Ulcerative Colitis and Depression

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic disease. As such, any chronic health condition being a long term illness, invariably causes stress and anxiety. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes not only pain, but also symptoms such as diarrhea and gas that are not easy to deal with in social and professional situations. This leads to continued mental stress and has every tendency to lead the patient towards the risk of depression.

Recent research findings suggest patients who show symptoms of depression and anxiety report a lower quality of life and could perhaps be at an increased risk of a relapse. Another study showed that patients with Crohn's disease who received some psychological treatment spent fewer days in the hospital and took fewer sick days. What is important is to break the seemingly vicious cycle of depression increasing the IBD and vice versa. Counseling plays an important part in making the patient aware of his illness and that he can play an active part in treating is depression.

The best known treatment for Ulcerative Colitis is with natural Aloe Vera which has been showing promising results. Its anti inflammatory action on the inner linings of the intestines plays a major role in arresting further irritation of the bowels as also in regenerating dead cells in the inner linings of the intestines. Aloe Vera heals, and if taken regularly, it restores your digestion and absorption. This increases nutrition intake in the body. Simultaneously, the patient can be put on a course of mild anti depressants and weaned off after a few months.

Treating irritable bowel syndrome with drugs may give short-term relief but always lead to severe side-effects. Knowing that there is no identified cure for this illness and that all drugs give only temporary relief should lead the doctor and the patient to a smart management of the disease as well as weaning oneself away from drugs. As said before, preference should be given to treating the patient with Aloe Vera juice, since this not only manages the overall condition of the body, but also improves the general well-being of the body.

Once the patient experiences a prolonged period of absence from the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, his general mental condition improves considerably. Instead of giving in to depression and anxiety, he begins to experience hope and relief from a chronic illness. As his mental attitude turns positive, his mood generally remains more cheerful than before, leading to a gradual improvement of his health.

Depression Treatment Center: Embrace the New Lease of Life

Stress, anxiety and depression affect the state of mind, and this finally leads to sadness and frustration. The zest for life can dissipate due to troubled mind. There are times in life when you feel upset. You may suffer from the feeling of guilt. Some people get trapped within the vicious circle of feelings of anxiousness, unworthiness and constant fatigue. This is where the significance of Depression treatment center is highly emphasized. It involves a combination of different efficacious therapies along with anti-depressant medications.

As per the health care experts, anxiety is physiological response to a stressful and potentially perilous situation. Constant anxiety has a massive psychological impact. It is essential to nip it in the bud before it destroys you. There are different kinds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders and personality disorders. Getting in touch with a reputed anxiety clinic is an excellent idea to keep depression at a bay. These treatment centers have come forward with thoughtful and systematic designed treatment programs that would bring a positive swing in your life. What you need to do is locate the best Depression treatment center in your vicinity.

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression or a mood disorder. It is characterized by extreme alteration in the mood, behavior and thinking of an individual. Many people do not know whether they are bipolar or not, and are only diagnosed as being bipolar after a while. In case you have doubts whether you are bipolar, you need to understand the common symptom of this disorder. This kind of mental illness is known to affect people of all ages.

Manic Depression Treatment Clinic suggests that the patient suffers from diverse shifts in their energy, moods as well as performing abilities. The extreme elevated moods are known as manic episodes and it may get overtaken by severe depression. It would be wise to approach a renowned Depression treatment center at your earliest convenience.

There are several incidents that might trigger the beginning of a depression bout. A nasty divorce can result into unsettling emotions. Divorce grief is a big challenge to handle. The feeling of grief involves anger, frustration and helplessness. Thousands of people are dealing with the emotional trauma of relationship breakups all across the globe. Thus, the number of people suffering from grief reaction disorder is getting alarmingly high. Depression treatment center can help you to move on in life with the much adored enthusiasm and excitement. They are determined to assist people to get over the divorce grief and recover from the emotional shock to live a blissfully happy life.

