your life. That is, have you been listening only to sad music on the ipod, etc and, or have you been watching only sad movies on the TV? Additionally, have you been surrounding yourself only with things that are causing you to become sad?
If this is the case, it is time that you take a break from all of this. Listen to other types of music, watch some other types of films and keep away from surrounding yourself with only sadness.
If it is a matter of sadness, then doing these things will help you to move on from this point. However, if this is not the case, doing these things will not help you greatly and therefore, other steps have to be taken.
Talk With Your Parent
Talk with your parent about it. This could be a bit challenging, especially if you do not have a good relationship with them. Additionally, some people do not think children could become depress. However, do not let this stop you from reaching out to them for help.
Choose a time when the two or three of you can sit down and talk, but this is a two-way street. You have to be forth coming with them, explain to them, what have been going on in your life and give them an opportunity to respond.
Talk With A Trusted Person
If your parents are not available, talk with someone with whom, you trust. This can be a respected spiritual leader, a teacher, or an adult friend.
Follow The Guidelines
If your parents decide to take you to a therapist, follow the advice that the therapist will be giving to you and if you are prescribed any medication, take them as prescribed.

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

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Stop Mental Torment

By Kimberly Marooney
There are three main types of suffering: body pain, emotional pain, and mental torment. They go together so naturally that it is hard to tell them apart. Let's use a person who suffers from migraine headaches as an example. As the pain of the migraine become incapacitating, the person must stop all activities and retreat.
This opens up the door of mental torment, as the mind repeats phrases such as, "What if this is another five-day ordeal? I have to finish this project for the deadline! I've already missed so much work, what if I'm fired?" Angry feelings at being out of control of your body or life get mixed in. Memories of similar past experiences flood you, adding to the distress.
There is a simple way to gain control over this type of suffering. Briefly talk to yourself about the actual situation by asking the question, "What is true right now?" For example, "My head is in pain, my mind is spinning in negative thoughts, and I'm afraid. The only thing real is the pain in my head. The thoughts and feelings are imagined." Immediately let go of everything that isn't true. When you drop out the mental and emotional elements, the physical pain may seem less severe.
The second question is, "What can I do about this right now?" Maybe stopping all activity to lie down with a pillow over your eyes will bring relief. Perhaps you can take a pain reliever. Take some kind of action to help yourself.
Once you have a grasp of the situation, pray. Turn to your guardian angel, or God, or Spirit for help. Very simply, tell your angel what you have discovered. Ask to be held in the comfort and love of your angel's embrace. Then relax in trust of the desire to feel a response. Each time you catch yourself in mental torment, return to your prayer.
You may feel the sweetest gentleness slip quietly over you, only to be snatched out by anxiety. Again, look for what is true and call to your angel to be held in love. In immediate response, a tender sensation washes through you, bringing relaxation.
You may go back and forth like this for a while before you can surrender to the comfort your guardian angel is offering. While your body may still be in pain, your soul can be embraced by the comfort of your guardian angel's loving presence.

Rev. Kimberly Marooney, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized author and the founder of TheAngelMinistry.com. Known as "The Elevator to God," she has helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have personal experiences of God's love that result in profound healing and greater self-awareness enhancing relationships and bringing priorities into sharper focus. A gifted mystic and spiritual psychologist, Kimberly works with healers, mystics, coaches and people who feel a deep yearning for a personal connection with God and who feel called to greater service. The 7-month Angel Ministry Ordination Program takes you through a rare and profound spiritual transformation as you learn how to stand in the presence of Divine Love and then guide others into that presence. Once ordained, you are licensed to officiate at weddings, memorials, and to bless, baptize, heal and counsel.

Visit http://KimberlyMarooney.com to learn more.

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How To Find Hope In Overcoming Infertility Depression

Infertility depression is a real issue for couples struggling to conceive and affects both men and women in different ways.

For women, being unable to conceive is depressing enough but this can be exacerbated even further during assisted reproduction programs. The stress associated with ongoing treatment can build to high levels and if the process ends in failure, infertility depression can then become a major problem.

Infertility and depression in men is also very real. Men will usually try to handle depression differently such as spending more time at work or getting involved in community related areas as a way of overcoming their feelings of inadequacy or guilt. Men will often have feelings of failure which is a common male response because of the fact they won't be able to continue on the family tree.

Emotional Effects Of Infertility Depression

Emotionally, infertility can be crippling. A combination of sadness, frustration and angry feelings from both partners will ultimately strain relationships if proper help is not sought. This is the tragic wash up in many infertility cases as one or both partners withdraws into a state of depression.

Seeking Help For Infertility Depression

Getting help for depression as a result of infertility may seem the obvious course of action however, feelings of self pity and consignment to the fact that conceiving a child will not be possible, often acts as a barrier between infertile couples seeking much needed support.

