How To Overcome Depression: How Do Enzymes Work?

To answer the question how do enzymes work to overcome depression we need to remember, as I wrote in a previous article, that enzymes are essential to almost every biochemical process in our body. Biochemists, in experimenting with how to overcome depression, have developed numerous antidepressants.

Many of the antidepressant drugs that have been marketed are an attempt to replicate what normally is done by enzymes occurring naturally in our bodies. The most popular and successful family of antidepressants are known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's).

These drugs are designed along the line of enzyme inhibitors to successfully compete with the natural enzymes to keep them from removing the "feel good" hormone serotonin from our system by re-absorption (re-uptake). Hence, by artificially maintaining serotonin levels in our brains they make us feel better.

Some commercial examples of SSRI's are Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft. The problem is many of these drugs may have horrendous adverse side effects and are quite expensive due to the patents.

It would be much better, in my estimation, to accomplish the same end with a naturally occurring substance without so many potential adverse side effects and expense. People have, in fact, being doing this for centuries!

St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum, is an ancient herb that comes from sunny yellow flowers that appear to bleed when bruised. Because of this phenomena, during the rise of Christianity it got dubbed with the name John The Baptist's plant (The Old English word for plant is wort).

It has been demonstrated to be an effective remedy for mild to moderate depression in history as well as laboratory controlled experimentation. Due to the apparent benefits without some of the adverse side effects the herb has undergone a remarkable revival in the last few decades.

For similar reasons it has become the object of a considerable amount of research. It was traditionally believed that Hypericin was the active agent in the herb's ability to overcome depression, but recent research has led biochemists to believe that Hyperforin is the principal antidepressant agent.

This early misunderstanding, unfortunately, obfuscates much of the earlier research into the herb's effectiveness in overcoming depression. St. John's Wort has been standardized based on the Hypericin content. The amount of Hyperforin in the herb can vary dramatically.

Because of this there have been research results that seem inconclusive or even contradictory. Germans even came under suspicion because they had consistently more positive experimental results than Americans.

Some even went so far as to suspect them of rigging their results because of the traditional popularity of the herb in their nation. I submit that a more likely cause is they had a source of St. John's Wort that was richer in Hyperforin. Probably closer to the 3% clinically proven potency.

It has been shown in a number of in vivo, in vitro and clinical studies that Hyperforin inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin as well as several other hormones important in fighting depression. These include norepinephrine, dopamine, gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamate. Hence, it can be considered a naturally occurring enzyme inhibitor that helps to overcome depression.

It has been demonstrated to be just as effective as many of the popular commercial anti-depressants. The same studies, including more than 5,000 patients, produced much less side-effects than SSRI's. As a matter of fact, the side effects reported were similar to those claimed by control groups taking placebos. A cautionary note is that it is known to reduce the effectiveness of prescription drugs.

Hence, anyone that is on prescription drugs considering taking St. John's Wort to overcome depression needs to get medical advice. It is not a good idea for women taking contraceptives as it can interfere with them also.

Before you consider adding the herb to your arsenal in fighting depression you should make sure of a reliable source. The content of Hyperforin the active agent can vary dramatically and should be a minimum of 3%.

The Depression Meter: A Tool to Beat the Holiday Blues

The holiday season is right around the corner and for most of us, that means fun and family, but for others, this is the most difficult time of year.

Five percent of children suffer from depression. A recent survey indicates that as many as 20% or one in five teens suffer from clinical depression. Approximately 1 in 8 women suffer from depression and the holiday season can make that depression even worse. I call it the Holiday blues.

Most of us know depression as a pervasive sadness, but it is more than that. Depression can be a despair that stays with the person and can be debilitating.

When you think of depression, you most likely think of the inward expression of behavior, i.e., a sad, downcast look, the person doesn't want talk or do fun things that they used to do. But depression can also take a different look. Some people "externalize" their feelings and act out in angry and aggressive ways, as if they are mad at the whole world.

Here are some symptoms indicate depression that you should know:

Internalizing Behavior

• Poor school or work performance
• Withdrawal from friends or activities
• Feelings of sadness and hopelessness that lasts for more than 2 weeks
• Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation
• Prolonged periods of sadness

Externalizing Behavior

• Anger and rage
• Overreaction to criticism
• Problems with authority
• Multiple outbursts
• Defensiveness

The good news is that the holiday blues are easy to track using a tool called the Depression Meter. This is a meter that can give you an indication of the level sadness that a person is feeling.

The Depression Meter

The Depression Meter is a scale, numbered from 1 to 10, with 1 being a good day, and 10 being the saddest that the person has felt. The numbers on the Depression Meter correlate with the intensity of emotion that the person is feeling.

You can use the Depression Meter in a number of different ways. First of all, let's say you are a teacher and a student in your class, Jane, appears consistently sad and you begin to be concerned about her. You can ask Jane to rate her sadness on the Depression Meter. Her number will immediately give you an indication of just how sad Jane really is feeling.

I can't tell you how many times I have looked at a client and had a number in my head (4), but when I asked the client to rate their number of the Depression Meter, their number was very different from mine (7)! You can't always tell how someone is feeling just by looking at them! The Depression Meter can help you determine if a person is having a rough time, especially during the Holiday season.

