Relieving Depression from the Inside
Everybody gets down or feels blue from time to time. It’s a natural thing. But others get truly and seriously depressed – unable to cope with day-to-day life or to live their lives in anything resembling a normal fashion.
Depression comes in many forms, and affects more than 18 million American adults each year. Over a million preschoolers have currently been diagnosed as clinically depressed. 15% of most developed countries suffer from severe depression, and 30% of women suffer from depression – and 41% of those won’t seek treatment. In fact, 80% of the people who are now suffering from any form of depression are not currently being treated. Many simply don’t recognize the signs.
Experts report that depression will be the second biggest killer in the United States by the year 2020 and 15% of people with depression currently commit suicide each year.
While the condition of depression has received more awareness and understanding, the treatment for depression hasn’t improved very much. There have been many new drugs introduced to the market place to treat depression, but he side affects are often worse or more serious than the depression! In fact, there seem to be just as many lawsuits against the makers of these drugs as there are drugs!
While everybody agrees that depression must be treated, the method of treatment has not been entirely agreed upon. Only recently has it been acknowledged that depression causes more than mental pain – it also causes physical pain. Some experts believe depression should be treated with medication. Others lean towards therapy and counseling. Some believe that sufferers need both medication and counseling.
In spite of all of this, more and more people are suffering from depression each year. The problem is not going away – it’s getting bigger and there are still no viable solutions in sight.
What many people, including health care professionals, rarely stop to consider is what is causing the depression. Instead of focusing on the cause, they only want to find relief. Unfortunately, finding the cause is often part of finding relief, especially when it comes to depression.
Some depression is caused by life events, and this type of depression usually passes untreated – because it’s natural. For instance, when there is a death in the family, the surviving members of that family may experience a period of depression and grief. When one loses a job, they may be down until they find a new job. Again, this is depression that is perfectly natural and normal, as long as the feelings of depression don’t linger on or become too severe.
Other types of depression are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Too much or too little production of serotonin in the brain causes one to feel depressed. People who work the graveyard shift often experience depression simply because they are not getting enough sunshine – which produces serotonin.
What many people don’t realize is that toxins in the body can also cause depression. Those toxins make you not feel well – or not feel “quite right.” You obviously aren’t sick, and you have no reason to feel depressed – but you aren’t sleeping well, your energy isn’t what it should be, and you may even have aches and pains. No matter what you do, those feelings persist. Depression is imminent!
Antioxidants, which detoxify the body and cleanse the cells, have proven to also be natural anti-depressants – with no side effects.
Severe depression should be treated by a doctor. Even mild depression may need treatment. But consider using an antioxidant as well to see how you feel, and also get the counseling that should be recommended to see what the underlying cause of your depression is.
Steven Godlewski is a self-made millionaire and is currently working with the staff at PillFreeVitamins.com Has an extensive background in nutrition as well as other health related fields.
For more health-related articles see their website at:
http://www.pillfreevitamins.com
Anxiety Disorder Cripples Lives
Anxiety disorder illnesses can fill people’s lives with overwhelming anxiety and fears that are chronic, unrelenting and grow progressively worse. Anxiety disorders cause sufferers to feel a sense of constant worry, tension and impending doom.
Anxiety symptoms can become so severe that anxiety disorder sufferers are almost totally disabled, too terrified to leave their homes, to enter their office building, attend their children’s soccer games or shop for groceries. It is common for anxiety disorder to accompany depression, substance abuse (like alcohol) or another anxiety disorder.
Most anxiety sufferers experience significant physical symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, muscle tightness and a feeling of dizziness.
When anxiety is taking a toll, your body knows it. You have trouble sleeping, eating and concentrating. You get headaches, your stomach is upset and your heart races. It is often the frightening physical anxiety symptoms that prompt sufferers to seek help.
Many don’t realize that their physical symptoms are caused by anxiety until they see a doctor. Anxiety symptoms often produce a severe, unfounded state of worry about matters such as health, money, family or work.
Because they are so intense, anxiety symptoms can cause a person to feel chronically tired and worn out all the time. Restful sleep does not come easily to anxiety sufferers.
Fortunately, through research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, there are some effective treatments that can help. In fact, anxiety disorder is the most treatable form of mental illness. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication and therapy.
Anxiety symptoms will vary from person to person but the common denominator is that they are all disruptive to the person’s life and negatively impact their ability to function.
In addition to the severe mental anguish, anxiety symptoms often include significant physical discomfort like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, stomach problems, muscle tension and headaches.
Many who suffer from anxiety panic attack symptoms rush to the hospital because they are convinced they are having a heart attack.
People with social anxiety disorder may literally lose their voices and have breathing difficulties if faced with a situation where they have to do something as simple as introduce themselves to their coworkers.
Anxiety information can go a long way toward helping sufferers and their families decide the best approach to treatment.
Many world-class facilities like the Midwest Center For Anxiety have conducted extensive research and can recommend treatment options. Many mental health professionals use the Beck Anxiety Inventory to help diagnose anxiety and find the best course of treatment. The Anxiety Disorder Association of America provides a wealth of information for anxiety suffers and their families.
It is our earnest hope that this information will enhance your life and allow you to join the millions of people who have conquered anxiety disorder and gone on to live fearless, happy and meaningful lives.
Jonathan Sapling writes extensively on anxiety disorder and related mental health issues.