It's important for couples to realise that all is not lost. In the past, medical support was the common avenue to pursue but into the 21st century, and with the internet available to most people around the globe, support forums for infertile couples have provided a worthwhile option
to:

1. Discuss their infertility issues with like-minded people and
2. Possibly seek alternative forms of treatment when traditional methods have failed.

Support Forums For Infertility Depression

Online support forums are an excellent alternative to live support groups especially for those couples who want to remain anonymous. Most will have given up the possibility of conceiving a child at this point but there still maybe some hope left. You'll hear good news stories of couples in a similar position and what they did to get over "this bump in the road" and more importantly, receive emotional support from others who have a complete understanding of your situation.

Infertility depression doesn't have to dominate your life. While it's tough to deal with at the time, taking some positive steps to overcome it may be just a keyboard search away.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author:

Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Learn how to take a positive step in overcoming infertility depression with this vital guide! Plus, get the latest infertility news and reviews at:http://www.infertilityline.com

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How to Help a Depressed Man

By Puneet Aggarwal
Let me ask you some things have you seen any woman who suffered from depression, in movies or in real life? How about men? Have you actually witnessed how a depressed man goes through such a state?
Depression is a sickness that affects both men and women. However, there are more women who are diagnosed with depression. Why? It's because a depressed man will most likely keep whatever his having to himself. He wouldn't verbalize sadness, or cry out his emotions like how women do it. Basically, depression in men is a little different from women's case. Although there are several common symptoms between men and women, here are symptoms that are more likely to happen in men with depression:

• A depressed guy will continuously blame others for everything that have gone wrong, opposite with how depressed women reacts who blame themselves.
• Men who are depressed also become more irritable and egoistic. You will notice that this guy will almost always be angry at other people and that they care much more on their status and ego.
• Unlike women, a depressed guy will usually create conflict. They would try to provoke other people or they themselves would start a fight.
• These men also always feel ashamed, in their performance in sex as a typical example.
• Because these men are having inflated ego, they are very scared to have any failures. They are much focused on how to achieve more even to the expense of forgetting about themselves or their relationships.
• A depressed guy will most likely abuse alcohol. Women usually try to eat their depression away, while men will resort to alcohol.
• They also probably become control freaks, and they become very compulsive.

So, how could you help a depressed man get over this ordeal? Just like how there are differences between symptoms of depression in men and women, there are also slight differences between ways on how to help them. Before anything else, you must be aware that men are harder to persuade in getting help. It is even more difficult for them to admit that they have a problem. Nevertheless, here are some things you could do to help him:

• First of all, help him admit his problem. Do not push him however. Just explain to him what you are observing slowly and what your concerns are. Ranting him about all his behaviors won't help.
• Encourage him to go to the doctor. Explain to him in a good manner why he needs to go and what he would get after.
• Do not give up on that person. A depressed person will ignore your efforts and make you feel unappreciated but little acts of kindness are really good for the person's being. Being there for him also shows that he has social support which are very vital in state of depression.
• Provide him with healthy diet. Avoid stocking unhealthy foods in your fridge or cabinet because a depressed guy will try to eat them as much as possible and not the healthy ones.
• Encourage him to take supplements such as vitamin supplements and homeopathic remedies. Taking vitamins will help his body systems heal and become more able in fighting depression. Homeopathy, which uses natural herbs like St. John's wort and Passion flower, will support emotional health and well being and promote a healthier attitude.

So there you have it. Symptoms and how you could help a depressed guy have been given. Remember, taking action will help save that important man in your life.

Puneet regularly writes about treating depression naturally on his website and recommends a natural and holistic approach. For more details, please read Naturally-treat-Depression.com.

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Overcoming Depression - An Interview With One Man's Struggle