Let's say you are a school or mental health counselor. You could use the Depression Meter to have Jane track her number on a chart or a calendar. A consistently high number is an indicator that Jane is not coping well and needs some additional strategies. The Depression Meter can also be used as a tracking and assessment tool to monitor therapeutic progress.

You can use the Depression Meter as a teaching tool. For example, during class or a counseling session you can teach the social emotional skill of self-awareness. The Depression Meter with enable your student(s) or your client(s) to "check in" with their feelings, then you can discuss healthy activities they can engage in to feel better.

The Depression Meter gives you a common language to use when discussing feelings of sadness. It gives you a baseline. During this holiday season, use the Depression Meter at home to get a handle on someone you feel is struggling with the Holiday Blues.

The holiday season is difficult for many people. The Depression Meter can give you a common language that will empower you to help your students endure and successfully cope with their Holiday Blues.

Additional Resources:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Fact sheet on the depressed child
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/the_depressed_child

Mental Health America of the Heartland. http://www.mhah.org
Moore, D (2008) Why are so many students so angry? Second Wind Press. KCMO

Mastering Depression

Clinical depression is a disease - or a dis-ease, it strives to make you 'uneasy.' A powerful metaphor for depression is to consider the disease as a team of engineers, whose primary purpose is to tear down bridges, not build them. The bridges that depression seeks to destroy are those bridges, or pathways in your brain that link the feelings of pleasure to your life experiences with people, place and events. In real life - depression hurts. Before it controls your life completely it is critical you find a way to deal with depression.

A more pathological description of this which illustrates why anti-depression drugs are helpful speaks of the neuro-synaptic pathways (bridges) that are in your brain, and over which these signals travel to connect the cells that retain the memory of our life experiences, to the cells the trigger the endorphins and hormones that we know are the sensation of pleasure. Anti-depression can do two things physiologically - they can stimulate the use of more serotonin (the raw material to build these bridges with) and prevent that raw material from being re-absorbed before it can be used to build the bridge.

These bridges/neuro-synaptic pathways, are built through every experience we have from birth. Like walking in a grassy field, the more you walk the same path, the more the grass lies down, and the clearer and easier the path becomes, until it become second nature.

As you may have experienced, depression tears these bridges down, leaving one dis-engaged, or 'checked-out' from many, and ultimately all, of those experiences that brought you satisfaction or pleasure. For those who allow this core of engineers to tear down these bridges, without enacting a plan to re-build the bridges, and save those bridges yet destroyed. find them selves completely 'checked-out' and reach such despair life may feel as if it has no meaning.

I believe that life is about fully engaging in BOTH love and passion, AND being the conduit of compassion that allows these gifts to flow through us, and to be shared with others. Depression seeks to destroy our meaning of life by breaking these bridges.

Personally I faced the battle of depression back in the 90's when I was burying a friend a week from AIDS, and from my clinical counseling training. I believe a multifaceted approach is the most powerful way to combat depression - a possible combination of drugs, therapy and personal action.

Only a licensed psychiatrist or medical doctor can prescribe anti-depressants. An experienced counselor or therapist is almost always necessary to help you travel this journey - and overcome that insidious corp or bridge destroying engineers!

The personal action is about effecting the plans you create with your counselor or therapist to "kicking the butts" of that insidious corp of engineer and refusing to let bridges to be destroyed, while striving to re-build old ones and create new ones at a rate greater then these nasty guys can destruct them!

Easier said then done, I know, as the loss of these connects leads to apathy, which feeds the destruction. It is quickly a vicious circle that can be created, and only an aggressive plan of action will stop this downward spiral.

Consequently, remaining motivated is not unlike an alcoholic remaining sober. Therapy helps, drugs help, but CRITICAL to success is a personal support system of friends and family who love you so much they will not let you fail. Support groups are great but few things are better then a proven circle of friends and family who love you too much to let you fail, and love you so much, that they can see past your pain, and patiently support you as you re-build these bridges together. Take stock of these relationships. Many may already be strained as depression has already worked its toll. Depression knows these connections are its greatest enemy - desperately seeking to destroy the bridges that you have built with these people. Yet they are the easiest bridges to salvage and re-build as they are the ones that have historically served you well. Your heart knows these relationships can be trusted, even if your brain tried to convince you that you have 'checked-out.'

Curing depression is about creating AND re-creating love and passion in your life. Take a good look around you - who are the sources of the most powerful love you experienced in the past? Who do you know loves you enough that you can trust their judgment over your own as depression seeks to drive you into loneliness and despair? Who loves you enough and who can you trust to walk that journey with you?

Beating depression and living a life of passion and love will only happen in relationship. Those relationship best include your friends, family and loved ones, an experienced counselor or therapist who understands your challenges, and the possible support of a medical practitioner.

Clinical signs of depression may include some or all of the following descriptors. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, impaired concentration and difficulty making decisions, fatigue, loss of energy, or being tired all the time, low self-esteem, trouble sleeping or oversleeping the use or escalating use of drugs and/or alcohol, and/or a poor appetite or overeating.

If you believe you are suffering from depression it is critical that you seek professional help. The time to do so is as early in the process as possible. If you are experiencing some or any of the symptoms listed above contact a professional who will be able to help you. As you have learned from this article, the earlier in the process that you can take action to prevent the disassembling of the many bridges of love and support in your life as possible, the more effective and the quicker your treatment will be.

