The Common Cold of Mental Illnesses: Depression

We all have been happy and sad at some point in our life but it's important to realize the difference between mood changes that are normal and those that are extreme. The list of disorders is a lengthy one, with depression ranking as one of the most common. I'm sure you've heard more than once someone saying that they are depressed, and usually what they are describing are their current emotions, not necessarily depression as defined from a clinical standpoint. Sadness, anxiety and any other negative emotion can cause a person to enter a depressed state. Such feelings are most likely followed after a traumatic event such as death in the family, the end of a relationship and/or the loss of a job. Although it is only normal to feel sadness after a painful event, gradually and over time those feelings work themselves out, and mood stability is restored; unfortunately, that is just not the case for everyone. Depression comes in several forms and DSM-IV-TR (diagnostic manual) recognizes two categories: Major depression and dysthymic disorder.

Depression is a very sad state to be in, not only because you feel constantly sad but also because everything around you falls apart. Relationships get destroyed, families fall apart and the world is constantly moving but you are stuck in one place unable to do anything but sit and wonder what's next. The inability to function normally and the frustration inside leads many people to have suicidal thoughts which many peruse. One of my close friends got out of a relationship with her boyfriend of 2 years and she became every depressed. She had difficulty sleeping, ate every little, lost interest in everything around her, lost her job and ended up taking pills to try and catch some sleep. After a year she was finally able to get her life on track and catch up with the rest of the world. If you feel depressed and unable to function after a very sad event, that's only normal but if your depression last more than 3 months that when action should be taken.

Major depression VS Dysthymic disorder

Many people wonder how psychologist determine whether or not we are depressed and if so how severely; let's begin by further explaining major depression.

The diagnosis for major depression requires that the individual experiences either depressed mood or loss of interest in daily activities, work, friendships, relationships; in other word struggling every day in easy to do activities. Also, aside from the above listed, the individual must experience at least four other symptoms of depression. In order to be qualified as legitimate symptoms, they have to be severe enough to interfere with the person's ability to function in everyday life. Dysthymic disorder is a less severe form of depression, the only difference being it is also chronic.To be diagnosed with dysthymic disorder an individual has to experience at least two other symptoms of depression, while at the same time experiencing a depressed mood. As I mentioned before, dysthymic disorder is chronic, and because of that, in order to be diagnosed you must experience the aforementioned symptoms for at least two years. During these two years the person must have ongoing symptoms of depression, and never have been without them for more than two months. An interesting case arises when both disorders are diagnosed in the same patient at the same time. Although the individual will be in the dysthymic mood most of the time, they will also have times when they fall into a major depression. However, even if the major depression episodes will eventually fade away, the individual will still continue to have mild depression, which falls into the category of dysthymic.Moreover, the individual will never return into a normal/stable state of mood.

Symptoms of major depression and dysmthymic disorder

1. Feeling intense hopelessness


2. Low self esteem


3. Worthlessness


4. Extreme fatigue


5. Dramatic changes in sleeping and eating


6. Loss of interest


7. Suicidal thoughts

Gender and Depression

According to Twenge & Nolen-Heksema 2002, the rates of depression in girls escalates dramatically over the course of puberty, while those of boys do not. It should come as no surprise that girls are more prone to depression than boys. During the adolescence years, girls more than boys are becoming aware of their body. Of course, the most obvious role models girls look up to are those representing the fashion industry. Girls will do anything to look just like their favorite super model. This is what leads thirteen year old girls to significantly higher levels of depression than boys. As I mentioned in my previews blog post "The Veil Of Modeling" "The flawless skin, the "perfect" hair, the bright white smile and the rosy lips make us envy them as we tried so hard to be just like them. When we hit our teenage years, as we become more aware of our body we start to dislike what we see on us, because we look quite different from that prefect girl featured on those ad's and posters." Body dissatisfaction and appearance is closely related to low self esteem, which make depression more likely to surface. When it comes to boys, they don't usually pay as much attention to their physical traits as girls do. In fact, boys tend to like the changes their bodies undergo, as they favor the increase in muscle mass and the associated pubertal changes.

The science

Communication system is essential to all of the brain's functions as the neurons are communicating with each other by exchanging neurotransmitters. Depression is characterized by the imbalance between the three neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin and norepinephrine regulate many important physiological functions such as mood, sleep, eating, and sexual behavior; once this chemicals are decreased than people are prone to depression. When the serotonin molecules are released to the synaptic junction for the other neuron to receive the message, many of them get destroyed in the synaptic junction because the other neuron doesn't absorb message sent by the other neuron. Due to the lack of passing on the message to the other neurons, the emotion will be lost.

Getting better...

There are two major types of therapy, biochemical and psychological. Biochemical treatments involve drugs that will help stabilize the neurotransmitter imbalance, primarily with serotonin and norepinephrine activity. Antidepressants are the most common medication used to treat depression as they help ease these imbalances. Psychological therapy involves psychoanalysis, or what we call today the "talk therapies". The licensed psychologist has sessions with the person who suffers from the disorder as they discuss the problem and the ways of overcoming it. Use of biochemical and psychological treatments have proven to be more effective when combined together. The patient takes medication to restore the chemical balance in their brain, all while seeing a therapist at the same time, to talk things out so the patient is not overwhelmed with different emotions and the mind equilibrium is kept.

How to Help the Elderly With Depression

As our parents age, we watch them lose their health, their friends and abilities. We may wonder or think that our aging parents or an elderly friend may be depressed but you may not be sure and if they were depressed, what would you do?

After writing several articles and a book on depression in the elderly, I wanted to bring this very important issue out into the light. To often are our senior adults not diagnosed when depression occurs, let alone corrective measures taken.

The following will give you the key facts and ideas on ways to identify the possible causes and treatments of depression, so your aging parent can again live a quality life.

Risk Factors for Depression in the Elderly:

Being female
Having a family history of depression
Being unmarried, especially widowed
Lack of supportive social network - family, friends, caregivers
Stressful life events - such as moving, loss of someone, etc.
Physical conditions like; stroke, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and dementia
Certain medicines or combinations of medications
Fear of death
Damage to body image. This can be an actual physical loss such as a foot due to diabetes or loss of eye sight. But often it is the personal view of not being able to get around easily anymore, hand shaking making doing things difficult, loss of strength, loss of being perceived as attractive or handsome. Changes in skin, hair color, loss of teeth, loss of hearing, loss of some memory or conversational skill.
Past suicide attempt
Substance abuse
Previous history of depression
Living alone
Social isolation
Lack of interest in personal care (skipping meals, forgetting medications, neglecting personal hygiene)

Possible Causes of Depression:

Life changes, such as death of a spouse, moving from their home to another place, etc.
Being alone and without a strong support system
Medical problems
Losses: loss of independence, loss of mobility, health, career, can no longer do a hobby once enjoyed or other interest.
Loneliness and isolation from dwindling social circle due to deaths or relocations.
Decrease mobility due to illness or loss of driving privileges.
Reduced sense of purpose - a person still needs to feel that they are contributing and needed.
Health problems such as illness or disability, chronic and severe pain, cognitive decline, damage to the body image due to surgery or disease.
Fears - fear of death or dying, anxiety over financial problems (real or perceived) or health issues.
Medications can trigger or exacerbate depression.
Death of a long term spouse or partner is severely traumatic.
Frustration with memory loss
Changes within the family - it could be the death of a sister or brother, a child, an adult child, etc.
Moving to a new home and not adapting to it.
Drugs and substance abuse - this is more of problem than most people realize.
Frequent stomachaches or headaches.
Tired and sluggish - tired of feeling like this.

Treatment for Depression in the Elderly:

Self-help Options May Include (a family member, friend or caregiver can help):

o Getting out into the world - Try not to stay cooped up at home all day. Go to the park, take a trip to the hairdresser, or have lunch with a friend.
o Connecting to others - Limit the time you're alone. If you can't get out to socialize, invite loved ones to visit you, or keep in touch over the phone or email.
o Participating in activities you enjoy - Pursue whatever hobbies or pastimes bring or used to bring you joy.
o Volunteering your time - Helping others is one of the best ways to feel better about yourself and regain perspective.
o Taking care of a pet - Get a pet to keep you company.
o Learning a new skill - Pick something that you've always wanted to learn, or that sparks your imagination and creativity.
o Enjoying jokes and stories - Laughter provides a mood boost, so swap humorous stories and jokes with your loved ones, watch a comedy, or read a funny book.
o Maintaining a healthy diet - Avoid eating too much sugar and junk food. Choose healthy foods that provide nourishment and energy, and take a daily multivitamin.
o Exercising - Even if you're ill, frail, or disabled, there are many safe exercises you can do to build your strength and boost your mood-even from a chair or wheelchair
o Emotional support with patience and compassion. Don't criticize feelings that are expressed.
o Someone to go to doctor appointment with and to help advocate.
o Someone to make sure appointments are kept, that medications are taken, that doctor's recommendations are followed and that a healthy diet is consumed.

