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Depression Treatments - Know It Before Getting Treated

June 19th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

by Stress Relievver

Depression is a problem condition that affects the lives of everyone around the person with the condition; however, this is not a case of a single condition but just an umbrella term for many. The cause is often (but not always) about issues that have not been rectified; although we can all become depressed about situations on occasion. Getting professional help as soon as the problem is recognized is an important step to help stop the condition getting worse; this help is needed to find out why you are depressed as this will eventually help finding a cure for the problem.

Feeling low and angry at life affects all of us occasionally in particular when something awful has happened; a person is not necessarily diagnosed with depression just because they feel this way. It is normal to have problems but it is how you deal with them that matters.

In many incidences like this, a person believes that if they ignore the problem it will just resolve itself but this rarely happens; a person end up feeling more helpless than they did before, and it becomes a vicious circle that must be broken.

Probably the second most common cause is a person’s place of work and could be the result of confrontation, stressful work, intimidation or even harassment; a normal side effect of this condition can be a panic attack. The situation can become so bad that some people are barely able to function either at home or at work; at which point a specialist counselor should be called in to resolve whatever conflict or issues exist.

Sometimes depression can be caused by an illness that causes a chemical imbalance in the body; this can give rise to these feelings even though the person does not have any emotional problems.

In these circumstances the person’s doctor should be made aware of any changes in mood so appropriate action can be taken. The hardest cases of depression to deal with are those where there is no apparent cause; when they don’t seem to have any cause that can be identified as the reason for the problem, medical staff will have to research the patient further. Cases like this usually mean that the person does not recognize the cause of the problem themselves; if they cannot associate the cause with their condition then the way forward is made very hard.

A difficult form to recognize and therefore diagnose is Bipolar Disorder or manic Depression as it is commonly known; owing to the type of symptoms displayed by this condition, some people wait up to five years to have a correct diagnosis made. When a person is unable to deal with their own issues, this condition will usually follow and at that point, provided they can admit they have a problem, something can normally be done.

There is no point letting this condition run your life unless you enjoy the distress it causes you and those around you; starting medical treatment as early as possible will enable you to make those first steps to being free of its grip.

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When You Suspect You Have Depression - Interactive Online Test

June 19th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

by Christine Sutherland

Generally doctors and other health professionals aren’t keen on patients’ self testing for depression because the checklists can’t possibly be thorough enough for accurate diagnosis.  Not only can there be other reasons for the depression symptoms, but extreme scores can indicate other psychological problems quite apart from depression.

Most psychologists are familiar with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and with its developer, Aaron T Beck.  Beck devised a form of therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which is now under considerable attack because of its claimed ineffectiveness.  His company actually charged other psychologists a fee each time they used the BDI, so it’s not surprising, for several reasons, that new and better testing was required.

A BETTER TEST FOR DEPRESSION

These days we have the Lifeworks Joy Inventory, developed by The Lifeworks Group Pty Ltd in Perth, Western Australia.  It’s a very accurate test, and a side benefit is that it’s positively oriented, so that the act of taking the test begins to prepare the client to move forward.

The accuracy of the Lifeworks Joy Inventory has been thoroughly tested and mirrors results from other similar depression measurement techniques (such as the MADRS and the client’s own SUDS).

As well as being highly accurate, the Lifeworks Joy Inventory has another advantage:  it is completely free to use and may be distributed freely as well.  Designed as a gift to the field of mental health, it was hoped that more people would then benefit from free and easy access to quality testing.

So if you believe you or a loved one may be suffering from depression, you’ll find a link below to an interactive online test that will not only give you a depression rating and explain its meaning, but will also spell out what else you need to do in order to get a correct diagnosis.

One of the factors we address in the test results is that of extreme scoring.  In either case, whether a score is extremely high or extremely low, other health problems quite apart from depression are also suggested.

WHEN YOU’VE GOT YOUR TEST RESULT

Even if your test results appear to be “normal”, if you still suspect that you may be depressed, you should certainly still see your doctor because it’s neither normal nor healthy to feel that life is significantly unsatisfying.  Your doctor will do a thorough physical examination and ask a host of questions about your lifestyle etc to determine if there’s any medical problem.

Once you’ve seen your doctor and can be confident that you have a correct diagnosis, it’s then very easy to choose the right program that will get the results you want.

There is a proviso though:  I urge you not to believe any health professional (or any web site, no matter how authoritative) who tells you that depression is difficult to treat, or that it’s going to take a long time to get over it, or that you have to learn to accept depression as part of your life.  That type of belief belongs in the dark ages!  Research done world wide, including by The Lifeworks Group in Australia, has demonstrated that depression can usually be resolved very rapidly, usually in just a matter of days, and that better results are achieved without drugs for most patients.

Effective treatment must always involve careful investigation and moderation of 17 lifestyle factors that are known to cause depression or aid in the development of depression, and also the elimination of unconscious thinking patterns (thoughts and feelings) which serve to damp down normal brain function.

After all, if your lifestyle is healthy and truly “life sustaining”, and you feel mentally strong and optimistic, depression simply cannot co-exist with that state of affairs.  You have a whole life to get on with.