Personality disorder is a serious issue. The person suffering from it shows unusual behavior and thoughts which are not socially acceptable. This condition may lead to instability in personal and professional life. Thanks to the Depression treatment center that caters to an increasing need of effective treatment programs. These treatments have been distinguished into major categories such as intensive treatment program, day treatment program, dual integrative recovery program, family program and comprehensive psychological assessment. These treatments are proving to be a boon to treat dissociative disorders, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, self injury, insomnia and sleep diagnosis etc. Get ready to embrace the new lease of life.

Vitamin D - Depression and Other Mental Illness Treatment

There are many health benefits for the presence of Vitamin D in your body. Many mental illnesses can be treated with Vitamin D. Depression is seen when there is a lack or insufficiency of the vitamin. This is also effective against illnesses such as Seasonal Affective Disorder and dementia. Many health care professionals advocate the use of Vitamin D to ward it off. Vitamin D is a hormone, and not literally a vitamin like the others. The best way to get it is from being in sunlight. There are other sources of it as well such as fish, fortified milk and many dietary supplements.

Types of Vitamin D

You can get the required dose of vitamin D from sun exposure. But too much of it is not good - it can lead to skin cancer. If you want to be in the sun and use a lot of sun block, you might not get the required dosage. Some foods are rich in vitamin D. There are supplements (powders and pills, etc.) also available that can give you the required dosage, thus helping you avoid symptoms like depression.

Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D aids the body in absorbing calcium. Calcium is important for bone density. Having sufficient doses of this hormone prevents you from suffering from side effects such as depression.

Common misconceptions about Vitamin D

The risk of anything bad actually happening when one does not take enough of it is extremely low. For this to happen, you would have to actually take a lot of the supplement continuously over many weeks for it to actually reach a level of toxicity.

Depression

Lack of this vitamin has led to becoming a victim of depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression stem from the lack of Vitamin D. Physicians recommend supplements to boost the levels of Vitamin D in a person's body. Supplements are highly recommended for people who live in high altitude climates or in the northern parts of the country, as the level of sunlight is much lower. Vitamins and other natural remedies can be used to help alleviate the symptoms. There are many signs of depression. They can vary from person to person. They can also range from very mild to very severe and anything in-between. Some signs are an increase or decrease in weight, changes in sleeping habits, change in interests, tiredness, fatigue, feelings that no one likes them, nervousness, feelings of guilt and suicidal thoughts.

The Elderly

This particular age group has been shown to lean towards developing dementia, as well as Alzheimer's, due to the lack of the vitamin. Their levels of Vitamin D are much lower than any other age group - this could be partially why the elderly suffer from depression.

Concerns

One has to be careful with the levels of Vitamin D. It is not that simple that the body can metabolize it easily. In some extreme cases, it has led to health issues. There can be health issue with the increased calcium intake. It can also lead to toxicity. In very rare cases, it results in cardiac arrhythmias. The importance of Vitamin D in your diet and daily life is an absolute necessity - allowing your Vitamin D level to drop could cause depression. There are many benefits of this wonder vitamin. Studies have shown that it can prevent cancer and it also helps with osteoporosis. It can help people with mental illness and calm them down. If you want to reap the benefits, consult your physician. All it takes is a blood test to determine you level of Vitamin D. Spending only a few hours in the sun weekly is highly beneficial. If you wear a light sunscreen, you will get all the benefits you need. Your body will naturally absorb these ultraviolet rays. If sun exposure is not possible, then speak to your physician about how you can supplement it. The daily-recommended dosage is about 200 IU per day. This amount offers protection against Mental Illness, Obesity, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, High blood pressure and many kinds of Melanoma.

Side effects

If you have any of the following side effects, make sure that you let your physician know immediately. Vomiting or any sign of weight loss are reasons to be wary of. A loss of appetite, constipation, weakness of limbs, ache in bones, unusual headaches, itching sensations, a sharp metallic taste in your mouth, regardless of whatever you eat, are all possible signs of toxicity. As always, before you start on any kind of medication, change in diet or supplements, it is always best to speak to your physician before starting on it. This is because they know your medical history and know what would be best for you.

Fish Oil For Depression - Discover How to Eliminate Your Mental Problems

Every year nearly 10% of all American adults suffer from depression and 15% of those cases finally end up as suicide. Depression is an often an underestimated disease, but since more and more cases have occurred it is now taken more seriously by society and medicine.