Traditional Medical Treatment Options (not all inclusive and seek professional advice):

* Prescription medications, such as SSRIs
* Cognitive Counseling
* Support Groups
* Supportive Counseling; includes religious and peer counseling
* Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Natural Treatment Options (not all inclusive and seek professional advice):

- St. John's Wart - cannot be taken with anti-depressants
- 5-HTP - cannot be taken with anti-depressants
- SAMe - can be taken alone or with anti-depressants to lower the dosage required.
- Increase Omega-3 in diet
- Take a quality multi-vitamin
- Self-talk programs that are listened to in the back ground and can be used to help in a variety of areas beside depression. They help you 'talk' to yourself in a more positive manner. You can even listen to them while you sleep.
- Keep a Mood Diary and look at what and when you have moments of depression or symptoms of sadness and why.
- Magnetic Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Aroma Therapy
- Color Therapy
- Homeopathy
- Health Touch and Therapeutic Touch
- Different types of Energy Medicine

If you suspect your loved one is depressed and would benefit from some form of treatment, see a professional to evaluate the severity of the depression and to make sure it is depression and not a medical reason causing depression and to determine which is the best form of treatment. There are several senior adult information websites that can give you some information but The Practical Expert is the only coaching specialist on elderly parent issues. Getting some assistance, from whatever professional source, can make the process of dealing with a depressed elderly person easier, less time consuming and be more likely to bring about a positive outcome.

Depression in the elderly is severely under diagnosed and useful information is not that readily available to help caregivers and family members in order to be helpful. That has now changed, just because you have read this article, you can now help a senior adult live a fuller life.

(As with all health products and making any changes to your usual health care regiment, check with your doctor first. Natural supplement products and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The provided information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)

Why Attaining Happiness is So Elusive, Part 4

This is the fourth article of the series reviewing The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt. I want to share with you my take on two notions that we do not normally associate with happiness. The first notion is adversity or stress and the second is virtue or being a good person. I have been very fortunate in my life, but I have also faced many setbacks, to say the least, in my more than 60 years. Furthermore, as a Christian, I try to live a virtuous life. So I was very curious about what insights and recommendations Haidt had to offer here regarding happiness.

Let us look back briefly at what I talked about in the third article. I described four thought-provoking concepts: the Progress principle, the Adaptation principle, the Happiness formula, and the term "finding flow." I also examined the differences between pleasure and gratification, do and have, and passionate love and companion love. I saw each of these concepts and differences reflected in my own life in one way or another.

What fascinates me in the work of Haidt is that he is constantly contrasting ideas. For me this quality of seeing subtle and different meanings is the hallmark of a knowledgeable and reflective person. This quality of seeing shades of meanings is something that I greatly admire in my colleague, Dr. Fred Horowitz at happiness-after-midlife.com. He is constantly making what he calls "distinctions," which allows him to see what others do not see. Take for example astronomers. When he looks at the sky at night, what he sees and what astronomers see are vastly different. Astronomers have many more distinctions than he has, which gives them more power in that domain than he has. So the more distinctions you or I have in a domain (business, music, sports, and so on) the more power we have and the more effective we are.

In this article I look at what Haidt terms the Adversity hypothesis described as the need to overcome setbacks in order to grow. He also presents the Virtue hypothesis, the need to practice virtue in order to be happy. Drawing on scientific research, he contrasts post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post traumatic growth. He also distinguishes between virtue and moral reasoning. Will knowing these things make any difference in my life? The proverbial answer is of course "it depends," depending on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, whether you are open-minded or cynical, according to Haidt.

Haidt quotes Neitszche who once said, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." Good quote, but to what degree is it true? It is well known that soldiers returning from war suffer greatly from PTSD. In addition, we know that excessive stress in daily life can cause depression, anxiety and heart disease. On the other hand, we know that people can profit greatly from stress and setbacks. In my own case, losing an important job at a publishing company was initially stressful, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It forced me to reinvent myself.

Are adversity and suffering necessary for maximum human development?

Haidt distinguishes between a weak version and a strong version of the Adversity hypothesis. Scientific research over the last 15 years shows that people can be quite resilient in the face of severe stress. They can discover hidden abilities; they can relate to others more meaningfully; and they can change practices and philosophies towards the present. A challenging experience could lead to joy and self-improvement.

While I was completing my doctorate, I was faced with a traumatic situation when my father died. I felt incredible pain at his loss, even though I hardly knew him (he was in the Merchant Marine and was never home), but he was the most generous person in my life. I will forever be grateful to him and my mother. I recommitted myself to completing my doctorate and finished a year later.

On the other hand, the strong version of the Adversity hypothesis states that people must endure adversity to grow. Haidt quotes Marcel Proust: "We do not receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves..." Recent research supports the strong version. It takes suffering and pain to make you more open-minded, more compassionate and more capable of finding balance between your self and others.

However, for adversity to provide the most benefit some conditions are more favorable than others according to certain researchers. For example, those in their late teens or early 20s respond best to severe adversity. Also, optimists and those with the right social and psychological resources respond best to traumas. Furthermore, the adversity must not be too severe as to overcome the person entirely. I like to think that while each of us has been given the same "deck of cards", it is what we do with the cards that makes all the difference. Each of us has the power to create our lives in spite of the way we are "labeled."

Will cultivating virtue make you happy?

Haidt distinguishes between virtue and moral reasoning. He presents a fascinating tour of ancient wisdom for cultivating virtue. He explores the thinking of the ancient Egyptian Amenemope, Aristotle, Confucius, and Buddha, as well as the 13-week plan for virtuous living of a more recent wise man, Ben Franklin. He admires their "sophisticated understanding of moral psychology." So do I, particularly the approach of the Franklin who tried all his life to develop both personal virtues (temperance, order, resolution, frugality, moderation, industry, cleanliness and tranquility) and social virtues (silence, sincerity, justice, chastity and humility).

Haidt argues that we started getting it wrong with the rise of science and reason. Modern thinkers like Kant and Bentham made great contributions to social theory. However, their emphasis on logical reason in making moral decisions was a mistake.

Haidt recommends that we shift our attention back to character and virtue in being happy with our actions. He applauds the work of positive psychologists, such as Martin Seligman. He came up with a list of 24 character strengths, including curiosity, love of learning, integrity, humility, gratitude, humor to mention a few. By working on our strengths, we can cultivate Haidt calls the six main virtues: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

We must also look beyond ourselves. According to some researchers, altruistic people have depth and virtue to their character and gain happiness from their altruism. So the message for me is I must work on some of these ennobling strengths, not my weaknesses. I must also work on sharing myself with others. In so doing, I open myself to the possibility of being complete and fulfilled.

In Part 5 of the series, I'll look at what divinity and sacredness has to offer and what it means to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Scary Thrills Or Irrational Dread - Working With Fear and Anxiety

Many people enjoy getting scared with thrill rides, horror movies, bungee jumping, running in front of bulls. But what about dealing with unwanted terror? And can fear ever be useful for personal growth?

If you feel blocked from expressing your talents because of anxiety, there are many ways to help deal with it.

According to The National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is "a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope."

But when anxiety "becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder."

We may feel anxiety without any "real" threat, such as social anxiety and stage fright, for example. Unless you consider the reaction of a potential date or an audience to be threats. Maybe they are, in a sense.

We may experience many flavors of fear in living life. The idea is not to get shut down by those emotions.

Psychiatrist Judith Orloff, M.D. quotes the Tao te Ching: "Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe."

She thinks "Fear is the biggest energy thief there is. A master seducer and gigantic source of negative energy, fear shamelessly robs of us of everything good and powerful, preys on our vulnerabilities.

"Many people become mesmerized for a lifetime, letting negative attitudes seize control. Enough! Though some fears are intuitively protective but we can't let the irrational ones bamboozle us."

But fear can even be helpful, according to Robert Maurer, a UCLA clinical psychologist. After interviewing many successful writers and other creative people, and reviewing research studies, Dr. Maurer found the one ingredient that is "nearly indispensable" to the creative process is fear.

"Fear is good," he says. "As children, fear is a natural part of our lives, but as adults we view fear as a disease. It's not a disease. Children say they are afraid or scared, but adults use the clinical terms anxiety or depression.

"Your skill at being able to nourish yourself and give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them is your single greatest attribute as an artist and as a human being."

Philosopher and teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti affirmed, "What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it."

Some artists even welcome fear. Actor Sandra Bullock has commented, "I don't do anything anymore that feels safe. If it doesn't scare the crap out of you, then you're not doing the right thing."

But mostly we may learn to condemn or pathologize feelings, especially strong ones like fear and anxiety, and try to hide or shut them down.

Lesley Sword, of Gifted and Creative Services Australia, notes that "Speaking about and valuing our emotions can be very difficult to do in a society that values logical thinking and sees emotions as the opposite of rationality.

"However, if emotional intensity is seen by parents and presented positively to children as a strength, children can be helped to understand and value this gift. In this way emotionally intense children will be empowered to express their unique selves in the world and use their gifts and talents with confidence and joy."

That, of course, holds true for adults as well - gifted or not.

Anxiety, especially if it is strong enough to be considered a mood disorder, can deplete our confidence and joy, and keep us from developing our talents or living our lives fully.

So do whatever you can to free your mind and spirit from being clamped down by anxiety. Fortunately there are many therapies, self-help programs for meditation and stress management, lifestyle and nutritional approaches that can help relieve anxiety.

10 Serious Life Changing Effects of Untreated Teen Depression

Teen depression can have detrimental effects on your child's life. The first step to helping is to identify the difference between sadness and true depression. Interestingly, there are differences between teen depression and adult depression, which makes it a bit more difficult to tell when a teen is depressed.

Irritable or angry: this quite often is the most common result of depression and might play out as being grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated or experiencing frequent outbursts of anger.

Vague aches and pains: headaches, stomach aches and other such complaints that do not seem to have a physical or medical cause can indicate that your teen is depressed.

Sensitive to criticism: While some sensitivity to criticism can be normal, a teen who appears overly upset is likely suffering from depression. Depressed teens often have low self esteem and self worth, making them more sensitive to rejection and failure.

