Dealing With Depression - Try Acupuncture

Depression is one of the most widespread ailments with over 8 million afflicted people in the US alone. It's a major cause of suicide claiming about 40,000 American lives every year. The biggest problem with western anti-depressants is their side effects, and you have to take those pills all the time. The depression patients have found acupuncture as a reliable and promising therapy.

Acupuncture is a Chinese method that uses thin needles to treat an illness. There is a Chinese saying, "emotions are the root of 100 diseases" and depression is an outcome of imbalance in the flow of emotions. These wild emotions can cause stress, indigestion, insomnia, fatigue, pain and sensation of heat.

Treating depression with acupuncture calms your spirit and unblocks the emotional stagnation. Some therapists use electro -acupuncture especially to treat the depression patients. Applying a small electric current through acupuncture needles has been found extremely beneficial in mild as well as chronic depression. Acupuncture helps you find emotional balance in a natural way by promoting healing abilities of the body.

What Research Says

Recently the Chinese researchers compared fluoxetine hydrochloride and acupuncture to find out which one is more effective in treatment of depression. Fluoxetine hydrochloride is the active ingredient in most of the anti-depressants including Prozac.

The researchers decided to treat 60 depression patients with acupuncture and other 60 such people were given western medicine containing fluoxetine hydrochloride. Acupuncturists precisely chose the points for each patient depending on their unique symptoms. The patients under western medication received 20 mg of fluoxetine hydrochloride per day.

The acupuncture procedure and drug treatment was continued for eight weeks, and at the end, two assessment tests - Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) were conducted to measure the success rate of each treatment method. Both the group of patients showed similarity in effectiveness of treatments.

However, the researchers who published their work in Hong Kong Medical Journal, observed a major difference in emergent symptoms. Patients treated with fluoxetine developed adverse reactions with visible symptoms like anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, etc, whereas no adverse reaction was reported in acupuncture group.

How it Works

Many of us usually wonder how inserting tiny needles provides relief from depression and how acupuncturists know where in the body to insert them. Well, there are fourteen main pathways (meridians) that are responsible for the flow of energy, fluids and emotion. Along these meridians are about two thousand pressure points that acupuncturists target depending upon the symptoms of your depression. The needles enhance the flow of emotions through pathways, thus relieving stress and depression.

You should be flexible with your thoughts when taking acupuncture treatment. Meeting new people and making friends can change your mental outlook by keeping upsets and disappointments away. Since insomnia is a crucial part of depression, do everything you can to get a nice sleep. Another important thing when treating depression with acupuncture is to eat healthy foods that are easy to digest. They help you fight lethargy and fatigue.

Healing elements of acupuncture are fully capable to improve the life of people living with depression. The western world hasn't utilized its full potential yet to help patients get rid of depression and lead a normal life.

Learn To Choose Foods With Vitamins To Combat Depression

First of all, let's make it clear that we will not be discussing clinical depression. If you suffer from or think you suffer from clinical depression you should seek professional guidance and treatment. Instead, what we will be discussing are forms of depression that are not as serious. This includes seasonal depression, otherwise known as seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal depression is most obvious during the cold, cloudy, and dark winter months. While this weather can be depressing by itself, there are physical reasons why this depression can set in. During the winter months it can be hard to find as much fresh fruits and vegetables as during the summer. Therefore, it is difficult to get the vitamins that the body needs from diet alone. Also, exposure to the sun provides a boost to some vitamins that help improve your mood. In the winter you do not get near the amount of exposure to the sun as during the summer.

If you are not getting enough vitamins from your diet you can consider changing your diet or taking supplements. The following vitamins, and their sources, should be considered when you are suffering from forms of depression, such as seasonal affective disorder:

Vitamin B1 - Found in a lot of cereals, such as puffed rice, cornflakes, and wheat bran. Most nuts contain a lot of Vitamin B1, with the highest being Brazil nuts, pistachios, cashews, and peanuts. Ovaltine is a great source of this vitamin.

Vitamin B3 - Again, cereals tend to have a lot of this vitamin, with wheat bran and cornflakes being the highest. Canned tuna is a great option for high levels of B3. Other food items to consider are most meats, mushrooms, peanuts, dried peaches, and dried apricots.

Vitamin B5 - As expected, wheat bran is high in this vitamin. Eggs and milk are also a great source. You can also find decent amounts in mushrooms, almonds, and peanuts.

Vitamin B6 - Once again, this vitamin can be found in many cereals, including wheat bran. There are some fruits that have high levels of Vitamin B6. These include bananas and dried apricots. The best nuts to get your B6 include walnuts and hazel nuts.

Vitamin B12 - Unfortunately, this vitamin is not found in fruits and vegetables. Instead, it can be found in a lot of meat and seafood options. The seafood with the highest levels of B12 include oysters, sardines, and tuna.

Folic Acid - As with other B Vitamins, wheat bran has a lot of folic acid. Almonds, hazel nuts, and peanuts are also good sources. Also, many vegetables have high levels of folic acid. These include broccoli, endives, spinach, and peas.

The list above is a good start to find natural supplements through changes in your diet. As you can see, you can get the benefits of many of these vitamins above with just a few changes. By adding some wheat bran and some nuts you can receive most of these.

Eating Chocolate To Help Prevent Depression?

Did you know that Chocolate can help prevent Depression?

We've all said it, "I feel so depressed!" Most of us have down days, but when those down days become weeks, months or even years that is when it becomes depression. Depression is defined as 'an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself and the way one thinks about things.' (medterms.com). For many years people have looked to chocolate to boost their moods on a blue day, but there are some studies that say that chocolate can actually worsen the original depression. Why would that be, when eating chocolate seems to make so many people so happy? Well the answer is confectionary chocolate that is so popular in America is high in sugar and appears to have a rebound effect, meaning it may boost your mood for a short time, but then makes your mood crash even faster and harder than before. The mood boosting effect from the chocolate is reversed by the high amounts of sugar. That's why The Doctors Chocolate can actually help prevent and fight depression, because it uses the sugar alcohol zylotol instead of sugar.

Phenyl ethylamine (PEA) and Serotonin

Your body makes a compound called Phenyl ethylamine (PEA), known to elevate your mood by releasing dopamine in the pleasure center of your brain. One of the biggest anti-depressant medications Prozac and its natural counterpart St Johns Wart are intended to raise serotonin levels. PEA, serotonin and even the ecstasy molecule are a lot alike chemically, in the fact that they all calm down unpleasant feelings and boost your mood. That's why one of the signs of depression is drug or alcohol abuse, because people turn to these for comfort from their bad feelings. That's why it is so refreshing to hear that eating a couple of The Doctors Chocolates can give you the same feeling without being dangerous to your health. In fact you'll be healthier for eating it!

Depression healed by Natural Remedies

Most health professionals will agree that most cases of diagnosed depression can be cured by natural remedies such as diet and exercise. Sometimes all it takes is eliminating something harmful from your diet that will get rid of the bad feelings and make you healthier in the mean time. Dark chocolate has so many health benefits, that helping with your depression is just a happy side effect. Try eating some of The Doctors Chocolate next time you are feeling blue to start feeling happy again.

Of course if you are having severe depression that does not respond to doctor recommended diet and exercise changes, than talk to your doctor about getting medical treatment. We all know that it is always better for your body and health to try to heal with natural remedies, but if your feelings of hopelessness have you turning to drugs, alcohol or thoughts of suicide, please seek medical help immediately.

Keeping Company With a Client With Depression

I first saw the patient at the front desk, trying to compose herself as she gave her insurance information and co-payments to the financial representative. Our center is always cold, an old house renovated with air conditioning that makes it either too hot or too cold. She was shivering from cold and crying, struggling to compose herself. I brought her a heated blanket and stood behind her gently rubbing her back as she did all the initial paperwork. It was the beginning of her journey of chemo, surgery and possibly radiation treatment.

As I waited with her, we talked about many things: about her occupation as a sales clerk in a store that I frequent, her upcoming wedding, family members who were with her. She confided in me that she had a long history of clinical depression. I thought to myself how cancer treatment alone puts people at risk of clinical depression; it had to be even harder, starting out with a level of risk. And so often, depression and anxiety appear together. I brought her something to drink and waited as she got her blood work taken. At times, she was tearful as she talked.

I asked her if I could give her a gentle shoulder massage while she waited to see the doctor. First I taught her a relaxation technique that I use with lots of patients, something to focus on while I massaged her shoulders. It is an easy one: Breathe in, think of a word, breathe out, think of another. Once she could do that, I massaged her hands for a few minutes until she was called into the exam room. I know the importance of patients telling their stories. So we talked. I listened.

A few days later I got a phone call from her. She wanted me there on her first day of chemotherapy. I was across the street at the other center, but told her to call me when they started and I would walk over. When I walked in and saw her face, her smile was so genuine, her eyes lit up, it amazed me how different she looked from a few days ago. I hardly recognized her.

To decrease anxiety in a treatment center, this is what I do: bring blankets and refreshments. Talk about our families and vacations and jobs. Share photos of grandchildren, commiserate over parenting challenges. Laugh. Give hugs for good news and extra hugs when the news is not so good. Depending on the patient, massage can also be done. It can calm someone's heart and put them on a beach someplace. When there is a lot of anxiety and isolation, the personal contact of massage can offer a simple, brief diversion.

I never forget that each patient may come in with a host of pre-existing conditions. In our work with people in cancer treatment, each patient comes in with a whole physical and emotional history. We can't forget or overlook those conditions. In the case of anxiety and depression, someone may need extra care. I am mindful of this as I work.

