Dysthymia - A Mild Form of Depression

Dysthymia is characterized as a depressive disorder that is less severe than major depression. It is often characterized as chronic depression. Those who can be diagnosed with this disorder have symptoms of mild depression for at least two years, and they feel blue or depressed more often than not during that time.  

Those who suffer from this type of chronic depression often feel irritable, lack the ability to concentrate, experience sleep disturbances, have low energy or feel excessively tired, have low self esteem, and experience feelings of hopelessness. Sufferers of dysthymia often eat too little or too much. But the dominating feature of dysthymia is feeling blue, or depressed. 
              
Although dysthymia sufferers do not live with severe depression, it is more chronic and can adversely affect your life by keeping you from being productive and enjoying life. 
Those who suffer from this disorder should seek treatment, as there are therapies that can treat and cure this disorder. There is no reason why someone should live with depression, even mild depression like dysthymia. 
 
If you suffer from symptoms of dysthymia, it is important to educate yourself about the treatment choices available, and find one that suits you. There are a number of available, including traditional treatment and alternative remedies. 
 
Traditional treatment involves prescription medication and psychological counseling, and many have been helped with this combination. Others have had little success with traditional treatment in treating their depression and have sought other alternative treatments such as natural remedies, acupuncture, and hypnosis. 
 
Among those who have tried traditional treatment involving prescription antidepressants and psychological counseling, about half of those who tried taking antidepressants stopped taking them due to unpleasant side effects. 
 
Of the people who were able to tolerate the medication, about one-third did not experience relief from their depression. Some people do tolerate prescription antidepressant therapy well and do experience relief from their depressive symptoms.
 
Psychological counseling has been found to be effective in treating dysthymia, and it is recommended to anyone who is experiencing any kind of depressive symptoms. 
 
In addition to traditional therapy for dysthymia, there are other alternative treatments available to those who prefer more natural treatment methods. Recent studies have shown that a number of these alternative treatments are just as effective in treating dysthymia and mild depression as the traditional treatment, and in some cases they are even more effective. 

I Have Depression! - Simple Natural Treatment Options for the Condition

Are you suffering from depression? If your answer to the question is yes I have depression, then you must be worried on the next step that you should take. Before you determine your next move, it would be important to be sure that what you have is really depression.

Depression is a mental disorder. Patients suffering from this condition have imbalanced brain chemicals and also show abnormal brain functionality.

There are four types of depression.

Major depression- A patient with major depression may experience; low moods, loss of interest in activities that he used to enjoy, low levels of energy, loss of appetite, restlessness, difficulty in making decision and concentrating, guilt, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts among other feelings.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- patients with this type of depression experience milder symptoms as compared to those with major depression. In most circumstances, the condition may arise from chance in seasons for example experiencing longer nights during winter.

Post Partum Depression- This condition affects mothers and it is common some times after giving birth. The patient experiences the common symptoms of depression. However this condition last for a short time and then it goes away.

Dysthymia- Symptoms of dysthimia are similar to those of major depression. However, the symptoms will become milder with time. This condition may last for up to 2 years.

If you are saying that "I have depression" you may want to know what triggered the condition. Depression may be triggered by an illness, change in season as well as external factor such as divorce or grief.

When you realize that you are suffering from depression, it is best if you seek medical help immediately. There are many medications available for depression patients. However, it is important to note that most of the medicines available may leave you with severe side effects. For this reason, many people may choose to seek natural treatments for this condition.

Simple natural treatments for depression

The first way to deal with depression is through improved nutrition. This treatment option not only will it improve your physical health but will also boost both emotional and mental health.

The treatment involves modification of the diet which includes amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Amino acids play a vital role in neurotransmission. If depression was resulting from deficiency of minerals and vitamins, supplementing your meals with these nutrients will relieve such depression symptoms.

St John's wort is an herb that is popular in dealing with depression. This herb has many active ingredients such as; xanthones, phloroglucinols, naphthodianthrones, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids. This herb has been found to be very effective in the treatment of depression in its moderate and mild stages.

Ginkgo extract is also very effective in treating depression. It is mostly used to certain types of depression that are resistant to anti-depressant drugs. This is the reason why many medical researchers are focusing on this herb in their pursuit to find the best cure for depression.

If you were scared to say that I have depression, you must be happy after learning that there are simple and easy natural remedies for the condition. Don't just sit there and wait for the depression to go away, take action and seek appropriate treatment.

Unsure You Have Depression? Examining Depression Symptoms

Depression is not a hidden illness. People facing these disorders exhibit evident symptoms which according to doctors are signs of clinical depression. On the other hand it can be said that it is quite easy to overlook these symptoms and as a result be unable to help one self.

It is not necessary for a person to possess all the symptoms to be said to be in depression. In addition the time of attack also varies with the symptoms. Hence if a person shows considerable symptoms, they should be diagnosed.

Some of the basic symptoms of depression are:

Extended sessions of sadness or not having a "drive". A feeling of wanting to be out of everything rather than being in it. Feeling bad about oneself is the best symptom.

Feeling disgusting, pessimistic; another common symptom is having no target, nothing to look forward to. This feeling combined with perennial pessimism is a strong symptom and gives rise to hopelessness.

A consistent feeling of guilt makes a person feel as if he doesn't deserve to be happy. This feeling of loss of self worth is a tell-tale symptom of depression. Having a feeling that one will never get what he wants, in other words having no hopes whatsoever is also a strong symptom.

In addition to having no pleasure, the loss of interest of finding pleasure; dropping things that once gave enjoyment. These symptoms show just how depressed someone can be. It is like being in a mess and having no feeling of getting out of it. It leaves a person with nowhere to go.

Consistent fatigue, always being tired: the loss of interest in the minds of people suffering from depression has drastic effects on their physical energy. They don't feel like doing anything, they don't eat or sleep adequately.

There is so much of the negative stuff going in one's mind that he finds trouble trying to concentrate. He gradually becomes inefficient in terms of his memory and also being indecisive are trademark symptoms that a person is in depression. His lack of interest in everything makes him backward and not up to date, as a result he tends to lose track of things that happened or people said. Sometimes it also leads to the person being inattentive. There is a category of symptoms which if visible call for an appointment with a doctor: inadequate or excessive sleep, regular breaking of sleep at wee hours, losing appetite or excessive eating shows ones lack of energy.

Thinking about committing suicide, talking about death, about ones intention to die are clear symptoms of depression. In addition one becomes restless and irritable as a result of poor mental health. Small disorders such as headaches, digestive disorders, various body pains, etc. are also the result of depression. All in all we can say that an unwell mind has its effects on all body parts and causes problem in most activities that a human undertakes ranging from eating to sleeping.

Menopause Symptoms - What Happens to You During Menopause?

The symptoms of menopause are numerous and vary from mild to severe. The classic ones are irregular periods, hot flashes and night sweats.

Irregular Bleeding

This is usually the first sign of menopause. The erratic productions of hormones cause the menstrual cycle to be irregular. Some women experience a shorter cycle, menstruating every twenty days or so, others menstruate even less frequently, perhaps once every six months.

The flow pattern also changes. Some bleed for fewer days while some may have a heavier flow. The commonest pattern is less bleeding, less often. At this stage, it is still possible to become pregnant so don't throw contraceptive caution to the wind until a year or more after the last menstrual period.

What You Can Do

There is no cause for alarm as long as you are not bleeding heavily. If you are persistently having heavy periods, do see a doctor as it may be a symptom of something more serious and should be investigated.

Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

85 percent of menopausal women experience hot flashes. Hot flashes vary from the mild that pass quickly, to those that are most distressing and occur several times throughout the day and night.

During a hot flash, a woman perspires profusely. Her temperature rises, her heart beats faster and she may fell faint. Some women can sense a flash coming. Flashes usually last only for a few seconds, followed by a cold feeling accompanied by shivering.

What You Can Do

* Wear loose, comfortable clothing made from natural fabrics.

* Carry with you cologne tissues for freshening up after the flash.

* If you are driving or working with dangerous machinery, stop what you are doing when you feel a flash coming on, as you may feel faint.

* A fan might make you feel more comfortable.

* Shower before going to bed so that you will be more comfortable at night.

* Limit hot soups, heavy meals, caffeinated drinks and crowded places as they may trigger hot flashes.

* Take things easy and learn relaxation exercises.

* Exercise regularly; women who exercise tends to have fewer flashes than those who don't.

* If the hot flashes are severe and frequent, you should see your doctor. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is usually considered.

Insomnia

It can be difficult to get to sleep if you are felling depressed or anxious (menopause aggravates underlying anxiety and depression), or if you are frequently interrupted by night sweats. It is also common to wake up early in the morning say about 2am or 3am and then toss and turn for the rest of the night.

What You Can Do

* Seek help from your doctor if you are anxious or depressed as these require specific treatment.

* Bring the night sweats under control so that you can sleep undisturbed. See your doctor about this.

* Make yourself a warm drink before going to bed ?it works wonders for some people.

Mood Swings And Depression

Menopause can bring about several negative feeling simultaneously resulting in irritability, mood swings, tearfulness and depression. It is often difficult to pinpoint what it is exactly that brings about the emotional changes. Often, other major changes are occurring in connection with your home and family. Perhaps your children are leaving home and you are suffering from the 'empty nest syndrome'. It could be that you are going through a difficult time in your marriage struggling to make things work. You may long to go back to work now that the children are grown or you are tired of being in the same job for twenty-five years. Perhaps you have negative thoughts about menopause or are troubled by the symptoms.