By John DeProspo
No matter who you are or what walk of life you are from, you can suffer from depression. Those that suffer from this disease find it a constant struggle to sometimes wake up in the morning and try to go about their day. Many turn to doctors and antidepressants for help, only to find that not only do they not work, but in some case have a worse effect than before. In the struggle that many have to find something that does work, we often find that hearing about how someone else recovered can be an inspiration for your own recovery.
While this author is developing his expertise on the subject of depression, and having battled with it for many years, I succeeded in living a semi-normal life. As with one of the problems with disease, it started in early childhood. Alienated from peers and having problems at home, as well as a thyroid gland deficiency. Even with the gland problem taken care of, the symptoms continued to linger. At the time, this condition was not even thought of as a real disease, and put under the label of just feeling down. Antidepressants were not even heard of, and those medications were mostly prescribed for other things at the time.
With the limited amount of information available I struggled to lead a normal life. The problem was the situations kept getting worse with every major let down, like divorces and having to move around a lot and not being able to keep a steady job. I was plunging deeper and deeper. Soon there was no want or desire to get up in the morning, and thoughts of dying were on the horizon.
That is when I decided that something had to change, but what to do? Again, not much was really studied about my depression, and I could not afford expensive doctors, so I decided to try to get on disability for help. This in itself was a struggle, but at this point there was no way I was in any condition to work. I was at the bottom, living in a flop house, with no future in front of me other than the next life. I met someone, and we got together, and I thought things would be better, and they were somewhat, but my depression soon resurfaced again. It was always there, preventing me from enjoying my new relationship.
When my kids were born, I thought everything would change. Both of them were a joyous experience, and the love for them was always there. As my condition got worse, in desperation for some relief, I turned to doctors for answers. Of course, back then treatment options were limited and I was prescribed a popular antidepressant. I won't mention any names, but it is still being administered today, but for other things. I personally did not feel any different, but my partner did, and noticed that I was getting more and more outwardly angry at just about any little thing. While fearing for my kids, my medication was changed and even these did not help.
The first piece of advice, is take control of your situation. Do not take no for an answer, when it comes to trying to find alternatives. Do as much research as possible and educate yourself. I found ways that did help me through meditation and changing my diet to home cooked meals and also eliminating processed foods. I also found an old saying that says, "fake it till you make it". This worked as my own personal mantra for many years, and still does to this day.
When something tries to knock you down, like depression, you have to just keep going. You need to try alternatives to antidepressants. There are so many studies that show not only do they not work, but can be detrimental to both your mental and your physical health. Keep going, don't stop, don't let your illness get the better of you. It literally is a case of mind over matter, and you can learn to overcome this through different meditative techniques, but you also have to want to do it. If you can not do it for yourself, think of your spouse and your kids, they need you and they can help you with this problem.
Even after everything, there are going to be many times when a bout of depression strikes without warning. It may be something you see on television, or hear on the radio. It may be losing your job, or having to move. The best way to get better is to address it directly and take the time to get away by yourself and use your self help techniques. Then you can move on, if you stay focused, you will get over it.
Sometimes you can find something you like, and get paid for it. In my struggle to understand depression, I have been able to write articles about it. Including how most antidepressants and other medications prescribed to me have worked out, or not. I have been blessed enough to learn all I can about it and turn the information into something everyone can understand. I always try to help the next person lead a normal life. I have also been able to make a living with it. I also have much support from my current wife, and son. They have stuck by me through good times and bad, and this is also something that you will need to make it. If you have to wake up every day and tell yourself that you are doing it for them, then do it. This is where that "fake it till you make it" comes into play.
When you find something that works for you, stick with it like glue. It can literally save your life. No matter how bad a situation looks, there is always another day to look to, and something else on the horizon.

Get More information about Depression and why you don't need antidepressants by getting your free special "Throwing Out Your Antidepressants Doesn't Have to Be Depressing" report at http://www.thedepressingtruth.com

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Reproductive Events and Depression

By Aisha Ahmed
A woman's reproductive events can play a very vital role in the depression she suffers. The major events I this process includes menstrual cycle, pregnancy, post pregnancy period of time, menopause, infertility and even the decisions like no to have children. Such events bring fluctuations in the mood of women. This shift in moods can lead to depression. The expert studies show that the hormonal changes during these periods can change the brain chemistry which can cause depression or other mood swings. The exact mechanism of this is however not known.
All women will experience some physical and behavioral changes during the different phase of menstrual cycles. In a few these changes can be very severe. They may occur regularly and can invoke depressed feelings and irritation. This is called premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual sysphoric disorder. The change begins with the process of ovulation and will worsen till the beginning of menstruation. Research is now going on to find out how the change in estrogen during these cycles affects the mood of a woman.
Pregnancy usually does not make depression. But if there is an abortion involved, this can lead to serious depression. Infertile women are always victims of tension and depression. They will be exposed to extreme sadness and anxiety. The stress and tension during motherhood may also lead to depression.
Menopause does not contribute to the factors causing depression generally. But there are cases when depression occurs during menopause. Any disorder during this process can make the woman a victim of depression. The reproductive life of a woman is subject to more depression than a man.

Learn more about signs of depression. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aisha_Ahmed

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Is Depression A Sign Of Intelligence?

By: Friedrich Asen

Are you depressive? Congratulation, there is every reason to be. It is quite normal. I would say that only an insane person would not be depressive in a world like this. Open any magazine, newspaper, watch TV or listen to the radio. There is disaster, corruption, cheating, catastrophes, heart breaking cruelty, misery, drama, hatred, war and crime everywhere. What to speak of the common problems of life: Disease, old age and death.