Bipolar Disorder and Its Unfortunate Link To Suicide

Bipolar disorder leads to more suicides and attempted suicides than any other mental disorder. This fact has been confirmed by many research studies over many years. These studies indicate that up to 20% to 50% of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide at some time during their life. Up to 15% to 20% of all those diagnosed with will die as the result of suicide. These results have been consistent amongst many studies throughout the world. There is always the risk of suicidal thoughts if one is afflicted with bipolar disorder.

These statistics for suicide and suicide attempts are up to four times higher than the average for overall suicides and suicide attempts. They are also higher than for any other form of mental disorder. The statistics clearly indicate that someone afflicted with bipolar disorder needs careful attention. Amongst other reasons this is to ensure they are not entertaining suicidal thoughts. Who is best placed to do the watching? Most often this is their friends and loved ones. This is yet another reason that such people can be so much more valuable to the afflicted person if they understand bipolar disorder.

Recently, I searched an exact sentence on Google. That was "when pain exceeds pain-coping resources, suicidal feelings are the result". There were "about 10,200 results." Given this result it would not be unrealistic to define "suicidal feelings" as being "when pain exceeds pain-coping resources." Accepting the definition stated for suicidal feelings immediately suggests two ways of easing suicidal feelings. These are:

1. to reduce the pain and/or

2. to increase pain-coping resources.

Remembering these two simple steps to reducing suicidal feelings could be very useful. If remembered they could be of great assistance. If you do find yourself in contact with someone who is clearly experiencing suicidal thoughts remember the steps. They could go so far as to save a life. Just knowing that someone is listening to them can go a long way to reducing the pain. Knowing that someone is with them, and willing to help, will increase pain-coping resources for them. This paragraph could be called first-aid for dealing with a suicidal person. For that reason alone it could be well worth remembering the lessons it contains.

I would suggest that even more is needed if you have a friend or relative who is has bipolar disorder. The risks of suicidal thoughts are so much higher than are usually the case. It therefore pays to be even more prepared than usual. When confronted with a life threatening situation anyone can panic. By having a well thought out plan in advance the room for panic is greatly reduced.

The best time to prepare an anti-suicide plan is when then the person inflicted with bipolar disorder is neither high nor low. It is important to involve them in the planning. This shows to them that you really do care. Also, by involving them in the planning, they could react more quickly, and more favorably, if there is ever a need to put it into practice. This is because they could remember the planning and recognize what you are doing on their behalf.

There is one important piece of information to have available at all times. This is the phone number for a respected suicide hotline. In the United States of America the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Most countries outside of the United States of America have a similar hotline available. If your friend or loved one has bipolar disorder make a point of finding out what it is. Once you have done so keep it with you at all times.

What are the key factors in any suicide prevention plan? In fact there are a number of aspects to take into account. However, from my personal experience I once attempted suicide three times within five hours because I was left alone. The key point to learn here is that if you believe someone is suicidal do not leave them alone. Remember, even remaining with them could reduce their pain or increase their pain-coping resources.

There are many resources available to assist with preparing a suicide prevention plan. Many of these are available free online by doing a simple online search. It is well worth while taking the time to prepare a plan together with the person with bipolar disorder. You never know when suicidal thoughts might occur. Having a plan ready could prevent panic. Avoiding panic could save the life of your friend or loved one.

Ideas on How To Stop Depression

Depression is a big concern for millions of people. They don't just suffer from the normal depression that you get when something out of the ordinary happens; it is much more than that. Many people stay depressed everyday of their life. Most of the time they don't even know why they feel so bad and many have given up on ever feeling good again. However, it does not have to stay this way. Use the ideas on how to stop depression symptoms that are listed below to help you overcome these symptoms. It will help you to feel good again and enjoy life.

Begin by admitting that you are suffering from a problem with depression. This will make a big difference in the success that you will have eliminating depression from your life. People who don't want to admit they are depressed will just continue to get worse as time goes on. You can't solve a problem that you refuse to accept. After acceptance, you will need to start figuring out what is causing the problem. Depression can be caused by many different reasons so this may take some time, but the sooner you start thinking about it and looking for the problems the sooner you can begin to move on.

Many people become depressed because they have such a low self-esteem. They feel like everything they do is wrong and they have just given up on life. Still others become bored with the same old routine everyday. One way to overcome depression is by finding ways to change these feelings. You can start by spending time with friends. Plan a lunch date once a month or go see a movie. Find ways to make your life more interesting, find a hobby or start playing a sport. Do things that can help to improve your self-confidence, this will help put you on your way to freeing your life from depression.

Always avoid too much alcohol and other types of depressants that can make you feel worse that you already do. Never feel ashamed for being depressed. Even some medications can make your symptoms worse so if you take medications do a little research to find out if what you take could be a problem. Everyone needs help from time to time and there is nothing wrong with asking for it. Family and friends can be a big help. If your depression is serious enough then you may need to take medication such as antidepressants to help you control your symptoms. Depression is a disease and you do need to treat it as such.

How to Cheer Up a Depressed Bird

There will be those among you who find the prospect of trying to cheer up a depressed bird amusing. Go ahead - laugh. Just like babies, birds of any particular breed all look pretty much the same. Same feather style, same expression, same beaks, same claws, same teeth... To the untrained eye, that is. However, anyone who has spent years studying birds for a living, observing their every little emotion, knows that birds do indeed suffer from depression.

So, if a depressed bird is abandoned on your doorstep, how do you set about cheering it up? Once the bird realizes it's been saddled with you for a companion, you have your work cut out. Forget antidepressants. Forget St. John's Wort pills or tea bags. Before you get too deeply into the question of treatment, are you certain that the bird is depressed or have you made a misdiagnosis? What aroused your suspicions in the first place?

Depending upon the bird's breed, of course, it may have been able to self-diagnose its problem. Parrots can be excellent at communicating their feelings, often in the most forceful terms. Budgerigars tend to be less specific about their emotions. "Pretty Joey", and "Who's a pretty boy, then?" are common sentiments in the budgie world. Somewhat less than helpful, it has to be said. If your foundling is one of the more talkative breeds, then as long as it's capable of holding a sensible, mature conversation, it may be a good candidate for cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.

CBT can be particularly helpful in cases of substance abuse or eating disorders. If your bird is showing a particular zeal for sunflower seeds or an unhealthy interest in cuttlefish, then CBT is definitely worth a try. The idea is that the bird should change the way it thinks about its problems and the way it acts in response to the world around it. You must explain to your bird that, although you may not be able to take away its problems, at least you can help it to change the way it thinks about them. Explain that you want to help it alter its thought patterns. Note carefully the bird's reaction to your explanation.

Some birds develop a feeling of low self-esteem, leading to depression. This is sometimes brought on by acts of spitefulness or name-calling. Take the Bald Eagle. Whoever chose to adopt this blatantly non-politically correct name has a lot to answer for. That the national bird of the United States of America should be subjected to such verbal abuse is nothing short of scandalous. Is it any wonder then, that depression is fairly widespread among B*** Eagles?

Owls may be wise, but that very wisdom can be an intolerable burden that leads to severe depression. To put it bluntly, the owl never stops working. We tend to think that they only come out at night and sleep all day. Wrong. They do indeed grab a bite to eat at night and a quick forty winks, but for the biggest part of the day, they're doing paperwork. Severe stress brought on by overwork such as this is a common enough cause of clinical depression, so the bird on your doorstep is as likely as not to be an owl.

A word of caution here. Technically, you are not really allowed to keep an owl (depending where you live, of course), so you must check with the authorities on the legality of your position. You could, of course claim that the owl has actually adopted you but again, check whether owls can adopt people.

Assuming then, that you've done suitable tests, and you've satisfied yourself that you really do have the problem of how to cheer up a depressed bird, how should you tackle it? Jokes might work in some cases, but you need to be sensitive to the bird's feelings. No Chicken Jokes. Repeat, NO CHICKEN JOKES. They may raise a chuckle among Turkeys, but in general, it's best to avoid them altogether.

If you're thinking of sitting them down in front of a TV, it's common knowledge that Robins have an aversion to "The Simpsons". They'll happily watch an entire series of "Friends", but in general they're pretty choosy. In the end, you may find that the bird is so depressed that nothing is going to cheer it up at this stage. Just give it lots of love and attention, lots of patience and understanding and, of course, plenty of rest and in due course, you should find it back to its old self. This treatment works with humans, too.

Do You Really Need A Menopause Test?

Menopause brings along a staggering sense of confusion as the body tries to come to terms with the onslaught of hormonal changes. Not very different from puberty, while some women sail past the stage others have to face serious and of exasperating symptoms associated with menopause. Although the normal menopausal age range is from 48 to 55 years, some women may experience symptoms 2 to 3 years before the onset of menopause. This often leads to serious ambiguity as other underlying health conditions may also cause similar symptoms. So, here is a look at how you can ascertain if you are on the threshold of menopause.

What is menopause?

Contrary to what most women believe, menopause is not just the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle, rather this is just one part of the process. As the body ages, the secretion of important reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progestin progressively reduces. Because the estrogen level drops remarkably after the body has been fed of the hormone for several years, some very negative side effects are experienced by most women. However, it is essential to understand that the intensity of menopausal symptoms will not only depend on the level of estrogen in the body but also on genetic factors.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Some of the common symptoms of menopause include:

• Night sweats: A condition marked by sleep disturbances caused due to an increase in body temperature followed by profuse perspiration. Most women wake up in the middle of the night with their clothes and hair drenched and with a distinct chill.


