Stress Guide 101

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Three Kinds Of Depression

By:

The concept of depression is broad and encompasses a number of different phenomena. The term is used in the vernacular to refer to a simple blue mood. In a medical sense it can label anything from a long-lingering feeling of hollowness to a critical situation ending in a suicide.

The simple down mood or bad hair day really isnt depression at all. Its merely the experience of normal human emotions in response to external and internal factors. Every case of being sad or lonely is not an example of depression. Low feelings are normal and even healthy. Depression refers to more severe cases where those negative feelings take hold and have a more serious or lasting influence on ones well-being or ability to function.

There are three types of depression, all of which share that similarity. One is known as dysthymia. Dysthymia is a chronic, low-grade depression that lasts over a long period of time. This type of depression is sneaky and may not be spotted easily. Its long-lasting nature allows one to adjust to its symptoms somewhat, making a depressed mood seem like the normal every day nature of things.

Dysthymia sufferers have the overall quality of their lives undermined by depression, often without realizing it. They may think they are simply dour people or that life is inevitably something less than enjoyable.

Those with dysthymia are able to function with a high degree of normalcy, but are constantly nagged by feelings of sadness, despair, loneliness and related emotions.

Situational depression can have more severe symptoms. This is the form of depression that rears its head in direct response to external circumstances. Any number of traumas or trying events can trigger a bout of situational depression. The death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, for instance, may produce intense and temporarily debilitating depressive symptoms.

The key to differentiating situation depression from its clinical counterpart is the temporary nature of the symptomology and the fact that it can often be traced back to a specific cause. One should note that traumatic events can also herald the onset of clinical depression, however.

Those suffering from situational depression may find life very difficult for a period of time. They may feel agitated or nervous, have disruptions in sleeping habits, or experience other common depressive symptoms. However, the problem usually passes as the individual learns to cope with the problems that triggered the episode.

Clinical depression is more severe. If one experiences symptoms that interfere with regular functioning for a period longer than two weeks in length, they may be suffering from clinical depression. Clinical depression can last indefinitely and can be quite devastating.

The hallmark of clinical depression is the inability to enjoy almost any aspect of life. In some cases, the sufferer may even begin to consider suicide as an alternative to continuing on in their depressed state. Symptoms can run the gamut from a vague sense of unease to utter and complete hopelessness.

Interventions are usually required for one to overcome clinical depression. These can involve the use of psychotherapy, prescription antidepressants and other strategies aimed at solving the problem. Those who do not seek treatment for this condition may find the problem literally fatal in the long run. Fortunately, these methods can often be successful in helping one overcome the dreaded symptoms of clinical depression.

Depression is a growing problem, and as the epidemic continues to grow, it only makes sense for all of us to gain a better understanding of the disease. The World Health Organization posits that by the year 2020 depression will be second most devastating disease facing humanity, second only to heart disease in its impact. Depression touches the lives of most everyone and all of us should develop a stronger appreciation of what separates depression from simply having a lousy week.

Although the term depression may encompass many things in popular use, in a strict sense it refers to one of the three variations mentioned in this article. Dysthymia, situational depression and clinical depression represent the three primary types of depression. They share a great deal in common, but can be differentiated from one another by the severity of their symptoms and their longevity.

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

About the Author:
john savage is a former health education official and has taken a keen interest in health matters.

Click Here to visit his blog which shows a way to conquer depression, stress and anxiety.

Heal Your Headache

By: jacobson

Having headache is annoying and sometimes it is difficult for us to avoid. Mostly when we are under pressure, headache appeared automatically. If it gets worse, we might faint due to the pain we felt. A headache is a condition of mild to severe pain in the head. It can also attack at our upper back or neck. There are different types of headache, but most of the time headache brought on by stress, too long in front of computer, noise and others.