The ancient Indian scripture called Bhagavta Purana describes modern reality as follows: When there is a predominance of cheating, lying, sloth, sleepiness, violence, depression, lamentation, bewilderment, fear and poverty, that age is Kali, the age of the mode of ignorance.

It seems to be the reaction of at least a somewhat healthy mind to become depressive in the face of all these horrible things, in the face of death and disease, which might strike at every moment. In the same old Vedic scripture of ancient India it is said: Padam padam yad vipadam na tesam. This is a world, where there is danger at every step. Who could deny it? This indeed is very depressing.

So, to me at least, it seems that each and every person not suffering from depression must be either blind or have found some other shelter in a place, which is devoid of all these calamities. I would suggest that the majority of people dragging along according to the motto Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die fits into the latter category. It is a main ingredient of material life, especially its modern variation, to forget. Ignorance keeps the masses dragging on.

People are eager to numb their minds. Drug abuse, sex addiction, TV addiction, eating, drinking, everything just to forget the miseries of life, which would be unbearable otherwise. Their mind is so dull that they cannot afford to be depressive. They have taken shelter in ignorance and a superficial life of cheap, fleeting and unfulfilling sense gratification.

But there are those healthy people who dare to be depressive. While the former cannot be helped so easily according to the statement Its folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss, the latter are more open for advice. They actually KNOW that this sort of life IS depressing. They do not deny it. They dont escape. They sometimes even do not respond to therapeutic treatment, whichs only aim is to scatter the sane considerations of the depressive client to make him believe, against the obvious facts, that everything is alright.

It is interesting that those who blame metaphysically oriented people to be escapists all the while have nothing else to do than to use every and all means just to make them forget depressing reality.

Who is an escapist? The one, who sees life as it is, with all the war, disease, death and cruelty, or the one who refuses to do so? And nevertheless he calls himself a realist! And, admittedly, there are nice things in this world, too. But this does not change things for the better, but for the worse. It is like enjoying ice cream, delicious fresh ice cream, with sand in it. This could drive you crazy.

I remember an incident over a quarter of a century ago, when I talked with my eldest sister about happiness. Together with my father we were out for a walk at my grandmas place, when the discussion came to this subject. I said to her that people have no real standard of happiness. They actually take ignorance as a substitute. Therefore their enjoyment hampered by the mode of ignorance - is very shallow and superficial. I added that it is important to enlighten them about this fact.

My sister did not agree at all. If they are happy, leave them alone, was all she said. I grew so angry that my loud voice drew the attention of my father. At that point I stopped the conversation, being totally frustrated my sister.

Although I know that her response was the consequence of her own ignorance and fear, today I can at least appreciate one very important point she made. There is no use to force people to acknowledge the brutal facts of this material life, culminating in the fact that one day and it could approach at every moment we have to leave everything behind. They will not appreciate you pulling the carpet from under their feet. We have at the same time show them an alternative, a better way of life.

It is a sign of intelligence to be depressive. It shows at least that a person does not bury his or head in sand like an ostrich. He or she is too intelligent to believe the old saying Out of sight, out of mind..

But depression is no solution. It is even more intelligent to ask whether there is any other way out from this tragedy than just ignorance. And there is. But this is the second part of the story.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Friedrich Asen has over 20 years of experience as a personal development expert. For more information on the different types and symptoms of depression and on depression treatment visit his Overcome Depression Site.

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How To Survive Depression In The Family

By: Steve Lowell

We lost everything!

We lost our home, our investments, our live savings, our friends, our relationships with our family members including our kids and our enjoyment of life. We almost lost our marriage and my wife almost lost her life all to her depression!

This article was written out of empathy for those who live with someone who suffers with depression or anxiety disorder; for those to whom I refer as "The Silent Victims"

For 6 years I was a silent victim and my life was completely unlivable as my wife, Sharon, suffered with extreme debilitating depression, anxiety disorder, a severe sleep disorder, destructive obsessive compulsive behaviors, rage and several other behavioral disorders.

I didn't know about any of her conditions until the day after we were married, then it was all to obvious that something was desperately wrong!

I could go on for hundreds of pages about what happened next, but the purpose of this article is to share with you just a couple of the lessons I learned through my 6 years of learning to live with sever depression and other mental and emotional illnesses in the family.

I should also mention that Sharon and I are still together and doing just great! In fact, our purpose now is to help others who suffer as we have.

It took me six years of learning lesson every minute of every day to make it through life with Sharon's depression. Through that time, I documented what I was going through.

While going through the daily stresses of Sharon's depression-driven behaviors, and in speaking with so many poeple who have also gone through it all, I have identified 4 unconscious stages of coping with a loved one's depression.