• Hair loss: Menopause related hair loss is a very common symptom, the dwindling estrogen levels in the body adversely impact the hair follicles leading to an alarming increase in the rate of hair loss. Women find it difficult to contend with a brush full of hair locks every time they comb their hair.


• Depression: Since estrogen triggers a change in the brain, menopausal women often experience bouts of depression. Also, since some of the other symptoms of menopause cause significant sleep disturbances, this too leads to irritability and depression.


• Mood bouts: Estrogen impacts the emotional center of the brain hence women will often experience mood bouts when in the pre-menopausal and the menopausal stages.


• Weight fluctuations: Weight fluctuations are also a result of the diminishing levels of estrogen in the body. It is normal for most women to gain some amount of weight during menopause.

However, it is imperative to understand that a lot of these symptoms can also be associated with other underlying health conditions such as thyroid anomalies. While most women assume that these are the common signs that point towards the beginning of menopause, few realize that any health condition can be dealt with successfully only if its presence is established beyond a doubt. So, instead of shooting in the dark just on the basis of these symptoms, it is best to take a more concrete step to understand what is happening in your body.

Are there any tests to concretely determine if a woman is menopausal?

Until a few years ago, a visit to the physician and subsequent pathological tests were the only ways to determine if a woman was indeed in the menopausal stage. Fortunately, with the rapid progress in medical science, today most women can avail the benefits of a home menopause kit. Not very different from a pregnancy kit, the menopause home test also involves a basic urine sample check to analyze the presence/absence of a specific reproductive hormone in the urine.

The symptoms of menopause can be controlled through natural and holistic interventions as well as HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy. However, it is vital to ascertain that you are indeed going through the menopausal stage. So, if you are in your late forties or early fifties and are experiencing some or all the symptoms mentioned above, it would be best to take a home menopause test.?

Some Differences Between Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Millions of people in American suffer from depression as well as bipolar disorder. Even though medication can often help, the proper diagnosis is needed to effectively both. Unfortunately, it can many times be difficult to differentiate between bipolar disorder and depression. It is common for some people to first receive the misdiagnoses of depression. With these two conditions, even medical professionals have difficulty telling them apart. If some time is taken to be educated about their feature, a determination can be made. An accurate diagnosis can then be made and proper treatment started.

Bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic depression, is a mental condition that is characterized by unusual lows as well as highs in a persons mood. A person with this disorder experiences times when they are down, tired or generally depressed. These periods may last for a few months or many years. This is why often times it is first diagnosed as depression. The flip side of this depressed state is a period of 'mania' where some feels unusually energetic or good and does not need as much sleep. It is the manic times that make the difference between bipolar disorder and depression. Many times someone who is bipolar has periods that they feel normal and the manic periods are often unreported.

No, how to tell if you are depressed or bipolar. That will have to be determined by a doctor and what your symptoms are. If you feel depressed or 'down', a doctor needs to be seen. Questions need to be asked like 'are there times when you are unusually happy?' and 'are there periods in life were you need less sleep than usual?' These types of questions will have to be answered to determine the correct diagnosis.

Finding Ways For Overcoming Depression Symptoms Easily

Are you going through depression symptoms? Then, you might know how difficult it is to overcome these symptoms. There are millions of people who are suffering from these symptoms all over the world. But, unfortunately many of these people suffering with are going for anti-depressant medications. These medications, when used on a long term basis can lead to many side effects. There are even many alternative ways of overcoming these depression symptoms. So, let's go through some of the alternative ways of overcoming these symptoms.

Alternative Ways Of Overcoming Depression Symptoms

1. Exercise: This is one of the best ways of overcoming the depression. Having a light exercise daily will help you to have good blood pumping. This will make you feel good. Exercising in nature will add-on more benefits.


2. Diet: Having proper diet will also help you to over these symptoms. When you will eat well-balanced diet, it will make you body function properly and make you feel good.


3. Good Night Sleep: Sleep is very important in our life. When you wake up in the morning with insufficient sleep, it will result in many things such as poor body function, mood swings, irritation, depression, etc. So, make sure that you have sufficient good night sleep, i.e. 7 to 9 hours of good night sleep for overcoming depression symptoms.


4. Spend Time With Positive Attitude Persons: Most often, when a person is depressed, he or she will try to spend the time alone. Spending time lonely may result in suicidal thoughts. So, try to avoid being lonely and spend time with friends. But, make sure that you spend time with friends with positive attitude. So that, you will too get positive attitude after appending time with them.


5. Sunlight: It has proved scientifically that daily sunlight will help in boosting your mind. Just 15 minutes of sunlight and fresh air is sufficient.


6. Meditation: Pray and Meditation is one of the best techniques to overcome depression symptoms. Praying and meditation will help you to soothe your mood.


7. Herbal Techniques: It is even possible to overcome depression symptoms using herbal options. Kava-Kava, St. Johns Wort, 5-HTP predecessors, and Valerian Roots are some of the herbal options for overcoming depression. It is a known fact that depression is mainly caused to reduced level of serotonin in our body. These herbs will help to improve the serotonin levels in our body, and thereby overcoming the depression.

These are just some of the alternative techniques for overcoming depression, but best of this kind. But, it is always advisable to consult health care specialist, when you are facing severe depression symptoms.

Curing Depression Through Nutritional Healing

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also states that a depressed mood is often reported as being depressed, sad, hopeless etc. Psychiatrist and psychologist has defined depression to affect the whole body, the nervous system, moods, thoughts, how you feel about yourself and others, the quality and quantity of sleep. Depression can last from a few days to years depending on the level of depression. According to an article, there are many types of depression, with variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, changes in appetite, backaches, headaches, quickness to anger, loss of interest in hobbies, insomnia, or excessive sleeping, worthlessness, and inadequacy. Some people try to sleep off depression while others just sit around hoping something will happen.

It is strongly stressed that eating the right way and through nutritional healing depression may not be a problem at all. Added than the "elective" depression, there are two major classifications of depressive disorders. They are the bipolar and unpolar. Bipolar disorders usually begin as depression, but as they develop, they involve changing episodes of depression and manic. Bipolar is commonly known as manic depression. Unpolar disorders are characteriz

ed by depressive episodes that most often recur at least several times in the course of one's life. The causes of depression are not fully understood, as many researchers and psychologists have studied. Depression may be triggered by tension, stress, a traumatic life event, chemical imbalances in the brain, upset stomach, headache, poor diet, the consumption of sugar, lack of exercise, allergies, etc. One of the most universal causes of depression is low blood sugar and some food allergies are another cause at hand. In up to fifty percent of people suffering from recurrent episodes of depression, one or both parents also experienced depression. So heredity plays a big role in these disorders. Whatever the factors that trigger it, depression begins with a disturbance in the part of the brain that governs moods.

What Are the Most Common Manic Depression Symptoms?

When manic depression symptoms are left undiagnosed and untreated for a long time, they can lead to many other more serious problems that can be threatening to one's mental and emotional health. For this reason, learning how to identify the signs and to differentiate them from other types of depression is truly very important.

Identifying the Symptoms

Before we enumerate the typical signs, you have to understand that this particular type of psychological disorder is very different from clinical depression or ordinary anxiety. It is actually a more severe variety of the illness, although the symptoms may be quite similar, but to a more serious degree. That said, it is crucial that you seek professional treatment as soon as you notice that you are going through these manic depression symptoms.

Possibly the most distinguishable sign is the frequent switching between extreme highs and extreme lows. For example, a manic depressive person may sometimes appear to be ecstatically and inexplicably happy. The same individual may also go into sudden fits of rage or depression, also without apparent reason. There is no telling when and where these switches can happen. Oftentimes, there is even no logical reason for them at all. Along with these erratic behaviors, manic depressive individuals may also express constant irritability and may easily get annoyed or exhibit violent reactions to seemingly ordinary events.

Another manic depression symptom that is quite common but not as obvious is the notion of grandeur. People experiencing this condition may believe that they are very famous or powerful individuals. Some may even have convinced themselves that they are super heroes of some sort.

Disconnected With Reality

In a similar vein, individuals are also usually disconnected with reality and may seem to have their own system of logic, which is nothing like the logic that most people recognize. They tend to speak incoherently and in disjointed sentences, all of which apparently make perfect sense to them. They also speak quite rapidly, which is probably due to their radically increased energy levels.

Due to their inability to think rationally, manic depressives will not be capable of making sound decisions, even for the simplest things. If their condition is not treated right away, it can worsen to a point that the damage might become irreversible. However, if the manic depression symptoms are identified and treated right away, there is a high probability that the person can go back to living a perfectly normal life.

As the Old Year Fades, So Does My Memory

Memory is a very tricky thing, at least for me it is. Looking back, over a year's span of activity my memory seems to pick and choose what it remembers. It amazes me not so much what a person remembers but what a person forgets.

Often some old-timer will moan about how much he misses the good old days. I'm not sure if he is thinking of World War II or the great Depression. I'm positive that during the great Depression some wonderful memories were created, but I'm not sure anyone wants to return to those thrilling days of yesterday.

The bad was not as bad as we remember and the good was not as good as we boast.

Some things are best forgotten and some things should never be forgotten; my trouble has always been remembering which is which. (Personally, I don't know the difference between "which" and "that.")

Several things about the old year bear serious consideration. The past year, in my opinion, was not just one year but several years flowing together. Sometimes I'm not sure which year I lived.

The year 2004, like all its brothers before it, actually consisted of three years.

First, there is the year that really was. "Just the facts, ma'am."