Symptoms of depression are characterized by feelings of worthlessness and self-reproach, lack of concentration, feelings of doom, fatigue, unusual sleeping patterns, extreme eating patterns and suicidal thoughts.

What You Can Do

* See your doctor if you have been having negative depressive feelings for at least two weeks. HRT is the mainstay of treatment for emotional symptoms.

* Share your feelings with your husband and you may find him very supportive. Otherwise share them with a close friend.

* Join a self-help group or start one yourself.

* Exercise to keep fit. The hormone, endorphin, released into your bloodstream will lift your moods.

* Practice relaxation techniques; they promote tranquility and combat tension.

Thinning Tissues

When estrogen decreases, the skin and other tissues become thin and lose their suppleness. The skin has more wrinkles and the hair becomes thinner and less manageable. Thinning of the urinary tract often leads to loss of bladder control and thinning of the vaginal wall causes dryness resulting in painful intercourse.

What You Can Do

* Moisturize the skin as you grow older and protect it from the sun.

* Keep a simple haircut that is easy to manage.

* Use water-based jelly to ease painful inter-course.

* Do pelvic floor exercises to strengthen bladder control. It will also give you a more acute vaginal sensation, making sex more pleasurable.

If the symptoms are really bothering you, consult your doctor. HRT is often recommended for these problems. It may be in the form of tablets, skin patches or vaginal cream.

Other Symptoms

You may also experience headaches, muscle aches, slight memory loss, hair growth, a reduction in breast size and a change in body shape, in connection with estrogen loss.

For more information, please visit http://8menopause.com/menopause_blog/

Manic Depression - Signs and Symptoms

Manic depression refers to mood swings from overly high or manic to overly low or depressed. This illness is also referred to as bipolar disorder. It is a brain disorder that causes unusual changes in your moods, energy as well as your ability to function normally. Although this condition can start at any age, it normally begins in late adolescence. It affects people of all ages, races as well as men and women. Besides affecting your life as the sufferer, this condition can also devastate the lives of your immediate family members.

Symptoms of this disorder are classified as either manic or depressive episodes. A manic episode is diagnosed when an elevated mood occurs with three or other symptoms. This can happen on a daily basis, nearly every day or for a week or even longer. If your mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

A depressive episode is diagnosed when five or more of these symptoms are exhibited most of the day, nearly everyday or for a period of more than two weeks. In a mixed bipolar episode, you will manifest symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time. You could for example be very sad while feeling energized at the same time.

When you have this condition, you will also experience an increase in energy as well as a decreased need for sleep. Reduced attention span and impaired judgment are other symptoms. Causes of manic depression can be genetic, childhood precursors as well as life experiences and events. There are several pharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques that treats this condition.

Getting Help for Bipolar Patients - What You Should Know and Do

The first step in getting help for bipolar disorder patients is to understand the condition, its symptoms and how it affects the patient and those people around them. Bipolar is a brain disorder characterised by mood swings, unusual activity levels and manic depressions that affect the victim's ability to perform their daily activities. Though the symptoms can be intense leading to suicide tendencies and self battery, bipolar can be treated. This disorder can affect relationships and performances at school and work and affects people of all ages. The causes of this manic disorder are not completely understood but are suspected to be hereditary.

The classical symptoms of bipolar disorder vary in intensity, frequency and manifestation but with proper management help can be gotten for bipolar disorder victims. Some people are prone to mania while others to depression. These symptoms should not be ignored as they get worse with time and without treatment. Since the condition is a recurring one, treatment is long term and involves the use of medication, therapy, social support and a change in lifestyle. It is advisable to engage the services of an experienced psychiatrist who has dealt with bipolar due to the complexity of the disorder ant it's treatment.

Self treatment also helps to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder as one's lifestyle and daily habits significantly affect one's moods. One needs to equip themselves thoroughly about manic depressions, learn to monitor their moods, seek support from groups, family and medical practitioners. Making healthy choices will help improve the condition for example sleeping well, eating the right foods, exercising and keeping a regular schedule. Drug abuse should be avoided completely as it triggers manic or depressive mood swings. Joining a group of people suffering from the same condition will help the patient to understand that they are not alone and also the challenges faced and strides made in treating bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a hereditary condition and the family should be the first place to get support and understanding. If it has been diagnosed before, parents should keep an open eye for classical symptoms and discuss openly with their family the possibility of falling victims and how to handle themselves and other family members who may be affected. With proper management, bipolar need not take over one's life and patients can live a near normal one as possible. With this few tips, they can achieve what normal people can and it is the only help needed for bipolar disorder patients who otherwise felt helpless.

Depression In Men - Danger Signs Of Male Depression

Depression is a malevolent disease that affects around 10% of women and 3 to 5% of men worldwide. While there is no clinical classification that separates male depression from female depression, clinicians have reason to believe that depression in men may take a different curve from the way women face depression.

Clinicians have discovered that males react to depression in a different way from females. Depression in men is manifested with more dominance in certain symptoms, as opposed to the symptoms that women experience.

Men experience depression with more aggression than women. Men are more prone to irritability and sudden anger. Women, on the other hand, are more prone to show depression by lethargy and a feeling of low self-worth.

Males are also more prone to showing greater risk-taking behavior, more aggression, and are more likely to manifest a loss of self-control.

Male depression is far more dangerous in that they tend to attempt suicide with methods that are more likely to result in death.

Depression in men is rather alarming because males tend to clam up instead of talk about their feelings. Men would rather bottle up emotions as opposed to talking to others about these. This would result in the man's family and friends not being aware of the internal goings-on in their depressed loved one.

This disconnect from social and psychological support only exacerbates the condition, and would intensify the motivation for suicide.

What is more dangerous is that men are more likely to use "fool-proof" suicidal methods that increase the chances of death truly occurring. Because of this, depression in men should be watched more closely and not taken for granted.

If you note that your father, brother, husband or any other close male friend or relative has changes in behavior: i.e., anger/aggression and irritability are more frequent and intense, try to take note of his behavior, observe, and try to reach out to him. It would help your loved one if you would take an understanding stance towards his illness and be supportive all throughout.

Depression in men may be more alarming, but still has remedies. Just be observant, aware, and remember to care enough to be involved in what he is going through.

Mental Health's Importance in Today's World - A Psychologist's Perspective

A growing recognition of the fact that "mental health is fundamental to a person's overall health, indispensable to personal well-being and instrumental to leading a balanced and productive life" likely contributes to the fact that about 15% of our country's population now use some form of mental health services in any given year. Nonetheless, despite effective treatments, according to Dr. Satcher's 1999 Surgeon General's Mental Health report, "Nearly half of all Americans who have a severe mental illness fail to seek treatment". The fact that nearly one in five Americans are affected by a mental disorder, reinforces the understanding that "few Americans are untouched by mental illness", whether directly or indirectly.

Clinical anxiety and clinical depression are real, treatable conditions that interfere with a person's overall well-being and ability to do many of the things that they would otherwise enjoy. A suffer of clinical depression can no more "snap out of it," than a person suffering from a seizure has the will-power to stop taking a seizure.

Mental illnesses range from clinical anxiety and depression to Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Anxiety disorders, the most common form of mental illness, affect more than 10% of Americans yearly. Almost 25% of Americans will suffer an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Every May, thousands of sites throughout the country offer free, local anxiety screenings, as part of National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day. Each October, national sites off free screenings for depression, as part of National Depression Screening Day.

For more information about N.A.D.S.D., N.D.S.D., as well as a complete on-line copy of the Surgeon General's 500 page mental health publication, visit: www.SimplifiedHealth.com/links.htm

Jerry Solfanelli

Knowing How to Cure Bipolar Disorder

Knowing how to cure bipolar disorder is essential for all the people involved. But first, discerning the signs of the illness and recognizing the presence of the abnormality is significant.

Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose as its behavioral manifestations are often misunderstood and not immediately recognized by mental health professionals. These individuals may already be experiencing difficulty with the illness but because of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis, they may suffer unnecessarily for years. Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition. However, with the right treatment, many individuals with bipolar disorder can lead fulfilling lives.

Although there is yet no known method on how to cure bipolar disorder, psychiatrists and psychologists believe that it is a manageable condition. Although affected individuals may not be aware of ways on how to cure bipolar disorder, effective management of the illness may help prevent the recurrence of manic and depressive or mixed episodes.

Medications that treat acute manic, depressive or mixed episodes are the basis of how to cure bipolar disorder. These prevent the recurrence of bipolar disorder episodes. The emphasis of this treatment is on the efficient management of the duration of the disorder, which usually requires nascent symptoms to be treated. Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques are two of the means on how to cure bipolar disorder. Some medications that would help an individual suffering from bipolar disorder include atypical antipsychotics and antidepressants.

Almost all people with this disorder can get significant stabilization of their mood swings. Lithium is recognized as very effective in curbing mania and preventing manic and depressive periods.

In psychological treatment, the emphasis is often on issues that arise in the affected person's life brought about by the manic episodes. The focal point in the treatment of this disorder is helping the patient distinguish the beginning signs of a manic episode and taking restorative action. Psychotherapy is an essential tool in improving the illness in people with bipolar disorder. Those who suffer from this abnormality frequently have strained relationships in the event of manic and depressive periods. Psychotherapy helps in restoring these broken relationships. This method of treatment can also educate the people involved in helping to detect the onset of symptoms, dealing with the episodes, managing the stress associated with them and, in general, how to cure bipolar disorder.

Other factors that would help the patients in understanding how to cure bipolar disorder include being mindful of little changes in an individual's energy levels, mood and sleeping and eating habits. A patient and his doctor must also have a program on ways on dealing with changes indicative of the onset of mood swings. Hospital commitment, wherein a person is placed in the hospital against his will, is sometimes a necessity for someone suffering from bipolar disorder because of the effects of manic episodes.

