Depression Rescue

Depression – Quick Cures
By Jeanne Condon

Depression can be a paralyzing situation. It can last only hours or for days and months.

Depression can sometimes be described as hopeless and despairing, like being in a dark cave with no exit in sight.  The depressed person yearns for a return to ‘normal’ life, and though like being in a pit, cannot put themselves out.

There are several simple techniques to help relief the pain of depression and alleviate the symptoms.

Drink water. Most of the common ailments which hamper us could be reduced by being properly hydrated. Drinking a cup of water every hour on the hour is a method I use so I can be functioning at peak performance, mentally and physically.

Deep breathing. When we are babies we breath from our diaphragm. Sometime as children we transition to shallow breathing from our lungs, which is not as effective for getting oxygen to our brains. Lie down and put your hands on your abdomen. Breathe so that your belly raises and lowers with each inhale and exhale.

Exercise. Regular exercise is so necessary for keeping mind and body fit and healthy. Join a gym, ride a bike, swim, or go for a walk with the dog. Any activity will help perk up the mind of the depressed person. Force yourself to take that first step toward the activity and soon it will become almost automatic.

Nutrition. Eating properly is a very important key to maintaining mental health. Certain foods can cause biochemical reactions in the body which will affect moods. Keep a journal of what you eat and how it affects you. Do your best to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein. Today’s produce is deficient of the necessary nutrients for our optimal health and well being. It is necessary to add   vitamins and nutritional supplements to our diets. Included in this should be an endrocrine support supplement which will stabilize and balance hormones. For me, this has been one of the vital keys to my mental health.

Rest and a good night sleep. I think the Latin world with their ‘siestas’ have a good thing going. A midday rest gives the mind and body a needed break from the frenetic activity that defines our lives. Getting a solid night’s sleep helps the brain and melatonin restore to healthy levels. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that aids as an anti-oxidant and helps with some forms of depression.

Prayer. Our lives are on constant ‘go-go-go’! Praying to God opens up channels of grace that will aid in the restoration of hope and peace in our lives.

Just do it. If depression is keeping you from taking action on something necessary in your life, force yourself to go and do it. Many times the very action of activity will be the catalyst to help lift the depression.

Friends. Have a couple of friends that you can count on to share with and lean on. Feelings of loneliness can become more acute with depression. Trusted friends will offer wise counsel and patient advice to help and not hurt you.

Professional help. Should the depression last longer than a week or two or symptoms of despair become life threatening, professional help should be sought!! Prescribed medicines can provide the stimulus for healing where the simple home ‘remedies’ outlined above are not working.

Above all, do not be afraid. You are not alone. Your life is a beautiful gift waiting to be unwrapped. Follow the steps and find sunny days once again shining on you!

Jeanne Condon, besides being happily married and raising 8 children, works from home helping people improve the quality of their life and their health. She can be reached at http://www.happyandhealthyfamily.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanne_Condon http://EzineArticles.com/?Depression—Quick-Cures&id=1316516

Tags: anxiety, depression, mental health, worrying

By Frans Nieuwenhuis

Men are not like women. Yes, I know that this is stunning news. Alert the media! It’s true though; men are different from women in more ways than one would normally think. Due to their differences they are more vulnerable to some serious side effects of depression.

‘Vulnerable’ isn’t a word that’s often associated with males and that’s part of the problem.
Men, as a rule, do not talk about their feelings. They don’t like to be thought of as vulnerable, weak, in need of help, or fragile. A man is much less likely to confide in a friend, a co-worker, spouse or medical professional that they are feeling depressed.

Depression affects men as well as women, yet the medical profession sees much fewer men than women because men do not seek help for this condition as much as their female counterparts do.
Men feel the need to be powerful, in control, competitive and often neglect their mental health in the process of being ‘manly’.

Men have traditionally had the role of being tough and self-reliant, and sometimes the women in their lives hold that same view of the male role. A man wanting to talk about his feelings of vulnerability and fragility can be taken as a sign of weakness to some women and this can result in the loss of a relationship.

Because men are not inclined to believe they need help and think that it’s a sign of virility that they can handle whatever life throws their way-they are not often aware of the symptoms of depression. Instead of seeking help, men may try to compensate for their feelings of depression by increasing alcohol consumption or using drugs to mask their pain. This can result in risky behavior.

Some will spend more time at work and less time at home, leading to problems in relationships. If you’re suffering from depression you may be underperforming at work, feel less likely to talk than usual, you feel irritable, feel achy and you are worrying more and more about things in your life.