Withdrawal from friends: Teens are likely to maintain some friendships while staying actively involved with others when they are depressed. Adults, on the other hand, tend to withdraw completely from family, friends and acquaintances. One sign to watch is when your teen drops old friendships and starts up with an entirely new crowd, especially if the crowd has different views than your teen.

It is crucial that teen depression be treated early to prevent serious and perhaps permanent problems. Left untreated, depression can lead to these 10 outcomes.

1. Low self esteem, triggered by feelings of worthlessness, failure, and inferiority.

2. Eating disorders including bulimia, anorexia and binge eating.

3. Problems at school resulting from low energy and difficulty concentrating. Watch for low grades, poor attendance, and lack of patience to complete schoolwork.

4. Running away is one cry for help by teens who are depressed.

5. Substance abuse (alcohol and drugs)

6. Self injury including various kinds of self-mutilation such as burning, cutting, hair pulling are sure signs of depression.

7. Other addictions including computer games and Internet surfing as an escape mechanism.

8. Violence becomes predominant in some depressed teens, which is based in self-hatred and hatred of others that can lead to homicide.

9 Dangerous or reckless behavior covers such things as binge drinking, unsafe sex, reckless driving and other careless behaviors.

10. Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are exceptional cries for help. Depressed teens who think of suicide will make death-related comments and talk of killing themselves. It is imperative to get immediate help for any teen or talks of suicide or death wishes.

Depression, Panic Attacks and Kundalini Energy

Hectic lifestyles and a propensity towards diseases have given rise to cases of severe depression and panic attacks. While medicinal treatment as well as therapy is used mostly to alleviate the negative impacts and effects of these ailments, recent studies have shown that using the Indian concept of Kundalini healing can help to cure these psychological ailments permanently.

Let us begin by examining what the two interrelated illnesses of depression and anxiety signify. Studies have shown that panic attacks and accompanying depression are the most widespread psychological problems as they can manifest due to a number of reasons and can be triggered off by various factors that we encounter in daily life. Regular stressors such as traffic jams, financial worries and arguments can create a tendency towards these ailments.

According to medical data, people who are prone to anxiety have a core biological susceptibility that increases the risks. Anxiety follows a defined path. People develop a fear of a certain situation or encounter which causes them to have calamitous thoughts regarding the same. These negative thoughts continue to expand until the individual is rendered almost helpless by the fear.

Consequently, the individual tries to avoid that situation and over time, the avoidance actions as well as multiple physical symptoms of the stress become aggravated and develop into a chronic illness.

Anxiety is known to often be by accompanied by depression. Depression can be understood to be chronic levels of feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopelessness, distress and despair. The effects can cause a problem in every aspect of life, be it personal, social or professional.

The symptoms of anxiety and depression include trembling, sweating, heart palpitations, and dizziness. Breathing problems, stomach ailments and chest pains and discomfort too indicate the onset of an anxiety attack.

It is important to understand that the effects of anxiety disorders and depression, such as anger, disinterest, fear and despair also work to cause more of the same illness, thus transforming into both causes and effects.

The ailments form a vicious cycle and give rise to other lifestyle problems such as malnutrition, stress and inefficiency. Seeing as to how these illnesses can damage an individual's life in a variety of spheres, ranging from mental and emotional to social and professional, it is imperative to be able to cure them effectively.

As mentioned earlier, while medicines and therapy do help, the Kundalini form of treatment has gained much recognition and appreciation of late. While it is an extremely popular phenomenon, the method is still gaining recognition.

Let us study the concept and how it can be used to cure depression and anxiety related health issues. The term "Kundalini" is a Sanskrit word that can be literally translated to mean "coiled". It refers to a certain intuitive, subconscious, and often inherent life force that is visualized to lie coiled or curled at the base of the spine in one's body.

According to lore, the Kundalini force is to be visualized in the form of a sleeping serpent or a goddess that rests coiled at the base of the spine.

It is believed that this life force or power can be awakened as needed to combat various illnesses of the heart, mind, soul and body. By description, the Kundalini energy force is said to constitute a part of the "subtle body" covert, almost hidden components that one is not consciously aware of but can delve into, should the need arise.

It is believed that the Kundalini energy force falls into the category of bodily energy points such as the various Nadis (channels of energy) and the Chakras (the centers of energy) that are used in Yoga, Tantra, Chinese Acupuncture and other forms of alternate medicine and healing. The Chakras are all said to possess unique properties and special healing powers that can be used to overcome health problems and ensure a healthy and wholesome way of living.

The use of Kundalini techniques implies awakening this sleeping energy by the means of methods of breathing, physical exercises, chanting, visualization techniques and following a life of ascetics. The Kundalini energy is said to then travel upwards from the spine to the head, where it strengthens the mind by bringing in a state of psychological illumination and enlightenment.

Let us now study how Kundalini energy is to be used to cure depression and anxiety. It is believed that the depression is caused by confines or injured areas of the brain which could have been caused due to some arrested development.

These damaged areas are referred to as the Miasmas and it is believed that they have been caused due to some stressful factor and have been further augmented due to prolonged stress. One of the practices advised in order to be able to cure the depression is to spend significant amounts of time in the sun. It is believed that sunbathing along with sun gazing helps to lift the spirit, release the Kundalini energy and overcome the state of mental fugue that clouds the spirit and dampens hope.

Depression is also said to be caused by deficits in serotonergic levels and exhaustion of the noradrenalin adrenergic receptors. This also causes excess secretion of the hormone aldosterone which has sodium retaining properties, causing salt and fluid retain in the body. Regular exercises and intensive Yoga are to be practiced daily in natural environments in order to be able to overcome these effects of depression.

Greenery and fresh air are imperative during Yoga as they help to clear the mind and air the body, thus also lifting the spirit and battling negative thought processes.

It is said that this exercise serves as a form of movement therapy induces rehabilitation of the brain by creating new brain cells that form healthy neural connections and do away with the prior ailing ones.

This awakening of the Kundalini energy must be accompanied by a healthy and happy environment which comprises of strong emotional bonds of love, caring and mutual trust because a happy and content frame of mind is required before being able to tackle serious problems of the brain.

Nervous Child Symptoms Or Child Anxiety

Nervous child symptoms or - Child anxiety - can be common place, any child can experience them at some time during childhood regardless of circumstances, it could be either a "blip" or a serious disorder. the blip is only temporary and usually passes fairly quickly. Kids that experience an anxiety disorder will demonstrate symptoms and signs such as shyness,fear, and nervousness and they may find excuses not to visit places or people.

An infant or child that experiences fear from a sudden shock or scary (harmless) situation or a "monster" are easily comforted. In the case of children with phobias or anxiety disorders, this is not so simple.

As many as one in ten children can be affected ny anxiety disorders, stress, nervousness, phobias, and OCD. These disorders can be related to others such as eating problems, depression and Serious behavioral problems. Extensive study has proved that children or adolescents left to cope without proper help are far more likely to perform poorly at school or struggle to keep friends and often end up turning to substance abuse.

Thankfully, with the proper treatment your child can learn to cope and treat the symptoms of this cruel affliction and lead a normal life again.

Generalized anxiety disorder When a child has a GAD, they will worry excessively about a variety of things such as criticism, loved ones and home life, relationships and school. They may always seek reassurance.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is diagnosed after two weeks of feeling uneasy, unreality, general nervousness sweating, fidgeting and feelings of going mad for no apparent reason and then at least 30 days of worrying about panicking again.

Social anxiety disorder Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, brings fear and anxiety over situations and activities such as going somewhere new or even old, meeting strangers and having to be interviewed by a teacher or parent.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Children suffering post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD will have the symptoms after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic horrific event.

Separation anxiety disorder

Children between 18 months and three years old can experience SA, when it is normal to feel some anxiety when a parent leaves their side. Clever parenting skills can be used to their advantage here.

Specific phobias

A specific phobia is the irrational fear of a specific object or situation, maybe a spider, or a trip to the dentist, or maybe swimming. Others may include thunder, Monsters,the dark, heights, needles and medical procedures.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Has been seen in kids of a very young age but normally will surface approximately at ten years old. If in Girls then its usually during adolescence, but on the whole, boys will show signs of OCD before puberty. OCD is based on obsessions and the sufferer feels they must perform rituals and routines to try to aid their anxiety.

Symptoms and signs of Depression

Concentration levels can swing - Trouble at at school - Doesn't want to go to school - Self harming or worse thoughts - Frequent crying - Depression - swings in mood - changes in eating habits - Anger/Mood swings - Feeling worthless or restless - Withdrawing from friends and social life - Lack of energy - Low self worth.

Thankfully, with the proper treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy or "play therapy", your child can learn to cope and treat the symptoms of this cruel affliction and lead a normal life again.

Depression: A Comparison Between Men and Women

Men and women share similarities when it comes to the causes and symptom of depression, but there are still nuanced differences between the two. Appreciating these similarities and differences is not only important for the treatment outcome of each sex, but also in understanding and appreciating depression in the opposite sex and between spouses.

Depression is the most common psychological based disorder that affects people today. Depression can negatively affect a persons emotional, mental, social, and physical health and well-being. Depression sufferers are dominated by sad, negative and despairing moods, decreased self-esteem and confidence, lack of enjoyment in every day things, loss of interest, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Although everyone goes through moments where these symptoms are present in their life, for a depressed person, these feelings persist and they are unable to eliminate these bad feelings without therapeutical or pharmacological intervention.