But what can you really do when you or a person close to you suffers from a depression?
Antidepressants are a common treatment that is recommended and prescribed, but these are strong medications that have many side effects, can be very dangerous and are most certainly not appropriate for every person that has a depression.

But there is also another, better way. Recent scientific studies have shown that fish oil for depression is a quite effective alternative. The Omega-3 fatty acids that are contained in fish oil are often missing in persons that suffer from a depression and by regularly ingesting a dietary fish oil supplement they can be effectively restored and help to overcome the depression.

But fish oil can also help you if you suffer under a depression and take already antidepressants.
Fish oil for depression has also shown great results when taken together with a regular antidepressant. The recovery process was speeded up extremely and the patients treated with this combination of medicament and dietary supplement could stop far sooner to take the dangerous antidepressants than others.

Fish oil for depression was just recently discovered by scientists and the exact effects and processes aren't completely clear yet. What we do know though is that omega-3 oil has in any case a positive effect on people with a depression. Currently doctors and scientists from all over the world run numerous test and studies to find out more on how exactly omega-3 fatty acids can help depressive people.

It is obvious that omega-3 fats alone will not drag you out of a depression (many other factors like a caring family or good friends play an important part too), but it can make things definitely easier and help you fight your way out of it.

Do You Have a Mommy Business?

Let's face it. Even today, little girls growing up with the same fairytale ideas and stereotypes as our mothers and grandmothers did.

We grow up, we date, we strive to make ourselves attractive to men, we find love, we marry, we have children and our lives become about being a mommy and looking after our homes, husbands and children.

Today however, do we really live in the same world as they did? No, not even close. In the past, women naturally evolved into that role of wife and mommy, and nothing else. With husbands making enough money to support the family, women working while raising a family was rarely considered and typically thought of as highly unusual.

The women of today find themselves in new, and in many cases unfamiliar territory. No longer do they rely solely on their husbands to support the family, and in many cases, they simply can't. Families today more than ever rely on a double income to make ends meet but can women successfully work and contribute while still keeping up with the demands of the home and children? Yes they can, they are tired, but they do it - because they are strong and they will do anything they have to for their children.

The barrier for women is the struggle to actually earn money after paying for child care expenses to work outside the home. Many moms who have returned to the workplace have found that at the end of the day, they were making so little money that it just didn't justify working and being away from their children.

This scenario has brought about the massive work from home revolution. Women are looking for a better way of life, a balance between work and family and success in what they put their time and effort into. When women take time away from their children, they have a natural core need to make sure that whatever they are doing had better be worth that time.

I have worked with women in direct sales for 6 years now. I've met women from all walks of life, with varying levels of work experience and education, with a broad range of personalities and with an even broader range of goals and desires. But one thing holds true for all of them. The desire to make something of themselves, to be happy, and to be successful.

Several years back I heard a speaker at a conference whose words run through my head still today and I have quoted her on many occasions over the years in coaching and mentoring the women on my teams.

This woman spoke about sharing business opportunities with others and how it would be selfish of us not to share something that just might have a huge impact on someone else's life. The thing is, too often, we prejudge. We place people in categories and label them based on little and often insignificant things that we see from the outside.

This speaker described a situation where a woman was at a home party and asked the consultant if she could post date her check for the end of the month for her $20 purchase.

Here are the words I heard from that speaker, that live with me still today and still bring tears to my eyes.

"You don't know what problems a person has in their life. No matter how they present themselves, how they dress, where they work or what they tell you. You don't know if that person in front of you is actually worried about how they are going to buy groceries or pay the light bill that month. You see a person who has to post date a $20 check until the end of the month and you immediately write her off as a possibility of someone who may be successful in your business because they would not even have the money to start up, however minimal the costs."

"HOW DARE YOU?"

"How dare you deny this person the opportunity to go out and make $100 or more in one night doing what you do?"

"How dare you deny this person the opportunity to be able to look after their family?"

"How dare you deny this person the chance to be able to respect themselves, improve their quality of life and live a happier, less stressful life?"

You see, this is what I really love about what I do. I am a giver. I nurture. I do what most would say is way too much for others. But I do it because I believe. I have a vision of a better world. A better way for people and for women to treat each other.