Since bipolar disorder is a lifelong ailment, ongoing treatment is required to keep the patient's mood stable even when he shows signs of feeling better. It is also critical that the people affected with the illness and their families seek the best treatment plan. Patients and their families may also find mutual support self-help groups beneficial.

The Downfalls of Prescription Drugs in Panic Attacks Treatment

Perhaps you are reading this because you're someone who suffers knee bumping, rapid breathing, heart palpating random panic attacks. I hurt for you as I used to hurt for myself when I perceived the spawning of these symptoms from my core. Sometimes, I was able to just breathe through them and all would quiet in a short time, but other times, I landed in the emergency room of my local hospital. I felt like prey as I rarely knew what was going to bring them on.

I was offered a variety of treatments for my ailments. Once, in my teens, I suffered tunnel vision and the most handsome of interns held my hand and asked me to talk about all of what was "stressing" me out in my life. I'm not sure if it was just the fact that I was conveying my suffering or the fact that I desperately wanted to see all of his unshaven, handsome face that my vision organically began to materialize again into all the corners of my limited perception.

My own very sweet General Practitioner suggested I go see a "counsellor" through her own tear stained face after hearing my desperate pleas to help me to address the anxiety and fear I was facing more and more daily. I was a tender 25 years of age. She suggested this route before I might qualify for prescription for anxiety-suppressing meds. The outcome was not favorable as the "counsellor" appeared quite confused and lacked character structure and actually appeared to need way more help than I did.

Some little light within me fought to seek a solution that was lasting, permanent and natural. Knowing that I was up against my own mother's diagnosis of schizophrenia, manic depression and her eventual suicide when I was eight years of age did not help either. As time went on, I was beginning to feel that I was on the brink of "losing my own mind" and the anxiety attacks just brought me closer to this terror. Hourly, I was feeling an inner terror that pricked at the base of my spine. The anxiety episodes began to escalate. I had to solve this.

If you are also suffering a similar plight, it is important to consider all your options before taking the plunge into medication or even meditation. I'm a results-based kind of person and if I'm going to pursue a modality of treatment, I need to know what is going to work, why and what are the potential risks and side effects. I'm going to share what I found with you so that you can also wholly weigh the consequences. By the way, I did solve my panic attacks long-term and haven't had nary a one in over 20 years. I'm 46 as I pen this. Thankfully, even though I know I was a pretty advanced case needing panic attacks treatment, I was able to resolve it naturally.

I'm going to begin, though, offering you the pluses and minuses of drugs prescribed for Panic Attacks. The unfortunate part is that chemical protocol is not curative, but suppressive, and increases your chronic condition. Most folks know this, because as soon as you take the meds away, the symptoms reemerge back in plain view. Drugs can be helpful, short-term, if you just need to gather your perspective to figure out how you want to address your symptoms for the long-term. They can provide you with the illusion of a clearer head, which can be mighty helpful in the present, but as a mechanism of management, you may be dealing with some very unwanted side effects.

Some of the deleterious side effects you may want to consider will include liver, kidney and lymph toxicity. The other thing to realize is that on these drugs you may not have access to the e-motions that you do love in yourself. I've had individuals tell me that while on their meds. they could no longer feel the emotions of the characters in a movie or wholly empathize with their daughter's break-up with her boyfriend. Often folks on anxiety drugs feel "flat-lined" emotionally and this can leave a person feeling short-changed in the sphere of their life. Unable to wholly penetrate into the realm of sympathetic or empathetic impressions.

My own grandmother, yes, on my Mom's side, sadly lived on tranquilizers long-term. Her vacant eyes and empty "yes, dear" as an answer to every provocation was frankly pathetic. I despised her for not having the courage to face the root of her ills and I avoided her at all cost as it was like being engaged with a "hollow" woman. I often had the impulse to just scream at her to see if I could wake her from her living coma. There was no real person to connect with and to me she died years before her physical body succumbed.

Most folks don't know this, but the Pharmaceutical companies have been using the same tranquilizers and benzodiazepines for years. The chief ones available to us modern folk are:

• Xanax (alprazolam)


• Klonopin (clonazepam)


• Valium (diazepam)


• Ativan (lorazepam)

While they are fast-acting, bringing calm or "relief" within about thirty minutes to an hour after taking them, there are longer-term drawbacks that aren't usually spelled out for you in the Doctor's office. The calming effect first realized can precipitate a numbing quality, as I've mentioned, especially over time. Other unwanted side-effects can include drowsiness, fogginess, and lack of co-ordination. Folks will often justify they're very low doses, but even micro doses of benzodiazepines, can cause problems with work, school, or everyday activities such as driving. Some individuals will report a medication hangover the next day which can effect your motivation and zest for life.

Depending on the individual, some will cite a "sped-up" feeling or worsened anxiety state precipitating mania, impulsiveness, hallucinations, hostility, rage and even panic attacks themselves which is the opposite outcome the patient is seeking. Over time, the medication can build up in the system, if proper detoxification is not employed, causing the patient to feel like they are permanently inebriated.

Look for these common side effects of benzodiazepines or tranquilizers and work with your Doctor to adjust dosage or switch the type of medication until these symptoms are more minimal:

• Drowsiness


• Lack of energy


• Clumsiness


• Slow reflexes


• Slurred speech


• Confusion and disorientation


• Depression Dizziness


• Light-headedness Impaired thinking and judgement Memory loss, forgetfulness Nausea, stomach upset Blurred or double vision

Benzodiazepines are also associated with depression. You will need to watch for longer-term benzodiazepine side effects like suicidal feelings. The feeling of being disconnected from spouse, children and parents can worsen over time and sadly affect relationships on a long-term basis. My mother and grandmother were a testament of this for me.

If you do choose the chemical drug route, it is imperative that anti-anxiety medication not be combined with any other drugs. Also, an overdose can be fatal when taken in large doses or combined with any other central nervous system depressants. Taking anti-anxiety medication with alcohol, prescription painkillers, or sleeping pills can be deadly. Dangerous drug interactions can also occur when anti-anxiety drugs are taken with antihistamines, which are found in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines. Keep in mind that Anti-depressants such as Prozac and Zoloft can also heighten their toxicity.

If you have a little breathing room and your panic attacks are not bearing down on you like waves of labor. You might take a look at more natural ways of coping with your condition. This was the route I began with myself, and it helped immensley. Although, my more advanced symptoms did eventually propel me into the realm of principled, natural medicine, I went this route of regimen practices first as the drug protocols scared me more. As you can imagine, I was willing to try just about anything to avoid my grandmother and mother's fates. Living shut down, numbed-out on prescription drugs or suicidal were not viable options for me. I needed to solve this outright.

Some of the viable non-drug panic attacks treatment options available can begin with psycho-dynamics including cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example. I used a system called Heilkunst Medicine (the whole art of healing and curing) to resolve my own ills which organizes all treatments into three jurisdictions starting with a foundation in diet and lifestyle changes, followed by homeopathic medicine and then cognitive-behavioral therapies to address the core fears and belief structures. Not all of their practitioners practice all three of these jurisdictions, but I'm happy to help you find one if you feel you need. The first jurisdiction of Heilkunst treatment encourages regular exercise, adequate sleep, a healthier diet, improving your relationships and a thorough detoxification. Often folks find that by adding a regular protocol of oils, minerals, greens and eliminating grains from their diet, alone, can have cathartic effects on their panic attacks. Resolving spikes in sugar and a lack of adequate nutrition with whole food supplementation can go along way to help quiet potential anxious moments.

Live Blood analysis by an excellent practitioner can also help source out the cause of your panic attacks by indicating heavy metal toxicity and discerning if you're actually absorbing your water. Water has the function of expanding the cell, just as your organism is trying to be expanded by the anxiety. If each cell is armored and encased in salt, so is your overall organism. When the anxiety erupts, it will push up uncomfortably against your armored cells causing a tension in your body that produces the sweating, heart palpatations and the general quickening as if you're going to explode.

Your anxiety is just trying to "expand" you and dissolve your armoring. It just goes about it with much suffering and debilitating affects. Sadly, nature can be kind of crude in her manner of attempting to resolve things on your behalf. If you provide her with sound, logical tools, such as homeopathic medicines, which are based on the curative law of nature "like cures like", and pursue cognitive therapies including character analysis, and biofeedback, you can really uproot the cause of your anxiety and address it with treatment protocols that work and resolve your issues long-term without side-effects just as I did.

I've found that it really isn't about suppressing or repressing your anxiety at all. It is more about solving the overflow and then converting and channelling the power of those e-motions (= "energy in motion") into a means where they wholly serve you through knowledge, creativity, and inspiration. In the end, you will own a whole lot more consciousness and a milieu of feelings and life impressions that enrich your life, not dumb it down.

Are You Prone to Suffer from Clinical Depression?

Are you depressed or just feeling life's normal downs and disappointments? How do you know if you are already suffering from a serious depression or just experiencing a passing moment of life's dips and downs? There are many factors that predispose a person to greater risk of experiencing clinical depression.

1. A history of depression that runs in the family. There are certain types of depression that runs in the family. An example is bipolar depression also known as manic-depressive disorder. This type of depression throws a person into bouts of highs and lows. Into periods of extreme activity, energy, even to the point of being euphoric. These episodes however are followed by periods of low energy and depression. Research shows that members of the family affected by bipolar depression show different genetic makeup compared with those who are not affected by the illness. Studies also show that major depression is also exhibited in some families running from generation to generation.