To read more about anxiety disorder go to: http://www.anxiety-disorder-help.com/anxiety-disorder.html
Or visit his blog at: http://www.mental-health-news.org/
Treating Depression with Magnetic Therapy
Man has been dependent on traditional medicine for a long time. However, as time passes by, researchers and even medical experts see that even the most efficient of drugs can bring unsatisfactory results. Even with months or years of continuous use of drugs, a patient may still not show the desired improvements or worse, may even develop the tendency to become immune to the drugs. This is when people tend to look for other methods of alternative treatment. This is true in cases of depression. For instance, where thirty percent of sufferers seem to become resistant to standard treatments, they have an alternative that may be helpful and effective. One of the newest, “non traditional” methods of treatment for people undergoing depression is magnetic therapy whose leading mode is called “transcranial magnetic stimulation.”
Transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS) is one of the methods that have produced fairly positive results. When a patient undergoes TMS, a device is run over his or her head. This device sends electrical currents into certain parts of the brain. It is a powerful device that the magnetic pulses can even penetrate right through the skin and bone of the skull and can reach the brain’s nerve cells. The pulses have to be magnetic since mere electrical ones cannot do the same penetration. According to research findings, these magnetic pulses can specifically target certain areas in the brain where the centers of depression can be found. These centers are accordingly the same centers that traditional drugs target.
Research shows that treating someone daily with TMS for a period of two weeks can result in significant improvements. For one, the patient’s symptoms will be reduced by thirty percent. This is already a substantial change, especially for someone who is suffering severe depression.
Historically, magnetic therapy can be traced back to the times of the Tibetan monks. The monks are said to be huge followers and practitioners of this type of therapy.
Initially, studies on the use of magnets did not have favorable results. In order to contradict this, believers conducted small trial studies. The results showed that men felt reduced depression, however for women did not.
TMS may be a relatively “new kid on the block” and may still be classified as experimental, but there are already quite a number of clinics and medical experts that suggest this type of treatment especially for patients who have developed an immunity with regard to traditional drugs. Nowadays, researchers are even confident in saying that within ten years time, TMS may even become one of the common methods of treatment for depression.
Scott Meyers is a staff writer for http://www.ItsEntirelyNatural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site.
Insomnia: Dangers & Treatment of Sleep Deprivation
Do you suffer from sleep deprivation? You know by now how you feel without a good night sleep: tiredness, irritability and a loss of concentration are high on the side effects list for insomnia. Therefore, it is very important that you find your cause of insomnia and an insomnia cure as soon as possible.
Sleep deprivation and sleep apnea affects our nervous systems by leaving us drowsy and unable to concentrate. Even losing sleep a few nights a week can significantly impair your ability to function and decrease the quality of your life. Not getting enough sleep also leads to poor memory. If sleep deprivation continues, hallucinations and mood swings will develop. In the same vein, sleeping problems are common in both mental and physical disorders including schizophrenia and depression, stroke, cancer, and head injuries.
Insomnia treatment and cure: For getting a proper sleep at night, do the following:
Sleep only when sleepy. This reduces the time you are awake in bed.
If you can not fall asleep within 25 minutes, just get up and do something boring until you feel sleepy. Sit quietly in the dark listen to some nice relaxing music. Do not expose yourself to bright light while you are up.
Do not take naps. This will make you tired at bedtime. If you just cannot make it through the day without a power nap, sleep less than one hour, before 4 pm.
Go to bed and get up the same time every day. When your sleep cycle has a regular rhythm, you will feel much better.
Refrain from exercise at least four hours before bedtime. Regular exercise is recommended to help you sleep well, but the timing of the workout is important. Exercising in the morning or early afternoon will not interfere with your sleep.
Develop sleep rituals. Listen to relaxing cds, read something soothing for twenty minutes, have a cup of warm milk, and do relaxation exercises.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol at least four hours before bed. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that interfere with your ability to fall asleep. Alcohol may seem to help you sleep in the beginning as it slows brain activity, but you will end up having a restless night.
Have a light snack before you go to bed. If your tummy is too empty, that can interfere with sleep. However, if you eat a big meal before bedtime, that can interfere as well.
Take a hot bath ninety minutes before bedtime. This will relax your body and will help you fall asleep.
Make sure your bedroom and bed are quiet and comfortable.
Getting a good night’s sleep is as important as having a proper healthy diet and exercising to keep a healthy body. A good night sleep makes your skin look fresh and it also helps make your brain more alert. Though in a busy lifestyle we always try to sacrifice sleep for work but it is very important that you set aside enough hours for some good old-fashioned beauty sleep. The average person needs eight hours of sleep, while infants need sixteen hours of sleep, and teenagers need about nine hours.
Scientists believe that sleep maintains and repairs our bodies and minds. Every night we cycle through three stages of sleep ranging from light sleep to deep sleep, and finally, to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A complete sleep cycle takes ninety to one hundred minutes on average. While we sleep our brains are using important neuronal connections that might otherwise get worse from lack of activity. During deep sleep, brain activity that control emotions, decision-making processes, and social interaction stops, allowing us to maintain optimal emotional and social functioning when we are awake. Cell repair and cell growth takes place to combat the affects of stress and UV rays in this stage as well. Hence, deep sleep is really beauty sleep.
Sleep also strengthens our immune system and helps our bodies fight infection. This is because our immune system releases a sleep inducing chemical while fighting a flu or an infection. Sleep helps the body conserve energy and other resources that the immune system requires to mount an effective attack. Start your insomnia treatment as soon as possible to prevent sleep deprivation.
Andrew Chin is a recognized authority on the subject of Health and Fitness. His Insomnia article on eating healthy provides a wealth of information on sleep deprivation. Learn more at http://www.healthfitnesssite.com