Statistics show that among the general population, depression affects 10 to 20 percent of women and 5 to 12 percent of men. Among the adult population, depression affects 5 to 9 percent of women, and 2 to 3 percent of men. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 2.5 percent of children and 8.3 percent adolescents also suffer from depression. Unfortunately, a large portion of the population affected by depression remains undiagnosed and untreated.

Knowing the causes of depression can help prevent this illness and steer depression sufferers towards treatment. Depression causes that are the most common for both sexes include:

• Genetic vulnerability


• Chemical changes in the brain: Includes deficient amounts neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine) and an imbalance of the hormone cortisol.


• Environmental Situations


• Substance Abuse


• Lack of exercise


• Nutritional deficiencies (folic acid, magnesium, vitamins B & C, calcium, & potassium)


• Excessive consumption of sucrose (sugar), caffeine, magnesium or vanadium.


• Amino acids imbalance (phenylalanine, tyrosine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid- GABA)


• Medical Disorders (diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer).


• Medication side-effects.

Women are twice as likely to develop depression than men. According to mental health experts, 12 million women in the US experience the symptoms of depression each year, and occurs more frequently in women 25 to 44, the age period when women are bombarded with many of life's familiar problem and pitfalls. The causes of depression in women can be organized into two main categories: internal, and environmental. With internal causes of depression, women may have inherited a genetic vulnerability to depression or other mood disorders, have hormonal imbalances that cause emotional disturbance which include: pregnancy (including postpartum depression), menstruation, puberty, and menopause. Environmental factors of depression in women most often include: financial problems, marital status, marital discord, work overload, pressures of parenthood, sexual, physical and mental abuse by a partner, death of a parent or spouse, and health problems.

The aspects of depression in men share some similarities and differences when compared to women. While only an estimated 6 million men in the United States experience depression each year, this number may be under reported as depression is seen as a weakness and character flaw by men who are taught to be strong and capable. Unfortunately, the consequences of keeping their depression hidden often manifests itself in anger, irritable behavior, a short temper, and intolerance. The causes of depression for men share some similarities with women, as well as difference. The most common causes and risk factors include: inherited genetic vulnerability to depression and mood disorders, financial and career pressures, parenting and "breadwinner" pressures, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, death in the family, decreased sexual ability, chronic health problems, and fatigue from responsibilities (men are less capable of accepting life's responsibilities than women).

The risk of suicide for men is much greater than women with 80 percent of all successful suicides performed by men. The reason for this higher rate is thought to center on the fact that men are less likely to talk about their depression, acknowledge it, and seek help. However, if more men and women are able to recognize and confront the general causes of depression, prevention and treatment is more likely to be successful.

Treatment for depression in both men and women is possible with cognitive behavioral therapy (type of therapy that focuses on thoughts, not external events or actions), interpersonal psychotherapy, family therapy, marriage counseling, and pharmacotherapy (medication). Despite the popularity of antidepressants, mental health experts advise that medication primarily treats the "symptoms," while therapy can address the "root causes." Mental health counselors today are highly trained and skilled in addressing the different and shared needs of depression in both men and women.

Improve Self Confidence - 10 Warning Signs of a Depressed Teenager

Middle and high school years can be the best of times and the worst of times.

Peer pressure, relationships, and test anxiety are just some of the things that can cause your teenager to change moods as often as they change clothes.

However, being moody might not be the problem. They might be experiencing something more serious. They could be depressed.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4-8% of teenagers suffer from depression. Meaning, for every 100 teenagers in America, 4 to 8 are in some state of depression. Even worse, if left untreated, depression can lead to substance abuse, alcoholism, or suicide.

Most depression goes undetected until it's too late to get it under control. However, the best thing you can do for your teenager is to heed the warning signs and seek treatment.

Here are 10 warning signs to pay attention to:

1. Decreased Social Interaction.

If they don't want to talk on the phone long or go out with their friends. Better yet, if they prefer to spend all their time in their room.

2. Highly Emotional.

Not moody, but emotional. Crying for little to no reason or yelling at the top of their lungs over something that is pointless.

3. Change in Eating Habits.

They prefer to eat in their room or not at all. Or, the exact opposite, they normally wouldn't eat anything during mealtimes and now they gobble down two plates of food.

4. Change in Appearance.

They don't want to get dressed or they dress in lounge wear all day. They hardly comb their hair and maintain minimal hygiene habits.

5. Avoids Eye Contact.

When they speak, they speak with their head held down and continue to roll their eyes to the back of their head. They only look at you when necessary.

6. Change in Language.

Profanity is their new choice of communication and will accept the consequences for their sassy mouth. They don't try to apologize for their choice of words and challenge you with offensive looks.

7. Uninterested in Favorite Activities.

They love music, but hardly listen to it anymore or they enjoy cooking, but won't go in the kitchen for any reason.

8. Lack of Focus.

In the past, they spoke of their goals and dreams often, but now you barely hear them speak about anything of interest.

9. Distrustful.

They think that nobody needs or wants them and that everything is their fault.

10. Lack of Affection.

If you ask them for a hug, they shy away from you or if you give them a kiss on the forehead, they wipe it off.

Now, use these warning signs to test the mental health of your teenager. You may be surprised at the results.

If you believe your teenager is suffering from depression, call your local social support group that handles teens in crisis or ask your medical doctor for a recommendation to a good mental health practitioner for teens.

Remember, stay cool. Stay persistent. Stay in control.

Depression and Diabetes - A Bad Duo

Why does depression cause diabetes?

The diabetes disease can be brought on by depression. Cortisol, a stress hormone can increase if you get depressed. This hormone can reduce insulin sensitivity. Once insulin sensitivity is compromised the diabetes disease can begin to flourish in your body. This condition of depression is more prevalent in older people. Depression is often undiagnosed. Loss of a loved one may be characterized as grief, a temporary issue instead of depression.

In the four states of Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina and Maryland 4,681 men and women were tracked with an average age of 73. This test was done in 1989. The Archives of Internal Medicine disclosed the following: In these three scenarios (single bouts of depression, chronic depression and depression that worsened over time) an increased risk of diabetes existed in all three cases when depression prevailed.

What to look for

Some signs for possible depression problems can show up physically or emotionally. Check for some of these symptoms so you can put yourself on a healthier track for yourself. The sooner you recognize any of these issues the quicker you can right your ship.

You just don't care. Enjoying things is not on your priority list.

Your sleep schedule has run amok. You have a hard time falling asleep or you often arise during the night. You wake up early and cannot get back to sleep.

Your have a change in your appetite eating more or less than you used to. Quick weight gains or losses occur.

You feel tired most of the time.

Your self esteem has gone down hill. You feel like you cannot do anything right and you worry about being a burden to people.

Mornings usually are the saddest time of the day for you.

You find it very difficult to concentrate as "other thoughts" keep getting in your way.
Nervousness, you always feel so anxious you can't sit still.

You have suicidal thoughts or you think about different ways to harm yourself.

Should you have any of these symptoms you can be hurting yourself mentally but you may compound the issue by bringing on type 2 diabetes as well. Let's break the combination of diabetes and depression by seeing a doctor or joining a support group so you can voice your issues and improve your condition.

Recognizing these issues is the first step to gaining a healthier lifestyle. If you have any concerns about diabetes or potential diabetes issues then claim your free ecourse. It will help you deal with diabetes in a safe and natural way.

Manic Depression - Signs of This Disorder

Manic depression is a disorder that is characterized by mood swings ranging from elation to depression so severe that the patient can only think of suicide. It is also known as bipolar disorder and it can be so disabling that the patient cannot function normally in social or professional settings. It can be treated once properly diagnosed by a medical doctor and with care and patience, patients can move on to live a productive life. Manic depression cycles between two states: mania and depression.

What are the symptoms of the mania state?

A manic episode is where the patient experiences happiness and enjoyment that can last for a week or longer. This mood lasts all day, every day during this episode and it can be characterized by three more symptoms. Increased activity and energy, euphoric moods, and increased sex drive are just some of the more positive attributes of this state. Irritability, racing thoughts out of control, the inability to concentrate, talking too dast, drug or alcohol abuse, and poor judgement are the negative side of the state. When three or more of these symptoms are present, the patient can be considered in a manic state. Hypomania is a mild to moderate episode, leaving the patient feeling good and being able to be productive. It is a dangerous and misleading state and if left untreated can send the patient suffering manic depression into a deeper depression than before.

What are the symptoms of depressive state?

On the opposite side of the coin is the depressive state of manic depression. Like the manic state, it can last from a day to more than two weeks. Five symptoms are usually present when a patient is in this state including anxiousness, feeling as if their life is empty, hopelessness, worthlessness, loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, fatigue, and more. Chronic pain with no apparent cause is another common symptom for people suffering manic depression and when it is left untreated, the patient could slip into suicidal tendencies. When this happens, immediate medical attention should be sought out.

How is manic depression diagnosed and treated?

Through a series of psychological and medical testing, a doctor can help a person determine if they are suffering from manic depression. These tests include a physical and lengthy discussion about the symptoms the patient has been experiencing. The patient may be referred to a psychological expert for more treatment and testing to help find the root of the problem and the proper treatment plan.

Manic depressives can find relief and live a productive life by working with their doctor on a treatment plan designed specifically for them. They will have to work at it for the rest of their lives as short-term treatments will not cure the disorder. Medication such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics may be prescribed. Psychotherapy will help patients learn how to change their behaviour, show them that they are not alone, and can even guide friends and family members in helping the patient and themselves understand what they are suffering. If the depression is severe enough and there is danger to the patient, the patient's doctor may recommend a brief hospitalization.