2. Personal history of depression. Depression is commonly a recurring illness. A person who had experienced depression is likely to undergo the same incident once triggered by circumstances that cause the illness.

3. A chronic medical condition can put a person to greater risk of developing depression. The pain and frustrations of suffering a chronic disease can trigger depression. There are also illnesses like cancer and thyroid disease that cause the alteration and changes in a person's body chemistry. These changes may result in the symptoms of depression. Parkinson's disease causes degeneration in the brain tissue that can lead to depression. Alzheimer's disease on the other hand causes an overwhelming deterioration in a person's intellectual functioning that can also give way to depression.

4. A personal loss that recently battered an individual can cause depression. It could be a death of a loved one, job loss or moving away to a new place and leaving behind relatives and lifelong friends. A person recently having been through the rigors and pains of divorce may undergo depression as well. Even a child going to college or starting to live on his own can render his parents vulnerable to depression.

5. There are personality traits that can precipitate depression. Depressive personalities are usually seen in people who have the tendency to sulk, criticize and are often pessimistic about a lot of things.

6. There are induced depressions caused by drugs such as sedatives and tranquilizers. These drugs produce calming effect that depresses certain body functions and organ activity.

7. Excessive use of alcohol can cause depression. Alcohol changes the brain chemistry as some evidence points out, increasing a person's predisposition to depression. Although if taken in small amounts, alcohol can lift a person's mood, when consumed excessively this can render an opposite effect.

8. The weather can also affect a person's mood and in some cases can precipitate depression. The dark days of winter bring on a form of depression commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD to some people. However, the sunny days of spring and summer alleviate the depression. Most often people with this kind of depression migrate to places where the harsh gloomy days of winter are non-existent.

Knowing these factors may help a person manage his depression and seek professional help before it gets worse.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Dog Therapy on Clinical Depression

Years ago I owned a dog named Sparkles. He was a cross between a Cocker Spaniel, Poodle and Beagle. Sparkles loved to play and he was a very affectionate animal. He lived for 13 years. I don't know what it is about dogs but they definitely can sense when their masters are experiencing a problem. Sparkles was no exception. I remember Sparkles fondly because it was he who got me through some of the worst battles I had had with clinical depression, if only for a short amount of time. If you suffer from clinical depression, I'm sure you can appreciate the fact that even some relief from the emotional grip that depression can have on you is better than none at all.

Thinking about my time with Sparkles motivated me to do some research on the therapeutic effects that animals, particularly dogs, can have on people with clinical depression. What I found was extremely interesting and I'd like to share some of that information with you. If you suffer from depression, especially clinical depression., I'm sure you'll find this enlightening.

Scientists have spent a considerable amount of time studying animals, particularly dogs, and their therapeutic effect on individuals with physical and emotional issues. So if you enjoy dogs, please consider the following 5 therapeutic benefits of dog therapy on clinical depression:

1. Provides unconditional love and affection - Nothing that I know of can elevate a person's mood more than to be loved and accepted unconditionally. I don't know of any human being who could offer the amount of unconditional love, not to mention patience, like a dog can. Whenever I'd come home and no matter what mood I was in, Sparkles was always glad to see me. The minute I'd sit down, he'd jump up on my lap and lick at my face. Then he'd look at me with those "I love you daddy "eyes and he'd want to play. How could I not feel better after that? Treat your dog right and you'll enjoy every minute of the experience.

2. Redirects cognitive focus - Fortunately it is impossible for us to have depressive and positive thoughts at the same time. Owning a dog creates a sense of responsibility. Any positive experience with your dog such as feeding, cuddling, walking, and playing will create a cognitive shift from depressed thoughts to a more positive focus on your dog. It was primarily during play time with Sparkles that I felt the best because I gave him my full attention.

3. Increases physical activity - One of the best exercises if not the best exercise for depression is walking. Walking naturally elevates our mood. Dogs need to be walked and of course Sparkles was no exception. In fact, Sparkles, like most dogs, loved to be walked. I usually walked Sparkles three times a day. When I felt especially depressed, I walked him more than that. The combination of walking plus refocusing my thoughts on Sparkles really helped me to suppress my depressive symptoms. It can work for you as well.

4. Reduces isolation - Very few things in life are certain. One thing that is absolutely certain however is that as long as your dog is alive, he will always be your constant companion. Before Sparkles became part of our family, I would usually withdraw and isolate myself from everyone, including my wife,.whenever I had a depressive episode. If you have depression, I'm sure you may be all too familiar with loneliness and withdrawal. Believe me, having a dog around will change that. Once Sparkles arrived, my loneliness virtually disappeared and I isolated myself less frequently. After all, my wife enjoyed playing with the dog too, so we were able to do that together.

5. Reduces feelings of personal worthlessness - Once you own a dog, any feelings of personal worthlessness you might have felt during a depressive episode, should begin to erode, at least to some extent, rather quickly. After all, your dog will depend on you for virtually everything. That dependence should create a sense of purpose because you'll feel needed.

You've probably realized by now, that in order to enjoy the therapeutic effects of a dog, or any animal for that matter, you must like being around animals. Further, any animal that can be held, petted, or cuddled, can provide you with just about the same therapeutic effects as a dog.

Now, please don't run out and get a puppy or dog right away. If you do seriously consider getting a dog, I would suggest that you take the time to volunteer at your local animal shelter. If you have a relative or friend with a dog, ask to dog sit for awhile. That way you'll have a better idea of what it's like to have a dog as a buddy and companion.

Bipolar Mania, Hypomania, and Cyclothymia

Many people are familiar with the main types of bipolar disorder - bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. However, not as many people are familiar with the other types of bipolar disorder: hypomania and cyclothymia.

If you have three or more of the following symptoms listed below most of the day -- nearly every day -- for one week or longer, you may be having bipolar mania:

• Excessive happiness (elation), hopefulness, and excitement
• Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile
• Restlessness, increased energy, and less need for sleep
• Rapid talk, talkativeness, interrupting other people's sentences
• Distractibility
• Racing thoughts
• Increased sex drive
• Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
• Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit a job
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity -- unrealistic beliefs in ability, intelligence, and powers; may be delusional
• Increased reckless behaviors (such as excessive spending, risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and/or ill-advised business decisions)

Hypomania is simply a less intense (severe) form of mania. The person may seem to be in a better mood than usual, but not exhibit the extreme elation found in a manic episode. They may experience a greater sense of well-being and feel as if they are more productive.

One of the problems for the person experiencing hypomania, however, is that it can fool them. Hypomania can turn into full-blown mania, or can also lapse into a bipolar depressive episode.

Cyclothymia is another type of bipolar disorder and, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) by the American Psychiatric Association, a diagnosis of cyclothymia is based on the following:

1. Individual has had many periods of both hypomania and depression, for a period of at least two years.

2. Individual has experienced no periods of normal mood lasting longer than two months.

3. Individual has experienced no major depression, manic or mixed episode during the first two years of symptoms

4. Symptoms are not attributable to either Schizophrenia or Psychotic Disorder

5. Symptoms are not due to effects of medication, illicit drugs or medical condition.

6. Individual experiences significant distress or impairment in daily living.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques and Bipolar Disorder

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is talk therapy that examines the client's thought process and relevant emotions to those thoughts. Both the client and therapist examine those thoughts in hopes to find a viable intervention that either promotes more positive thinking or eliminates negative thought.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is great for addressing current problems as it doesn't dig too deep into past issues. It is also relatively short-term when compared to other therapy methods. Measurable progress could be seen as soon as the fourth session, should the client and therapist find an intervention method that clicks.

An example intervention technique is addressing automatic negative thoughts. Imagine your boss walks up to your desk in a neutral manner and says "in 10 minutes, I need to see you in my office for a private discussion." What's the first thought that comes to mind? If it's "oh, I must be in trouble", then that would be an automatic negative thought. The problem happens when these thoughts exist without real rationale and they cause overwhelming stress and anxiety to the point where you have visible problems coping. In this example, it would be a rational thought if your boss frequently spoke to people privately when they were in trouble and used a similar approach.

However, it may not be rational if the thought extends to "he's going to fire me today. I know it. And I'm sure he hates me anyway", especially if you've never been in trouble and no other evidence shows that your boss has a dislike for you. For bipolar disorder patients experiencing paranoia or depression, this line of thinking wouldn't be uncommon. These thoughts could interfere with sleep and work in general. And interrupted sleep for bipolar disorder patients can promote negative actions and may even trigger a manic or depressive episode.

A therapist using cognitive behavioral therapy may ask the client to write down the thought and analyze it with the following questions:

1. Is it true?

2. How can I validate that this thought is true?

3. How do I react with this thought?

4. Where would I be without this thought?

The patient would bring those answers to the therapist and they would discuss to see the effects and what could be done if it turns out the automatic negative thought wasn't validated.

The additional value of cognitive behavioral therapy interventions like this is that they can help patients see the manic episode coming and learn how to react better to it. If more automatic negative thoughts are happening, the patient can start looking for the other symptoms and triggers. He can give this information to loved ones and the therapist to see if lifestyle adjustments or other treatments need to be made.

This is just one example of cognitive behavioral therapy. There are many other interventions and methods that use a similar style and require the patient to do these types of self-examination and bring the results back for analysis. As long as the bipolar patient is willing to do the work, cognitive behavioral therapy can help them manage moods more effectively.

Depression Due To Diabetes - Reaction After Diagnosis

You walk in to your physician's chambers after a test. The physician informs you that you are diabetic. That comes as a shock to you. Your next questions are you sure, it can't be. But even a second test confirms that.