Experiencing a life full of passion and love is a phenomenal experience. To live such a life requires that you decide to be the master of your mind and experiences. Many of us do not intuitively know how to exercise these skills and an experienced counselor or therapist provides an excellent opportunity for you to develop this mastery.

Ayurveda Remedy: Healing Depression

Unfortunately, at least one client a day comes into Niagara Ayurveda complaining of depression or anxiety. As I listen to their stories it becomes clear that there have been events in their lives that have threatened their sense of "safety and security."

Okay, that may sound obvious, or even a little silly, but this is where we look, from a holistic perspective, in order to heal depression. So how do we use this information to help them restore balance and heal?

In my clinical practice I have always found an imbalance in the root chakra when depression is present. Chakra are centers of the body from which a person can collect energy. They are connected to major organs or glands that govern other body parts.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the world's oldest system of medicine and healing, ayurvedic herbs are often recommended to restore balance to the underlying "dosha" imbalance. Yet frequently, the practitioner does not address the chakras,(energy centers) or energy field. Without looking into these other areas, herbal therapies are often no more successful than western medicine at relieving depression.

If you suffer with depression and you want to use a more holistic approach and get off of prescription medications you have to be willing to look beyond the basic mainstream, "talk therapy". As Albert Einstein said, "Problems cannot be solved by the level of awareness that created them."

Energy medicine and the chakra system offers one of the best solutions for healing. In one particular case, a client conveyed a story to me about her childhood, which was filled with verbal and physical abuse. She learned at a young age to fear that her very existence may be threatened because of the physical abuse.

When events like this happen our subconscious mind and our energy system team up to create imbalances that support our physical reality. The root chakra that correlates to our "right to be here" and our feeling of safety and security is now weakened and deficient. Is it really truly life threatening? No. But the body remains healthy and balanced when all of the energy centers remain open and balanced.

So in this case, her root chakra remained closed and over time depression set in. A qualified practitioner, such as a Certified Healing Touch Practitoner, can assess and treat energy imbalances and help to restore balance. Like any other imbalance in the body, it can take several sessions to allow the body to get used to it's new energy pattern, but it can produce lasting, long term results.

One of the benefits of this healing modality is that the client doesn't have to relive painful past events. They only have to be open and willing to release the old, stored energy pattern. Usually just setting an intention for this is enough to start the healing process in motion.

Another important factor to consider when using a holistic or ayurvedic approach to healing depression is to determine your body type. In Ayurveda, Kapha types have a tendency towards heaviness which can lead to depression. there are many simple actions that can prevent a kapha imbalance and ward off depression.

Depression: 7 Common Symptoms To Look Out For

Ever felt that deep, uneasy or negative feeling that something is wrong with you but you just can't put a finger on it? You may assume that it's just one of those days when you're feeling the blues. But beware! You (or someone you know) may be going through depression without realizing it.

1. You Experience Different Kinds of Negative Emotions.

The intense feelings of being sad, empty, helpless, worthless, or guilt all rolled into one. You feel as though no one understands you, that you are hopeless and that anything you do feels like it means nothing.

2. You Lose The Pleasures or Interests That You Once Enjoyed.

Simple pleasures in life feels like a chore, e.g., like a walk in the park, hanging out with family or close friends, and watching movies in the cinema. You may even lose interest in sexual intercourse with your partner or spouse.

3. You Have Trouble Sleeping or Excessive Sleeping.

Insomnia or Hypersomnia is a normal occurrence among people who suffers from depression. This is why you may feel tired, restless and irritable, and have fatigue or lack of energy most of the time.

4. You Become Withdrawn or Isolate Yourself From Family or Friends.

Suddenly the thought of people surrounding you feels like it's going to suffocate you. All you want is to be left alone because you don't feel like having conversations or that seeing other people happy may make you even more depressed and feeling guilty because you're avoiding them.

5. You Find It Difficult To Concentrate or Remember Details.

Daily tasks like picking up the laundry from dry cleaners, or whose turn it is to pick up the kids from school just slipped out of your mind. You can't concentrate on your favorite TV shows or you keep on reading the same page of the novel or magazine because there are constantly other things in your mind that you are worried about.

6. You May Experience Loss of Appetite or Overeating.

Dramatic changes in appetite. It's like you feel you can't or don't want to eat at all because you're not in the mood or you just don't feel like it. It could also be the other way around, where you suddenly have the urge to eat just about everything, whenever you feel like it even though you are not hungry. Either way, you can't really control or help yourself.

7. Suicidal Thoughts or Attempts.

Constantly thinking about your death or even contemplating suicide because you think or feel there is no other way out but to end your life.

If you feel that you (or you realize someone) is experiencing all the above symptoms (or half of the symptoms), the first step is to confide in someone close or you trust be it a family member or close friend. It is very important to seek help immediately especially if you are thinking of attempting suicide.

Please remember that there is ALWAYS a solution to EVERY problem. Life is way too precious to waste because of it.

What to Do If You Feel Depressed

Are you currently battling with depression? You need to take action and get over these negative feelings before things get worse. Read this article for some useful tips on dealing with your depression.

Do not let your depression isolate you. It is probably difficult for you to be around other people and talk about your problems when you are feeling down, but loneliness will make your depression even worse. You do not have to tell your friends about your feelings. Sometimes, spending a few hours having fun with people you appreciate can make you feel a lot better. Spend some quality time with your family too and consider making some new friends if you do not have anyone to talk to. Do not hesitate to call help lines and talk to caring volunteers too.