Headaches
Do you or someone you know suffer from chronic headaches or Migraines? Usually
these people have seen a variety of different doctors, with little if any relief. Their
symptoms are being treated, but the cause of the problem still persists. Ever
thought about seeing your dentist for a migraine? Well that is just one of the
conditions that Neuromuscular dentistry is being used to treat. Neuromuscular
dentistry is one of the new technologies available in dentistry today. It is different

Healing Chronic Headaches
A headache represents stuck or congested energy result of other imbalances in the body. One of the main contributors or triggers is mental agitation of any sort. This can be seen in a variety of ways. What are you doing in your life that does not work for you? Have you ever felt anxious or literally like your head is spinning because of all the inside conversations and voices going on?
Our minds are our key to survival, here to protect us. If you are in the middle of the road and there is a tractor trailer truck coming, your mind will tell you to get out of the way FAST! Thats why your mind is so good at judging other people and, of course, your own self.

Taking Away the Headache
Everything seems to be going well in your every day life. You are able to get everything done with your routines. However, this can easily stop once a migraine begins to take over your daily activities. If you are dealing with migraines, you want to make sure that you can find the best migraine treatments.
Holistic Migraine Treatments
Getting rid of your migraines with the prescription medicines that are available is not always the best answer. However, you dont have to keep getting a headache over it. Instead, you can find alternative answers to stop the strain. By doing this, you can begin to get rid of your migraines when they start.

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

About the Author:
Read About Depression Symptoms and also read about Heal your Headache and High blood Pressure Headache

By: jacobson

There is a high blood pressure headache link right? Well, if you believe that then read on you may be surprised. Generally, most people believe that one of the symptoms of high blood pressure is a persistent headache. However there have been a number of studies that contradict this.
The number of cases of high blood pressure is increasing, with the world-wide number of those with high blood pressure estimated in one study to reach 1.56 billion people by 2025. This increase has largely been associated with the western lifestyle of poor dietary choices and inactivity.

If you suffer from high blood pressure headaches, you have probably resorted to taking medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Unfortunately, when taking such medications, you run the risk of side effects. Being that you have high blood pressure, which may already cause dizziness, blurred vision and nausea, it is best that you avoid adding to those symptoms. When you take medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen tablets, you run the risk of suffering from their side effects which can also include dizziness and queasiness as well as a host of others.

Blood Pressure Headache
Blood pressure headache can certainly be a problem but don't forget that many patients with hypertension have no symptoms of any kind. A sore head does not always mean that you must have high blood pressure!
Some common causes of head pains include
Sinus infection or sinusitis (caused by pressure in the nasal passages.)
Migraines
Hormone changes such as those that occur in the premenstrual phase
Tension headaches (caused by stress and the type of sore head that most closely resembles the one caused by high BP.)
Those listed above are the commonest cause of head pain but of course there are many other possibilities too - if you have persistent headache then please go see your doctor for a check over. You should not rely on internet information for diagnosis of health problems.

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Even though high blood pressure is considered the "silent killer", you may be one who has symptoms possibly before having a stroke or CVA.
Working with patients at home, some patients do experience the typical signs of high blood pressure:
*headache *dizziness *pounding in the ears *bloody nose
If you can just picture pressure in your head, then you would remember the signs of high blood pressure.

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

About the Author:
Read About Depression Symptoms and also read about Heal your Headache and High blood Pressure Headache

By: jacobson

Women are actually more at risk for getting a migraine than men are. At one point or another 20% of adult women will experience hormone related migraines. This could occur from PMS or Menstrual migraines. Of course, everyone who gets a menstrual migraine can have different symptoms, but most commonly, women will experience a severe headache, they may feel nauseous and they might even be sensitive to light.

When a menstrual migraine happens, it is thought that it is because of a drop in the female hormone estrogen. There are two different types of menstrual migraine, including Menstrual Associated Migraine, which is a migraine that occurs at other times of the month and not just during the menstrual cycle, and there is Pure Menstrual Migraine, which only occurs during a woman's menstrual cycle.