Long Term Effects of Suffering From Depression

Everyone will suffer short term depression now and then. Meanwhile, some people will suffer from this disease longer than a few months and have many different long term effects, not just for them, but also the people around them as well. They may try to take antidepressants, and find that none of these are working for them, and even keep trying different medications in hopes of finding that golden key that will open the door to their release. They may think that something is wrong with them, but this is not the case. The real problem is that many of these drugs simply do not work and they will all have long term effects on the body.

Some of you out there may know what the symptoms of depression are. For those of you who do not, here is a quick run down on a few of the many signs. Irritability, lack of cohesive sleeping patterns, either with insomnia, or sleeping for long periods of time. Eating disorders, not eating enough, not eating at all, or eating in excess. Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and not participating in activities they once found pleasurable. They may alienate their friends and family, and start destructive behaviors, like cutting, or engaging in dangerous sexual activities, and even try to commit suicide.

Many who have taken antidepressants for their depression may even find that the effects of these medications might make these symptoms worse, and then try to take more. The problem is that these drugs do not have any of the benefits that are expected of them. You may also start experiencing the short term side-effects, such as headaches, nausea, stomach problems, as well as many others. You may also experience symptoms that may have never been there before, like behavioral problems for example.

So what are some long term effects of this disease? To start out with, you may start to lose the support of your friends and family, who just can not stand seeing you like that any more. Those who do stand by you, may start to suffer in their own lives as well. Staying away, and not going out and doing the things you used to do can cause physical problems as well, like muscle atrophy, hypertension, and long term damage to tissues and organs. If you are not eating right, this can cause obesity, and malnutrition. If you are doing self destructive behaviors like cutting, you will be leaving permanent scars which can be a constant reminder of your self-inflicted attempts at hurting yourself. If you attempt suicide and succeed, this of course results in well...the end.

The good news is that you can change all of these things, and relieve your depression without antidepressants. Sometimes, the problem is that you have a build up of toxins in your body, and in your brain, and these need to be flushed out. It could mean that you are suffering from a chemical imbalance, and need to start eating the right foods, ones that are full of antioxidants, high in serotonin and other chemicals that your body is not producing on its own. It could be that you have an underlying glandular problem, like thyroid disease, and there are medications that actually do fix this.

You need to start by being proactive and read all the information you can. Get the right help, and get off that couch and start doing something about your condition. The help is there and you can only get help if you really want it. You will not have these long term effects to be worried about if you go out of your way to get yourself off of the depression medications and start to explore a more natural approach.

7 Fail Safe Ways to Help Your Clinically Depressed Spouse

Battling intense depressive episodes is never an easy task. While each episode may vary in frequency and severity, one thing is for certain, your spouse will be left physically and psychologically exhausted and so will you, especially if you've been through a number of those episodes with your spouse. You're caught between a psychological and emotional rock and a hard place. You love your spouse but you're at your wit's end because you don't know what to do for your spouse or yourself. As a result you may be seriously thinking about a separation or divorce.

There is no doubt that depression, especially clinical depression, can ruin a marital relationship. The depressed spouse begins to physically and emotionally pull away leaving the other spouse confused, angry, afraid, and alone. The spouse who is not depressed may soon begin to feel alienated from the others affections and perhaps insist that the depressed spouse just "snap out of it " thereby intensifying the depression. As a result the gap between the spouses grows wider inevitably ending the relationship.

That was just one scenario. There are many more but they virtually all lead to the same outcome. My second marriage ended primarily because of my depression. However, the good news is that yours does not have to. Many spouses take the time to learn what is necessary to get through the depressive episodes and overcome the symptoms of depression so they can rebuild their marital relationship. You can too.

Here are 7 fail safe ways for you to help your clinically depressed spouse:

1. Learn about clinical depression - There are different types of depression. In order for you to help and support your spouse to the best of your ability you need to learn and be aware of the signs and symptoms of clinical depression also known as major depressive disorder which is the severest kind of depression. Some of the symptoms include feelings of sadness or unhappiness, irritability or frustration even over small matters, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, crying spells for no apparent reason, and frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide.

2. Encourage treatment -If your spouse has not yet been diagnosed as being clinically depressed but shows any of the symptoms you need to gently but firmly encourage your spouse to seek treatment. Then set up an appointment for you and your spouse to talk with your doctor. If you have a husband showing signs of clinical depression, you might have to be a bit more firm with him because many men believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness. He may resist at first, but it is important to let him know that the only way he is going to get better is by getting treatment and staying with it.

3. Be supportive, not enabling - By all means make suggestions, offer encouragement, and give praise to your spouse whenever necessary but never do a task that needs to be done by your spouse in order for him/her to start feeling better. One thing that both of you certainly do not need is for your spouse to become dependent on you to do what he/she needs to do. For example, if you've both made it a goal for your spouse to get out of bed every morning and eat breakfast at the kitchen table, do not bring the breakfast to your spouse in bed. That would defeat the entire purpose of treatment. The only way anyone who is clinically depressed can ever begin to overcome their symptoms is if they are proactive.

4. Suggest a support group - An important way for you to help your spouse, during what often turns out to be a very chaotic time, is for you to suggest that your spouse join a support group. People who are clinically depressed often feel alone and isolated. Meeting others with the same mood disorder or other emotional issues typically relieves that feeling of loneliness and isolation. Sharing feelings and experiences plus making connections will usually make a person feel better about life in general.

5. Begin walking with your spouse - There are many physical and psychological benefits associated with walking. Just 10 minutes of brisk walking a day will do wonders for your spouse's mood as well as yours. Walking actually increases the level of serotonin (a neurotransmitter regulating the feeling of happiness in the brain) enabling us to feel better. Walking is also a wonderful way to show your support. Remember however, there is a pretty good chance that initially your spouse will not want to walk. If so, that's fine. Just be encouraging and offer to go for a walk again after several days.

6. Be patient - I know that this can be easier said than done. Try to remember that your spouse is behaving erratically because of the depression. If you are still having a hard time remember why you fell in love with your spouse in the first place. Also remember why you got married. The spouse you fell in love with and married is undoubtedly still there but the depression is masking the real personality.

7. Take care of yourself - I could not begin to tell you how many forum posts I've read where the spouse who is not depressed simply burns out, becomes resentful, and is ready to call it quits. As the "healthy" spouse you absolutely have to take care of yourself. If your spouse has upset you, you need to let him/her know. There is a way to express your feelings by being tactful and still getting your point across. Do not let your feelings build up inside of you. That could, and very often does, lead to disaster. Maintain your own life. Continue to keep your own appointments and see your friends. Nurture yourself by eating right and exercising. I highly recommend joining a support group for yourself and if you need to, by all means see a counselor or therapist as well.

If you need to review these steps again please do so and then begin to implement them as soon as possible. In point of fact, the more you deal with your spouse's depression together as a team, the more likely you are not only going to remain together with your spouse but the more likely you'll strengthen your marital bond as well.

Plants That Are Toxic To Cats

In most cases, people who love their animals also love their houseplants. Houseplants breathe life into a home just like owning a cat does. It seems both pets and houseplants go hand-in-hand, but in reality they can be a deadly combination if the owner is not aware of which plants are toxic to their furry friends.

Any cat owner who also dabbles in gardening or owns houseplants should familiarize themselves with the list below. It's a surprising list to say the least. Many very common and useful plants are on this list. Even the aloe vera plant, known for its medicinal value as a topical treatment for cuts and burns, is poisonous to cats. Even more surprising is that tomato and pea plants are toxic to cats as well. It's a scary feeling to read this list and count the number of common plants lying around the house just waiting to poison the beloved feline of the home.

House Plants Toxic to Cats:

1. Aloe Vera - Symptoms: Vomiting, tremors, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, and a change in the color of urine.

2. Asparagus Fern - Symptoms: Allergic dermatitis, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

3. Baby's Breath - Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea.

4. Begonia - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

5. Bird of Paradise Flower - Symptoms: Mild nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness.

6. Caladium (also known as Elephant Ears or Taro) - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.

7. Cardboard Palm - Symptoms: Liver failure, excessive thirst, bruising, melena, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, vomiting, pathy, liver damage, liver failure and death.

8. Carnation - Symptoms: Mild gastrointestinal signs and mild dermatitis.

9. Ceriman - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, vomiting, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

10. Charming Dieffenbachia - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, vomiting, excessive drooling, and difficulty swallowing.

11. Chinese Jade - Symptoms: Nausea and retching.

12. Chrysanthemum - Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, in-coordination, and dermatitis.

13. Coleus - Symptoms: Vomiting blood, bloody diarrhea, depression, and anorexia.

14. Corn Plant - Symptoms: Vomiting blood, depression, anorexia, hyper-salivation, and dilated pupils.

15. Cyclamen - Symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmia, seizure, and death.

16. Daffodil (also known as narcissus) - Symptoms: Vomiting, excessive salivation, diarrhea, convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmia.

17. Dahlia - Symptoms: Mild gastrointestinal signs and mild dermatitis.

18. Dieffenbachia - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

19. Everlasting Pea (also known as Sweet Pea) - Symptoms: Weakness, lethargy, pacing, head pressing, tremors, seizures, and possibly death.

20. Fig (also known as Indian Rubber Plant) - Symptoms: Dermatitis, oral irritation, excessive salivation, and vomiting.

21. Flamingo Flower - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

22. Florida Beauty - Symptoms: Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, increased heart-rate, abdominal pain, vomiting, depression, in-coordination, weakness, and drooling.

23. Hyacinth, both Garden Hyacinth and Water Hyacinth are toxic to dogs and cats. Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, and allergic reactions.