Take the time to relax and do things you love. Depression can cause you to lose interest in the things you used to love, but you can prevent this from happening by trying new things and finding some new hobbies. Your goal is to take your mind off your problems and feel good about yourself. Join a club to get a chance to make some new friends or find a non-profit organization in need of volunteers. Helping others will make you feel much better and will help you put your problems in perspective.

Do some thinking and identify what is causing you to feel depressed. If you are able to identify some issues, the next step is to find an efficient solution to your problems. You might for instance feel happier if you had a more fulfilling job, a less busy schedule, a new hobby, more friends or even a pet to take care of. Ask yourself if the issues you identify are really causing you to be unhappy. There might be a deeper cause for your depression that you are not yet fully aware of or are denying.

The best way to fight depression is to get help from a qualified professional. Admitting that you need help is hard but if you have all the symptoms of depression and cannot get over these negative feelings by yourself, your only option is to go to a professional and follow a treatment for a few months. Schedule an appointment with your usual doctor to talk about your depression. You will then be referred to a psychoanalyst, a psychologist or a counselor who will be able to help you. Open up to the professional who is treating you and accept the fact that you need to make some changes to your life. You will probably be advised to take some antidepressants for a while and to follow therapy if your depression is not caused by issues that can easily be identified.

Depression is a tough condition to deal with. Do not blame yourself for these negative feelings and keep in mind that you will eventually get better once you decide to take action and find a treatment.

DHEA Enhances Energy, Memory and Immune Function

DHEA or 7-Keto DHEA - Can it make a Difference?

Clearing up information regarding the utilization of DHEA or 7-Keto DHEA which is a necessary hormone made by the adrenal glands and that you need to know their differences.

Why should you be interested?

The way we handle stress has a lot to do with our type of personality as well as our genetics. Even those that proclaim to be okay and feel they are not affected by external stress suffer from more of the invisible, internal imbalances. Some just have a hard time admitting anything that has to do with the word stress. Your physical stress shows up in your life long before you mentally and emotionally know it. You can ask to have your cortisol levels checked but your traditional doctor may not offer any help in this matter as it does not fall under the usual look and see areas.

Adrenal Fatigue and Cortisol Levels seem to be the new kids on the block and are at the base of all our ailments. The other hormone produced by the adrenal glands and depressed by stress is DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). DHEA is considered the most abundant of all the steroid hormones and is commonly referred to as The Anti-Aging hormone. As we age, the production of cortisol rises and the DHEA decreases which leaves us more likely to experience heart disease, depressions, weight problems, cancer and diabetes.

What does DHEA do?

Bone Building (stimulates Osteoblasts), Skin renewal (fibroblasts), Protects the Brain from aging decline (neurotransmitter production), Regulates and supports Immune Function, Low levels can be associated with other hormone levels, Increases Muscle Mass, Reduces high levels of Cortisol, Lowers Triglyceride Levels, Enhances Thermogenics

What are the benefits of balancing the levels of DHEA?

Enhanced Energy and Relieves Fatigue, Improves your handling of stress, Better Moods, More relaxed, Better Sleep, Enhances your Memory, Helps Depression, May help reduce Inflammation (arthritis, lupus), Improves Gut Issues, Helps Balance Thyroid, Helps the body overcome Insulin Resistance, Fights Allergic Reactions, May Reduce Cholesterol

The 7-Keto DHEA is a non-toxic version of DHEA. It declines with age and can be a major culprit in the later part of life. Urinary excretion studies show a 50% loss by age 50. Upping your level of 7-Keto DHEA helps prevent and improves many signs of aging. It is a natural metabolite or converted form of DHEA and is unable to be utilized to make Testosterone or Estrogen. The 7-Keto DHEA is also better at promoting loss of stored fat.

DHEA is a very important component that is rarely acknowledged in traditional medicine. Your doctor may look at a DHEAS which is the sulphated level in blood tests, find it to be too low and not know what to do with it. Over the counter supplements can help but please do it with guidance. Low DHEA, like low Thyroid hormone, is a major marker of Aging and is necessary in our bodies.

Can You Take Too Much?

The answer is yes. Too much responds as:

Anxiety, Easily Angered, Road Rage comes easy, Disturbs your sleep, Moodiness. So start at lower levels and work up. Also, if you feel this way there may be another hormone out of balance further up the line. Always work with a professional that has experience utilizing supplements as these are available to everyone through health food stores.

What Time of Day Should DHEA or 7-Keto DHEA Be Taken?

Take all amounts in the AM hours with or without food as the body's natural production of DHEA peaks in the morning. If you take it at night you may stimulate your brain activity and experience bouts of insomnia.

If you or someone you love relates to any of the above indicators, don't hesitate to pursue knowing your DHEA levels. I suggest you find someone knowledgeable in the areas of supplement usage.

Depression: A Silent Battle and Help for Men

Male depression is not an easy subject to get men to talk about. With the need to feel strong and invincible, most men consider any sort of emotional or psychological problem to be a threat to their masculine self-images. Most men avoid talking about depression and would rather hide it from their families, friends, and work colleagues. Yet, male depression is a major problem among American men. About 17% of the U.S. population has some identifiable symptoms of depression within their lifetimes. Although the research shows that depression is more common in women, this is being challenged in many ways, because of the difficulty that men have with identifying and reporting symptoms of depression to their healthcare providers.