What do you do? There is so much information floating around about diabetes that most if not many think it as a 'death warrant'. Immediate thoughts are about people who had diabetes undergoing all kinds of treatment, medications, restrictions, complications such non healing of ordinary wounds, and also how it impedes other treatment and so on.

Yes it is difficult to cope with the diagnosis of diabetes. Most refuse to believe that they could be the carrier of diabetes. They spend money in getting it checked again and again in despair. Ultimately, when it is sufficiently confirmed, they fall into despair. And despair leads to depression. Visions of impairment, incapacity to do certain things, and other similar thoughts crowd the mind, leading to depression. The American Diabetes Association has studies to prove that diabetes are greater risk of falling into depression - itself another disease.

Loss of appetite, inability to concentrate, lack of interest in day to day activity, inability to sleep, or disturbed sleep pattern, including excessive sleep are some of the symptoms that are indicative of depression. What is not realised that depression combined with diabetes is a dangerous condition.

If you are one such person and suffer from signs of depression, you should consult your physician to help you, or refer you to a therapist who is cognizant of the disease, and who can perhaps help you. Seeking help does not mean you are helpless. On the other hand, seeking help means you want support from experts who could help you through the phase your are undergoing. Remember that you are one of the many thousands who suffer from this disease, and who have successfully overcome the present phase you are in, and are now leading healthy lives.

There are support groups available consisting of people like you, who have diabetes, and many of them have been through the trauma you are now undergoing. Talking it out with them will act as a balm for your "why me" syndrome.

Diabetes is not a life threatening disease, any more. It can be controlled provided you are ready to make some alterations to your lifestyle. Your lifestyle undergoes only minor changes and not major ones. The more you learn about it, the more you will find that it is controllable, without any major changes in your lifestyle. Yes, there will be restrictions and pills to take. But it is not the end of the world for you. Learn from various sources. Get in touch with the American Diabetes Foundation, or visit their website. Learn what it is all about, and what are the medications available. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that nearly 95 per cent of the diabetics lead normal lives. The more you learn about the disease, the better you will feel.

Control of diabetes has come to such an advanced stage that individuals need not give up their favorite foods or their leisure time activities. of course there are new medications to take, more frequent tests, and several visits to the physician before your ideal medication combination is arrived at. This itself is stressful. But take it in your stride. Don't feel helpless, because there is no need to. There are enough diabetics around. All you have to do is to get in touch with them. The American Diabetes Association is one such organisation, and they will be happy to help.

Clinical Depression Runs in the Family - How Do You Deal With It?

I recognized that something was wrong about the time I was 20 years old. At the time I was serving as a missionary for my church in Europe in the country of Hungary. I was speaking fluent Hungarian and doing something that I dreamed of most of my life. My religion and missionary experiences are for another article. Right now I want to focus on my struggle with clinical depression, a disease that affects a large amount of people. My goal is to give a little bit of hope to somebody out there that they can know that, first, they are not alone, and second, there is a way to beat it.

My Family Struggles With Depression

One of the toughest things I had to deal with growing up is the fact that so many people are ignorant when it comes to understanding clinical depression. It is commonplace to believe that people with manic depression belong in the looney-bin. They believe that depression equals handicap or incapability. Fortunately, I was exposed to depression at a young age. So I guess my perspective comes from a different angle then most.

My mother has clinical depression, and has had it all of her adult life. She copes well with it 99% of the time and has a lapse every now and again. She explained to me that having clinical depression is like being sick, or having a disease. It doesn't mean you have brain damage, or that you are just experiencing the consequences of bad choices. It is a chemical imbalance that can cause one to experience high bouts of anxiety and stress even over little things, loss of enjoyment in things that usually bring joy, an overall feeling of a lack of purpose to life, and can lead some people to thoughts of suicide.

My grandfather also lived with clinical depression. He grew up in a time where people were really ignorant to psychological disorders. So, those poor people who had to deal with the disorder usually dealt with it privately and didn't look outward for help.

The Best Way To Beat Depression Is To Be Open With Loved Ones and Specialists

I, too, have clinical depression. Like I stated at the beginning of this article, I came to the realization when I was about 20 years old. It was a very difficult time of my life. I was on the other side of the world serving an LDS mission (again, something I was very excited about and really enjoyed). It was a tough experience learning Hungarian and the responsibility I felt of teaching the people we met with. Most people that face clinical depression have it manifest during a really high-stress experience.

After months of trying to beat depression on my own I finally surrendered and asked for help. I spoke to my leader, who was very understanding and helpful, and he got me in contact with a specialist. It was a relief to talk with the specialist and come to an understanding that I wasn't crazy! Instead, I came to realize that I wasn't alone and that I didn't have to fight my battle with depression by myself.

Over the years I have come to realize that there are so many people around us that are willing to help give you encouragement, support, and love. It is how I am winning my battle with depression everyday. And so can you!

I Knew S/he Was Crazy! Telltale Signs of Depression and Suicide in the African American Community

As a research scientist, I am asked what The Telltale Signs of Depression and Suicide are and befuddled, I say the usual, "search the web"! Since, I deal with diverse populations, many of the top search engines, especially health websites, are NOT always people of color's "BFF's". When explaining to diverse groups about the symptoms of depression and suicide, there are plenty of "yes, buts" or "what ifs" that countermand adherence to medical directives. These actions still occur even when a Nobel Laureate physician wrote the major symptom section for the DSM-IV revised!

I have personally witnessed on numerous diverse social media websites the grossly inaccurate information posted on them. I myself has been subject to ridicule and harassment. As a result, I am relaying and translating the societal and cultural nuances so that diverse laypeople all understand the key symptoms of depression and suicide. I am translating these symptoms for the African American community because I am African American and many people have come to me wondering if there is a way to identify these symptoms. Disturbingly, they may have lost a loved one to suicide and they wonder if there was anything more they could do to stop it. While reviewing top health websites for depression symptoms, I found there was a lack of cultural competency in explaining these symptoms. While it is clear that not ALL of these symptoms are seen in every case of depression or suicide, the key symptoms outlined in major online health websites do NOT translate with "any culturally nuanced depression symptoms".

At this time, I will not be listing what to do on how to manage these symptoms. I organized this "Translation Navigator" so that everyone is "on same page". I mean no disrespect to those who understand this information, but seriously, looking at the mental health disparities, something MUST be done for the lack of cultural competence described in my symptom review. Anyone using this information is for entertainment purposes only and cannot be used as a diagnostic. Moreover, it can complement a professionally licensed health care provider's directive, but it does not supplant or supersede any treatment plan by a licensed provider. Nor does it counteract against the written referenced material.

The Translator/Navigator

Culturally Competent Telltale Signs for Depression in the African Americans

• 
  The inability to concentrate often resembles forgetfulness This symptom occurs almost everyday and people who are depressed often forget important tasks, like missing due dates for bills, or forgetting to call key people like doctors. It is not the casual forgetfulness of losing keys or dementia like getting lost, or even Alzheimer's, which is VERY different! This forgetfulness is after a profound conversation/argument with the depressed person, and s/he STILL forgets to pay the cable bill!



• 
  Being fatigued or decreased energy If the depressed person goes to church Sunday at 11:00 AM, and then stops suddenly, to which s/he complains of fatigue or "I'm tired", when they did nothing physically strenuous, then it probably a depression. It is the dramatic shift in routine over a month.



• 
  Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness These symptoms lack articulation by diverse depressed individuals. Moreover men do not discuss these feeling freely. If men say anything, it resembles blame on any perceivable target-usually the caregiver! Depressed women complain, whine, and then blame. Shortly, I will explain later how that resembles in diverse communities.



• 
  Hopelessness and/or pessimism Depressed individuals often have "sarcastic commentary" that teenagers are more than happy to provide whenever anybody makes comments. For example, when the caregiver says, "Let's go to the Beach, it is a nice sunny day!", a depressed individual would retort, "Why? To get burned by the sun!!!"



• 
  Insomnia or excessive sleeping: I have not noticed diverse depressed individuals to be unable to sleep unless they have an anxiety/PTSD or a mania, but I have seen sleeping all day for several days without being sick, or having that dark room, because light hurts. Depressed individuals often choose that darkened room during a sunny day rather than enjoying the outdoors--an active choice that is made.



• 
  Irritability or restlessness: Irritability often looks like whining and snapping at whatever is said. A caregiver could just say "BOO" and the depressed person combined with the feeling of guilt would bite the caregiver's head off for saying it. The restlessness is often combined with the forgetfulness. Watch when they cook. Request the depressed person to make lemonade from powder and s/he will get flustered by making a simple recipe. And remember, the behavior is not random; it is consistent over a month or two.



• 
  Lost of interest in activities once pleasurable, includes sex: This symptom is combined with the forgetfulness, fatigue, guilt, pessimism and excessive sleepiness symptoms. It could be any activity that the depressed person enjoys often as a tradition or ritual, and for some unknown reasons it is suddenly dropped! An example is, with the "holidays approaching" the depressed loved one for no reason, refuses to participate in an activity once thoroughly enjoyed. It is not because s/he has a new life situation, but the excuse is that s/he does not want to do it and is likely to berates it. Remember, the behavior is consistent over a few weeks and is not completely random!