You might like to check the online, interactive (www.realhelpfordepression.com/depression-test.html) test for depression and see your results and the meaning of your score range instantly. Be sure to pick up your free copy of “17 Solutions” once you’ve finished your (www.realhelpfordepression.com/depression-test.html) depression test.

Natural Treatments For Anxiety And Panic Attacks: Anxiety Herbs

June 19th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

by Serge Taylor

Today Many people are looking for a natural method of treatment of anxiety and panic attacks. Fortunately there are a number of safe and effective herbal remedies for anxiety that are freely available.

One of the most powerful applications of herbal medicine in the treatment of anxiety is in the fortification of a stressed and weekend nervous system  Nervines are the name given to a particular group of herbs that act as nerve tonics.  In the case of long-term anxiety and panic attacks the nervous system will always be fragile and weekend. Using Nervine type herbs we can strengthen and create a more resilient nervous system. One of the benefits of working with anxiety and panic attacks in this way is that stronger meditations such as tranquillisers and sedatives are often unnecessary due to the fact that the nerve tonics have taken the edge off a considerable amount of stress and strain associated with the anxiety.

The following herbs have been used for centuries in the treatment of panic attacks and anxiety. Modern research is now beginning to validate what the traditionalists have known for years. That herbal remedies for panic attacks and anxiety work.

Oats: Are a very popular and ancient “herb” that people have been using the centuries to strengthen a weekend nervous system and to help in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks. Oats can simply be taken as a breakfast cereal (make sure to use proper rolled oats rather than instant type) or can be taken in a more medicinal form such as oat tea, oat liquid extract or in the form of a pill or capsule.

Lemon Balm: With many years of empirical use and current research findings to support what traditional herbalists have always known, lemon balm is a safe and effective herbal remedy for anxiety and depression and the associated symptoms that anxiety sufferers experience such as insomnia and restless sleep, headaches, palpitations and breathing difficulties.

Passionflower: Is often the first choice of herbalists looking to treat nervous system conditions that affect the stomach and the heart. Abdominal cramps, bloating and indigestion and IBS along with palpitations and breathing difficulties that are very common symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, can all be helped with passionflower. As a safe natural sedative, passionflower is often used for those anxiety sufferers who have sleeping difficulties as part of their symptom profile.

Skullcap: Is a very useful herbal remedy for treating anxiety that works on two levels. Firstly it has a gentle sedative action to relax and calm an agitated nervous system. Secondly it has a tonifying action that can strengthen and support an exhausted and debilitated nervous system that can often lead to various states of anxiety and depression.

Valerian: If a pharmaceutical manufacturer is going to name one of its products after a natural herbal remedy there’s a pretty good chance that that herbal remedy has gained a reputation of being very effective for the condition that it is trying to treat. In the case of Valerian (probably the most commonly known and widely used herbal remedy for anxiety and panic attacks) its reputation was such that the makers of Valium named their drug after it. Valerian has long been considered the traditional herbalists first choice herb for all conditions with a mental or emotional cause. The action of Valerian is very similar to that of Valium but that is where the similarities end as chemically they have nothing in common.

Valerian is typically used when sleeping problems are part of the overall symptom profile of the sufferer. For those whose anxiety and panic attacks do not include associated sleeping problems, while it is safe to take Valerian, it may not be as effective as some of the other herbs previously mentioned.

One of the major attractions in using herbal remedies for panic attacks and anxiety is that they are safe and relatively free of side-effects when used appropriately.  However there are certain situations where the use of these herbs may not be appropriate. Here are some of the main areas that you need to consider before taking herbal remedies such as those we have discussed.

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Anxiety doesn’t affect just you

June 8th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

by Adam Mahon

People who suffer with social anxiety, sometimes known as social phobia, can find situations that most of us consider everyday to be overwhelming. Different people will have different levels of anxiety in similar situations.

Different people fear different types of situations, just because they both have anxiety disorders it doesn’t mean that 2 people will both find the same situations cause them to suffer anxiety. People that have social anxiety disorders may have some of these symptoms while they are in certain social situations.

People with social anxiety fear that they will make mistakes that everyone will notice, they fear that they are always going to be judged by others, they have the fear of being embarrassed or humiliated by themselves in front of others, they think that everyone’s attention is on them, and they think that other people are more capable of doing something in the same situation.

If you are in a situation that could possibly cause minor worry in most of us, such as a crowd of people suddenly appearing and people coming in a bit close. Someone with social anxiety could well go into a full on anxiety attack, couple that with the fear that someone will notice their anxiety and it all compounds into a very frightening anxiety attack.

The symptoms of anxiety very often lead to the sufferer becoming embarrassed and that embarrassment compounds the feeling of anxiety. This is part of the reason why people with social anxiety often don’t socialize with anyone other than direct family members.

Speaking in public is a common fear of people with social anxiety disorder.  Other fears can be eating in restaurants, using public restrooms, and using telephones. People that have social anxiety disorder worry for days and sometimes weeks before going to a social situation that they are fearing.

Your social anxiety disorder may become severe and can interfere with work or other events that you may have in your life. There are many people that have social anxiety disorder. Women can be more likely then men to have social anxiety disorder.