I'm a little fuzzy about this one. For one thing, looking at my checkbook entries (at least the ones I remembered to enter) the past year was a completely different one than I recall.

I really do not recollect having all the fun indicated by my bank statement. Why is it that no matter how much money I put into my bank account, more money comes out.

Evidently, some phantom creature has access to my checkbook.

President Ronald Reagan was accused of voodoo economics. Reviewing my bank statements, I could be accused of "Who-do" economics.

My income tax statement is another perplexity. I can never figure it out. If the government said I made that much money, I must have made that much money and owe that much in taxes.

Speaking of the government, what I don't understand is how they know how much I owe, to the penny, along with millions of other Americans and cannot find Osama bin Laden. I know exactly how to solve this conundrum.

One surefire way of finding him is leaking to the government that Osama bin Laden owes taxes and he will be caught before April 15, guaranteed.

Second, there is the year I re-member.

This year is much shorter than the previous one, for some odd reason. The year I remember had only two months; this month and last month. And believe me, "last month" is a stretch for me.

Honestly, I remember paying the electric bill, contrary to what the electric company says. My problem with the electric company is that during the space of a year they send me 12 bills and I can only remember two.

They penalize me for screwing up but they do not credit my account when they screw up -- like being without electricity for four days -- twice this past year. Oh, that I remember and remember it well. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly it was more like 90 days.

I remember deducting the monthly service charges from my bank each and every month. Well, maybe not "each and every" month. Why those three checks bounced is beyond my comprehension.

Should the bank charge a larger fee for a bounced check than the face value of the check? I don't think so. Isn't it the bank's business to keep their records straight? Why do I have to spend so much time each month on my checkbook account?

Last, but certainly not least, is the year the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage remembers.

At times, I am tempted to think (at least it's what I call thinking) my wife lives one life and I live something altogether different from hers. The things she remembers that took place during the year are beyond my remembering.

I am beginning to believe she remembers things that never took place. Of course, and I say this with all sincerity, I would never contradict her memory.

For the life of me I don't know where I was when all these things happened that she says happened. Nor do I know where I was when I promised to do all those things she said I promised.

Even in my right mind, (of which I don't have much left) I would never concede to help remodel the family room. I would never accuse her, heaven forbid, of taking advantage of me in this area. The thought is not a stranger inside my head, although rational thoughts are.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, framed his thoughts this way, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" (Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV.)

Solomon's idea was, "now" is more important than "then."

The Apostle Paul had the right idea with this matter of remembering. "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV.)

It is not important how much I can remember about the past, as long as I don't forget to set Christ before me in all I do in 2005.

Signs of Depression and Disorders of the Self

Most people use the word "depression" to describe many separate and distinct experiences -- grief, disappointment, mild forms of unhappiness, etc. When I use the word here, I mean clinical depression, the sort of mental and emotional suffering that sends people into therapy or to their physician for prescription-based relief. I've seen many men and women over the years who's come in with signs of depression; from my experience, the roots of their suffering usually lie in three common areas. I'd like to offer some thoughts about these varieties depression and their origins. I don't view them as necessarily distinct; they often overlap and mingle in various ways.

Post-Apocalyptic Rage:

Ever since Freud, psychotherapists have noted the frequent connection between anger and depression; you may have heard depression described as "anger turned inward." I'd take this a step further and say that explosive and violent rage often lies at the heart of certain severe signs of depression. I use the phrase "post-apocalyptic" because, with many severely depressed clients, I have felt as if a nuclear bomb has gone off inside them, devastating their minds and laying them waste. Such clients might make it to session but lie inert and mute on the couch; they might say they feel nothing, or describe their body as feeling numb, weighted down by a pressure that flattens all emotion. When I'm in the room with these clients, in close emotional contact, it feels to me as if MEANING has been completely destroyed and the emotional realm is void. Such clients might describe themselves as feeling empty, without interest or motivation to do anything. They often mention intense pressure around their eyes or face.

Re-creating the emotional events that led to this state of devastation takes time and patience. The task is complicated by the fact that the rage is almost always UNCONSCIOUS: the client has no idea that he or she has been raging. Sometimes you might hear hints of it in the client's material when he or she begins to speak; more often, you see it in dreams or simply feel it by intuition. The landscape of the apocalypse often appears in the dreams of depressed people: bleak ghettos, deserts or terrain borrowed from movies such as THE TERMINATOR. If you have a strong empathic link with a client, you may find feelings of rage rumbling inside you during the silence, for no reason you can understand.

This rage may itself be a defense against fears of disintegration, as I've discussed elsewhere on my 'After Psychotherapy' site. Or it may be a kind of omnipotent, destructive reaction to feeling unbearably needy, small or frustrated. In any event, it is a sign of progress (and an emotional challenge for the therapist) when such clients can experience and express rage within their sessions and yet not destroy their treatment in the process. Helping the client to tolerate this kind of rage involves the patient work of years.

The Fragmented Self:

Whatever our theoretical orientation, most of us understand that when mother-baby relationships go awry, for varying reasons, it affects the child's developing sense of self. The more unreliable those early experiences (i.e., the more unavailable or inconsistent the mother), the shakier the child's sense of self. In severe cases, the person may feel as if he or she is constantly in danger of falling into pieces under the pressure of intense emotion. Anxiety may thus be one sign of a shaky core self, where the person feels terrified of disintegration; depression may be another sign, where it may feel as if he or she ALREADY HAS fallen into pieces. Such disintegration may be experienced as a kind of personal psychic death; the depressive feelings that result are akin to mourning, a mourning for the self, full of grief and hopeless despair that anything can be done to salvage the fragmented self.

This kind of client needs the safety of ongoing psychotherapy and a strong empathic connection with the right therapist. I'm not sure I would go so far as to call it "re-parenting", but given the insecurities of their early attachment, such clients need to regress and become emotionally dependent to a significant degree; they almost always need to come more than once a week. Within the context of the client-therapist relationship, they learn to understand and tolerate unacknowledged feelings, helped by the safe holding environment the psychotherapist provides. Again, such work takes years.

The Rejected Self:

In especially toxic environments where parents may be abusive or projectile, evacuating their own feelings of unworthiness or confusion into their children, those children may grow up with intense feelings of shame. Rather than experiencing their selves as if they were in pieces, these men and women feel dirty, damaged, ugly, smelly, disgusting, repulsive, contemptible, etc. They may feel that their authentic self is so thoroughly damaged, in a state of such decay as to be beyond redemption. In these cases, the individual may be highly defended against feelings of depression and unworthiness; they often inhabit a false self organized around the characteristic defenses, evacuating their "depression" into others. They may come across as superior and arrogant; they may feel contempt for others who they perceive as excessively needy or vulnerable. At heart, they feel enormous contempt for their own authentic damaged selves and want nothing to do with them.

The work with such clients -- if they even reach the point of seeking treatment -- is to help them to BECOME depressed. In other words, it is a sign of progress when such clients can experience depressed feelings. They usually don't experience this depression as progress, however, and may break off treatment as a result. A particularly tricky variation is the superficially-devoted client who becomes a major fan of psychotherapy, possibly entering the profession. Such individuals attempt to ward off depression and awareness of damage with a false, pseudo-therapeutic self that uses the LANGUAGE of insight and emotion with fluency but never gets near authentic shame. The challenge with such clients is to bring them into contact with their actual self in such a way that they don't experience it as an unbearable narcissistic injury.

Years. The work always takes years.

Imaginative Authors, Successful CEO's Accountants, and the World of Creativity

What do:

Imaginative authors
Successful CEO's
Accountants who think outside of the box

Have in common??

The answer -- Creativity

A fascinating topic - what is creativity: what are the characteristics of a creative person: can it be measured: can it be taught?

Why are some people creative? An interesting perspective comes from Sigmund Freud. Freud postulated that creativity arises as a result of frustrated desires for fame, fortune and love. An Interesting view point, don't you agree?

In a similar psychological vein, Arnold Ludwig found a correlation between depression and creative achievement. This view is supported by recent comprehensive and laudatory research by J. Jamison at the University of Pittsburgh. She provides evidence that psychological suffering is an essential component of artistic creativity? Her theories are proven by extensive examination of the links between manic depression and creativity in the lives of artists such as Van Gogh, Byron, and Virginia Woolf. The presence of bi-polar depression was evident in well known individuals such as Ernest Hemingway and Theodore Roosevelt. Indeed many such individuals indulged in self destructive behavior including suicide.

Beyond the "artistic group" there are some interesting links. J P Guilford postulates that creative people (compared with others in the general population) identify multiple, rather than singular, answers to a set of problems. Indeed, the literature discusses "thinking outside the box" as an example of creativity.

From a business perspective, a worldwide study of 1600 Chief Executive Officers identified the MOST crucial trait for successful leadership is CREATIVITY. Not drive, or personality, or technical expertise - but creativity. This explains why CEO's can successfully migrate from firm to firm regardless of the market niche. It's about finding unique, clever, out of the norm solutions to complex problems.

The same is true of "creative accountants" who explore gray and multiple options outside of what may considered normal accounting methods. A very sought after trait in this profession.

Indeed, getting ones arms around the bowl of jello called creativity is an inexact science. Creativity amongst artists oftentimes comes to those who have troubled demons. For writers, the flurry of ideas of ideas and words is sometimes followed by extended periods of blank pages and darkness.

Creativity in business is essential to leadership excellence. Those who are noncreative remain in roles such as managers or technocrats. Creativity is indeed a career changer. Consider those with whom you have worked.. the creative leader comes up with ideas, strategies, and concepts which amaze those of us sitting around the table. " Where did that come from?" We shake our heads, gather our laptops and implement these previously unimagined ideas.