Physical problems, such as erectile dysfunction can result in depression in men. Occasionally depression can cause sexual problems, but the good news is that there are many treatments available to help with both.

Men should know that depression can affect them as well as women and need to know the signs:

Feelings of hopelessness
Loss of appetite
Anxiety
Loss of sex drive
Trouble concentrating
Loss of energy
No desire to maintain personal hygiene
Losing interest in people or activities

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms it’s ok to talk to your doctor. You’re not superman. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak.

Frans Nieuwenhuis is the author of this article. For more information and articles about [http://www.treatmentsdepression.com/blog/causes-of-depression-in-teens/]depression in teens go to http://www.treatmentsdepression.com/blog/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frans_Nieuwenhuis http://EzineArticles.com/?Depression-in-Men—Its-Different-For-Men&id=1309031

Tags: depression, depression in men

by Stephen Lau

Hormones form the biochemical basis of major depression. Estrogen, a female hormone produced in the ovaries, plays a pivotal role in your brain in that it increases the amount of mood-regulating neurotransmiiters, whose malfunction often triggers depression in an individual. Neurotransmission is the process by which brain chemical impulses are transmitted from one brain cell (neuron) to another. Scientists have identified norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine as some of the essential brain chemicals requisite for brain health. Mood disorder, including depression and manic depression (also known as bipolar depression), result from an imbalance or deficiency of transmitters to make the right connection between the brain cells. Estrogen increases the ability of neurons for optimum connection or communication within the brain.

In addition, estrogen plays a critical role in the proper flow of blood to different parts of the brain, thereby instrumental in optimizing emotion, memory, and cognitive functions.

Research scientists have conducted various studies, which have indicated the impact of estrogen on the brain with respect to memory function and postmenopausal women.

Prior to the actual onset of menopause, estrogen level in women significantly decreases as much as 50 to 75 percent.

This may explain why women not only experience depression twice as much as men do but also are two times more likely to be hospitalized in their lifetimes. This discrepancy has little to do with the fact that women seek psychiatric help more frequently than men do, or the fact that women are more stressed out than men are.

If hormones have everything to do with depression, then women’s depressive episodes are hormonal.

According to studies, approximately 35 percent of women have mild premenstrual physical and depressive symptoms due to the rapid decline in estrogen level.

Following pregnancy, women also experience a drastic decline in estrogen level. Consequently, 50 to 70 percent women experience postpartum depression within the first 10 days following delivery, and approximately 10 percent may suffer a major depression. According to a study, more than 60 percent with postpartum depression may develop depression later in life.

During menopause and perimenopause, women’s dramatic decline in estrogen level makes them more vulnerable to extreme mood swings. Many studies attest to the close link between estrogen and mood swings.

Hormonal fluctuations in both women and men account for their aberrations in their thinking, behavior, moods, and their sexuality, expressed in the symptoms of depression. It should be noted that decline in testosterone (male hormone) may also result in male aggressive behavior

The crucial question is: Given its close connection with depression, is estrogen an antidepressant?

An NIH (National Institutes of Health) study on the role of estrogen as an antidepressant indicated that women patients receiving high-dose estrogen experienced significant improvement in their symptoms of depression. In addition, their improvement sustained beyond the study period.  Scientists have to believe that estrogen and other hormones may benefit those patients with treatment-resistant depression. The rational is based on the assumption that antidepressants may only boost the “level” of neurotransmitters but without enhancing the “quality” of those transmitters, and therefore may not be efficacious in treating some depression, especially those with low estrogen and testosterone levels.

Studies have also indicated that patients suffering from anxiety, another mood-related disorder attributed to peri- and postmenopausal depression. Symptoms of anxiety, such as dry mouth, waking up in the middle of the night short of breath, excessive sweating,  and nausea, can be relieved with estrogen treatment.

Other hormones that may play havoc with depression are testosterone and the thyroid hormone. Testosterone, which is responsible for energy and sexual function in women as well, has an antidepressant effect on the brain. Therefore, a decline in testosterone may precipitate depressive episodes. Disorder in the thyroid hormone may produce paranoid delusions in patients suffering from bipolar depression.

Of course, mental illness is a complex disease that involves many factors other than just the hormones. The disorder can be due to genetic factors making one susceptible to depression, the unhealthy or wayward lifestyle, the nutrition deficiency, the environmental toxins, and distorted thinking, among others. It is important to identify the cause or causes, and design proper treatment for this debilitating disorder affecting more than 15 American adults.