Women CAN change the world. This is a movement we are seeing more and more. Women helping women. Look around. Look at how many organizations are focusing so much more on empowering women.

The success is obvious. Women, moms, taking ideas, vision and hard work and combining them to churn out Million Dollar businesses. It is happening all around us. How often do you see any group or organization focusing on Men Helping Men? No. It's women who do this, we have something special and we pass it on to others and that is what makes us great.

I recently had someone very negatively comment on my work and my business. She felt the need to attempt to raise herself above me in an effort to bring me down. Her words were "You're just a mommy running a little mommy business".

If a "mommy running a little mommy business" means that I have passion, drive, vision and an earnest desire to help others be successful while I achieve my own success, then yes, I definitely have a Mommy Business!

One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Albert Einstein, it reads "Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds".

Don't ever let anyone dampen your spirit. Live your dreams, move toward your vision and make your life everything you ever dreamed it could be.

Signs of Depression

What is the source of our depression or the sadness we feel in and of our lives? What brings on negative feelings that not only affect our day-to-day lives but even our health? We need to stop and think about what we are thinking every day of our lives. This will not only improve your relationship with others but will even improve your overall health and as we get older we will face this more often because of day-t-o day aches and pains. Many people over fifty suffer from depression simply because of the way they feel. Not realizing how we feel inside, our thoughts and feelings will affect what we feel on the outside.

If we are not careful, we can start thinking about the past-mistakes we made, where we missed it, all the should haves, could haves and then we will find ourselves getting depressed, these regrets can come more often as we get older. Recognize the symptoms before they happen is the key to overcome these sad and negative feelings.

Ephesians 6:13-14~13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Having done all to stand, stand therefore.

No matter what situation you are in, think ahead and be prepared no matter what may happen. This is where so many people have problems. They think things will just work out someway, but this is never the way to face life. Whether we are confronting a spouse, a boss, a child or even a friend we have to be honest. Having hidden thoughts and feelings in our heart is one of the main causes for a person to become sad and unhappy with their life.

When you recognize yourself feeling depressed or down, stop and say to yourself, "No, I am not going that way, and start to think and dwell on the positives in your life, they are there, sometimes we just have to look to find them. A very wise doctor once said "when it comes to the nerves, one can do more than anybody or any medication taken. The main thing to do is talk to yourself." This may sound strange but you know we really do talk to ourselves all the time and what we say about ourselves is more believable to us than from anyone else.

I believe what is around us is a greater controlling factor in our attitude development than our personality or any other inherited traits. You've heard the old saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Don't you ever believe that again, because after the bruises have disappeared and the pain is gone, the inward pain and the remembrance of the hurtful words remain.

It is sad but we remember the negative words someone speaks to us or over us several times over the positive words spoken. I had a wonderful student but she had many problems in her studies and had a very low self- esteem of herself. Her mother told me when she worked in retail, "they always said it takes 10 positive comments to cancel out one negative comment" this mother was amazing and spoke positive, encouraging words over her child. Now, this young girl is out of school and planning on going to college in the fall. If she would have listened to the negative words for very long, they would have gotten down inside of her and I do not think she would have had the courage to go forward in life concerning college or anything else worthwhile. This lesson showed me how important our words are to our own well being. What we say and hear will make a difference in our attitude and our over all health. In becoming a positive person, one has to work at it for there are always negative words coming at us and to us all during the day. If we are not careful we will fall into this trap and before long we start feeling down and depressed all because of our thoughts and our words.

John Adams, second president of the United States, walked with a friend into a great hall where they found two busts, one of George Washington and the other of Adams. Tapping his cane on the closed lips of Washington he said, "That fellow knew how to keep his mouth shut." Then, using the cane to tap his own bust, Adams said, "And this fool didn't!"

There are times when the greatest wisdom is displayed by refusing to open our mouths! We need to recognize the symptoms of feeling down and intervene right then, before it escalates into full blown depression. We do have the power within us. Always remember what the Bible says about the tongue in Proverbs 18:2

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Choose the right fruit in your life, speak positive words to yourself and others. When you start feeling down, get around positive people and if there is no one around, watch some old funny movies. Do whatever you can to bring your attitude up, being aware of the symptoms can stop depression and sadness before they have time to take root.