Natural Remedies For Depression - Looking For Alternative Ways To Battle The Problem

Depression is not the kind of illness that anyone would want to have. Aside from being difficult to diagnose, it does not only involve physical but also includes psychological factors as well. A person may easily relieve his feelings of depression by taking antidepressant medication. But these antidepressant drugs, as with many other drugs, have their side effects, which makes natural remedies for depression better.

The side effects include headaches, stomach pains, vomiting and other physical manifestations of the body's reaction to the drug. Other than this, there are physiological side effects that include mild forms of mental disorders such as obsessive-compulsive and manic disorders.

Looking For New Ways to Battle Depression

It seems that taking antidepressant drugs tends to give the patient more harm than good, although depression is indeed treated in the long run. This is the primary reason why people turn to natural remedies for depression before actually taking antidepressant drugs such as SSRIs as a last resort; they are not willing to bear the side effects.

Other medications for depression have been released with more manageable side effects. In this case, these drugs have been included as part of treatment for depression. Clinically, it has been proven that antidepressant drugs provide less than half of the treatment and can be used only to support the actual vehicle for treatment, for instance, talk therapies.

Innovative Means of Treating Depression

There are many ways to treat mild mental disorders that include the use of therapy sessions. Therapy sessions or so-called talk therapies provide a way for patients to release pent-up anger or sadness, which is the main cause of their long-lasting depression as well as other similar mental disorders. These therapy sessions will either be group or solo sessions with a professional doctor. Either way, the sessions are designed to help people recover from stress and other traumatic events they have experienced in their lifetime. Talk therapies are considered natural remedies for depression.

Since the popularity of the Internet, it has changed the ways that talk therapies are held. There are now talk therapies called depression chat rooms where patients can log online. These patients have an option for privacy, especially those who are famous celebrities.

Depression chat rooms are usually formed privately. Meaning, it is administered by professional doctors to specifically address the privacy issues that a patient may have with talk therapies. The chat rooms are overseen by a medical doctor or a professional counselor and similar to group or solo therapies, sessions will be held for about an hour. Despite being online, the sessions are still conducted in a controlled environment until such time that the session members are able to handle their own in the outside world.

Aside from these talk therapies, doctors advised that there is no better form of therapy than conversations of the patient with a loved one or a close family relative. This is a true example of natural remedies for depression. Because of this, a depressed patient is not confined within the clinic but is actually supported to be active in family gatherings and to engage in lively and fun activities with the family. With the full support of the family and relatives, the patient may not even need to engage in formal therapy sessions.

Activities That Eliminate Depression

Aside from therapies, doctors advise patients to engage in activities that they may find fulfilling or something that gives them a sense of accomplishment. Such activities may include easy-to-do hobbies, sports activities or a simple visit to nature. All these activities will relieve depressed people of stress and will improve their over-all mental state.

Studies have revealed that exercise has many great benefits that include the treatment of depression. A daily sport or exercise regimen will be good for depressed people. A good sweat does not only mean a good workout but also a good way to release pent-up energies.

Usually, as part of the program, members of a particular therapy session will have a field trip to nature. A simple visit at garden or even a park will do many things to uplift the spirits of those who are depressed. A sunset or sunrise, or even a look out on the sea is very calming and relaxing to those who are stressed-out and depressed.

Whatever the activity may be, it is important to have one that can release pent-up emotions and induce relaxation to the patient. Nowhere else can one find these characteristics but from natural remedies for depression.

SSRI Treatment of Fibromyalgia, The Pros and Cons!

Depression for a fibromyalgia sufferer produces a negative impact on every aspect of life. When severe enough, people are willing to try almost anything to find relief. There are more than 5 million fibromyalgia sufferers in America today. Although most are women, fibromyalgia is an affliction found in both sexes, all ages (including children), and all socioeconomic groups.

As one of the truly underrated and misunderstood symptoms of fibromyalgia, depression may be misdiagnosed, overlooked, and is sometimes left untreated. But when it's addressed as a "real symptom" of fibromyalgia today, it's commonly treated by a classification of anti-depressant medications called SSRI's.

SSRI's have recently become a very popular "treatment" for those that suffer from fibromyalgia. The initials stand for:

• Selective


• Serotonin


• Re-Uptake


• Inhibitors

Common SSRI Drugs List - Are You Taking One Of These?

Drug Name - Brand Names:

• Citalopram- Celexa, Emocal, Cipramil, Sepram, Dalsan, Recital, Seropram


• Escitalopram- Lexapro,Cipralex, Esertia


• Fluoxetine- Depress, Fontex, Fluctin, Prozac, Fluox, Seronil, Seromex, Sarefem


• Fluvoxamine- Luvox, Movox, Favoxil, Dumyrox, Fevarin


• Paroxetine- Paxil, Aropax, Deroxat, Paroxat, Xetanor, Seroxat, Sereupin, Rexetin


• Dapoxetine- (Waiting for approval by FDA)

But, is SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia the best choice for treating fibromyalgia- depression?

The Pros...

This classification of medications can have exceptional results in some patients, helping them take control of their depression symptoms and regain function in their daily lives. The dosage of an SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia is usually the same as the dosage used to treat general depression. When used in combination with tricyclic anti-depressants like amitriptyline, SSRI's can be more successful at breaking the cycle of pain and sleep disorder symptoms than SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia alone. However, even when SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia is applied, some fibromyalgia sufferers may find that the side-effects to be unacceptable.

The Cons...

SSRI medications are usually prescribed for the treatment of mood disorders like depression and anxiety. However, they may not be a good choice for some fibromyalgia sufferers because there can be serious side-effects associated with the use of these drugs:

• For one thing, sleep problems can actually get worse with SSRI's. In studies, 15-20% of patients taking SSRI's suffered insomnia after going on the medication for a time; and most fibromyalgia sufferers have to take an additional sedative to "wind down" and get to sleep. While SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia may help some sufferers with sleep issues, new and unexpected sleep disorders including insomnia may develop with long periods of SSRI use.


• Anxiety is already an issue for fibromyalgia sufferers, and SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia may trigger flares. Anxiety reactions may become more frequent and severe.


• Headaches are another symptom which may become more frequent and severe with SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia.


• Sexual dysfunctions are very common with SSRI use.


• Gastrointestinal issues also occur with SSRI medications, including nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite.


• One of the biggest long-term effects of SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia, is weight gain.


• Regular use of SSRI's can lead to a very rare and serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of this toxic illness include shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, intermittent twitching or tremors, hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure, fever of up to 104F degrees, agitation, seizures, and renal failure. Left untreated, patients with this condition may go into shock or even die. There is presently no lab test for the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome.


• The FDA has issued an advisory on antidepressant medications and the increased risk of suicide; the FDA does not recommend that patients stop taking antidepressants, but they should be carefully monitored especially when beginning treatment or changing dosages. In medical studies, it has been found that 2-4% of patients being treated with SSRI's will experience an increase in suicidal thoughts.

Natural Options To Consider...

There is a natural alternative to SSRI's with fewer side-effects and complications. It is 5-Hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP. For many fibromyalgia sufferers battling depression symptoms, this may be a better, safer option than the standard SSRI treatment of fibromyalgia "drug-list". 5-HTP has been shown to increase the brain's natural serotonin production just like SSRI's, and patients report reduced anxiety, elevated mood and deeper more natural sleep while on this supplement. 5-HTP supplements are typically extracted from the seeds of the West African Griffonia simplicifolia plant, and can be found at herb and vitamin reseller establishments and online.

Another part of the natural treatment for fibromyalgia-depression and other symptoms is through eating an improved diet. Nutritional supplements that build up the general health of the fibromyalgia sufferer can reduce and even eliminate symptoms including the pain, fatigue, brain fog, and sleep problems. By allowing the body to rebuild from the inside out, the need for medication can be greatly reduced. And only few industry insiders even know about the powerful effects of cellular nutrition on disease. For more information on natural treatments of fibromyalgia, contact me now by clicking on one of the links below.

Are Poems About Death Actually Poems About Life? Heaven Is Like a Rainbow

When a loved one dies, it seems like the world is about to end. It doesn't matter if that person is a parent, a spouse, a child, or a close friend - the grief of your loved one's sudden departure hits you like a ton of bricks.

Death seems so final. Is there any way to recover your peace of mind, without falling into a dark pit of depression and sadness?

Yes. You and the ones close to you can have peace of mind. That's when the power of sympathy messages becomes the most important.

The Power of Sympathy Messages

Many sympathy messages are wrapped up in poems about death. Poems about death that are inspirational poems can help the grieving process during funerals and dealing with loss of a loved one. You can go beyond saying, "My condolences" to express your sympathy at this difficult time.

At this difficult time, give angel poems, grief poems, condolence messages, and sympathy messages that provide grief support to loved ones who are coping with death.

How to Transform Coping with Death

Coping with death first happens at a funeral. If you are involved with planning the funeral services, make time to find sympathy poems that offer a hopeful message. Poems about life after death and heaven help ease the grieving process.

Why do these poems ease the grieving process? You can ease a person's grief by providing the opposite, words of comfort and words of hope. Funeral readings with these poems can help all those who came to share their love and support.

But what about after the funeral? Does grief and loss linger?

The truth is: grief and loss don't disappear overnight. People miss their loved ones. Their loved ones are no longer physically there. Only their pictures, letters, and personal possessions remain. How do you share your words of condolence as a compassionate friend?