Depression is classified as a psychiatric condition that can be very debilitating. Often people think of depression as being sad, but this is a misunderstanding. Although some depressed individuals may have feelings of sadness, being sad does not mean that one is depressed. Depression is a condition that creates a disturbance in mental, emotional, and even physical functioning. The feelings associated with depression can be severe enough to interfere with work performance and personal relationships. Depression can also negatively impact self-esteem, stem from a lack of confidence, and create chronic negative emotions that influence a pessimistic outlook on life. Men who suffer with depression often report feelings of hopelessness or helplessness about how and where their lives are going.

Symptoms of male depression may look more like behavioral problems such as: aggression, alcohol or substance abuse, chronic anger, and rage. Some men withdraw and become isolated while other men may need to be a part of the party crowd all the time. A lot of men become driven at work, workaholics, and spend a lot of time focused on work-related success. Typically, depressed men do what is called "mood altering" by focusing on emotional and pain avoidant behaviors and activities. They often try not to think about their problems, stuff their emotions, or self-medicate with substances or risk taking activities in order to "not feel bad." Unchecked and untreated depression can lead to serious problems and addictions. The statistics place depression as a number one reason contributing to suicide numbers among men.

Therapy along with appropriate psychopharmacology has been suggested for treating chronic depression. Research suggests that males who seek medical and therapeutic treatment in tandem do better than men who just seek either medical treatment or psychotherapy exclusively. Medications as prescribed by a psychiatrist and taken in accordance to the doctor's orders work on the brain chemistry related to depression while psychotherapy treatments work on habitual thought patterns that may trigger depressive states of mind fueled by personal self-image problems, feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, etc. A metaphor for this may be like tying your shoes together and tripping out the door. The medication may help to improve your mental state, but therapy works on the thought habits that lead to tying your shoes together and tripping. For men seeking help, it's important to do a few things:

1. Consult with your primary care physician and discuss your depression. Ask your doctor about medications and to recommend a psychiatrist near you.
2. Talk to somebody that you trust will keep your concerns confidential.
3. Put off drinking and illicit drug use and seek professional help.
4. Stay connected to family and friends. Resist being isolated for too long.
5. Don't put off seeking help. Depression can get worse if untreated.

How To Eliminate Stress From Our Life

Stress is becoming one of the most common health concerns these days mainly due to the type of lifestyle people have adopted which gives them very little time for themselves. Being regularly stressed out can easily lead to falling prey to many diseases which could be both physical and psychological. In this article we are going to discuss about some of the things one can do to avoid stress and lead a happy and healthy life throughout.

Breath Control

Our breathing plays a very vital and important role in calming down our nerves and making us feel better. One of the effective ways to counter stress response is to count the length of time of exhale and inhale and gradually increasing the exhale timing. If it takes you four seconds to inhale try to exhale slowly through 8 seconds. Generally taking 10 such breaths will help a great deal in calming down your mind and body.

Sing To Relax

If you find it difficult to sit quite and count your deep breaths then another alternative to relaxation is to sing which produces an almost similar effect and promotes a feeling of soothness and enhanced mood. It is because when we are singing we naturally lengthen or exhaling and inhaling process. The best thing about this method is that it can be done in any place like while driving, in the bathroom and anywhere you like and feel comfortable.

Water Intake

You would be most probably unaware of the fact then when our hydration levels drop by just 2% our ability to perform simple maths and take normal decisions starts to get affected negatively. A well hydrated body has a better ability to take right decisions. So whenever you feel the need have as much water as you like.

Bring Your Mind Back

This is also an effective way to relieve stress. Close your eyes and concentrate on what is happening inside your body. Feel the sensations bring your mind from outside world to inside your own body. Doing this will help you concentrate better and make you forget all your worries for a little while and make you rejuvenated.

Humor

We all know how refreshing humor is for our mind and body. Having a good laugh is the best remedy to beat stress and depression. Keep in touch with your friends and share with them all the good times. Learn to laugh at your problems, it is the best way to tackle them positively. When we have a positive attitude towards things we normally win over all situations.

So the basic message is to slow down and take time out for yourself because you came into this world to enjoy your life which is a beautiful gift of god so stop worrying and start living from this very moment itself.

Understanding Bipolar?

Bipolar is a psychological term that is frequently misunderstood. It is often called manic depression because it describes the two states that make up bipolar. Bipolar is a condition where the person alternates between feeling euphoric (manic) and feeling depressed, with little respite of feeling relatively neutral in between.

Most people have moods that vary between feeling a little happy to feeling a little sad. This is a natural movement and there are no problems in being that way. When the highs are much higher and the lows much lower, we have bipolar, because the moods swing between the two opposites, or poles.

Bipolar is relatively common with approximately one percent of the population suffering with it at some point. The most frequent onset is at the end of the teens and before the person reaches forty. Men and women suffer equally with the complaint.

There is no test for bipolar, there are only the reports made by the sufferer which a psychiatrist or other qualified person can use for a diagnosis. Even though the chemistry within the body may be altered, there are no blood tests that show up the condition.

The cause of bipolar is unknown, but one theory is that the mind (for some reason) becomes depressed; in an attempt to rectify the mood and return to normality, the mind overcompensates and the person becomes euphoric. When the mind tries to balance its mood again, it fails to do so correctly and goes too far with the person becoming depressed again.