Are Testosterone Boosters Dangerous?

If you are a male bodybuilder, and you want to build muscle faster and make your workouts more effective, you might consider taking a testosterone booster. When you take any kind of supplement or booster, however, your first question should be is this safe? So, are testosterone boosters dangerous?

There has been a great deal of controversy on this topic, as with any other supplement that is used by body builders. There will always be those who are all for it, and those who are completely against it - and this is usually because they have their own agenda.

In the case of testosterone boosters, any testosterone supplement that contains anabolic steroids should be avoided. Anabolic Steroids are controlled substances, and are not approved by the body building organizations. In fact, the FDA will quickly ban a supplement that contains anabolic steroids.

The best option is to use a natural testosterone booster. These are made from all natural ingredients, and other than allergies, no side effects have ever been reported. The two most popular natural substances for building testosterone are Eurycoma Longifolia and Tribulus Terrestris. Both substances should be available at your local health food store, and both can be ordered online as well.

The question remains: Do you actually need a testosterone booster? You do if your testosterone level is low. This is often the case with body builders, because they put so much into their workouts, and they are burning up hormone levels faster than the hormones are being produced in many cases. Also, if you are past your twenties, the chances are good that you need a booster.

While there are no negative side effects of natural testosterone boosters, there are definite advantages. These include an increased sex drive, better workout performances, and increased muscle size because of the enhanced workout performances. It has also been reported that natural testosterone boosters actually help you to think clearer.

While there are no known side effects to testosterone boosters, you must remember that your body is unique. Therefore, if you start to notice negative things, such as anger, low sex drive, reduced energy, depression, or increased irritability, it is important to stop using anything that you are using, and consult your doctor.

Testosterone boosters are safe, if they are used correctly. Talk to your doctor and have your levels checked. This is a simple blood test. If you can use a testosterone booster, ask your doctor to recommend one, or go with a well-known brand. Make sure that you drink plenty of water. Be sure to discuss the proper dosage with your doctor as well - taking too much of anything isn't healthy.

5 Vital Signs of a Suppressed Anger and How to Manage Them

If you are in the habit of suppressing your anger, you may be accumulating unwanted things into your system without knowing it. It is right time you manage it before it goes out of hand. Suppressing anger may not be the best method of managing your anger because the long time effects of accumulated angers may not be helpful to your health. If you have experienced any of the following vital signs then you are likely to have a suppressed anger and the best thing is to solve the problem. Here are some of the vital signs of suppressed anger that may be visible or invisible and how you can solve the problem.

First, restlessness. The effect is that you are not happy with yourself or the other person who caused the anger for you. Your best bet here is to remain calm and be on top of the situation.

Second, judgmental. You feel judgmental towards others and find fault in them. You also consider yourself to be right. Try and have an open mind and be less judgmental. Reason from the other person's point of view.

Third, you are moody and unhappy. You feel sad, hurt and worried. The best thing to do is to be happy.

Fourth, high tendency to violence. Due to your inability to express the anger, the probability to turn violent is very high. Since you are aware of this, you may leave the scene of the situation without hurting anybody.

Fifth, depression. You feel depressed and unwanted and may harm yourself if no solution in proffered on time. Forget about depression, it is a state of the mind, remove it totally from your mind.

Suppressing anger is a temporary measure of managing your anger but the long term effect of anger suppressed on the person may be worse than expressing the anger in the first place. Avoid suppressing your anger but find ways of positively expressing them, control and manage it. If you consider the signs of suppressed anger such as restlessness, moody, unhappiness, prone to violence, it is better you express your anger but control and manage it. Some ways to solve these problems include:remaining calm, have an open mind, be happy, leave the scene and remove depression from your mind. With all these you will be able to manage your suppressed anger.

Review The Great Depression

Depression has always been a problem everybody has struggled to deal with at one point of their lives or another. Approximately fifteen percent of Americans have experienced it. Ninety percent of people of commit suicide have depression if not other diagnosable mental disorder.