1. Denial: In this stage, I was either not willing or not able to accept that fact that my wife was mentally ill. My denial made life very difficult for both Sharon and I because I was not in a position to help her by continually pressuring her to "snap out of it"!

In order for us to move forward, it was critical that I accepted the reality that Sharon was ill...that took me to the next unconscious coping mechanism...

2. Secrecy: Once I accepted internally that Sharon was ill, I felt ashamed and uncomfortable with it. Again, this did not help either of us. I made sure that our private affairs were kept as private as I could and I was not able to willing to speak with anyone about it.

Holding all of this inside was like a poison to me and it soon began to affect my own health and my own emotional well being. At this point, Sharon's depression and related illnesses were starting to cost us dearly. Some of her behaviors involved compulsive spending which financially crippled us. This, along with other behaviors, pushed me into the next unconscious stage of coping...

3. Anger and Resentment: At this stage, I made my plight very public...and I began to consult my lawyer about a divorce. This was the most dangerous stage for us because this is the stage at which I was closets to leaving the marriage. It was also the stage which was hardest on Sharon, because she could clearly see my misery which drove her to blame herself and become suicidal on more than a few occasions.

If you think you are at this point in your own relationship with someone who suffers from depression, you truly do need to do whatever it takes to get to the next stage. The next stage is the one where you can finally start healing and moving forward in a positive direction...

4. Understanding and Forgiveness: This was the point where Sharon and I began to work together to find solutions. At this unconscious stage, I began to become more empathetic to Sharon's situation and she and I began down our path to healing together.

This is, in my judgment, where things can start to turn around. Until you reach this stage, I am convinced that there is no chance for the family to survive.

To survive depression in the family, I recommend that you start by identifying which stage you are currently at and do whatever you need to do to get to stage 4; Understanding and Forgiveness.

It may take some time; it took me several very unhappy years of living minute by minute to reach stage 4. Once there, you can then start taking the steps towards healing for both you and your depressed loved one.

Depression destroys lives...but it doesn't have to destroy yours!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Steve Lowell is the author of the audio program "Victory for the Silent Victim: A Survival Guide for those Whose Loved One Suffers from Depression or Anxiety" at www.VictoryForTheSilentVictim.com

He and his wife, Sharon are committed to helping families who struggle with depression and anxiety.

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Coping With Depression - Part 4

By Payo W Perry
One of the most debilitating aspects of depression is how it flavours all of life with a negative feeling. This goes for your opinions, your expectations and even the way you thing about yourself. It also makes it very hard to see a happy future and to find simple hope in life. Others may tell you stupid things such as "Just think positively" which is nonsense and simply doesn't work. You won't replace negative thoughts with positive ones, the trick to replace them with more balanced ones.
A good place to start may be in how you think about yourself. It's easy to be super critical but those opinions are coming from your depression and they are not reality. You need to be smarter than your depression and think outside of yourself. Be clever enough to not simply accept what your thoughts are telling you, instead, question them. A useful exercise, even if you only do it for one day, can be to catch yourself with every negative thought you have and write it down. By the end a day you could be quite shocked over how much is there. When you're finished go through those thoughts and judge if they are really valid or not.
Probably the single most powerful thing of all which you can do for yourself is to associate with more positive people. The power of someone who is a go-getter in life is potent and over time can have a real impact on how you see the world, they can show you how to view life in a totally different perspective and prove to you that it is possible to live in a very different way from what you're used to. The people you associate with can pull you down or life you up. The choice is yours.

Payo W Perry has been contributing quality articles for many years and is an expert online reviewer. Be sure to visit his website for great product reviews and specials deals on a ping golf bag. The site also contains an expert review of ping golf putters

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

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Coping With Depression - Part 3

By Payo W Perry
One of the most important things about depression is realizing that you have to be extra vigilant in taking care of yourself. You need to make time for things or activities you enjoy, you need to benefit from the loving help of others around you, you need to create healthy habits in your lifestyle and concentrate on generating some fun back into your days.
You obviously can't force yourself to have fun but you can choose to do things which have historically made you happy, just do them and whether or not they make you happy in this moment is actually not that important. Go for any former hobby or activity you once enjoyed and start to do it again, even if it feels like you need to gather up every ounce of energy in your body, do it. Getting out of depression is hard because to succeed you must force yourself to do things you really don't want to. This is a process which has been used by many others and honestly, it's the only way out.
One idea which can get you started is simple exercise. It's probably the last thing you want or feel like doing but that's just further proof of the point. Very reliable studies have shown that regular exercise can do as much for you as an antidepressant. It will raise your energy level and kick start your metabolism. It's such a simple step and will cost you nothing, it can be a vigorous walk around the park or a cycle ride, the main thing is just to get up and begin. You must begin somewhere, sometime, that much is certain.