24. Gladiola - Symptoms: Vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea.

25. Hellebore - Symptoms: Drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and depression.

26. Hosta - Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.

27. Ivy is yet another botanical genre that should be avoided by pet owners. Many different species of ivy are toxic to both dogs and cats. The variations to especially watch for are the Branching Ivy, English ivy, Devil's Ivy (also known as Golden Pothos), and Sweetheart Ivy - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.

28. Jade Plant (also known as Chinese or Japanese Rubber Plant) - Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, ataxia, and slow heart rate.

29. Kiss-me-quick - Symptoms: Tremors, seizures (for several days), diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivation, lethargy, in-coordination, and coughing.

30. Lacy Tree Philodendron - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

31. Lily Family - Nearly all lilies are toxic to both dogs and cats. The variations to especially watch for are Amaryllis, Arum Lily, Asian Lily, Stargazer Lily, Barbados Lily, Clivia Lily, Desert Azalea, Easter Lily, Giant Dracaena (also known as the Palm Lily), Lily-Of-The-Valley, Orange Day Lily, Tiger Lily, Trumpet Lily, and Wood Lily. With so many different species of lilies that are toxic to cats and dogs alike, it's best for pet owners to simply avoid lilies altogether. Symptoms: Diarrhea, depression, vomiting, abdominal pain, hyper-salivation, anorexia, tremors, excessive drooling, irritation to oral cavity, difficulty swallowing, cardiac arrhythmia, convulsions, kidney failure, and death.

32. Mistletoe - Symptoms: Gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular collapse, difficulty breathing, slow heart rate, odd behavior that would point to signs of hallucinations, vomiting, and diarrhea.

33. Nephthytis - Symptoms: Irritation and burning of the oral cavity, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

34. Orange - Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and sometimes photo-sensitivity.

35. Pencil Cactus - Symptoms: Irritation of the oral cavity and vomiting.

36. Poinsettia - Symptoms: Irritation of the oral cavity and vomiting.

37. Primrose - Symptoms: Mild vomiting.

38. Spring Parsley - Symptoms: Photo-sensitivity, ulcerative dermatitis, exudative dermatitis, and ocular toxicity.

39. Tomato Plant - Symptoms: Excessive drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, depression, confusion, bradycardia (slow heart rate), dilated pupils, weakness, and change in behavior.

40. Tulip - Symptoms: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and excessive drooling.

41. Yucca - Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhea.

It should be noted that many of these plants are popular flowers used in arrangements. Even though a cat owner has taken great care to ensure their home and yard is free from these toxic plants, any flower arrangements brought into the home should also be kept out of reach of your cat.

It should never be assumed that a cat will instinctively leave a toxic plant alone. Thousands of cats are taken to the veterinarian each year on an emergency basis due to ingestion of a toxic houseplant. By becoming familiar with this list, a cat owner can rest assured their home is a safe environment for their beloved feline.

Help Someone With Depression - Successful Approaches To Get Rid Of Depression

How can you help someone with depression? We may find that during a certain time in our lives, we feel depressed and sad. These may perhaps be symptoms of depression. The reason may possibly vary from death of a family member, an encounter of betrayal, or the loss of a job. The type of down time we undergo can be situational, and after sometimes we get better and bounce back to normal.

The symptoms of this kind of disorder can sometimes include intense grief, loss in cravings, emotions and thoughts of helplessness, manic disorders and thoughts of suicide. When the attack is serious, this situation may possibly last for several weeks, months, and perhaps years.

Additionally, symptoms of this problem may include a serious condition of bipolar disease. You have to check to find out if an individual has the bipolar disease, when attempting to assist somebody with depression. It's situational, as they will seem very happy on one occasion, then fall back into severe despair another time. Obviously, there is an urgent need to assist in treating somebody struggling with this illness, especially if they're coping with the chronic or perhaps manic symptoms.

Be it mild or serious, the depression has an effect on not only the person himself, but also other important people in his life. As being a parent, sibling or buddy, there is certainly a lot that can be done to assist someone with depression.

To start with, knowledge is power. Find out about the illness, discover each and every main thing you should know about it. Learn approaches to test their reactive level so that you can assist with their treatment.

Pay specific attention to the symptoms that the person you intend to help. When you place yourself in the shoes of a depressed person, you'll know how he actually feels and what precisely he is experiencing. In this manner, you are able to assist him through the entire process of treatment all the way.

The only method to begin coping with or to assist a person with depression is to assist them to acknowledge the undeniable fact that indeed the issue exists, even if it's a mild condition.

On the other hand, making face-to-face confrontations is not going to help someone with depression. The truth is, it may simply encourage refusal, and therefore, the symptoms may get worse. For that reason, a patient and caring approach is necessary. Allow the person talk openly and you should listen attentively to exactly what he has got to say. Pay attention and you should not create jokes to cheer him out of it because you want to get him to feel better.

If there exists a thing that one can do to assist relieve the problem, it really is to show all the physical and emotion support which you can. Convey to the individual just how much you are aware of what he's experiencing and assure him that you'll be there when he needs you.

It helps as well when you are getting the person to perform some physical activities (such as a physical exercise, taking part in sports, and so on) together with you so as to stop him from thinking too much in relation to his issues. You can also request the help of other family members and buddies so the person can get engulfed in love as well as understanding.

Ultimately, keep in mind that there's a lot you're able to do to assist someone with depression. If you see that the particular symptoms haven't been reduced, but they're still very reactive, it's time to refer the situation to medical professionals who are experts in working with the condition.

Controlling Depression the Spiritual Way

Did you know that in the West as much as 68% of women, and 42% of men, find themselves dealing with mental depression at some point in their lives? What causes depression, and how can it be dealt with? Most people are able to continue with their duties in life, and learn to bear this feeling without having it completely take them over, yet a percentage find it absolutely necessary to seek some form of help, from counseling to actually being institutionalized. Why do we get depressed for no reason sometimes? Of course we all have to deal with sadness and disappointments in life, but oftentimes depression occurs without any particular happenstance. It can start with just a general feeling of unhappiness, unfulfillment, and lead in extreme cases to utter hopelessness, and even thoughts of suicide. In today's modern world it is becoming more and more of a problem for many people, especially in the Western world. What is so wrong with the way we live that mental health seems to be prevalent in so many of us?

The United States and Western Europe have the most burgeoning mental health businesses in the world. Virtually tens of thousands of people, seemingly successful in their lives, are regularly visiting psychologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, and the like. And this is in countries that have the highest standards of living in the world. As a matter of fact those that have the highest instances of depression have no lacking in the necessities of life. Yet if you go to countries in Asia, even to economically deprived places, you find that people are not so troubled mentally, and clinical depression, neurosis, and psychosis are relatively rare. Why in the places where the greatest strides have been made scientifically are there the greatest amount of mental health problems?

The reason is the difference in philosophical outlooks on life. We are an almost fatalistic society putting all our concentration on success in this life materially. Death and what occurs during and after this transition is rarely spoken of, generally, in the West. Most people don't want to think about it, let alone make some effort to learn how to prepare for it while we are alive in these bodies. All concentration is put on material success and power. The fact is, that no matter how much money, possessions friends and lovers you accumulate, there is always a nagging feeling of "is this it"? Most people have ideas of what it would take to make us happy in life, and generally it centers on financial independence or wealth building, and relationships. Yet once achieved there's an almost immediate letdown. We thought we'd experience some form of bliss from the attainment of material goals, and then find out it is short-lived. So what is the missing link, the key to being able to gain happiness in life?

It lies in understanding our true nature as spirit and making spiritual advancement, as well as material advancement, while we are here. There must be a balance of physical, mental, and spiritual health. One must ask himself questions like "who am I, really?" "Who is God?" and "what is the goal of human life?" "Where have I come from, and where am I going after this life"? With spiritual recognition there comes hopefulness, rather than hopelessness. We are born into these bodies carrying our karma from previous incarnations with us. When you die, or leave this body, that is all you will take with you. In Eastern philosophy it is said that all of your possessions, and relationships based on bodily identification, will be finished at the time of death. Therefore it is useless to make plans to stay here forever. Although Westerners don't like to discuss this, no one can deny that he or she will grow old and die. Therefore one must find out how to gain knowledge of the soul, and what is our true desire above and beyond our bodily identifications. Fear is born of ignorance, and it is said that knowledge is the torchlight, which dispels the darkness of ignorance. Because in India, and many other eastern countries, there is at least some understanding of karma, and reincarnation, or transmigration of the soul, there is much less mental sickness among the populace. People understand that this life is not the all in all, and that only self-realization can bring happiness and peace of mind. We must give greater concentration to that which is our eternal position in life, not just concentrating on things based on our bodies, which are temporary.

The science of Vedic or Hindu astrology is a great tool for helping us to understand ourselves as spiritual entities that have taken these bodies due to our own previous actions. Whatever one does, good or bad, creates karma. Good actions will allow one to take a nice body, and be granted material pleasures, and harmful actions will insure one a more miserable birth in the next life. From one's horoscope we can tell so much about ourselves, and therefore make proper decisions in life to make advancement not only to insure material happiness, but also to gain some degree of spiritual happiness, building and advancing in spiritual consciousness from birth to birth. Only then can we successfully deal with depression and it's debilitating effects on human life.

