Depression Rescue

by Al Short

Many women enter into menopause at different times of their life. Some experience a few of the symptoms while others can have more.

Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling is most likely the most common sensation but, Irregular heart beat, irritability, mood swings, sudden tears, difficulty sleeping, irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, phantom periods, shorter cycles and longer cycles often occur.

One of the most troubling symptoms is Loss of libido. However it is not limited to a drop in desire but also a dry vagina, crashing fatigue, anxiety, feelings of dread, apprehension, depression, difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion,  memory lapses, incontinence upon sneezing, or laughing.

Women have also report having Itchy, crawly skin aching, sore joints, muscles, breast tenderness, headaches, gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence,  nausea,  bloating, increase in allergies weight gain, hair loss, but with an increase in facial hair. Many have experienced dizziness, light-headedness, tingling in the extremities, gum problems, increased bleeding, burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor.

One of the biggest problems of menopause is Osteoporosis (porous bones).

A select few have noticed changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, ‘whooshing,’ buzzing etc.   Reason For Symptoms

Hot flashes are due to the hypothalamic response to declining ovarian estrogen production. The declining estrogen state induces hypophysiotropic neurons in the arcuate nucleas of the hypothalamus to release gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in a pulsatile fashion, which in turn stimulates release of luteinizing hormone (LH). Extremely high pulses of LH occur during the period of declining estrogen production. The LH has vasodilatory effects, which leads to flushing. Loss of libido for some women the loss is so great that they actually find sex repulsive, in much the same way as they felt before puberty. What hormones give, loss of hormones can take away. Aching sore joints may include such problems as carpal tunnel syndrome. Depression different from other depression, the inability to cope is overwhelming. There is a feeling of loss of self. Hormone therapy ameliorates the depression dramatically. Weight gain often around the waist and thighs, resulting in ‘the disappearing waistline’. Tingling in extremities can also be a symptom of B-12 deficiency, diabetes, alterations in the flexibility of blood vessels, or a depletion of potassium or calcium  Tinnitus is one of those physical conditions that seems to manifest in some women at the same time as menopause. It can be associated with health conditions such as hypothyroidism and heart disease, and is a known side-effect of many medications, including aspirin (salicylates) and Prozac.

SOME OF THE  SYMPTOMS MAY ALSO BE SIGNS OF THE FOLLOWING: *hypothyroidism *diabetes *depression with another etiology other medical conditions

About the Author
Al Short: WorldClassNutrition is a leader in discout nutrition supplements with the largest selection of diet pills, creatine products, protein powders, and bodybuilding supplements.  Find more information on the products you are searching for at http://www.worldclassnutrition.com .  If interested in Femestra go to http://www.femestra.com .
Copyright © 2009 Al Short

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Tags: depression, menopause, osteoporosis

Before he started losing his hearing, Steve was an outgoing young man with a promising life ahead of him. He had several close friends he enjoyed spending time with, he visited with family regularly and cherished spending time with his nieces and nephews. His career and social life was also thriving. Steve was an IT specialist in line for a promotion, he was active in his community, and participated in charitable events throughout the year – but this all changed as Steve’s hearing deteriorated.

During this gradual hearing loss, which eventually left Steve partially deaf in both ears, Steve started sleeping more than usual. He began to lose weight because he lost his appetite. Steve became restless and irritable, which impacted his personal relationships as well as his career. He began to experience chronic headaches, which made him more irritated. Although Steve’s hearing loss was not the only thing responsible for his reduced quality of life, his hearing loss was a  primary factor because it added to his depression.

Although Steve suffered from hearing loss at a relatively early age, many older adults endure hearing loss which is often accompanied by depression. In one study conducted by the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, 15% of participants over the age of 65 reported feelings of depression. These feelings are often linked to health concerns which include the onset of hearing loss.

Depression is a disease which affects many people each year. Symptoms such as feeling sad, fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability and even chronic health problems such as headaches or GI issues are just some of the indications of depression. It is not uncommon for depression or even aggression to accompany hearing loss at any age. This is because those suffering from hearing loss tend to feel overwhelmed and helpless. Also, they do not know how to cope with their hearing loss and may even be resistant to devices such as hearing aids.

Fortunately there are steps you can take to combat depression  accompanying hearing loss. These steps include accepting the condition, joining support groups, using Learning and Communication Enhancement (LACE), and consulting with a medical professional about getting digital hearing aids.