• 
  Changes in eating behavior: What a depressed individual does is overeat a lot of carbohydrates (carbs, sugars, etc.): breads, cakes, chocolates, candies and sugar! Apparently, the medical aspects of depression feeds off of glucose in the brain, the full mechanism is unknown. Moreover, the meal is one time of day--all day and does not stop until sleep! Alternatively, what a depressed person looks like when his/her appetite is lost, s/he has failed to shop for grocery and all that is left is something indistinguishable, often the depressed person is living off of something bizarre like gum or rationalizes vitamin supplements as nutrition. Most of the symptoms mesh with each other, so this one is combined with forgetfulness, inability making decisions, helplessness and hopelessness. Moreover starvation through dieting can cause the insomnia...



• 
  Persistent malaise: A depressed person complains all the time about physical issues and when s/he chooses to see a primary care physician, only the immediate aches and pains are treated with drugs rather than the psychotropic medications due to health treatment limitations and standards of care. Meaning, if there is no adherence to these drugs, why force the patient to take them? Laboratory tests and manifestations cannot convince the depressed person of his/her ailment is depression. Remember this is another symptom that meshes itself with other symptoms, so if this one symptom is seen, then it is likely that others will be seen...



• 
  Persistent negative thoughts: A depressed person says as a complaint or whine that "nobody likes them" or any absolute statements: NEVER, ALWAYS, and NOBODY. Often seen as a judgment with accusations: i.e. "You should's" and "You must's" and "everybody's". The empty feelings look like a comatose person-especially when asked a simple question like "How are you going today"? The depressed person will respond with a shrug or say "I don't know" on a consistent basis. Remember, this type of symptom is meshed with the other ones. This symptom is a "trigger" symptom or a "red flag" symptom, meaning when you start hearing them frequently, more than 3 times overall, this is the time when the caregiver's antenna needs to be raised and attempt to get professionally licensed help!!!



• 
  Thoughts of suicide: I cannot emphasize this statement any stronger: when this comment is made, it needs to be taken seriously! Whether or not there is a plan: DO NOT TAKE THIS COMMENT LIGHTLY! DO NOT DISCOUNT IT! By the time, the depressed person vocalizes it, s/he has actually intensely rationalized it and has given serious thoughts about it, and now they are beginning to venture out really to get help on it! PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS SYMPTOM OR TALK THEM OUT OF IT! PLEASE GET THEM TO PSYCHIATRIC CARE!!! This key symptom is the neurophysiological course of the depression disease. Literally, the brain is damaging itself due to the aforementioned symptoms. It is thought that all the symptoms meshed together overload the system and crashes the "logic centers" of the brain--somewhat like a computer hard drive crashing. But in this case the other organs actually attempting to save the body at the same time: such as the heart, the muscles, the stomach, the liver and the kidneys, plus many more. The organs try to override this "cerebral self-destruct" button. Remember, this behavior is not always night and day, or random, but it does not lessen the impact, please watch this behavior closely.

So please permit me to use some creative license and combine some of the warning signs to suicide that I have translated into culturally competent text from major online health websites:

There are some key symptoms that caregivers MUST watch and be vigilant with someone suffering from depression, especially as it relates to suicide! I cannot stress this enough the depressed individual is NOT about him/her being crazy or funny, this is about him/her suffering from a major medical neurophysiological disease like any other illness and requires professionally licensed care and treatment. Moreover, these are the telltale signs: These are the signs used when one does NOT want to say "if I could have done anything differently..." The way to think about this is the splinter in the tiger. The tiger by itself is a man eating animal, but when there is a splinter in the paw, the tiger writhes in pain and while you might think "it is not a big deal", because it is a man-eating tiger and usually it will kill itself or gnaw off its paw off to minimize the pain. If someone removes the splinter, it is thought the tiger is grateful and remembers that person always. Loving a depressed individual, like that splintered tiger, is perilous and as a caregiver it takes a team to support that individual, which a licensed provider must be consulted. Unfortunately, hospitalization cannot be enforced upon any unwilling mentally ill person who has not committed a crime or threat. However, a caregiver, can learn about the basic suicide symptoms described below:

• 
  Suddenly switching from very sad (depressed) to calm/appearing happy or tranquil: While obviously stated, this symptom often this looks like the depressed person has found "resolution" to his/her problem. Unfortunately it is committing suicide... Like a wrong answer game show buzzer--EHHHN--this inaccurate conclusion erroneously looks like a calm in the suicidal ideation depressed individual. One way to confirm one's thoughts are to ASK what his/her wants are. This is a question of autonomy, because it determines if a definitive decision has been made. If s/he has a formal plan with times and dates, get professionally licensed help immediately or call 9-1-1!



• 
  Always talking and writing about death: Listed as dressing in "Gothic paraphernalia", like always wearing black like a vampire... Seriously, this is probably the most egregious example of culturally incompetence I have seen in regards to understanding suicidal ideation and symptoms. To make this symptom culturally competent for African Americans, this often resembles when young people attempt to look like or live like "gangsters" or "thugs", with the guns, paraphernalia, and listening to "profane gangsta rap" or "thuggish" music and actually believing the lyrics are real. And the discussion looks like dark and dreary kinds of lifestyle, such as robbing people, misogyny, prostitution, and prison life, etc. This symptom meshes with another symptom as described later.



• 
  Having a "death wish"--taking unnecessary risks: such as running red lights... This symptom is another egregious example of missing the social determinants of health and the mental health disparity in diverse communities. In the African American community, especially for young men, running red lights is deadly in the United States, so that would not be something we would see often. The risk factors taken would probably be carrying a gun into a club as to protect oneself as an "unnecessary risk". The death wishes we have is getting involved in very dangerous activities known to ruin one's life and are self-destructive--which leads us to our next symptom



• 
  Substance abuse: Alcohol is a depressant, and some illegal substances, like marijuana and methamphetamine make irrational thoughts worse. Many people in our community abuse substances to self-medicate for their depression. It is a self-destructive habit. This is probably one of the single elements that is seen more in the African American community than others. The symptom looks over and beyond the normal consumption of these substances--a functional alcoholic or smoker, etc. And substance abuse treatment differs from depression treatment, while the two are intertwined inexplicably, first the addiction is treated then the mental health issue. More often than not most substance abusers RARELY get treated for their mental health issues.



• 
  Acting impulsively: Acting impulsively is doing something without thinking about it and letting the chips fall where they land--meaning if the depressed person dies, that will be where the chips landed... The depression symptoms are meshed with this suicide warning sign, such as guilt and hopelessness. It is reckless. One possibility is once they get that gun, what more will they do--such as robbery, going along with the violent crowd, rioting, killing people. The mentality is the suicidal person with erroneously thing that they have to see the end of this bad course of action.



• 
  Poor performance in school and work: Young people often have failing grades and it is known they are able to do the work. For adults, it accounts for massive sick days and absenteeism from work, lack of follow through on projects and missed deadlines. There may be some hostilities between the depressed loved one and co-workers. The depression symptoms seen meshed with this suicide warning sign are lack of concentration, fatigue and excessive sleeping.There may be others.



• 
  Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, writing/changing a will, giving away prized possessions: So many depressed African Americans feel they do not have anything, so changing wills is infrequent occurrence. This suicide warning sign resembles vandalism or destruction of property. The depressed person's thinking is "Since I have nothing to lose (hopelessness) and everyone thinks I am worthless (guilt, worthlessness), I will vandalize this property by graffiti or I will destroy this property by stealing/thievery of key items". What makes this illogical thinking occur in a depressed person is putting the affairs in order or tying up loose ends... This a suicidal warning sign shows the welcomed risk of arrest! As usual, this symptom travels with other depression symptoms as well as other suicidal warning signs like substance abuse or a death wish.



• 
  Feeling strong anger or rage: It has been told to me that depression is anger turned in on one's self. The anger people have is due to unresolved hurts and pains or experiencing what is perceived as a traumatic event. Some people casually say, "This is what is called life, deal with it"! Saying this statement to a depressed person is an abusive, insensitive, destructive and harmful comment, because it will tip them over from thinking about suicide to actually committing suicide. The heartless comment often is misconstrued by a depressed person who is already having inaccurate absolute conclusions and this comment causes the person who cannot articulate in his/her feelings to verify his/her self-worth through the "depression and suicidal lenses". What is seen is either the first suicidal warning sign of "listlessness" or "empty" feelings or an anger/rage unloading, often with crying. What causes this anger? I have a blog on anger as it is written from my bipolar POV at Crazy Black Woman

Remember, it should be noted that some people who commit suicide do not show ANY warning signs. So, loved ones may still feel, "I knew s/he was crazy, but..." And if caregiver's actively see these symptoms and want to help him/her, judgment does not help them either! What is optimal is professionally licensed care and treatment! A few pastors have qualifications for mental health care treatment. If a pastor says that ONLY prayer or telling one to just be saved cures mental health, that is HOLY UNETHICAL!

Many professionally licensed providers lack cultural sensitivity and could look "crazy" to you! Finding the what works for you is a personal choice. The key is to ask MANY DIRECT QUESTIONS, learn to navigate the mental health care system, and implement mental health and wellness goals! If that is of interest to you as a "diverse woman", please feel free to join us at SistahMentalHealth dot com and start your PQ Interest Questionnaire TODAY!

Clinical Depression Symptoms - Spot Them Fast

Are you displaying classic clinical depression symptoms? You may be able to work out from this article if you're suffering from depression. Read on to find out more about depression and what to do if you believe that you are displaying any of the clinical depression symptoms.

• Part 1) Emotional state & mood: Sometimes it is hard to articulate the way you're feeling and it can be difficult to pin point what it is that's wrong. Clinical depression symptoms have been characterised in many ways, some describe it as a constant uncontrollable sadness, whilst others suggest it's more like a heavy black cloud that hangs over you. If for any extended period of time you stop feeling like your usual self, loose motivation in your daily life, feel irritable, short tempered for no reason and have suicidal thoughts you must take these clinical depression symptoms seriously. Whether you're feeling blue or you're consumed with pessimism you should never just sweep it under the rug.
  