Payo W Perry has been contributing quality articles for many years and is an expert online reviewer. Be sure to visit his website for great product reviews and specials deals on a ping golf bag. The site also contains an expert review of ping golf drivers

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

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Coping With Depression - Part 2

By Payo W Perry
It's rarely a good idea to try and beat depression on your own, the proper support from a professional advisor plus benefiting from the camaraderie of others in the same situation as yourself will tip the balance in your favour and make things easier. One this is for sure, beating depression is a long term goal and you're going to need others to help you maintain your will and the motivation to do it. Reaching out for help is hard for most to do when they suffer from depression but I assure you that the loneliness and isolation you'll feel on your own is going to be far worse.
Feeling ashamed about being depressed is normal, it's kind of like you have to admit to a weakness. It doesn't matter if you are going to tell a close friend or family members, it feels embarrassing. Just remember that your loved ones are just that... they love you, don't let your depression convince you that you should be alone. With the support of others your chances of getting past depression will double and they will help to push you out and to do the things which are going to be necessary. It's a known fact that exposure to other people helps to reduce the power depression can hold over you.
Joining a support group is probably one of the best decisions you'll make at this time. There's just something that attracts us to others who are the same, there's a comfort in numbers and if it's your first time coming out you could be very surprised and enlightened by the experience. It's going to go a long way to reducing your feeling of isolation, you'll certainly give and get encouragement in return, you'll get some expert advice on the action you should take and you'll probably make some good friends too.

Payo W Perry has been contributing quality articles for many years and is an expert online reviewer. Be sure to visit his website for great product reviews and specials deals on a ping golf bag. The site also contains an expert review of ping golf irons

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

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Coping With Depression - Part 1

By Payo W Perry
Depression is a condition which robs you of hope for life and the will to fight so it's little wonder that it can be so hard to take the necessary steps required to pull yourself out of it. The most important thing to realize is that depression is hard to overcome but certainly not impossible. Trying to stand toe to toe with depression and beat it through willpower rarely works, instead the right approach is to fight one little battle at a time and build your success in small steps each day. It takes time but this approach does work and it's especially good if you can call on the support of others around you.
One thing is certain about recovering from depression, it takes action. But action requires energy and when you're depressed that feels like the hardest thing in the world to do, in fact, it feels like the exact opposite of what you want to do. Finding the will to take action is a most important first step to pulling yourself out of your situation. It's kind of a vicious circle in that what can most help you is also what you least want to do.
The key to starting is to do aim for very small things, tiny goals that are achievable today. Write them down and keep a diary of your progress so you can have a written document to look back on when you need to. It's by tiny successes which are achievable each day that most people are able to succeed in pulling themselves out of depression. One thing is for sure, small things add up over time and you'll be quite surprised by the progress you're able to make with this approach. This is how others have succeeded and it's how you will succeed too.

Payo W Perry has been contributing quality articles for many years and is an expert online reviewer. Be sure to visit his website for great product reviews and specials deals on a ping golf bag. The site also contains an expert review of ping golf grips

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

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How To Prevent Depression In Teens

By: Steven Ross

This article will deal with the very serious subject of depression in teens. The fact is that each year 4% of all teenagers suffer from a serious depression which will require help from a professional.

While feeling sad is a healthy feeling, prolonged sadness without recovery leads to depression. If your teen is depressed, you will most likely find they will have problems with school work, relationships with friends and family, and engage in potentially harmful actions like drug use and unprotected sex.

The fact is that depression in teens can be treated with the proper resources. Yet, most depression cases in the United States, dealing with teens, go untreated. This is terrible, because if depression goes untreated it will get worse, last longer, and be harder to reverse if treatment does take place.

Bipolar disorder and reactive depression are the two most common forms of depression in teens. Reactive disorder deals with prolonged states of sadness and feelings of unworthiness in teens. Bipolar disorder, once referred to as manic depression, is a depression where the teenager goes through extreme moods of mania and sadness, usually in a short period time.

When evaluating depression in teens, there are certain symptoms you should look for. If your teen cries, but doesn't fill the usual relief associate with crying , and is continually said, this is a critical sign.

Also, if they often express feelings of guilt, for no adequate reason, and their self-esteem is low, that is another sign. Other indicators are frequent indecision, a negative outlook on life, irregular sleep patterns, and high irritability, to name a few.

Communication with a professional or someone they trust, should be the first step the teen needs to make if there are feeling depressed. The options that are available for teens, as far as who they can go to, include their parents, a trusted member of their church, school counselor, a family doctor, and even a professional therapist.