The symptoms of the depressed phase are:

- Emotional - A feeling of low confidence and self esteem, a feeling of hopelessness, general unhappiness and irritability.
- Thinking - Generally negative thinking with poor focus and concentration.
- Physical - Often a loss of weight, difficulty getting to sleep and waking early, constipation and a low libido.
- Behaviour - Difficulty getting going, lots of crying and a desire to avoid people.

The symptoms of the manic phase are:

- Emotional - Feeling unrealistically happy, excited and optimistic, and a feeling of being important.
- Thinking - Lots of new ideas but with a butterfly mind; may even hear voices.
- Physical - Feeling full of energy, unable or unwilling to go to sleep, and a high libido.
- Behaviour - Having grandiose plans, being very active, talking rapidly, being reckless with money, low inhibitions and odd spontaneous actions.

The medical treatment for bipolar is lithium. This is a natural salt that seems to reduce the mood swings, but the exact mechanism for doing so is not known. There are few side effects with lithium, mainly thirst, muscle weakness and nausea, but these can be managed by careful monitoring with blood tests. It is important to maintain bodily fluids at the right level or the lithium levels will increase or reduce providing an incorrect level of medication.

In addition, psychotherapy is known to help. One of the first ways is by educating the person so that they can understand bipolar and how they should view it. It does not mean the end of their life, just an additional factor that has to be dealt with.

Therapy can help people spot their mood swings and changes so that they can apply strategies that they have learned to deal with them. Learning to cope is important for both the sufferer and for those around him. Understanding, awareness and education are all necessary to make life more bearable.

It is important to maintain a good diet, maintain fluids and minimise caffeine levels. They key is to maintain lithium levels at a similar point and this is best done by neither flooding nor depleting the body with fluid.

Stress is an important factor, so by using various tools that therapy provides, the person can learn to reduce and maintain stress levels at a low level.

Exercise is important to maintain the body in a fit state. Approximately twenty minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week should be enough. In addition to maintaining a level of fitness, it is well known that exercise is an excellent way of dealing with stress.

One of the keys to managing bipolar is the quality of the relationships that the person has. Friends and relatives are able to assist and support the person through times that can be quite demanding.

Finally, psychotherapy can help the person regain a balance in life. The balance should include a combination of work, time with friends and family, and personal time. If any of these is missing, then the person will not feel satisfied with their life.

Bipolar is a psychological term that is frequently misunderstood but with proper education and help from a professional, the condition can be managed at least and eradicated at best.

For more information, visit the website http://www.san-luis-clinic.co.uk.

Living With Depression

If you are uncertain about whether you are living with depression or not, here are a few things to look for.
You just don't care
You sleep a lot
You either eat too much or not at all
You may cry for no reason
You're not happy, ever
Mood swings
You ace all over
There are many many more

Living with depression is like living on a roller coaster to me. I am happy one day and down another. I could be happy one minute and unhappy another. Your emotions are all over the grid. If that is not enough I could be talking to someone and tears will start running down my face. There are days I just don't want to get out of bed. If you feel like me, you are most likely depressed. Even though I am on anti depressives, I still go through these bouts of depression if I stop taking or forget my medication for even one day. Being depressed is nothing to laugh at. It is nothing that you did wrong or that someone did to you.

Depression comes from a chemical imbalance that can be caused by many many things, some of which the doctors don't even know. In a case like that they will treat your symptoms of your depression. If they are able to determine a possible cause of the depression, they will still treat the depression but may also treat the underlying cause.

In abling to function day to day, it is important to try and change your life, if even just a small amount. Below are just some of the changes I have made in my life that help.

Diet - Sure everyone says that but it is true. I was and still am over weight. I try everyday to make healthier choices when eating. If you fail at one meal or one day, just try again the next meal or day. Don't get depressed for the failure.

Focus - Focus on the positive, not the negative. There is nothing you can do about something that has already happened. Look ahead and think about the next minutes. Keep you focus on what you are able to do to make the next min, hour or day go better. It is not important what you do, just doing is a big step. Don't let big projects get you down either. Break them down into smaller projects and rejoice over each step completed. You will be surprised how much better you feel.

Exercise - I know another one of those things that every gives as an overall fix for all that ails you. Again I have to say that even if you can get out in the fresh air and walk around your yard, up and down the street or walk around the mall your mood will lift and you will feel better. Any amount of movement and exercise will help you feel better. I know it is difficult at first but it does get better and easier to motivate yourself.

See a Dr., any one will do, see them regularly and take your medication as prescribed. This is not an option this is a must.

I know these are not easy any of them especially when all you want to do is lay there on the couch or in bed. There are days when I just want to give up, even after all these years. If these days

continue to increase see your Dr. right away. Don't wait!

To summarize, it is not easy to live with depression, take it from me, I have been living with it for over 20 years. There are other things you can do to help yourself but it will take work. Try each of the items above one at a time if you need to. Do as many as you can. Push yourself to take the first steps, to care about your mind, body and spirit enough to see a Dr. and get help. Then continue to focus and work toward your next positive goal. Good Luck!

Integrative Medicine Remedies for Depression

I am a firm follower of Dr. Andrew Weil. He was on NPR yesterday with quite a few tips on beating depression.