Poems about death that turn into poems about life can reinforce your words of condolence. A letter of sympathy, sympathy quotes and memorial poems can be shared weeks, months and years after a loved one has died. Many people want to be assured their loved ones are still alive, at peace and happy.

What You Can Do

Yes, you can do something to help. This is when you can help a lot. If you or a friend is bereaved, words of comfort, added to poems about life and heaven, can help them more than you can imagine. Having a special poem, with a message and picture of hope, is a dear treasure that can dispel depression and sadness.

What better thing can you do to comfort yourself or a grieving friend, that to express your words of comfort with a poem about life when death happens.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder - Hints About Self Diagnoses

You can suffer from bipolar disorder your entire life and you'd never know it. As a matter of fact, a lot of people who lived in the past had no clue that the condition existed so they never got it diagnosed and treated. You should know that a good number of bipolar disorder patients end up committing suicide when the syndrome got a hold of them. Sincerely, if there is even a mild chance that you can have the disease, you want to get it diagnosed in a hurry. Even if you cannot drag yourself to a shrink just yet, you should at least begin with a self-diagnosis.

Self-diagnosing for bipolar disorder is not an easy thing to achieve, especially since you are not usually able to catch yourself before you slip either into a manic or depressive episode. However, it is not an impossible thing to do. You do have your 'normal' spells during which you are neither suffering from mania or depression. Those are the times you should look forward to catching first.

Men often catch a mania first before other symptoms of bipolar disorder set in. For women, the first phase of bipolar disorder that they suffer from is the depressive phase. As such, you should be able to know which you should expect to happen to you first. It will help also if you recruit your closest friend to take a closer look at you while it is on.

When manic, you may suddenly begin to find yourself irritable and short with your friends. All of a sudden, for no reason at all, you may find that you are speaking too rapidly about one thing and then about another, never able to settle long enough on any one thing. When in the manic phase of bipolar disorder, you feel too self-important and capable of doing anything at all, your energy is so much that you are not able to settle down or sleep. You may feel like you want to head out to Vegas or just take flight trips all over the country, wasting money unreasonably.

Top 10 Signs of Early Pregnancy

Early signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and even pregnancy to pregnancy. If you're particularly tuned in to your body's rhythms, you may begin to suspect you're pregnant soon after conception.

Are You Pregnant?

Most women won't experience any early signs of pregnancy until the fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall, on average six to twelve days after ovulation. Other women may notice no signs of pregnancy until a delayed or missed menstrual cycle, one of the most pronounced and significant symptoms of pregnancy.

Whether you're trying to get pregnant, or trying not to, it's important to understand indicators of pregnancy because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy.

Below is a list of some of the most common first signs of pregnancy - some of which may occur before a home pregnancy test can be used - letting you know that you may be on your way to becoming a mother. You may experience all, some, or none of these signs that you could be prego:

Food Cravings

Admittedly it's a clich矇, but food cravings sometimes can be early signs of pregnancy. Don't rely on a hankering for pickles and ice cream as a sure symptom of pregnancy - it may be all in your head, or even a sign that your body is deficient in certain nutrients - however, if cravings are accompanied by some of the other symptoms on this list, it could mean that you might be eating for two.

What else it could mean: Poor diet, nutritional deficiency, stress, depression, or impending menstruation.

Darkening of Your Areolas

If the skin around your nipples darkens, you may be pregnant, though this may also mark a hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or be a leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.

What else it could mean: Hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or may be a leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.

Light Bleeding or Cramping

Implantation bleeding can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy when, about six to twelve days after conception, the embryo burrows into the uterine wall. As a result of this, some women will experience implantation spotting - a slight staining of a pink or brown color - as well as some cramping.

You might mistake implantation bleeding for a very light period, as spotting can occur around the time you expect your period.

What else it could mean: Actual menstruation, altered menstruation, changes in birth control pill, infection, or abrasion from intercourse.

Frequent Urination

Once the embryo implants and begins producing the pregnancy-sustaining hormone secreted by the embryo soon after conception (usually around six to eight weeks after conception) you may find yourself running to the bathroom more often.

What else it could mean: Urinary tract infection, diabetes, increasing liquid intake, or taking excessive diuretics.

Fatigue

Feeling drowsy? No, make that absolutely wiped. High levels of the hormone progesterone experienced during pregnancy can make you feel as if you've run a marathon when all you've done is put in a normal day's work. This hallmark of early pregnancy can appear as soon as the first week after conception (before a positive pregnancy test can be performed), but don't necessarily assume you're pregnant just because you're feeling exhausted.

What else it could mean: Stress, exhaustion, depression, common cold or flu, or other illnesses can also leave you feeling drained.

Tender, Swollen Breasts

If you're pregnant, your breasts will probably become fuller and increasingly tender to the touch, similar to the way they may feel before your period, but more pronounced. These changes may begin as early as one to two weeks after conception.

What else it could mean: Hormonal imbalance, birth control pills, impending menstruation (PMS) can also cause your breasts to swell and become more sensitive.

Nausea

As early as a couple of days following conception, you may begin feeling nauseated and queasy; it will often show up between two to eight weeks after conception. Despite the common name of this well-known sign of pregnancy (morning sickness) it doesn't only kick in during the morning hours: pregnancy-related nausea can be present any time of day or night.

If you're lucky, morning sickness won't hit you until a few weeks after conception, and some women are lucky enough to escape it altogether.

What else it could mean: Food poisoning, stress, or other stomach disorders can also cause you to feel queasy.

Backaches and Headaches

Lower backaches and headaches may appear as early signs of pregnancy as a result of the sudden rise of hormones.

What else it could mean: Impending menstruation, stress, back problems, and physical or mental strains, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, eye strain.

A Missed or Different Period

When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed, and a missing period is often one of the first signs of pregnancy experienced by women. Many women experience bleeding while they are pregnant, but usually the bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period. If you have been sexually active, are late and usually experience clockwork visits from Aunt Flo, it's worth trying a pregnancy test.

What else it could mean: Excessive weight gain/loss, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, tension, stress, stopping birth control pill, or breast-feeding.

A Positive Pregnancy Test

A positive pregnancy test is the most definitive sign that you're in the family way. Home (urine) pregnancy tests are available at most drug stores; there are early home pregnancy tests such as E.P.T Digital Early Pregnancy Tests, which can give results as early as five days before a missed period, as well as traditional home pregnancy tests which recommend waiting to test until at least the first date of a missed period to ensure that adequate amounts of pregnancy hormone.

Symptoms of Depression - Recognizing Them

It's almost certainly a reality that everyone has at a moment or two felt depressed like being gloomy or upset. Even those who constantly seem to be happy and smiling do get these signs. Bu this does not necessarily mean that they are afflicted with the actual clinical malady. The real indications of depression have to be understood properly, diagnosed and treated properly.

The warning signs of depression are somewhat similar to other forms of emotional suffering. The disparity is that the other forms can be pinned down to a specific problem, like the grieving over someone's passing away, which may cause one to be upset or sad and be depressed for a long time. These signs tend to go away and can not be considered to be the real signs of depression unless they last for more than a year or so and does severely hamper their everyday work. Grieving over the loss of a near and dear one is only normal and can be expected and can last even a lifetime as long as it does not get so crushing that it affects their work and their relationship with others as time goes by. If so it is serious.

The symptoms of depression can be gauged by the intensity of one's sadness and the constancy of it. Even a bad day can cause a severe case of blues for just about any and everyone, but a good night's sleep or quality time spent with family or friends can dispel it away the next morning. Even inclement weather effects some people sometimes, but once the bad weather is over the person gingers up and is back to his own self. But when this "blue" feeling gets bad and the apparent symptoms of depression last for an uncommon length of time, then they become the true symptoms of depression. Clear clinical depression can be identified with a feeling of emptiness, a loss of purpose in life, even hobbies and other activities once enjoyed seem dull, and also in finding it difficult to relate with friends and family. It does not always lead to suicide but to a lack of self respect. The indications of depression differ from one person to another but in common they are apt to dislocate normal life. While "Monday Blues" is a common occurrence, for these depressed people, it is always the blues, even getting out of bed.

You should realize that it is time to consult your physician the moment you find out that your symptoms of depression are getting out off hand so far as to interfere with your work or life or if you are falling back in your responsibilities to your family. If left untreated, the signs of depression become worse and will come to a head at such time that it will be extremely difficult for even medical help to be of any use. If you feel that you are having symptoms of depression, talk it over with your family physician and get the help you richly deserve.

PMS Depression Information

The latest PMS depression information indicates that a woman's serotonin levels may be lower in the two weeks preceding her period. Doctors often prescribe antidepressants for these symptoms. There are natural herbs for PMS that may relieve mild to moderate symptoms of depression, but these should not be used in conjunction with prescription antidepressants, unless you are under a doctor's supervision.

Depression is a very serious condition, but is not always recognized as such. The World Health Organization estimates that 5-10% of the population is suffering from depression at any given moment. The life-time risk of developing depression is higher for women than men. Many believe that changing hormonal levels related to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and the menstrual cycle account for the increased incidence of depression among women. However, there is no clear understanding of the roles that hormones play in mood disorders such as depression. There are only theories.

The latest PMS depression information indicates that during premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe form of PMS affecting about 10% of all menstruating women, levels of serotonin circulating in the blood stream are lower than normal. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, meaning that it helps to transmit signals between nerve endings in the brain and body. It is believed to be important in regulating mood, appetite and sleep cycles. It is known that those who suffer from depression have low levels of serotonin in the brain.