Psychotherapy and/or medication are two methods that are most commonly used in treating depression in teens. Depression in teens is alleviated with psychotherapy by talking about how the teen feels with a trained therapist, while trying to locate the root cause of the depression. Depression can be easily corrected in most cases, because the teen is unaware of their faulty view of understanding reality, which is causing the depression.

When it is needed, as in more severe cases of depression in teens, medication will be considered an option. Medication might in fact be the first step, before progress can be made.

In conclusion, I have given you some facts to consider, relating to depression in teens. Use this information to determine the best course of action for you or your teen today, to make sure there is no unnecessary suffering being caused by depression in your life.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
About the author: Steven Ross is a huge Positive Mental Health enthusiast and can help you with all your depression questions. For Positive Mental Health advice visit his new site at DepressionandAnxietyReport.com This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

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Tips For Combating Stress

By: Dimi Petrova

Stress is a natural response to any stimuli that affects our normal state of mind. While some amount of stress is normal, even beneficial, extreme or prolonged stress can be the root of many physical and emotional conditions including anxiety, depression, elevated blood pressure and eating or sleeping disorders.

Perhaps the best definition of stress comes from this unknown philosopher who once said Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

And while that definition might be stretching it a bit for some, for many people it comes close to the truth, according to Alix Needham B.ED Adv Dip E Hyp NLP, who is credited with pioneering the concept of Lifestyle Management over 15 years ago.

Alix, specialist advisor on stress to the NCH, has spent an enormous amount of time studying the causes of stress and the effect that stress has on our lives. Her clients include people from all walks of life who are struggling under the physical and emotional burdens of living a stressful life.

Different situations can trigger stress in different people, and not everyone experiences the same symptoms. What makes stress even more difficult to diagnose is the fact that it shares the symptoms of many other disorders and diseases. Thats why it is important to seek medical advice first if you are experiencing any of the following physical symptoms either alone or in tandem with others:

* Trouble Sleeping
* Chronic Pain in the Back, Shoulder Or Neck
* Frequent Tension Or Migraine Headaches
* Frequent Upset Or Acid Stomach
* Heartburn, Gas, or Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
* Unexplained Cramps
* Frequent Constipation or Diarrhea
* Unexplained Weight Gain Or Loss
* Eating Disorders
* Unexplained Hair Loss
* Excessive Muscle Tension
* Unexplained Fatigue
* High Blood Pressure

* Irregular Heartbeat
* Chronic Asthma
* Frequent Shortness of Breath
* Mild or Severe Chest Pain
* Unexplained Sweaty Palms Or Hands
* Chronic Cold Hands Or Feet
* Excessive Skin Problems
* Tooth or Jaw Pain

Stress can also create a number of emotional responses including:

* Nervousness, Anxiety, Panic
* Depression or Moodiness
* Butterflies in the Stomach
* Irritability, Frustration, Unexplained Anger
* Memory Problems and Lack Of Concentration

* Difficulty Thinking Clearly
* Feeling of Being Out Of Control
* Phobias
* Overreaction to Common Situations

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and your doctor has ruled out any medical conditions, theres a good chance that youre suffering from stress.

Stress is a common reaction to lifes problems, and an occasional bout of short-lived stress is usually nothing to be concerned about according to Alix. Everyone suffers through stressful situations throughout life. The important issue is that youre able to distinguish between temporary stress that is related to a specific occurrence or event in your life, and chronic stress which does not go away all by itself.

Chronic stress almost always leads to health-related problems as well as creating the opportunity to spiral down into depression. Stress also impacts relationships with family, friends and co-workers. Left unresolved, stress can lead to heart attack or stroke and can even result in suicide in extreme cases. More typically, many medical conditions can be brought on by stress as it has a tendency to repress our immune system leaving us more susceptible to common colds, flu and other infections.

Alix advises anyone who believes that they are suffering from stress to seek help at once. She believes that the average person can learn how to control their stress without resorting to prescription medicine or psychiatric treatment. In fact, she has a list of stress-controlling solutions on her web site that she recommends that all of her clients work thorough before thinking about scheduling an appointment to visit with her for more in-depth stress treatment.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Hypnotherapy London, Lifestyle Management, counselling and life coaching from Alix Needham. She runs a successful practice in Central London using her unique skills and expertise to help people improve their relationships and lead more fulfilling lives. Her hands on approach has given her a prominent media profile on TV, radio, and in the national press.

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Role Of Sauna As A Major Stress Reliever

By: LesleyLyon

A sauna is a small room specially designed to experience wet or dry heat sessions. This has been derived from the Finnish. Finnish Sauna is a part of the Finnish culture. For Finnish people it is a place to spend time with family and friends and they also use sauna as a place for body and mind relaxation. They don't think sauna as a luxury, but as essential. The word sauna is a Finnish word, it refers to traditional Finnish bath and it is meant to describe a hot or moist environment. The people use sauna as a social affair, where people participate in it and temperature set will be over eighty degree centigrade. This helps them in relaxing.