The first step to overcoming depression associated with hearing loss is to learn to accept the condition. This is critical because it will help you become more proactive in healing yourself. Although you might not be able to reverse your hearing loss, you can take steps to avoid feeling helpless. Simply defining the problem and learning about alternatives for communicating will help you realize all hope is not lost. You can still live a full life even with a hearing loss.

The best way to overcome depression related to hearing loss is with hearing aids.  The technology available in today’s hearing aids enables them to perform better than ever before.  And they are so small, no one will even know your wearing one!

Joining support groups can also be very beneficial. Meeting with others who share similar obstacles can help you feel empowered. It’s so helpful just to be able to talk about your feelings with others who truly understand the problem. Your friends and family may try to be supportive but unless they are also dealing with a hearing loss they cannot fully understand how hearing loss really affects your life.

Listening and communication enhancement (LACE) was developed by leading audiologists at the University of California at San Francisco to improve listening and communication skills in those who are suffering from hearing loss. LACE is an interactive computerized training program designed to assist those suffering from hearing loss by helping them to adapt strategies for compensating when their current level of hearing is inadequate. This program has been shown to increase the listening and communication skills of users by 40%. A program like this can really help you cope better with your hearing loss , especially when used in conjunction with a hearing aid.  When you regain your life through better hearing it can really help lessen feelings of depression.

Finally, if you’re still battling depression it may be a good idea to consult a medical professional for treatment for depression. It is important to remember depression is a disease and it will not go away on its own. A medical professional can assess your symptoms to help you to combat depression and get back to enjoying life.

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Hearing Loss can be devestating and extremely depressing.  This is where the professionals at AidRight Hearing Aids can help.  Make an investment in your hearing today by calling us 877-777-1710 or visit our website at http://www.aidright.com

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Tags: depression, hearing loss, LACE, Learning and Communication Enhancement

People, who catch cold, can recover quicker, and in some cases even prevent catching cold in the first place, as long as they help their bodies to improve its immunity. There are some well-known ways to improve your self-defense system and there are some surprising ways that are less obvious to us. For example, when you inhale a cold virus, it inflames your nasal passages. The inflammation process causes the body to release chemicals, which include histamine. When you have a weak immune system, you are at a higher risk of catching a cold or a virus. Your immune system is responsible for helping you fight off infections; therefore, when your immune system is weak it cannot function properly.

Sleep apnea can have severe effects on your health and has been linked to such problems as heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea involves repeated pauses in breathing that occur when the muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the upper airway.  A number of clinical trials have shown regular exercise to be strongly linked to heightened immunity, with the emphasis on regular.

If you stay inactive, this body temperature pattern will lead to poor sleep, which will prevent you from sleeping deeply. Approaching stress management from a wellness lifestyle approach can give you “money in the bank” when it comes to preventing stress, it can give you the energy you need to handle stress when it happens. The following components are part of a wellness lifestyle approach. The authors suggested that restoring sleep is an important preventative measure and critical component of medical therapy. These findings are underlined by a number of studies, the latest reported in the previous volume of the Sleep Bulletin, demonstrating that adequate sleep is associated with a decreased mortality risk in the general population.

They’re not gaining anything, but are losing a huge amount of their health, you can see it in their social interactions, their ability to learn and think clearly. Sleep is one of the keys to a successful diet and a healthy lifestyle. Other public health hazards, such as poor nutrition, smoking, excess alcohol and lack of exercise is the subject of endless research. On the contrary, little research has been done on the subject of sleep.

- Stage 1 is light sleep. You’ve probably experienced this during boring classes in school. Your body is barely asleep, your eyes move slightly, and you’re easily awakened, usually with a startled “jump.” During this stage, you’ll often have dream-like visuals.
- Stage 2 is when the eye movements stop and your brain waves begin to slow down.
- Stage 3 begins deep sleep, as very slow brain waves, called delta waves, take over the more rapid brain waves, called sleep spindles.
- Stage 4 is a deep state where all muscle movements stop. It’s hard to be awakened during this state, and when you are, you’re often in a groggy, disoriented condition.
- Stage 5 is called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. In this stage, your breathing becomes shallow, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, your eyes jerk rapidly in all directions, and you have your wildest dreams.
- We sleep in cycles wherein all five stages are completed in around one-and-a-half to two hours. As the cycles increase, we spend less time in deep sleep and more in stages 1, 2, and REM.