  


• Part 2) physical state & health: You'll be amazed how much depression can effect your physical health. One of the most common clinical depression symptoms is a change in appetite. Some people will loose their appetites completely, while others will comfort eat. You may also experience some lethargy, feel constantly tired and feels as though things take great effort to do. Some sufferers who go without treatment turn to alcohol and drugs, in an attempt to make themselves feel better. This is the worst thing your could do. Once you sober up or come down from your high, you will be in an even worse state. So, be sure to avoid these substances.
  
  


• Different types of depression: Bipolar (manic): is often misdiagnosed as depression, but this is a very different disorder where the sufferer experiences extreme high and low moods and swings wildly between the two with little or no control. S.A.D: this stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder which is a winter depression caused by the short winter days and a lack of exposure to the sun. Post natal: this is a very serious type of depression that affects women after childbirth. Clinical/Chronic: this is long term depression which may have been caused by childhood events or chemical imbalances in the brain (see the clinical depression symptoms above). Reactive depression: this can occur after a significant and stressful event such as a divorce, death, moving house etc.
  
  


• Ways to improve your state of mind and reduce clinical depression symptoms in three simple steps: 1. Work out the things that make you depressed and try to avoid them 2. Decrease the demands on your daily life ease off on the pressures and stresses 3. You may feel like staying in bed all day, but don't. Getting the right amount of sleep is important but staying in bed all day won't make you feel any better, in fact it'll probably worsen your mood.

If you have been experiencing any Clinical Depression Symptoms for an extended period of time, you must visit a medical professional. If you would like some more information on depression, Clinical Depression Symptoms and the help that's available then click on the links below.

What Are the First Signs of Depression?

SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

Feeling low from time to time is an everyday part of normal life. We all experience various emotions - some good, some not so. It is when these low moods become part of your everyday life that may mean you are suffering from clinical depression. It is when the feelings of "greyness" take over and make everyday decisions and actions seem much more difficult than they used to, that you need to sit up and take notice.This is when you need to ask "What are the first signs of depression?"

In short, if you have constant low mood, have little interest in the things that once filled your day, and you are struggling to cope with all that you once coped with, then I would suggest that you read on.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Life will always have its highs and lows. It is normal. People will always have periods of happiness and sadness - they are normal human emotions in response to everyday situations. Some people, when feeling a little low, will often tell you "I'm depressed". Loosely, they can be, we can allow them this indulgence. This is more likely to be termed situation depression, or a normal reaction to events unfolding around us. Clinical Depression, however, is something totally different. It is a totally consuming condition which effects the way in which we live our lives. With Clinical Depression, it is difficult to sleep, eat, concentrate of even to enjoy life as you once did, and, whats more, there seems little escape from it.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS OF DEPRESSION?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, and they just seem never to go away, you may be suffering from Clinical Depression.

• You can't get to sleep, wake up in the middle of the night or have too much sleep


• Tasks that were once easy now seem difficult


• Inability to concentrate


• Low self esteem - feeling worthless, ugly or useless


• Loss of appetite or over eating - comfort eating


• Experience anger or irritability at the slightest mishap


• Crying at things which, to others, seem trivial


• Loss of sex drive


• Lack of energy


• Unable to have "fun" or find amusement in the things that you once did


• Dark Thoughts that you cannot push out of your mind


• Suicidal thoughts (In this case you MUST seek emergency help

If you can answer YES to 2 or more of these symptoms you may well be on the road to having your life blighted by depression, and it is time to take action.

It is not the end of the world however. Many people have managed to pull themselves out of the grip of depression, including myself, and there are various ways of doing so. For some, medication is the answer. Whilst I am not suggesting for one minute that this should not be the way forward, its not for everyone, and certainly wasn't for me. I did not want to be on anti depressants for months or even years as I had seen in some cases.

With the Internet at out fingertips there is whole world of self help guides for anyone asking the same question as you: "What are the First Signs of Depression?"

How to Cure Severe Depression for Good

For most people, severe depression is the feeling of living in a black hole and constantly waiting for doom to come. Depression is commonly mistaken for sadness, but it is more than just feeling down due to disappointments and minor setbacks in life. In fact, most people who go through periods of depression may not feel sad at all. They may feel empty, lifeless, and indifferent to most of the things that happen around them.

What are its symptoms?

Depression is usually diagnosed by checking for several signs and symptoms that linger for a long period of time. These symptoms include deviations from normal sleeping habits, inability to concentrate and to accomplish relatively easy tasks, as well as feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Loss of appetite and thoughts of attempting suicide are also common symptoms of severe depression.

How is it treated?

Results from treatments used for clinical depression vary from one person to another. In order to cure this psychological condition, patients are advised to find the perfect treatment that can solve the root causes of their psychological problem.

Two of the most popular ways to treat depression is to seek help from professional therapists and to take antidepressants.

A professional therapist can serve as a depressed patient's best friend, with whom he can share all his negative thoughts and worries in life. Meanwhile, antidepressants can ease the symptoms of clinical depression and increase the levels of serotonin or happy hormones in the brain. However, most people who undergo therapies and take antidepressants feel worse about their condition and experience unpleasant side effects.

On a lighter note, non-pharmaceutical treatments for severe depression are already available. These effective treatments include transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, and vagus nerve stimulation.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is performed by placing a large metal coil near the patient's forehead. This coil passes gentle and painless electric currents through the brain in order to stimulate its portions that control a patient's mood. Most people regard TMS as the only least invasive treatment for clinical depression that can produce positive and long-lasting effects.

Meanwhile, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is conducted by sending electrical currents to the brain to trigger seizures. These seizures were found to regulate people's moods and to provide effective cure for severe depression.

Lastly, the vagus nerve stimulation requires a surgery wherein pulse generators are implanted to the chests of patients. These generators are attached to wires that lead to the vagus nerve. When this nerve is stimulated, a long-lasting cure for chronic depression is experienced.

As previously mentioned, the results from all these treatments vary from one person to another. Hence, it is important to consult a medical professional first before trying any treatment for chronic and severe depression.

Types of Depression - A Must Read

"Mental Depression" has been a scary word for people for a long time. Primarily depression is a change in mood. Generally people identify it with insanity. This is really not true. It's a kind of disease but it doesn't make anyone insane. It doesn't make anyone apart from a general crowd. Depression also demands medical attention like the other diseases. Depression is completely curable, if you go for the right treatment. Spotting the symptoms of mental depression is not an easy task. The symptoms may vary according to the type of depression. A number of terms are used to describe different types of depression.  

• Bipolar Depression:

This type of depression normally hits in adolescence or early adulthood. It causes mood disorder with manic episodes. It is very serious but can be treated effectively. As the problem develops it results in -  

· Alcohol and drug abuse  
· Thinking and concentration becomes difficult  
· Marital breakups  
· Suicide  

• Dysthymic Depression:

Dysthymia is a Greek word which means "bad state of mind". It is almost similar to major depression but lasts longer. It is more common in women than in men. It can be identified with the following symptoms -  

· disturbed sleep cycle (increase or decrease in sleeping)  
· Poor concentration  
· fatigue  
· depressed mood  

• Major Depression:

It is a serious form of depression. It is more persistent and can affect a person's behavior, mood, thoughts and even physical health. It is more common in women than in men because of conditions like menstruation, contraceptives, miscarriage, pregnancy, child-birth and menopause.  

• Atypical Depression:

This depression is entirely different from others. Its symptoms are opposite to the symptoms of other depressions. Overeating and oversleeping are the very common symptoms of atypical depression. Moods of people with atypical depression change very quickly in reaction to positive or negative events. There is a temporary improvement in mood.  

• Psychotic Depression:

It is a very serious and rare form of depression. It can be diagnosed only by a psychiatrist. In this depression patient develops some false beliefs about himself and the people or things around him. Major depressive mood along with hallucinations and delusions are its symptoms.  

• Melancholic Depression:

As the name suggests, patient suffering from it lost interest in all activities. His mood doesn't change even in response to a positive event. It becomes more severe in morning.  

• Catatonic Depression:

This type of depression is identified by at least two of the following symptoms  

· Odd facial expressions  
· Inability to react  
· Inappropriate postures or movements  
· Unwilling to speak  anything
· Repetition of someone's words or movements.  

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

This type of depression affects patient during a particular season of the year or some specific time. Some patients may feel depressed and lazy during the winter months while some during the summer months.  

• Masked Depression:

Only depressed mood is not the definition of depression. The depression can be expressed in other forms also, which we can't think about. Sometimes a patient feel depressed because of depression but on the contrary sometimes he doesn't know that he is suffering from depression. The depression can be concealed or masked behind these problems:  

· Headache  
· Stomach ache  
· Gastrological disorders  
· Indigestion  
· Muscle pain  

• Anxiety Depression:

Anxiety is a very common symptom of depression. In this depression, a patient may also experience panic attacks or disorder and social phobia.  

• Single Episode Depression:

In this, patient experiences recurring thoughts of only one episode of depression. It can be any stressful event or accident of his life.  

• Recurrent Episodic Depression:

This patient experiences two or more episodes of depression.  

Right medication and treatment depends on the type of depression, its symptoms and duration. All these types of depression can be treated through medication and other alternative techniques.  

Depression and Anxiety Test - Can You Change Your Point of View?