While the most commonly recommended natural herbs for PMS may not address the issues of depression, mood and serotonin levels, a natural product created from the seeds of an African plant contain a component that is called a serotonin precursor. This is a natural compound that the body can use to create serotonin. The compound is called 5-HTP and is available in the form of dietary supplements, though not commonly found in discount stores and pharmacies.

Some health supplement companies use 5-HTP combined with other natural herbs for PMS symptoms to achieve the greatest relief. Black cohosh, chasteberry, sarsaparilla and red clover are examples of herbs that may be combined with 5-HTP to relieve most, if not all of the symptoms associated with PMS, including depression.

PMS depression information from doctors indicates that diagnosis is made based on the time of the month that a woman has symptoms. The symptoms of depression include unexplained sadness, tearfulness and loss of interest in hobbies or other enjoyable activities. Sleep problems are often present and in the worst cases, women may have thoughts of suicide. If these symptoms occur in the two weeks leading up to the menstrual period and then are relieved during the first couple of days of menstruation, then they are probably caused by changing hormonal levels associated with PMS.

When symptoms of depression are present throughout the month and seem to be unrelated to the menstrual cycle, then it is not PMS depression. Information supplied by researchers at the Department of Public Health in Italy indicates that women with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder have higher than normal concentrations of progesterone and cortisol (a stress hormone), as well as increased levels of other neuroactive steroids during the two weeks preceding menstruation. This could mean that women who are suffering from another form of depression could experience worsening symptoms during the weeks leading up to her period.

Natural herbs for PMS relief are not believed to interfere with performance of prescription medications. However, use of 5-HTP and a prescription antidepressant, could lead to serotonin toxicity or poisoning. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Check with your doctor for more PMS depression information. If you are not currently taking a prescription antidepressant then a dietary supplement like 5-HTP can help.

Depression Vitamins & Supplements Other Than SAMe

St. John's Wort and SAMe are two of the most popular natural supplements used to combat depression. Before trying these two herbal remedies, I would suggest trying a good B-Complex (quality makes all the difference) and Citicoline. St. John's Wort and SAMe are not suitable for those with bipolar. People run the risk of becoming bipolar on St. John's Wort and SAMe, although it may work for others without any adverse effects. Good for short term usage to lift people out of deep depression, but long term usage may promote instability. They are best taken infrequently, on a need to basis.

Supplements for Depression

1) B-Complex

Details: B-Vitamins are needed for proper brain functioning and regulating nervous system.

Coenzymated B-Vitamins: Gentler on the stomach. Cause less indigestion. More readily processed by the body than Non-coenzymated.

Product: Jarrow B-Right $9 online

2) Citicoline

Details: Helps rebuild grey matter. Increases mental alertness.

Product: Jarrow Citicoline, Cognizin CDP $18 online

3) Niacin B-3 (Caution)

Details: Increases blood circulation. Used to treat Arthritis, Cholesterol, Anxiety, Depression, Bi-polar, Dementia, and other Mental Illness. Produces temporary skin reddening which is beneficial to health. $3-$9 online

Cons: Stomach Upset -Take with Food containing Protein. Hives or Hot Flash Skin Reaction: "Niacin Flush". Within minutes to a few hours the skin will become red and itchy (some people may experience an annoying, intense itching, while others may have a milder more enjoyable reaction). Lasts 30 minutes to more than 2 hours, depending on individual and dosage. Redness or "Niacin Flush" will eventually subside. It is recommended that people start with 25 mg. At 25 mg you may not receive any "flushing", and increase to 50-100 mg depending on their needs. 200mg to lower cholesterol. 100-1000mg 1-3 times daily for mental and physical illness.

Warnings: Do not take Niacin if you have kidney problems. When taking any single B-Vitamin, must take B-Complex.

4) Amino Acid Balance

Details: Contains Amino Acids, the building blocks of protein. Can be taken sublingually under tongue if bought in Crystalline Powder Form. Helpful for those who are malnourished or recovering from addictions or eating disorders suffering from depression.

Product: Anabol Naturals Amino Acid Balance. $15-$55 online

Other Helpful Supplements

1) DHA/EPA Balance

Details: Improves Brain, Skin, Cardiovascular Function.

Product: Jarrow EPA/DHA Balance $14-$24 online

2) Co Q10

Details: An antioxidant necessary for cell's energy production. Kaneka or Ubiquinol is a more expensive and bio-available form of Co Q10. People with depression are more likely to suffer from heart disease. Good for Heart Health, Lowers Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Parkinson's, Brain Booster, Gum Disease, Reduce Rx Medication Side Effects, Migraines, and Additional Benefits. Heart Health, Lowers Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Parkinson's, Brain Booster, Gum Disease, Reduce Rx Medication Side Effects, etc.

Cons: Expensive. $15-$50 online

3) Maca or Suma

Details: Milder/Gentler alternatives to Ginseng. Increases stamina and vitality.

Brands: Nature's Answer or Nature's Way $9-$12 online

OR

Supplement: Ginseng

Details: Increases stamina and vitality. $6-$10 online

Cons: Can cause headaches.

4) Dopa Mucuna

Details: Aids in Growth Hormones and has subtle effects on improving mood. Natural form of L-Dopa. B-Complex aids in absorption.

Cons: Can cause mania in high dosages. Mild Results.

5) SAMe or TMG

Details: SAMe helps improve mood. Aids in cartilage formation. Results are noticeable immediately. Very effective. TMG is a cheaper way for your body to make its own SAMe. Most people prefer SAMe over St. John's Wort. Can be taken on a need to basis if develop mania.

Cons: Not for those with bipolar. Even those who are not bipolar may experience mania or confusion with continued dosage.

Tips- Try to sleep before 11 pm in order to follow the body's own natural hormone regulatory system or Circadian Rhythms that corresponds with the hours of the day. Spend more time outdoors. Benefit from fresh air and natural light.

Note: I am not affiliated with any of the products I recommend. I do not get paid for my recommendations.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes, and does not dispense medical, legal or professional advice, or prescribe any treatment or strategy that should be tested without the advice of a professional. The author makes no claim about the validity of the statements made. Readers claim sole responsibility for the use of information obtained from this article.

Clinical Depression Symptoms - The Behavioral Patterns Of Clinical Depression

Identifying Clinical Depression

The reason it is so difficult to diagnose a person suffering from clinical depression is because a person does not behave in an abnormal manner, like maintaining long silences or not getting ready for the day. In fact, the person may not know that they are depressed, and so it is even more difficult for doctors to pinpoint that a person is in fact suffering from depression.

The main focus that doctors rely upon is to identify the cause. The brain holds the key as it sends messages through neurotransmitters which are in turn controlled by chemicals like Serotonin and Dopamine. These chemicals need to be produced in certain quantities - when this doesn't happen, then the neurotransmitters cannot work. This produces a chain reaction which affects a person's thought processes and finally depression sets in. In order to treat a person successfully, it is important to find out behavioral patterns, both past and present. Maybe the person does not want to meet people socially which he was doing in the past.

There could also be physical symptoms like a rise in blood pressure or a weight change.

Feelings Of Hopelessness

Other symptoms can affect the mind leading to feelings of hopelessness. Dark and negative thoughts frequent the mind and this exhibits itself in a person's behavior. They feel that life is not worth living. Everything seems worthless and there seems no joy, and there is nothing worthy to anticipate. They dwell on the errors they have committed and seem incapable of leading a normal life. If you are experiencing any of these feelings, then you are probably going through a bad phase of depression, but there is always help for you.

Sometimes a person can behave in a manner that exhibits fear and worry by dissolving into tears or being overly anxious. They may not want to join in any group functions or attend parties, and even if they do, they tend to withdraw into themselves and remain aloof. Or they may refuse to be drawn into any topic as they prefer to be by themselves. Talking tires them, and they feel their energy being depleted.

There are times when clinical depression manifests itself in very obvious signs like mania, and this definitely requires immediate treatment. If it is not treated, it could only worsen the situation and be a cause for alarm. If your mind is filled with dark and negative thoughts, and you blame yourself for all your mistakes, and do not want to spend time with those who are close to you like your own kith and kin and other friends, and if your body has undergone a change - maybe weight loss or if you suddenly have a medical condition, then you should visit your physician who will refer you to the right doctor who can evaluate your needs and help you accordingly.

Depression Among College Students - An Essay

Depression among college students, with a focus on Freshmen.

Who is at risk, and what can be done?

Graduation time rolls around, and you already know where you will end up next year for college. Your two best friends will be joining you there, where you will all live in the same apartment complex. You have already put your first payment, and deposit in preparation. Now you wait.

When the time comes around, you pack up and move thousands of miles just to go to college. You haven't heard from either of your friends yet, and you can feel the anticipation welling in your gut. You are so excited, you haven't heard from them all summer.
Then you find out they never came. Both decided on going to a different college without you, or telling you. You keep telling yourself you will cope, and make new friends, but you still feel lonely and rejected.
Once you are actually in college, things are harder than you expected. You don't have a car, so it is harder to get around buying food, finding a bank, and getting school supplies. Often times you find yourself taking naps, or just sleeping, because you can't focus, or feel overwhelmed. One of the many signs of depression.

Money is tight, and you don't have a job, because you can't find any job openings within walking distance, you are afraid to ride the bus, because it is such a big city, compared to the one you came from. You biggest fear is getting lost, and not being able to make it home.

You often times feel overwhelmed by homework and such. You can never do it quite good enough, and are often times to shy to ask for help, so you sit in silence, confused, and helpless, like a grain of sand on a beach. Not noticed and not much potential.