1. Exercise: Walking, bicyling, swimming, and running all boost levels of inflammation and keep the brain and mood levels healthy and sustainable. Dr. Weil recommends at least four days of thirty minutes of exercise per week.

2. Maintain a diet that is low in inflammatory foods and high in antioxidants. The king of inflammatory foods is sugar followed by high amounts of dairy. Recent studies have pointed to high levels on inflammation having the most debilitating effects on mood. Low serotonin levels were thought to be the greatest cause of depression. Now there is a shift to inflammation being the culprit. To be on the safe side, maintain intake of mainly vegetables and small amounts of fruit and non-processed protein.

3. Establish a habit of keeping a gratitude journal. Mood is bound to improve with keeping a daily record of our blessings. This is the best time of year to start that routine.

4. Be sure the diet includes ample levels of fish oil and Omega three acids.

5. The healthiest diet is one that excludes all processed foods, with the mediteranean diet being at the top of the list. Sticking with the vegetable bin at the grocery store is the best bet.

6. Of all the therapies for depression, cognitive therapy has proven to be far more effective than older styles of therapy.an excellent resource is Dr. David Burns' book and workbook, "Feeling Good."
I have taken the liberty of adding a few of my own ideas to the list.

1. Consult with your doctor to see if thyroid hormones are low. A hypothryoid condition can produce depression, inability to concentrate, and brain fog.
2. Consult with your doctor to see if the addition of T3, a thyroid hormone, might be helpful. Two doses of five milligrams of T3 per day have really helped me. T3 supplies the brain with vital nutrients.
3. Try pet therapy. My two cats bring a lot of happiness into my life. Blossom and Oreo give a great deal of joy and unconditional love.
4. Give the gifts of compassion and empathy. They both go a long way to alleviate depression.
5. Get involved with volunteer projects. Community connections are vital to a productive, happy life.
6. Establish a firm spiritual connection. Church, synagogue, or temple involvement all provide chances to connect in a healthy manner.

Dear readers: Please feel free to add your ideas and input.

How To Beat Depression Through The Law Of Suggestion

This is a very important article if you are suffering from depression. What do I mean by the law of suggestion? What I mean by suggestion is that you basically have two parts of your mind. You have your conscious mind and your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between truth and a lie.

How your subconscious mind works is that you form beliefs about yourself, about the world, about things around you, and your subconscious mind acts upon these beliefs. There is a great expression in personal development which is so true as it is a law of the world."As within so without" which means whatever beliefs and thoughts that you have within (your mind), you will experience those on the outside (your results).

Therefore if you didn't have concrete beliefs about yourself and if somebody in the past suggested to you a negative suggestion such as, "You can't do this, or you'll never amount to anything in your life, or you're not intelligent, etc" and if you didn't have concrete beliefs about who you were in whatever area, definitely those negative suggestions could have become limited beliefs.

That suggestion that another person gave you becomes a new belief and this is how a lot of people enter depression. They let outside remarks, suggestions and criticisms affect them and they start to believe that they are true which hurdles them into a downward spiral of negativity. If you believe that you can't do something or you're not good at something, you will show these limited beliefs on the outside as they will show up as negative results in your life.

There is a great line in the New Testament. In the Bible it says, "As you believe, so shall it be done unto you," which basically means whatever you believe on the inside in your subconscious mind, you will attain on the outside in the world.

So what's the purpose of this article? If you're suffering from depression, there may have been a trigger in your past that initiated your depression. It could have been when somebody said something negative to you which was merely a negative suggestion and it stuck and became a prominent belief in your mind. So the purpose of this article is helping you to change that belief.

The strongest people in the world mentally, they do not care what people say to them. The strongest people mentally in our society know exactly who they are and what beliefs they have. They don't entertain any negativity. They just dismiss it because they have already formed their beliefs about who they are. So what we need to do with you is we need to change your belief structure. We need to change your identity. We need to change your self-image (how you see yourself), etc.

This in a two-step process. Unfortunately most people suffering from depression think negatively about themselves but whatever you think is wrong with you or whatever you think your deficiency or your disadvantage is can most definitely be cured. So start working to improve in the area you think you are weak in, this is step 1. The second step is daily positive affirmations.You say to yourself in the present tense, "I am improving in X," in whatever area it is, "I'm improving in X, or I'm getting better in X."

So with this two-step process through the process of action and the process of positive affirmations and positive words, your mind will take that as being true with your subconscious because you are actually doing something to rectify the supposed problem. As you keep on repeating that "I am good in this area or I'm improving in this area," your subconscious mind will eventually form this belief.

The great thing about this method is when another negative person gives you a negative suggestion, because you have a positive belief formed in this area, it will not affect you. It will not affect you one bit because your belief is already formed.

So do this two-step process. Think about why you are suffering from depression and what do you think you are bad at? To change that belief, you need to start working and improving in that area and doing something practical every day and also you need to repeat, "I am good in this area. I'm getting better in this area. I'm improving in this area." You need to repeat positive affirmations multiple times daily. Repetition is the mother of all skill. Your subconscious mind will take this eventually as a positive belief that you are good in this area and then your outer world will start to change confirming your new positive belief.

Externalising Depression and Anxiety

It's depressing enough that we may have an issue with depression or anxiety, but such a state is made worse simply because we begin to believe these conditions are to be forever part of us.