Copyright (c) 2007 Stephen Lau

Stephen Lau is a researcher, writing synopses of medical research for scientists. His publications include “NO MIRACLE CURES” a book on healing and wellness. He has also created several websites, including “Longevity For You” , “A Healthy Lifestyle Is The Way Of Zen” and “Chinese Natural Healing For Health Rejuvenation.”

http://www.longevityforyou.com

http://www.zenhealthylifestyle.com

http://www.chinesenaturalhealing.com

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Hormones-And-Your-Depression/311021

Tags: bipolar depression, depression, estrogen, hormones, neurotransmitters, testosterone

By Susan P Denny

When a person is suffering from depression, they are not weak, lazy or wallowing in self pity.

Depression is a real illness and if left untreated, can become very serious. Depression is believed to be associated with a chemical imbalance in the central parts of the brain.

As a fellow sufferer, I know how low you feel as a person, and having family or friends telling you that you’ll get over it, certainly doesn’t help. It took me a long time to feel “normal” again, but I have conquered it.

If a member of your family or a friend is a sufferer of this illness, the best thing you can do for them is to let them know that you understand what they’re going through, and that you’re there to give them support whenever they need it. The only way to recover is with proper treatment and having a support team around you.

I don’t know how I would have coped without my family being there for me. Sometimes you just need a hug, or someone to listen to how you’re feeling. Don’t be afraid to ask your loved one if you can help, as it’s sometimes hard for the depression sufferer to ask for it.

Once the symptoms are under control, you can play an integral part in helping the sufferer regain their self confidence. Go with them on excursions outside the home and encourage them to live their life as they did before the onset of depression.

You can help more than you think.

Susan Denny has been happily married for 38 years, has 4 adult children (all married) and 6 grandchildren. She has many years experience with families and relationships and has been involved in the Self Development industry for nearly 20 years, starting with one-on- one training with Bob Proctor in 1990. She has since attended many seminars hosted by world renowned Gurus in the Self Development and Internet Marketing areas.
Go to: http://healthwealthequalshappiness.com for more information, tips and ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_P_Denny http://EzineArticles.com/?What-You-Can-Do-to-Help-Someone-With-Depression&id=1307187

Tags: depression, self confidence, suffering from depression

by Sandra Reynolds

Do you suffer from mood swings and crying bouts? Do you want to sleep all day and not leave the house? Have you ever found yourself asking he question, “am I suffering from depression?” If you have reached this point, then you are well on your way to conquering this common mental illness. Depression has different causes and contributing factors; some people may be more susceptible to it due to a family history or due to significant life events. There is no cure for depression, but there are many reliable treatments available that have proven to be successful in keeping symptoms at bay. There are also several self-help resources available on the internet that discuss various causes, the most common symptoms, diagnosis criteria, and various treatment options for different types of depression.

“Am I suffering from depression?” The most common symptoms of depression are not enjoying favorite hobbies or activities anymore, viewing the future as hopeless, feeling helpless, having difficulty concentrating or reading, feeling agitated, restless, sad or unhappy, having difficulty making decisions, feeling guilty, expending great effort to do simple things, feeling fatigued, unable to eat or overeating, lost or gained weight, not sleeping enough or too much, having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, and losing interest in what used to be important. All of these are significant signs and symptoms of depression, and they appear in varying degrees. Depression is a chronic illness that will never completely go away, but with an optimistic approach and comprehensive treatment, the symptoms can be decreased significantly if not permanently erased.

Learning how to deal with depression and change life’s outlook often involves more than a simple diagnosis and medication. There are all natural products that have been shown to be effective in cases of mild depression, like St. John’s wart, but in cases of more severe symptoms, a complete evaluation by a psychiatrist and/or psychotherapist is recommended. If you have asked yourself even once, “am I suffering from depression?” then you should seek professional advice. There are quite a few sites online that are great sources for free screening tests that evaluate your symptoms and what they could indicate, but this doesn’t replace a professional evaluation. You may not have depression at all, or you could have a combination disorder like depression and anxiety or bipolar disorder. A qualified experienced mental health professional is the best source for proper diagnosis and treatment, and remember that not all treatments work the same for everyone. We are all unique individuals after all, and depression creates a different challenge for every person it afflicts. And it’s not a death sentence either; it’s just a temporary roadblock.

Sandra Reynolds runs a pet rescue center in Las Vegas.
Check out this great Coping With Depression guide which has some really great advice.

http://www.healthfitnesshelp.com

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/How-To-Tell-If-I-Am-Suffering-From-Depression/310559

Tags: depression, health, mental health, psychiatry