One cannot just imagine how to gain spiritual happiness, or to gain spiritual knowledge. To do so requires a bona-fide teacher, or guru as is often termed, that is sufficiently advanced to be able to impart spiritual knowledge to others. Having an astrological analysis is also extremely useful as it gives some indication of where one has come from previous to this particular body. It shows our strengths, and weaknesses in different areas of life that are resultant from actions performed in previous lives. It will show how we can best conduct ourselves to be successful in this world, and also how to act for spiritual success. This will give one the ability to deal with mental inebriety, as for those who realize that this lifetime is not the end-all there is much less instance of serious depression. Whatever your beliefs or particular inclinations in philosophy and religion, give them more importance in your life. Seek answers from a higher source. In countries where simple living and high thinking are prevalent there is a more pervasive atmosphere of satisfaction in life, whereas in countries where advanced material living takes precedence there is more dissatisfaction among the populations than ever before. Think about it. Then do something about it. We are "piloting our own planes" in this lifetime. We are born into this life with nothing material, and we leave with nothing material. If you seek truth, you will find it. Your action shapes your destiny, so it's up to you.

Postnatal Depression - Symptoms

So you have just had your child and you are wondering if you may have postpartum symptoms? Well I am glad you are reading this article. Postpartum depression can cause many new mothers a lot of heartache. Women who suffer from postpartum and leave it untreated may suffer lifelong changes in their personality.
There are several tell tale postpartum symptoms which can help assess your situation. First, postnatal depression can cause women to feel exhausted. Being a new mother though is a full time job and it is expected to wear you out, so we must look at other symptoms

If your hair and nails are dry and brittle your feelings may be caused my PPD. Localized pain in your legs hot spots and discoloration are also common symptoms. Appetite and weight can also shift when dealing with postpartum. Feelings of worthlessness without any reason are a symptom. Thoughts of death or suicide are a definite symptom and you must see a doctor if your depression is that severe.

If you have suffered from depression or anxiety prior to childbirth then you are more likely to develop PPD. You may have feelings of being "trapped". Many women also get a sinking feeling in their stomach, they ask themselves what about all of the plans I had for my life? It is important to keep an eye on your postnatal depression. Early treatment is critical for the health and safety of both you and your child. Remember that the choices you make now will affect your child directly.

Clutter Thrives on The Great Depression Mentality

When you think back to what you learned in school about the 1920's, they were a roaring good time up until October 29,1929. Prohibition could not even slow it down or stop it. People just got more creative and resourceful. No one thought that the party would end or could even imagine what The Great Depression was going to rain down on them. Nothing could have prepared them for what was to come. For well over a decade, constant worry, fear, anxiety and stress ruled the day. You had to learn to do without and be creative with what little you did have. Families and friends did their best to take care of one another.

When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, things were far from normal and calm on the home front but the economy was back on the road to recovery and there was a general sense of relief from the recent financial woes that gripped the nation. No one ever forgot the hard times though and the thought of it happening again was always somewhere in the back of their minds. Families were determined to be prepared and they taught their children to be prepared. The notion of holding on to everything as a matter of basic survival became fully ingrained into the family dynamics and, in many ways, has been passed down to the baby boomers and beyond.

Now holding on to some things is not necessarily a bad thing. On a practical note, women used to get married at a much younger age and really appreciated hand-me-downs as they struggled to start their own households. The notion that someone could always use this more or less rang true. Family treasures also remind us of who we are, where we come from and memorable times in our lives. If they are true treasures, then they deserve to be honored and not buried and forgotten in the dark recesses of the attic. What makes them valuable are the stories that they tell when they are shared with your children and grandchildren.

On the downside, we sometimes need to shake this Depression Era grip on our psyche and acknowledge that the clutter is getting in the way of our daily lives and even in the memories to come. It really is okay if nobody in the family wants some of that perfectly good stuff. There are worthy charities out there that would welcome it with open arms. An added bonus will be that you will be able to better see and appreciate what is really important. New opportunities will most likely present themselves when you get organized with a whole new attitude and game plan. Maybe the house really is too big and time consuming and you would rather downsize and spend your time pursuing more enjoyable interests. The options are endless.

The Great Depression Mentality served our mothers and grandmothers well during those hard times when it literally came down to basic survival. It even serves many of us well now if we learn to keep it in perspective. The balance comes when you can step back and separate the clutter from the real treasures. It is the treasure that reminds us of lives well spent.

Common Sense Comes to the Help of Those Depressed

If you keep examining your mind, you'll come to see that thoughts of who you are and how it all is are creating the reality you're experiencing.
Baba Ram Dass

Albert Ellis, who developed Rational Emotive Therapy, recognised that much mental and emotional anguish was caused by thinking that simply wasn't useful, nor a common sense approach to reality. His approach was to challenge the mindsets by which a patient was directing their life, basically replacing unhelpful irrational thinking with thoughts that were more grounded in how life actually operated. He had excellent success in helping his patients remove depressive episodes from their lives, simply by addressing the way in which they viewed their inner or outer realities.

When Aaron (Tim) Beck developed Cognitive Therapy as a way to help people with depression or anxiety, he stumbled upon the means by which to improve the lives of virtually everyone, because all of us need to bring additional common sense to the way in which we are living our lives. Beck was prepared to step out of the theoretical mould into which he had been cast, and postulate a difference genesis to the origin of depression. He argued that the theories of the time, which varied from imbalance in brain chemistry to the Freudian thesis that anger had been turned in on itself, had missed the point. To make matters worse, patients at that time were led to believe that only a health professional could cure them, as if the active involvement of the patient was superfluous to the healing process. Beck wanted to empower his patients to work with their thinking. He, like Ellis, saw depression as a cognitive disorder, involving errors in the common sense use of the mind. Cognitive therapy, because it can succeed in helping those who are depressing or angsting to see their world differently, has become the therapy of choice for this very disabling disorder.

We can each take charge of our minds
Beck commented that "the troubled person is led to believe that he can't help himself and must seek out a professional healer when confronted with distress related to everyday problems of living. His confidence in using the 'obvious' techniques he has customarily used in solving his problems is eroded because he accepts the view that emotional disturbances arise from forces beyond his grasp. He can't hope to understand himself through his own efforts, because his own notions are dismissed as shallow and unsubstantial. By debasing the value of common sense, this subtle indoctrination inhibits him from using his own judgment in analysing and solving his problems." Beck determined to hand power back to his patients so they could learn to live their life a different way, a way that worked for them. Those with excellent mental health simply think differently to those who struggle.

Joseph Wolpe's contribution to the mix was to show that thoughts have a direct impact on emotional experience. If we think "I may not make enough money over the next few weeks", then we succeed in generating anxiety. If we think about a recent loved one who passed away, in seconds we can generate tears. The way we think, can create bedlam in our lives if we allow the mind to run amok in unhelpful ways.

The way we use our mind has a big impact on our feelings of well-being.

We can easily get depresed or anxious by that which isn't important
Sometimes the unhelpful thinking can be over trivial matters which are blown out of all proportion in the mind. Of course, 'trivial' is a definition that one might apply to an experience someone else may define as 'hell on fire'. What is significant, though, is that there is a vast array of perspectives and beliefs about the world and self that we can choose to adopt to make ourselves feel either low, or elated. The bottom line doesn't change though; it's all in the mind. And its about choice. Even though certain mindsets may be well entrenched, and may even be challenging to shift, none are stuck to the mind with superglue.

Sometimes that disturbing mental state has been prevalent since infancy, while for others it began when the marriage split up or redundancy arrived. No matter when it began, the thinking pattern once identified can be transformed. Step one, then, is to notice what pattern(s) of thinking, most likely beliefs, are causing the dis-stress. As we investigate style(s) of thinking, be aware that the mental patterns causing depression can be in regards to many different things. People can think depressively about themselves (often the case), the direction of their life, their relationships, their career, their finances -almost anything at all. However, the biggees are the approaches taken towards self, significant others, and the meaning and purpose of one's own life. It is therefore not difficult to see why loneliness is a significant factor leading to depression in older people, aged 65 to 89 years, given the lack of interpersonal connection, meaning, personal power and hope of an enjoyable life many in this age group face. Lifestyle and lifestage, then, are going to be factors affecting our thinking, and perhaps predisposing us towards doomy and gloomy or anxious perspectives.

Flush out beliefs and mindsets no longer useful
Some of our most consistent and unhelpful perspectives, especially those that have been around since childhood, develop into belief systems. It was Jeffery Young who contributed substantially to an appreciation of the way in which our thinking about self and the world is caused by some 'hard wiring' in the mind, and he showed that if we can learn about, and then change, the neural wiring that has developed as a result of these embedded but misguided beliefs, then the underlying support for the faulty thinking will be undermined at source. The human mind processes information and experience in packages which then become the filters of subsequent experience. These core beliefs about the way the world is determine what we look at, what we look for, and what we conclude as a result of those experiences. Therefore, by identifying and altering these mindsets, we can change the way in which we experience our life.

All of these methods are getting people to rewire their neurology, and create circuits with the brain that serve them better, and view themselves and their world more constructively. When I work with depressed or anxious people, I encourage them to diary their unhelpful thinking. Just tracking - I call it stalking - unhelpful thinking can be enough to raise our awareness of what is happening, and make us aware that we have a choice. I have written before of the key strategies we can implement to distract our mind from the same old worries and doubts. Don't allow unhelpful thinking to continue. Distract, replace or ignore thoughts that erroneously claim there is impending doom, or everlasting gloom.

Good mental health creates good mental wealth. Happy people bring common sense to what they allow their minds to dwell on.

Depression - How To Identify It In Yourself And The Beginning Of Self-Help

Firstly, are you really depressed? Here are some simple little tests to help decide:

1. (a)Do you get relief from talking a lot about your problems? Or (b)have you become uncommunicative and say very little about anything at all?