One glaring symptom of clinical depression is an inability to see the glass as half full. A depressed person tends to look at the negative side of most situations. This is one of the major obstacles that must be overcome when recovering from depression or anxiety. Being more positive can be like trying to remove a heavy blanket that seems to be covering the emotions and stifling the energy at a very deep level. The effort can seem Herculean and not be worth the effort.

We know that holding a more optimistic view of life is linked to positive moods and good morale, to popularity, good health and even to long life. Positive expectancies also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events.

This positive attitude is more than just taking lemons and making lemonade although that is a good way to live, too. Being positive means that you change your point of view. It means that you look at a situation and make it mean something good. It means having the skill to communicate with yourself and others that you expect life to be enjoyable and manageable. You embrace a realistic view of problem solving.

For example, if your boss approached you and said he wanted someone else to start doing a report you had always done you could get all hurt and depressed and think you had been judged unfairly. You could also decide to ask you boss why. You might be surprised to learn that you were being given more responsibility and the boss wanted to free up some of your time for higher level duties. That might change your point of view.

Can you think of a positive reason for each of the following?

1. Your spouse is very pre-occupied lately.

2. Your kids have stopped bringing their friends home.

3. You have placed 2nd in some contest of skill.

We are always faced with choices to make in life and you get to decide if you want to be optimistic or pessimistic. Signs of depression will surely follow the later and happiness and fulfilling challenges the former. So way not decide now, today, to begin to see the bright side. It is a choice and you are free to make it.

Your new attitude of optimism will free you from any need to control or manipulate people and will help to bring people closer to you. This view of the world is contagious and a socially desirable trait.

I hope you want to look forward to success in all of your endeavors by learning to be resilient. Who knows, you may eventually inspire others to see life as a fulfilling journey to take rather than a dreary problem to solve or avoid.

Understanding Depression - Signs of Depression

Typical symptoms of depression are:

· Constant feelings of pessimism and hopelessness
· Sad or Anxious Moods which persist for days
· Constant feelings of being incapable and of worthlessness
· Major difficulty in concentrating and remembering
· Complete loss of interest in hobbies and activities previously enjoyed
· Low levels of energy; sense of fatigue
· Extreme scenarios of sleep - either very little sleep or oversleeping
· Decrease in appetite leading to weight loss
· Increase in eating leading to weight gain
· Entertaining thoughts of suicide

It is not easy for people with depression to shake off their feelings of sadness and misery. They have to be treated with medication and therapy to help them overcome these overwhelming feelings. I know what it feels like since I have been dealing with depression for most of my adult life. This is generally the first of the many signs of depression.

Depression is a very complex emotional problem and it has not been easy finding the exact causes of it. However, with the help of years of research, it is being argued that the following factors could have a role to play in a person succumbing to depression.

Genetic Factors

It has been found that depression is often inherited. This has led to more research into genetics and what role that has to play in the transmitting of any depression from generation to generation. This however is not uniformly true, adding to the complexity of the problem. Researchers therefore conclude that it is more likely that a person may suffer from depression if any other family member is already suffering from it. However, even if there have been no instances of depression in the family, it does not mean that you will not suffer from it.

Psychological Predisposition

Some persons may be more vulnerable to depression than others. Scientists think that if people already have a certain predisposition for negativity, for instance, like persons who have very low self-esteem, a constantly pessimistic outlook or a persistently negative attitude, those people may be more likely than others to suffer from depression. Also, some are more likely to feel overwhelmed by situations of stress and anxiety, which may also lead to depression.

Physical Factors

Many doctors have noticed a correlation between physical illness and depression. Those that suffer from a heart attack or stroke, Parkinson's disease, and other hormonal disorders seem to be more likely to exhibit signs of depression. The recovery from a physical illness is often hindered by depression, and often the depression remains even after the physical ailment is resolved.

Environmental Stresses

There is not believed to be any direct link between negative events occurring in one's life and the occurrence of depression in a person. However, there is general agreement that certain environmental factors and circumstances will play a role in how the person responds emotionally to the negative events. Death, divorce, loss of a job, financial insecurity all can potentially cause depression in a person.

It is very important to stress how deeply depression can impact a person's life.

Every positive feeling is dampened, being replaced by negative thoughts. The person can no longer feel happy or content or enthusiastic even about the most positive developments in his life. Continuing to do normal routine work becomes difficult and the person finds it extremely tough to get through even one day's work. Most of the times, the person does not even realize that he is going through these extreme phases and it is up to the family and friends to try and recognize depression in their loved one.

In my case were my friends who had noticed some of the noticeable signs of depression.

With effort and help you can overcome many of the signs of depression, it is not a "walk on the park" but doable.

You deserve a better life, so please seek help for your depression.

The Imperfection of Perfectionism

Many people strive for some form of perfection. Whether in their work, in their appearance, in their relationships, in their expectations of others...There are a number of problems with perfectionism not the least of which it is simply not possible. Perfection is an ideal, which, almost by definition, is unattainable. Like trying to stand in the middle of a rainbow; as it's approached, it recedes. The other problem is that the criteria used to gauge perfection are suspect. How did we arrive at these criteria? Is it valid criteria? And, even if we were to judge it as valid criteria, will it remain so through time? If the criteria for perfection changes, then how perfect could it have been in the first place? Perfection suggests no room for improvement, the ultimate, the top of the line...can't get any better. It's perfect! The irony of perfectionism is that to hold that high, high standard, as an ideal, is an imperfection; it is an irrational and illogical standard by which to gauge and determine success or happiness.

Those who strive for perfection often unwittingly make their lives somewhat miserable. There are a number of emotions that accompany the perfectionist attitude. Consider the following questions...

• Do you get angry when you or others make mistakes?


• Are you unwilling to make compromises?


• Do you become easily disappointed?


• Are you impatient?


• Do you strive to be better than others?


• Would you rather do something yourself rather than delegate it to someone else?


• Do you feel that being average is equivalent to failure?

If you answered yes to these questions, then there is a good chance you have some strong perfectionistic attitudes towards yourself and others. And, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. It is possible to be less than perfect and satisfied. Let's take a closer look at perfectionism and how it can become simple satisfaction with acceptable performance.

Perfectionism is a conditioned belief established in the mind during childhood. There is no absolute guideline or rule that says you must be perfect, or else. But, there may be a thought pattern in the mind that says just that. Parents, teachers, coaches and other adults in the life of a child can easily imprint the attitude and belief that anything less than perfection is failure. Exactly what perfection entails is often nebulous and ends up being what the adult says it is. This then teaches the child that perfection is attained only when the adult, the authority, so says. As an adult, any achievement of perfection would then necessarily need to be confirmed by some authority figure. Often that authority figure is projected on the spouse, supervisor, manager or some adult in a position of perceived superiority. Excessive striving for approval by that authority becomes the means to obtain perfection which can cause undue stress and pressure which can then actually diminish performance resulting in approval ratings that are less than desired and then causing frustration, anger and depression. This may then cause an increase in striving, along with more stress and anxiety which further diminished truly effective performance, and the sought after approval. It becomes a downward spiral ending in excessive depressive moods, low motivation, decreased self-value and, in some cases, suicidal ideation. It need not be like this.

The critical factor in perfectionism is what is referred to as "external locus of control" which simply means that we seek the confirmation of our perfection from outside ourselves. Even if we ourselves hold the standard of perfection, we internalized that standard from adults while growing up. It is not a standard we have consciously, intelligently and maturely chosen or have derive after some deliberate thought. Of course, we may use the word "perfect" in a generic sense referring to acceptable, or even better than acceptable, behavior or performance. And, that behavior or performance is gauged by realistic and reasonable criteria. But, that is not perfectionism. Perfectionism, by definition and by the conditioning in which it was internalized in the mind, suggests a standard both unreachable and only confirmed by an outside source. As such, the first step in overcoming perfectionism is to recognize from whence comes our high, high standard and then to adjust that standard according to our own internal framework. That internal framework ought be based on a clear and rational assessment of individual capacities, interests and motivations. An understanding of reality based personal and professional goals, along with a rational understanding of what it means if those goals are not met, is important in re-evaluating exactly what determines success, as opposed to achieving perfection.

There are several beliefs that can run through the mind reinforcing perfectionism and those need to be changed. For example, the simple belief that "if I am not successful, then I am a failure" is perfectionistic. There is no middle ground. It is either success OR failure. There are no gradations. In fact, it is possible to be 80% successful, and that in no way means failure. Even 30% success is not failure; it simply suggests a need for improvement. In that sense, failure is simply feedback showing what needs to change to achieve a higher rate of success. And, indeed, viewing failure as feedback suggests there really is no such thing as failure, only feedback.

Another common belief is that "If I am not the best, I am no good." This highly competitive attitude is based on the idea that the best is perfect and anything less than the best is the worst. It is also, like failure and success, devoid of gradations. It is externally oriented as the best is determined by comparison with others rather than internal standards of excellence. However, even internal standards can be highly unrealistic having been internalized as a child from overly demanding parents. It's ironic that striving to be the best can cause increased stress and anxiety that reduces the chances of performing well, let alone at one's best. And, by taking a more casual approach, there is less tension and pressure, and performance tends to be better. It's a lot easier to be your best when you don't have to be your best for fear of being the worst-and perhaps even being punished.

Personal satisfaction and happiness can come from successes and achievements that in turn come from effective performance and intelligent behavior. But, there is no evidence whatsoever that "perfection" equates to real satisfaction or genuine happiness; but there is evidence to suggest that striving for perfection causes excessive stress, pressure and tension that then gives rise to anxiety, depression, psychosomatic symptoms and a general dissatisfaction and unhappiness. That is the imperfection of perfection. Why not learn to be less than perfect; you'll be happier and healthier.