Internalising the nature of our mental and emotional health problems is central to the problem. It's as if the depression or anxiety becomes part of our identity, and it quickly attaches itself such that we cannot let it go easily. Externalising these problems, for they need not be intrinsically part of us, is of great benefit.

Our opportunity, then, is to focus on seeing any of the mental health issues we may have as being more a response-of-resistance to the issues we are dealing with.

Perhaps we can see that the conditions we struggle with are not necessarily part of us at all - that they are simply the circumstances of mind, body, and soul that emanate from our environmental climate.

GAINING SPACE THROUGH EXTERNALISATION

It's a relatively simple task to begin to see ourselves apart from the condition - the feelings of depression or anxiety. This may not ease our felt complaints, but it sure does allow for the recognition of identity that sits apart from these dilemmas of the mind.

Gaining space through externalisation, which is seeing ourselves as people who are potentially depression-free or anxiety-free, in this case, is managed through seeing ourselves as identified in bigger terms than the problematic state of mind itself.

COVETING A SURE SENSE OF IDENTITY

It's a very good thing for anyone to covet a sure sense of identity. By doing so, in externalising ourselves from our problems, so that we might not label or categorise ourselves unnecessarily, we open up the terrain of our identities. We conceive a bigger place for our identities on the map of life.

When we refuse to be limited by the small matters of category that the world often wants to pigeonhole us into, we enlarge the reality of our self-esteem. When we do this we are coveting a sure sense of identity. This is a very healthy thing to do.

By not internalising the depression or anxiety, because they are not truly part of us, we are free to nurture this sure sense of identity. Of course, the surest sense of identity is that found in God.

***

We are not defined by our depressions and anxieties. Our identities are broader than that. Because we can overcome many of our mental ills, these self-same mental ills do not limit or define us. And whilst they stay for a while, or come intermittently, we have great hope when we can externalise from our depression and anxiety.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

More Confident

I think a very good method to raise self-esteem is working out /exercising. Nothing makes you feel better about yourself than a good workout. Also doing other things for yourself helps, like buying new clothes, getting a haircut and other stuff like that. Also going out with friends or going out on dates makes you feel great.

Working out has been a very good influence in these couple of weeks. Thus far I am rehearsing my ability to step out of my comfort zone and do new things. Courage really helps in creating self esteem and basically enlarges the psychological boarders of the freedom to choose.

For those thinking about working out in the means of running or cycling there is a really great app on the market called "Run Keeper." It offers a lot of functionality and different stats. By GPS it tracks your distance and time, besides that it shows the calories you have burned. You can add certain goals to it that you want to work on and there actually is also the possibility to join a community by making a street team. The amount of offered service is very high. The free version is more than enough for me anyway and it can give a lot of pride and feelings of accomplishment when looking at the results and posting runs onto Facebook or twitter.

Here are a few things to think about to make you feel better!

Positive environment, people, sunlight, music.

Positive thoughts, optimistic, sunny, bubbly

Acting in a confident way, walking taller, dressing smarter, smiling

Acting can lead to the feeling can lead to the thinking

Achieving something, accomplishing a goal however small

Environment is such an important factor, being aware of this is really half of the thing I do believe. Did you know that your physiology (the way you carry yourself) has a direct impact on your mood? When someone is feeling bad they automatically take a certain posture and breathing rate that's typical for that state. Yet when feeling bad and training yourself to remind yourself to keep a straight posture and keep breathing deeply can really improve how you feel. Partly because of this reason I think that practicing of yoga, meditation, mindfulness or actually also sports is so important. Things that have a positive impact on body and breathing awareness really help to stimulate on conscious competence and promote better feelings overall without much direct effort in the moment.

Listen to self-hypnosis tracks first thing in the morning (before I kick start the day) which is basically a guided daydreaming experience. That way I make sure I start my day with some positive fantasizing exercise. I really believe in the power of visualizing and day dreaming, and as a teenager, unaware of their positive effects, I would fantasize about my ideal future just before falling asleep, but these days, with the load of work and responsibility adulthood brings with it, it is quite difficult for it to happen on its own, so I found that, even if I don't get to do any day dreaming during the day, the small dose in the morning is enough to motivate me.

Self reflection. Always have a pen and notepad on me, and I jot down self-reflecting thoughts that come to my head, so I always make time for my inner philosopher.

Self-reflection at night time is also always the way to end your day on a high note. Even if you have felt horrible through out the day, just before it comes to an end, you turn things round and make something positive out of it, i. e. you learn from the day.

Also I find that weekly challenges that put your courage to test can be an excellent confidence booster.

According to science the amount of self esteem is linked to the amount of courage someone is willing to invest. Every unit of courage spent will pay back in self esteem.

Jack Canfield summed it up very nicely. It's like a stack of poker chips. When you would be playing at a table and your stack would be high, then you would be willing to take more risks and participate. The real deal is to raise your stacks of confidence to participate in life more.

Meditation is a very good way to develop confidence and self esteem. It's far from a quick-fix method, but the daily investment someone would be willing to make could sum up to a tenfold return over time.

Meditation promotes non judgement, calmness and patience. This creates space for new ideas and more room for self examination in a more eased way. With time someone can really understand himself through this process and instead of be acted upon by external events, just choose his response in a detached and emotionally more stable way. Why I also think this is so important is because the quality of thoughts determine the quality of our lives. The quality of our decisions ultimately make our future.

I hope this helps some people!