Stage three and four, deep sleep, being the health sleep where the brain and heart slow to a resting phase and this stage takes up 50% of sleeping time. Dreaming takes place during stage five with waking off and on. Millions of people suffer with some form of insomnia, resulting in fatigue, lack of mental alertness, and weakened physical and mental health. It also contributes to both minor and major injury accidents.

Physically active people catch fewer colds and other upper respiratory infections, but more exercise isn’t always better. Therefore that makes us vulnerable to diseases from colds to cancer, flu to heart disease. Some studies found that taking vitamin C (about 600 milligrams/day) for three weeks before an ultra marathon reduced post race cold symptoms, yet others have found that vitamin C supplementation made no difference. Getting frequent colds can be a sign of over training or overtaxing your body. Cold and flu viruses are spread by airborne particles, so when you cough, sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue instead of your hands, if possible. When this happens, you can expect to feel weak and run down. To be susceptible to colds and the flu and more likely to be affected by disease, when your immune system is not functioning well, germs can easily penetrate the body and wreak havoc on your organs.

Many natural ways are available in order to boost your immune system. Some of the important tips to boost your immune system are given here. Immune-boosting foods include organically grown fruits and vegetables, wholegrain, beans and other legumes, natural oils such as expelled-pressed olive oil, hemp oil, walnut oil, flax oil and coconut butter. Brazil nuts, a rich source of selenium, are particularly good for the immune system. First, the immune system manufactures antibodies, which identify and fend off invaders. Also, your immune system has a built-in memory, it remembers how it defended your body against those past invaders, and it stands ready to do it again. Adequate restful sleep helps to restore our bodies and refresh our minds. During deep sleep, our bodies release potent immune-enhancing substances that strengthen immune function.

Everyone needs to work at resetting your body clock naturally.

On average, college students today are going to bed 1-2 hours later and sleeping 1-1.6 hours less than they did a generation ago. As a result, sleep complaints and depression have increased dramatically among college students and doctors have discovered that sleeping for nine or more hours a night is not necessarily beneficial, either.

About the Author
Another fine article by Chuck Arnone in regards to our day to day health and your immune system.

http://www.immune-system-healthy.com

&

http://www.provitaminliquid.com

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Tags: cold virus, depression, health, immune system, sleep

by James O’Neill

Tags: depression, severe anxiety, talking

I suffered from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue for 4 years before reaching a point where I am 90% better than I was at the beginning of the illness.

I will say from the outset that I believe this is one of the worst afflictions that can strike any person, at any age and at anytime.

Not only is it so debilitating that it now has the same disability rating assigned to heart disease patients, but at the same time you have to deal with negative connotations that surround it.

Even the name doesn’t sound credible, “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”, “what is that like a bad hangover or something” people will say. At a time when you need the most support in your life, often, people are turning their backs and walking away or muttering under their breath. It is a frightful condition.

This will be a pivotal point in your life. You will find that during the course of your illness you will find out who your real friends are, and who really cares.

There is no point disguising the reality which is, I’m afraid to say, that you will lose a lot of friends and colleagues along the way to the monster that is Fibromyalgia and CFS.

It is NOT possible to explain this condition to people who have no experience of it either by having suffered, or through having a particular medical interest in the area. They WILL NOT understand what, or to what extent, you are suffering. Again, I’m afraid this is the norm. Accept it as such and you will not then be personally offended by acts of prejudice. Easier said than done I know. Let us examine a common sequence of events which may ring a bell with sufferers, to understand the prejudice from an outsider perspective.

You had a viral/ bacterial/ chemical exposure of unknown etiology, the same as happens to millions of people throughout America every day, and for some reason that no-one can explain to you, you have felt generally ill and exhausted with multiple symptoms and multi-systemic involvement ever since. Your doctor appears cynical and can’t give you an adequate diagnosis so you may by now have been referred to a psychologist for analysis as a suspected depressive incident. “hmmm okay” you hear them mutter.

Ask yourself this question.

If you had no knowledge about Fibromyalgia and CFS what would your reaction be to someone else developing these symptoms?………… You see? Its human nature, it’s cruel isn’t it?