2. (a)Do you get relief and perk up when friends visit? Or (b) would you rather your friends stayed away?

3. (a)Do you attribute your depression to the ill-will, hostility or incompetence of others with whom you are currently involved in your work or personal life? Or(b) do you blame yourself almost entirely and think badly of yourself?

If you answered "yes" to the second part (the "b"s) of these 3 questions then you might have very serious depression and should go see your doctor as soon as possible. If you said "yes" to the first part of these 3 questions or felt that neither part applied to you then you may have what used to be called "neurotic depression" and have a high chance of being helped by the methods in this program right now.

This even simpler test can give you a clues as to whether or not you need help to deal with depression:

1. Have you been feeling sad or depressed virtually all of each day for at least 2 weeks? 2. Have you lost interest in the things that once interested you and in fact have lost interest in just about everything?

If you answered "yes" to both of these questions then although the self help program may have a high chance of helping you, it is nevertheless very possible you suffer a major depressive illness and should consider seeing a mental health professional for further assessment.

For a more comprehensive but still brief free test for depression you could go here:
depressioncured.blogspot.com

2. Reactive depression. I call it "bad luck depression". If you are sacked from your job especially when you have a big credit card or other debts and obligations, if you are going through divorce or your business has failed, or if your house has just burned down or your superannuation funds have collapsed, you failed your exams, or you've lost a court case, or your children have been in trouble with the police or school - then you can expect to be depressed! How serious is reactive depression? Once the life crisis passes we usually make a recovery and become our old selves. Nevertheless it can be severe enough to lead to suicide and if the stress goes on too long the depression sometimes becomes "endogenous" and hard to shift. We become chronically depressed and negativistic, can't shake ourselves out of it and treatment becomes necessary. Recognising the depression and following this program could help a lot. If you've been daydreaming about suicide as a way to end the suffering and the dilemmas in your life then you must go and see a mental health consultant.

There are 2 special kinds of reactive depression that need to be mentioned, and because they are special, and severe, the DSM1V puts them in a category of their own, even though at a common-sense level they are forms of reactive depression - because they result from meeting unfortunate and unhappy circumstances. These are bereavement with consequent grief, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The grief of bereavement can be very long lasting and sometimes needs medical intervention. The support of family and friends is important. Face to face counselling is strongly recommended. The support of a religious or positive life philosophy also helps many people deal with their grief. Don't "go it alone". With regard to posttraumatic stress syndrome, face to face intervention is needed. If you have "flash backs" to the time of a horrifying or life threatening event, avoid associated places and situations and have a fearful pessimistic view of your own future then it is likely you have posttraumatic stress disorder. Once again, you must not "go it alone" but rather consult your doctor or mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist as soon as possible. The bottom line to genuine posttraumatic stress disorder is that it needs medical intervention and long term monitoring.

Clinical Depression This term really means that you are not just naturally down because of the mortgage payments, the bill from the vet and the bad report card your child brought home but that you do indeed have depression to the extent that it can be considered an illness because it is a source of suffering and interfering with your productivity and enjoyment of life. However, if you find you cheer up when agreeable company calls, that you seem to get relief by talking a lot about your problems, and perhaps can identify people in your life who you think (rightly or wrongly) are committed to making you miserable or undermining you then your depression is unlikely to be the most serious type.

Some sufferers of depression are described as "cyclothymic", "bipolar", or "manic-depressive". The term cyclothymic is likely to be used for the less serious forms of mood swing. The term manic-depressive is used for the more serious cases which at the poles of depression and hypomania or mania are serious enough to be considered psychosis. The time lapse between these poles can vary very widely from person to person and there can be periods of normality in between. In the early stages of the manic phase the patient simply feels good, buoyant, energised and can be genuinely very productive. As the condition proceeds though the patient experiences a "head like a can of worms" and cannot focus attention. Grandiosity is sometimes a feature of the hypomanic phase with the patient adopting an air of supreme confidence, social boldness and careless spending. This can make the person seem charismatic to others who seek to feed off that confidence and aura of success.

The No-Win Dilemma Face a firing squad, or be hung? Sometimes life puts us in a situation of having to choose between alternatives none of which offer us escape from unpleasantness. One of my case histories resulted from a situation in which a very pleasant well liked man committed suicide. He had been carer for his disabled wife. None of their friends had ever guessed he was so depressed and filled with psychological pain he would even consider suicide. One can only speculate on his thinking. He might have felt himself to be trapped with no honourable way out. In suiciding, his wife was still left to find care plus having to cope with the psychological misery of totally unjustifiable self recriminations. When we get into a very anxious and depressed negativistic state we not only "catatastrophise" (a neologism used by American psychiatrist Albert Ellis) but our thinking and creativity becomes grossly restricted. We can't see the obvious and we become prone to "fixed pie" thinking. A parable to explain what I mean: Two sisters argued over an orange:

The sisters finally decided to end the argument by cutting it in half, each accepting just half of what she really wanted. Only then did they discover that one of them only wanted the juice for a drink and the other only wanted the skin to grate for a cake. It is no accident that Fritz Perls, an American psychiatrist famous for training psychotherapists made a training film entitled "The Philosophy of the Obvious". When we are depressed or anxious not only does our "vision" and creativity become very restricted i.e. we get "tunnel vision", but easy tasks look too hard to face up to - we suffer lowered ego strength. In situations like this it very important to get professional help. A psychologist can help you by boosting your ego strength which can put an end to procrastination enabling you to find the strength to do what has to be done, and help you with problem solving strategies.

The Curved Ball Shattering news from the doctor, or from a knock on the door: Everything I've said about dealing with the "no-win" dilemma applies here. Don't go it alone!

Existential Neurosis I used to call this "ageing intellectual" depression but in reality one doesn't need to be either ageing or an intellectual to suffer this kind of depression. Only a few text books mention this kind of "neurosis" as it does not fit squarely with official diagnostic syndromes. It was described by S. R. Maddi in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1967, vol. 72. It involves in essence (a) a sense of meaninglessness and an inability to believe in the truth or value in anything one is doing or can imagine doing - a sense of the pointlessness of everything, (b) apathy interspersed with depression. Sufferers may see themselves as being nothing more than realists and support the view with virtually irrefutable logic. The approach I take in helping to deal with this debilitating and life draining condition is essentially the same as that taken by the famous irascible psychiatrist Albert Ellis in dealing with guilt: Basically, we are either going to continue living or we aren't and if we are then we might as well go about trying to get some satisfaction out of it. There are constructive things one can do instead of beating oneself up or bemoaning the essential futility of everything and all existence. Even if intellectually you sees life as an exercise in futility this is of no comfort to someone else who might be suffering in some way, and could benefit from your talents, time and efforts. Another famous existentialist American psychiatrist, Victor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning) learned in Auschwitz the vital, life saving importance of helping people to find at least one thing in life that is worth staying alive for.

Advanced age has always been associated with depression and the connection might often be largely biochemical. Every age has it upside and downside. The youth suicide statistics suggest that although we like to remember our youth as our "halcyon days" in fact, being young comes with its own particular problems as well as benefits. And this is just as true for our older years when we get to enjoy the benefits that were out of range in youth. At every age we have a choice as to where we focus our minds. We can revel in the benefits we enjoy, or wallow in the problems and the gloomy side of things.

What causes depression? Brain chemistry and genetic predisposition have already been mentioned as an explanation at the physiological level. At the psychological level depression is caused by: (a) Loss: the loss or expected loss of something valued, or similarly a feeling of having missed out on something valuable at sometime in the past; or, (b) Lack of positive reinforcing feedback i.e. having gone too long without experiencing the pleasure of success - "everything I try turns to muck! I'm a born loser", or, (c) Stress in not being able to cope with environmental pressures. Knowing the above provides the clues as to how best deal with depression.

An atavistic theory of depression: According to this theory depression is a natural survival mechanism to ensure we don't expend precious energy on futile or dangerous activity. If the landscape is covered with snow, there are no fruits or berries around and game animals are hard to find, or if this is the season of too many flesh eating dinosaurs in our vicinity, then maybe the wisest thing we could do is huddle together around a campfire in the back of our cave and in between sleeping enjoy grouching about our rotten luck and how nothing these days is as good as it used to be! Depression according to this scenario is a sort of energy saving hibernation. Of course there are other, more scientific theories including "learned helplessness" a concept explained by famed Harvard psychologist Martin Seligman who found dogs could learn to accept helplessness even in the face of pain and would do nothing to help themselves even when the opportunity was available to them. But sometimes depression, especially the more serious forms, may have physiological issues as their primary cause.

What can you do about depression? Well, the simplest starting point, especially if you think you have a serious form of depression is to go see your doctor. You can also try to help yourself. For detailed guidance on this you can get my self help course (link below). Basically, start by trying to identify the source of your depression. It might stem from an unhappy situation at home, finances or from events in the past that have left you with a sense of outrage or of having missed out on something due to you. To help you look for the source of depression you can keep a diary and note down what was going on when your bout of depression started, i.e. look for triggering events and circumstances.

Tackle any tasks that you have not attended to due to procrastination. If you've identified problems or tasks hanging over your head get started on dealing with them.

You can also make a conscious effort to do the things one tends not to do when depressed - pay attention to personal grooming and the tidiness of your home and office.

Make an effort, despite perhaps not feeling like it, to socialise, catch up with people you haven't seen in a while. And providing that you discuss it with your doctor you could try naturopathic preparations. http://www.depressioncured.blogspot.com