Menstrual Migraine
Women are indeed beautiful. However, womanhood is always accompanied by the woes of menstrual troubles. Monthly visits are oftentimes accompanied by discomfort that can sometimes affect the day-to-day activities of women. Its not only about menstrual cramps; menstrual migraine could also be a nuisance.

Women who have reported migraines usually connect the experience with their menstrual period. The headaches are usually felt before, during or after menstruation. It is confirmed to be a menstrual migraine if the pain is felt regularly each month at the same time 2 days before menstruation up to the last day of bleeding.

Menstrual migraines affect only women and are quite debilitating. The migraines are affected by hormones fluctuating through the menstrual cycle. Women suffer from migraines 3 times more frequently then men and these hormones are classified as menstrual headaches in 60% of the women.

Symptoms of menstrual migraines
symptoms of menstrual migraines are similar to those of migraines. The headaches usually start on one side, are throbbing and accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to bright lights.
PMS headaches happen before a women's period, not during it, and have symptoms that are different. Symptoms for PMS headaches include acne, fatigue, joint pain, increased urine output, constipation and possible lack of coordination. Women also feel a craving for chocolate, salt or alcohol.

Menstrual migraine treatment
The treatment for the migraine attack itself is the same as for any other type of migraine. You may be offered painkillers, drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting and anti-inflammatory painkillers.
Since the cause is thought to be the change in estrogen level, it makes sense to even out that fall. Estrogen skin patches can help. The patch is put onto your skin, from three days before you are expecting your period to start. The patch stays on for seven days.

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

About the Author:
Read About Depression Symptoms and also read about Menstrual Headache and Morning Headache

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.

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.

Discover Why Essential Fish Oils Are So Important to Your Health

By Laurel Cohen
Have you heard about this recently? The essential fish oils are the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. They are considered "essential" because they are necessary for human health, but cannot be created by the human body. So, they must be present in the human diet.
Some researchers still insist that the only omega-3 that must be present in the diet is alpha-linolenic acid or ALA. The body can convert ALA to EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), if it must. But, the conversion process is limited.
Basically, the human body was designed to survive through times of famine and nutrient deficits. The original hunter-gatherer peoples had plenty of food, at times, but, not always.
The human body hasn't really changed much since the hunter-gatherer days. But, the human diet has changed greatly. Some researchers suggest that man would be much healthier if he returned to the diet eaten by his ancestors.
But, we assume that the reason the body can covert ALA to EPA and DHA is because the first is abundant in plant oils. Edible plants were nearly always available to early man. Edible seafood and fish might not always be around the corner.
Researchers also believe that the essential fish oils EPA and DHA were probably present in wild game and fowl. The studies done concerning the conversion rates of ALA to the other fatty acids were conducted on modern people. If the people in the studies didn't eat fish or seafood, then their bodies were responding to a kind of famine. The way it responds is to convert the only omega-3 available.
The studies were not long-term studies, either. So, it is not known if the body continues to convert ALA at the same rate over time. Even if it does, no more than 5% will be converted to DHA.
Many scientists agree that the essential fish oils are more important than ALA consumption, not only because of the inefficient conversion rate, but also because ALA supplementation does not correct low DHA blood levels. No matter how much ALA is given; blood levels of DHA stay the same.
Low DHA in the bloodstream is associated with depression, schizophrenia and suicidal behavior. It is now accepted by everyone from the mainstream medical community to alternative practitioners that DHA must be present in a child's diet in order for the brain to develop normally.
It is suspected that a lack of the essential fish oils in a pregnant woman's diet is responsible for post-partum depression. While she is pregnant and breast-feeding, her body will direct all of her DHA to the infant, which can cause her blood levels to become extremely low.
DHA is necessary to produce or form new brain cells. EPA is necessary for the cells to function normally. So, both must be present in the diet, if you want to think clearly and be less depressed.
Make no mistake about it. If you are thinking about buying essential fish oils as a dietary supplement, do your homework. Some of them are far better than others.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily.
Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

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