So how do we as sufferers cope and rationalize what is happening.

Knowledge is power. Educate yourself about your condition.

Concentrate on yourself and try not to dwell morbidly over the people that you have lost already. Those that do not stand by you, and there will be some, are what we term fair-weather friends, usually activity based they were your friends due to your common interest in a certain activity, be it sport/ work etc.

The activity has gone due to your illness, therefore by association so does the friendship, this is okay because we are going to get you to a stage where you can resume the activity, you can forgive those “acquaintances” if you wish and resume the activity with them, you will also be wiser and more aware of “the type” of friendship you have with this person.

What goes around come around and what is going around is that you are going to get better!!

There is a small consolation that I allow myself, and this is the level of self-knowledge and wisdom that you will gain from this painful journey. It’s a small consolation I know and I hear most of you screaming, “it’s wisdom and knowledge I could well do without”, but it is there and when you do come out the other side in the following weeks and months what you have been through will make you ten times the person you were before.

You have plumbed the depths of pain and despair and in the future you will be scaling the heights. If you come through this nothing in life will phase you again. You will value the simple things in life. You will live every day. You will scoff at the vanities and selfishness of our systems and culture.

Fibromyalgia and CFS will create emotional havoc for you and for your loved ones. This is normal.

Becoming chronically ill is very much like a bereavement. The losses and emotions involved are very similar. Giving up works means not only that you lose income but you also lose status, friendship and a purposeful role in life.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome encompass the full range of human emotions and magnify the negative ones ten-fold.

This disease really is a monster. The usual response is to want to hide away from the world. However, confronting these emotions can be very important as part of your psychological rehabilitation which should be addressed in conjunction with the manual therapy discussed later.

This really is an area where a healthy mind can assist a healthy body towards better recovery.

The pain that comes with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be frightening and this in itself can cause fear, loneliness, isolation, panic and anxiety.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can create a fear of rejection by others even when there is no evidence of this happening. I mean, who wants to be around someone who is like this, we say to ourselves.

Again this is a normal reaction, our self esteem is based on what others think of us, and usually that is based on what we “do” or “how we play” , or “what we say”, generally how we interact with other people. As we take to “doing less”, “playing” less and generally interacting “saying” less, then our self esteem plummets along with our health.

We are worried about the future; the dark shadow of uncertainty is round every corner. Will I ever get better? What if I don’t? How long is this going to go on? We ask these questions every day. We begin to experience life in a shadow land. Our hopes and dreams have been shattered and the road ahead can be bleak and never ending.

Anger is very common emotion – Why me? – Why now? – What have I ever done to deserve this? Unfortunately this anger alienates those we love even more.

You will find supportive people, often, and encouragingly the last people you would expect. Those who are supportive are often people, or those close to them, who have experienced serious illness and are living with it, or have come through it.

Or, those who have experienced Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or have someone close to them who has it. These are the people you should aim to spend your limited energy resources building relationships with for the moment.

Do not feel bitter towards people who you lose at this stage, hold on while you can then just let them go lightly, they are not your problem. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome IS your problem, and fighting it hard is your duty to yourself, to get your health back, for you and your loved ones. You are going to need the energy you have left for this fight.

I do advocate counseling and support groups. You will need to find someone who has specific knowledge about the emotional effects of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, again a good doctor should be able to put you on the right path, there are also Fibromyalgia and CFS support groups based in most cities and towns across the US.

Once you have found a good support group you will also find good counseling.

However, the majority of cases will NOT need to see a psychologist unless you are being referred for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as your illness is NOT depression, and therefore you should not accept anti-depressants, with the exception of possibly low dose amitriptyline if your symptoms include severe nervous pain and sleep disturbance.

However I cannot personally vouch for this but there is enough evidence to suggest is a valid treatment.

Mental and emotional preparation, knowledge of your condition, and the correct course of treatment are all essential and work symbiotically to assist your recovery.

In my next article I will explain new research which is allowing us to determine how genetic and biomechanical anomalies, predispose certain individuals to attacks of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

About the Author
Mark is the author of a new digital book and training manual “Beat Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”

http://www.BeatFibroAndFatigue.com

Mark also publishes in a regular blog at: http://www.BeatFibroAndFatigue.blogspot.com

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Tags: bereavement, cfs, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, Fibromyalgia