It's natural to speak of how "depressed" people are. However, the occasional sadness everyone feels due to life's disappointments is very different from the serious illness caused by a brain disorder. Depression profoundly impairs the ability to function in everyday situations by affecting moods, thoughts, behaviors, and physical well-being. Manic depression, now more commonly known as bipolar disorder, is a condition where a person can be depressed and lethargic one minute, elated and overactive the next. Prominent figures such as Virginia Woolf, Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, to name a few, have been clearly diagnoses with having such a condition.

Virginia Woolf, the writer who came up with the famous novels: Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, and Orlando, was said to have had manic depression at an early age. She was driven to depression by incidents of deaths in the family and sexual abuse from her half brothers, After multiple breakdowns, she had been admitted to a nursing home to have people look after her. She was given antidepressants to get her to sleep. She attempted suicide by overdosing on her medication but was successfully revived. She recovered from her depression for some time, and when she felt that the dreaded condition is coming back, she tried to claim her life again. She finally succeeded by drowning herself.

Winston Churchill, a prominent British politician and a Nobel Prize winning author, also suffered from depression. Earlier is his life, his father and several other relatives had died young and were diagnosed as manic depressives. He grew paranoid about ending up with his father's illness that it triggered his own depression. His depression was not as grave as that of his father's, but it affected him enough to not want to speak in front of the Parliament. He sought refuge in colors by painting.

Depression is brought about by many things. It can be hereditary, where the depressive tendency runs in the family; drug-induced, caused by over-consumption of depressants, or "downers", which are chemical agents that diminishes function or activity of a specific part of the body; or caused by external factors such as pressure from work among other things.

Overcoming depression is better than just treating its symptoms. Many health professionals encourage a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy, but studies show that medication is unnecessary if the sufferer receives the right sort of help. Clinical diagnosis of symptoms is the initial steps required to determine the level of depression the sufferer is experiencing. Psychotherapy for depression wherein patients are explained the facts of their disease and how to cope with it through counseling. During counseling sufferers will learn to cope with negative emotions, identify and change how they think, improve their relationships with others, and deal with their problems constructively. The underlying causes of the depression will also be explored. it can be pursued in an individual, group, couples, or family setting. This is not considered the most efficient therapy as it sometimes makes the depression worse. If talk therapy doesn't work, antidepressants are given to control the depression. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to gain optimum effectiveness.

Depression is not something to be taken lightly. Some have died because of uncontrollable, chronic depression. It may be just a simple case of the blues now, but if it continues for no reason at all, and it starts disrupting the way you live, you might have clinical depression. Like the quote says, "for every cloud there's a silver lining," so don't feel depressed for every little thing that goes wrong.

Symptoms and Prevalence of Depression

Been a little down lately? Having trouble motivating yourself to get out of bed? Is the scale going up because you have been spending a little too much of your time curled up in front of the TV with that bag of chips or feeling the need for chocolate all day? Or is the scale dropping, not because you have been enthusiastically been working on your health, but because you just have no interest in food. What about sleep? Do you lay awake for hours, unable to drift off or are you at the opposite end of the scale? Do you feel like sleeping all the time? Do the things that used to excite and interest you just simply hold no pleasure for you? If you are noticing several of these symptoms, you may be suffering from depression.

If so, you are certainly not alone. Our culture seems to be drowning in depression. Most people will suffer from depression at least one time during their lifetime. Statistics on depression are growing for all age groups, even young children. The numbers are alarming. So why are the rates of depression so high?

This society, this era, has more material goods than probably any other. While economic times are more difficult right now than they have been in the previous few years, the average person in this country is wealthy when compared to most of the world's population. Even those on the bottom of the economic scale have access to more resources than not only those in other nations but those in other periods of history. It should be obvious that material goods in themselves are not the answer. Some of the wealthiest people are the most dysfunctional and depressed.

Why are we so depressed? I think there are many answers to that question, but here I will express just a few of those that I think are prevalent.