The Finnish used the sauna to cleanse, revitalize or refresh body and mind on daily basis. When the Finns migrated to other places in the world, they introduced their sauna designs and health benefits to others. This helped in development of sauna and this became very popular in recent decades. Many physical education centers, gyms, private and public swimming pools have started including sauna facility. A sauna has different temperature for different seating levels. The temperature will be hotter in higher level bench and moderate in lower level bench. Keeping the sauna door open slightly even or for a few seconds will reduce the temperature and make the place cool. So the door must be closed properly.

Saunas help in stress relief. This is done in two ways, the first one is the natural relaxation experienced at the time of using sauna. The second one that it helps reduce the level of creation of chemicals in the body to keep the stress at bay.

The toxin leaves the skin through the pores while sweating. This happens when the heat is more or less but the sweating is more.

Sauna helps in reducing the body weight. As the sweating is more automatically the body weight will reduce compared to other exercises which help to burn unnecessary fat.

People with some skin problems like acne, skin irritations, scrapes, cuts etc benefits by spending time in the sauna. Due to increase in blood flow, more oxygen and nutrients help to refresh the skin.

When a person is sick or suffering from fever, his body begins to produce white blood cells to fight the sickness. Same course of action will happen; when a person spends his time in a sauna as the body temperature increases.

It provides relief to people who suffer from asthma and chronic bronchitis and also helps to improve joint mobility. It is effective for appetite loss and mild depression. It also helps to produce the hormones in men and boost the production of oestrogen in women. Thus usage of sauna benefits in many ways to all human beings.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Read more on http://www.saunashome.info which is a comprehensive resource guide on saunas and spas. http://www.infraredspa.info is a complete online guide on infrared spa.

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By 2020 Depression Can Be Second Top Cause Of Death In Us

By: John Scott

Medications for depression treatment were proven not significantly harmful during pregnancy.

However you ask the question, you always get the same answer. More antidepressants than any other medication have been prescribed to Americans over the last twenty years. This is a remarkable statistic when you think of all the possible illnesses and diseases that physicians could be treating. According to the preliminary data for mortality in 2005 complied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top three causes of death were:

heart disease 21.9%
cancer 18.9%
stroke 4.8%

Yet, even when you go to the top fifteen listed causes, no-one dies of being depressed (although suicide is the 11th most common way of dying). So what are these prescriptions for? The most prescribed antidepressant medication in the US is Zoloft with more than 28m prescriptions written in 2006. Zoloft is one of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). It is designed to change the level of serotonin, one of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin helps to regulate your mood. That means that a vast proportion of the pharmaceutical industry's profit comes from convincing people who are not likely to die soon that they need to buy antidepressants like Zoloft, so they can feel better. Teach them to feel dysfunctional and depend on medications for the rest of their lives.

But, of course, this is just to provoke you into thought. In his article in The New England Journal of Medicine (2006), Friedman invoked the National Comorbidity Survey as evidence that fifty percent of all serious adult psychiatric illnesses, including substance abuse, anxiety disorders and major depression, have started by the age of fourteen years, and three quarter are in place by twenty-five years. He confirms suicide as the third-leading cause of death among persons fifteen to nineteen years of age.

Thus, if we were to classify suicide as a psychiatric illness, we would get a different perspective on national mortality rates. Now, let us step back from mortality data to a better measure. Mental illnesses are increasingly relevant to the mission of disease prevention and health promotion. Chapman and Perry in their article at Prev Chronic Dis (2008) warn that, by 2020, depression will be second only to heart disease if you measure using disability-adjusted life years.

So, if you accept the reality of psychiatric illness as a disability, the need for treatment becomes obvious. Now look at the people with heart conditions or cancer. If they are also depressed, this robs them of whatever quality of life they might otherwise have enjoyed, and probably reduces their life expectancy by undermining their will to live. Morally, the state should ensure that its citizens are given the best treatment possible. Economically, the state faces an increasing burden of social security payments with a declining tax revenue. States should therefore ensure preventative and therapeutic care is available to all.

So, when you put anxiety disorders and depressive illnesses into a proper context, the need for medications such as Zoloft becomes obvious. And why is Zoloft the most prescribed of all the antidepressants? Because, the physicians who write the millions of prescriptions watch over their patients. If the medical professionals and their patients did not see a safe and effective product, the free market economy would operate and people would switch to another medication. That has not happened. Zoloft remains the trusted response to depressive illness.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Learn more about the information you read here on buy zoloft and by John Scott at http://www.forgetdepression.com/.

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