If you have any form of anxiety it is very easy to have your life taken over by it. Our social interactions are what help us to find a partner, friends and the relationships formed outside of the home make up a big part of peoples happiness.

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Stopping Anxiety Attacks Before They Occur

June 8th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

by Millicent Feraux

After dealing with anxiety attacks for a while, you will begin to recognize the signs of an oncoming attack. Knowing the signs can help you stop an anxiety attack before it occurs. Here are some tips to help you keep in control over your anxiety.

* Stop and notice what are the things that are happening when your anxiety attack symptoms begin. If you learn the what it is that is triggering the anxiety attack, you will be better prepared to stop them. An example, if you know that sometimes going into a crowded room, you have an anxiety attack, you could choose to not go into a room that is overcrowded.

* If you feel anxiety attack symptoms coming on stop what you are doing and go outdoors. Sometimes the change in scenery and the fresh air can stop the attack from continuing. Going out for a short walk can help wonders.

* If you feel yourself beginning to get tense and anxious, try to relax by taking several deep breaths. Deep breaths should continue until you feel the anxiety begin to leave.

* If you start to sense and anxiety attack starting clear your mind and focus on something else. This could be anything from a sunny beach to a field full of flowers. You just need something to take your mind off the anxiety you are feeling.

* Another idea is to have a friend or family member help you by giving them a sign when you feel an attack starting. This can be either a word or gesture.  When you give them the sign, they will know what is happening and can help to get you to focus on something else.

* Have some essential oils in relaxing scents available. Some good scents to help ease anxiety would include lavender and chamomile. When you feel an anxiety attack coming on, smell the oils for a few minutes. They can help you to calm down.

* Something else to try to stop anxiety attacks is to begin writing whenever you feel one approaching. By writing down exactly what it is you were doing of feeling when the anxiety started, will help you to being to identify the trigger factors.

* In the event of an anxiety attack, make a change in what you’re doing.  If you’re reading, get up and do some housework.  Altering the activity you’re engaged in can change your mental state and quash the attack.

Anxiety and panic attacks can be hard to deal with until you learn to recognize the what is causing the attacks. Learning what is causing you to have the anxiety attacks; you will be better prepared to stop them from occurring.

Taking back control of your life starts with learning to stop anxiety attacks before they occur.  Learning how to recognise an oncoming attack will take time but it is time well spent.  It just requires focus on what is happening to you when the attack happens.

Have a journal to write down this information.  Compare the information to check to see if a pattern is established.  Once you find repetitive patterns, you will know what is causing the attacks and you will be better able to stop them.

Does Pregnancy cause Depression?

June 8th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

by David B Smith

In our community pregnancy is considered wonderful, and all women are meant to be joyfully happy and content with their dreams of motherhood ultimately being realised. Though, while this picturesque interpretation exists, the reality remains that, regardless of how able and supported the woman is, the process is draining and exceedingly stressful. Considering this, it is hardly astonishing that it can lead the most proud-to-be mums into bouts of depression.

As a woman, to have your body transformed beyond her control is understandably demanding. While Hollywood mums may maintain that they have never felt more beautiful, it is harder for us mere mortals to come to terms with the transformation in life not to mention the waiste line. Personal image may look vain, but continues to be a huge factor in a positive and healthy out look in life. For countless woman this is a huge obstacle, even without the buddle of baby lump stretching your blouse. Loss of control of your body can feel like a loss of control over life and the important relationships in it. While all these thoughts are valid and for some become a faraway memory, for others an on going hardship which require attention.

To be self-assured and proud of your new body is fabulous, particularly as the weight gain is an unavoidable part of pregnancy. Of course, on the contrary, women generally feel embarrassed by the way they look, not being able to fit in to that fabulous black top anymore is much more difficult than you would imagine! But to fight some of these difficulties many woman have suggested effortless steps to deal with these problems like shopping. It sounds like a terrible cliche, but to buy fitting and fashionable clothes when you have been getting by in stretch pants can do marvels for your self esteem. There is a quickly growing pressure for prenatal clothing which looks lovely and is practical (that’s one thing we can thank Hollywood mums for) and requires to little sweat to track down one at your local shopping centre.

Other external remedies that have been suggested is a new make-up or make-over in a store or an appointment at the nice hair dresser round the corner. This continuation of participating in activities which were encouraging before pregnancy can help maintain the new mum feeling isolated from her past life but rather ease into a new stage.

A partner’s, family and friends support is very important, however even with all that it merely can initiate a sense of confusion. “I have a marvelous husband and he is so excited about the baby, but I am not,” she is also not alone. If talking with friends and trying positive activities is still not making a difference than further help should be sort. If a local counsellor, or a support group for pregnant woman enabling the individual to converse over physical and psychological problems with woman going through the same changes. Even exercise classes such as yoga and aqua aerobics purposely catering for pregnant woman which provide a social level of normality and relatable woman. Local G.P.s should be able to provide many of these contacts.

For more information on Depressed and Pregnant! visit (www.christianswithdepression.com) Shouldn’t I be happy being Pregnant?

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