1. The first one is that our society is endlessly seeking an easy, problem free life. The media promotes the idea of "having it all". Women should be thin, beautiful, and be sought after by the men they meet. Forget about the concept of "aging gracefully". We shouldn't age at all! Men should be financially successful, drive a car that makes people's heads turn, and attract all the female heads that are turning. Marriage should be idyllic and full of romance or you should move on to the next relationship until you find the "one" that meets all your needs. For many, life can become so caught up in these pursuits that some of the most basic of life's principles are left in the dust.


2. For some the problem goes much deeper. Yes, it is possible that there is some biological component, a predisposition that tends toward depression. But even with that, depression needs some kind of trigger. It can seem to come "out of nowhere," just swooping down like a bird of prey with its claws bared. It can appear to have no direct correlation with anything or anyone at the time. In that case, there are usually some undealt with hurts or trauma from the past that could go back as far as childhood. It can come from a grief that has not been entirely processed. It can come from unforgiveness or bitterness that never had a chance to be rooted out.


3. For others, it could mean that there is a current situation that is known and has been going on for a long enough period of time that change or relief seems hopeless. These circumstances could be relational, financial, physical, or spiritual. A number of issues can trigger depression. When hope has dwindled away, we can lose our perspective. We are unable to see the answers or solutions.

The good news is that there are answers for depression. The first step is to recognize what you are dealing with. The next step is to take active measures to get help. It may take some time. It may take some work to dig out the roots of depression, but it is a treatable condition.

Are You Crazy!

Has anyone ever said that to you? Well, I sure have. And my response?

Yep, and I've got a piece of paper to prove it! Imagine that. I've got a legitimate excuse to behave the way I do. That's right. I went to the doctor and an hour later walked out with bipolar disorder. Talk about a blow to the head. Just freaking great. What in the hell do I do now?

I want to set something straight right away. There's a big difference between 'being' something and 'having' something. Who you are is not what you have. Let me say that again - YOU ARE NOT YOUR DISORDER!

But let's face it, there's a big, yes huge, stigmatism that comes along with this diagnosis. People label things they do not understand or are afraid of. Every time someone in Hollywood does something stupid, the first thing people do to explain, or rationalize, their behavior is to say they must be bipolar. This really pisses me off. It's a load of crap. Get it right people! Everyone does stupid things. Quit blaming your ignorance on my disease!

I, too, did not understand at first. But as is my nature, I sure was going to figure this thing out. I started by educating myself. Learning the facts and not buying into the myths, the first of which was realizing being bipolar has really nothing to do with being crazy at all. Although it's classified as a mental illness, bipolar disorder, which is the exact same thing as manic-depression, is a series of highs and lows. It's an emotional thing. In simple terms, it's a roller coaster of feeling huge amounts of energy, euphoria and happiness (the 'manic'), to the complete opposite, the feeling of extreme physical fatigue and very sad to the point that it's literally debilitating (the 'depression'). Yet it's anything but simple. The hallmark of manic-depression is instability. Gee, unstable. Thanks but no thanks.

Emotions cannot be cured, but they can be managed. That's right. YOU are the manager. YOU are the one in control of the levers, the emotions. It is imperative to your health that you gain this control. And the sooner you start believing and doing this, the better off you will be and the easier your life will become. You will be able to start and stop the roller coaster, keep it from going out of control and tap into it's creativity. And I'm not saying this is just going to magically happen overnight. Believe me, it doesn't. It's an ongoing process. Every single day is a challenge. People may laugh, but it might be something as simple as getting dressed for the day. Most people will never understand what you go through because they don't 'live' it. But I do. And I know it's anything but easy.

But have faith and know there is hope. You can turn your curse into a blessing. When I was first diagnosed 13 years ago, I wanted to crawl into a whole and die. I didn't know what I was going to do. Sometimes I still don't. But what I know now is that I wouldn't trade it or who I am for the world. You see, I have discovered the flip side of my disease - along with the challenges and really bad stuff comes a whole lot of abilities, gifts and great stuff. That's right, amazing things no one else can do. Bet you didn't know that. So smile and embrace your crazy. It belongs only to you.

Anxiety, Anger and Depression - Discover the Awesome Power of Self-Help Programs

Worry, trepidation and hyper vigilance are common symptoms of anxiety. Other signs include tension, over-thinking, heart palpitations, fluttering in the stomach, nervousness localized to the chest etc.