This is the story of a college freshman. Probably many. That guy who sits next to you in math class, struggling with theorems, or that girl in your chem. class, under pressure to learn her Periodic Table of Elements. Who ever it is, they are there.

Depression effects 76 out of a 100 college students. Mainly freshmen entering a new world so to speak. Often times you won't see it right away or not at all. This is an age group that's tricky, states a psychologist at Davidson College in North Carolina, DeWitt Crosby said, They are adults by law, but they're still dealing with making decisions on their own.

More attention is spent on alcohol consumption, and crimes among students, so that little energy or money is left for the awareness or the treatment of mental health. Often times the only funding is for counselors who will perform â scattershot therapy. They don't actually treat what is wrong, but try to cover many possibilities of what could be wrong within a short period of time.

USA TODAY states in a recent study 14% of the 701 students who took a survey in the Boston area showed significant symptoms of depression, and over half of them could qualify as having major depression. If treatment of the depression was sought, at least 80% would get better.

The National Survey of Counseling Center Directors reported an 85% increase in severe psychological problems over the past five years. Also 30% reported at least one student suicide on their campus within the last (2001/2002) school year.

A hard part in treating depression is recognizing it. Some major symptoms of depression as told by http://www.campusblues.com are as follows.

1. Sadness, anxiety, or empty feelings

2· Decreased energy, fatigue, being slowed down

3. Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities

4.· Sleep Disturbances (insomnia, oversleeping, or waking much earlier than usual)

5· Appetite and weight changes (either loss or gain)

6· Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness

7· Thoughts off death or suicide, or suicide attempts

8· Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering

9· Irritability or excessive crying

10 · Chronic aches and pains not explained by another physical condition

It's normal to have these feelings at one time or another, but five or more, for a two week or longer period is something to pay attention too. Also watch for changes in the way the person functions. The anxiety is normal in college, when you are studying for classes, or preparing to take a test, but when it rules your life, and they way you think and act is a time to seek help and gain control again.

Grad School Burnout - Mild Or Severe Depression, Anxiety and Stress Symptoms in Graduate Students

Education that is "a way of life" may create vulnerability

Grad school is a long haul educational enterprise. Many Doctoral programs last 5 to 7 years, on top of the five to six years typically required to get the BA and a Masters degrees which precede it. Students who aspire to graduate degrees usually have a history of dedicated scholarship which extends back into high school or even elementary school. For many Grad students education has literally been "a way of life"... sometimes the only way of life that is well known or familiar.

Linda Curci of the Caltech Counseling Center suggests that:

"Burnout is a process that happens gradually over time. It creeps up on a person through an accumulation of random minor negative thoughts, sporadic lost hopes, and a series of small disappointments in oneself. Burnout is a painful process that includes emotional exhaustion, a loss of pleasure in interpersonal relationships, and a diminished sense of self worth. Burnout is the result of trying too hard for too long in a situation where the odds are against meeting one's expectations. People who burn out are intelligent, dedicated people who have high expectations for themselves."

Grad school can be an emotional and psychological "trial by fire" and burnout tends to happen when you've been pushing too hard for too long and

The warning signs of burnout are:

• Loss of interest in or questioning the meaning of your studies and research.


• Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, a sense of being physically run down and emotionally flat


• Anger at those making demands


• Cynicism, negativity, and irritability


• A sense of being besieged


• Feelings of helplessness

From the point of view of a psychologist however, there is a bit more to be seen in some of the typical symptoms.

Perfectionism - As Curci suggests, one common area of difficulty lies in the impossibility of meeting expectations and all too often these exaggerated expectations are inner demands rather than outer ones.

Perfectionism, can create an inability to start or finish major tasks. Perfectionists are their own worst critics. Nothing is ever good enough and this constant self-criticism leads to paralysis or avoidance which sabotages progress.

Perfectionism is always a defense. Individuals with perfectionistic expectations hope, (wish), need, to protect themselves from all failure or criticism. This criticism which is imagined to be emanating from others is usually coming from within. This can create a vicious circle of fear-driven effort which no amount of external evidence of success ever seems to correct... if only because the possibility of failure cannot ever be reduced to zero.

Suffering in silence - Grad students are individuals who have accepted to put themselves under the yoke of a program of training. They have often given up or put aside valid needs and desires in the name of their studies. They have left countries, communities, families, and personal relationships to follow their studies and often set aside personal interests and pleasures to fulfill program requirements.

The pain and anger caused by these losses is real but because the demands have been undertaken "voluntarily," individuals often feel they have no right to complain... or to grieve. These strong and relevant feelings, when unacknowledged can eventually insist on being experienced psychologically and emerge as depression, or as anger and cynicism towards a program which has been responsible for so much pain.

Fear of graduation? Grad students, as noted above, are often individuals who have dedicated themselves for most of their young adult life to a particular academic world. As the end of a program of study comes into sight questions may arise about how to live in the real world. A whole different set of competencies may be felt, frighteningly, to be lacking.

Supervisory strain - While Grad school programs are often well organized to support academic development, supervisors vary in their ability to be helpful with the more personal challenges of their students. In fact if the interpersonal relationship is not optimum the supervisory relationship may even be an additional stressor.

Ill-Health and Computer crashes... The psyche's hardware and software solutions to stress - Even when the strain of grad school is not extreme enough to create a full-scale burnout, it may manifest itself in chronic or minor health problems, particularly those which are significantly related to stress such as headaches, migraines, stomach problems, asthma, sleep difficulties...and if it's not you getting sick, maybe it will be your computer...

Strategically timed computer crashes can be caused by inattention and neglect as the over-stressed psyche looks for ways to create time out.

Cumulative strains - Even if you have been sailing through Grad school for the most part without excessive perfectionism or personal sacrifices, the long term stress of grad school may interact cumulatively with other stressful events such as unavoidable major losses or personal setbacks and funding crises to throw even the most balanced student over the edge into depression or burn-out

Leading a whole human life - The world needs the passion and enthusiasm of those individuals who are willing to push forward into the highest levels of knowledge in their domains, to broaden and deepen what we think and know. It is a loss to us all if students burn out or drop out in despair after such significant investments in their studies.

But the excessive and exclusive focus on their values as scholars may lead Grad students to neglect other aspects of their humanity. Often what is most needed is compassionate and encouraging human contact and reassurance that they are valuable and valued in the world as individuals outside of their studies.

Some general notes on depression

Common signs and symptoms of depression include:

• a persistent sad or "empty" mood


• loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed


• loss of appetite or weight loss


• sleep problems


• fatigue, despite adequate sleep


• feelings of pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness


• indecisiveness, difficulty concentrating


• psychomotor slowing or agitation


• thoughts of wanting to escape, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts

At its extreme end depression can become so severe that it can create suicidal feelings or thoughts. If you experience suicidal thoughts or feelings, it is very important to:

• Make taking care of yourself your top priority.


• Talk about these thoughts with someone. Don't suffer in silence.


• Contact your institution's counseling center for an assessment or referral to community or other mental health services.

If these symptoms seem all too familiar, you might like to take an on-line depression screening test or contact your counseling center or a mental health professional for an assessment.

References:

Linda Curci, (Caltech Counseling Center) http://www.counseling.caltech.edu/InfoandResources/StressBurnout

Buy Investment Diamonds

When it comes to terms of investment for gemstones, diamonds are perhaps one of the best. There is a steady increase in diamond prices since the depression unlike copper, silver or gold and even other commodities. As with any other investments, investing in gems also has weaknesses; it is therefore important to learn how to purchase investment diamonds.

We strongly recommend you check out Diamond Ring Brands For our complete guide to different diamond brands on the market.

Whether investing in gems is good or bad is out of the question. The aim of this post is to know how to invest on diamonds that will yield the best results.

• It is improbable that you can make a direct purchase from the Diamond Trading Company (DTC); the best option is to buy from a diamond wholesaler since it is the closest to the source; as much as possible, stay away from retailers.

• D color, IF clarity and other high quality gems may make good investments when looking from the "dollar" perspective; however, they have low liquidity. Lower quality gems are generally easier to sell, like those that fall under H color range and VS2 clarity; therefore they reduce the low liquidity of the gems. It is important to note that for short term investments, diamonds are not very good.

• If a diamond is greater than 1 carat, it is generally a better investment diamond. Diamond carat is an important factor when it comes to investment diamonds but most often it is overlooked. The reason for this is that over time, a full carat 1.0 shows greater price appreciation than a 0.98 carat.

• Buy only diamonds that have grading reports from well recognized labs like GIA, IGI and AGS. This will guarantee the quality of your diamonds; therefore if you must sell them as investment diamonds later on, you can negotiate a good price.

• Diamond cut is another essential factor in investment diamonds. Princess cut diamonds have increased in popularity resulting in a remarkable increase in its price; on the other hand because some other types of cuts are going out of fashion, their prices are falling. What remains stable is the Round Brilliant cut, which is why more investors favor it.

The best investment stones are those which have very high value per unit weight. There is no problem with transport and shipping because of this. One good reason was the launching in 2009 of DODAQ (Dealers Organization for Diamond Automated Quotes) for polished diamonds by Dutch Bank ABN Amro.

Lack of terminal market is one of the major issues of the diamond industry, and DODAQ has solved it. Also, the DeBeers announced the scaling down of their production because of the new diamond mines coming online; this might increase the prices of diamonds in the future. Therefore, now is the best time to learn how to purchase investment diamonds and to invest in them as well