Are expensive professional treatments like counseling and medication the only solutions? Absolutely not! Remember, anxiety includes both stress-oriented physical signs and self-defeating cognitive, thought processes.

Thought process changes and the practicing of new healthy behaviors are the crucial keys to recovery. Expensive therapy and counseling are not the only answers; tested, scientifically constructed self-help programs can also produce transformational changes.

Remember, anxiety is a mechanism of fight or flight and was originally engineered to protect us from harm. It prepares us to fight danger i.e. the heart may palpitate, beat faster and blood pressure rises.

Since anxiety is preparing to fight a menace, our nervous system starts generating a flow of blood surging to the muscles, thus enabling one's body to escape or fight depending on necessity. Blood is diverted from your abdominal area to your musculo-skeletal section, causing a decrease in the functioning in your digestive system.

Again, anxiety has been engineered into us as a survival mechanism, intended to enhance our odds of survival.
If you are suffering from abnormal anxiety you probably have a built-in neurological tendency to worry or fear that a catastrophically harmful or dangerous event may occur based on a triggering situation.

That's why the thought pattern modification, anger reduction and anxiety reduction training taught in scientifically sound self-help treatments can help almost overnight. The thought pattern modification and stress-reduction training presented in these self-help treatments work on The Command Center-the VERY WAY you think!

Anxiety is heavily driven by two brain structures: The hippocampus and the amygdala. These structures activate when an irrational perception of a lurking threat or the irrational anticipation that something harmful or dangerous might happen manifest themselves.

These irrational perceptions and fearful apprehensions are triggered by your pathological thought patterns. It is these that are directly treated in state-of-the-art self-help treatments.

Anxiety and anger is triggered when the body and self feel threatened; these feeling-states are defense mechanisms. We are hard-wired with them for the purpose of protecting us from a universe of real or imagined dangers.

However, because of genetic errors or unfortunate types of genetic trait pooling, many of us develop abnormal, pathological forms of anxiety which are triggered even though there are no realistic dangers with which we have to contend. So, instead of protecting us from trouble, this anxiety actually causes it- and for no rational reason.

This is what is referred to as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety dysfunctions are divided into several types, including, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, panic and obsessive compulsive disorder. All of them are triggered or made worse by the subconscious and pathological thinking and obsessive imaginative patterns that are directly targeted by proven self-help treatments.

A phobia is a specific fear of a particular thing, person or situation. These include fear of snakes and public speaking. Phobic fears are irrational because the perceived or anticipated harm that is imagined is not likely to happen.

These phobic symptoms are fueled by an extensive catastrophic and irrational imagination that has gone awry. After all, the presenting fears resulting in anxiety disorders, though catastrophic, are not valid.

Even though they may not be valid, some people experience compelling and frightening panic attacks leading to problems breathing, feeling dizzy and even fearing that one is going insane. This is caused by one's subconscious and catastrophic way of imagining dreaded consequences.

In free floating anxiety, tension or foreboding taints most experiences in a person's daily life; there is no specific stimulus. On the other hand, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a very bizarre type of anxiety that gives sufferers the idea that something is really wrong with their mind.

In this condition, individuals have repetitive thoughts that point to some dangerous consequence if a certain behavior, like checking the lock on the car, is not done repetitively. Even though the imagined consequence, is irrational, sufferers need to compulsively repeat the 'ritual' to relieve their anxiety of the feared consequence.

Washing their hands repetitively for no rational reason is another ritual that some patients do. Whereas, psychotherapy, counseling and some medications can be helpful in reducing the intensity and frequency of the obsessions, they are expensive.

There are remarkable self-help programs available which are much less expensive and have the potential of producing amazing results in reducing your symptoms of anger, anxiety and agitation.

Depression: 14 Universal Laws for Recovery

The Law of Blue

Just sort of feeling blue, kinda out of it, gets confused with being depressed. We all get the blues from time to time, and they pass.

The Law of Sad

Feeling sad, while not pleasant, makes sense in the context of the situation.

The Law of Clinical

True clinical depression is not just feeling blue or sad. It's both a biological and psychological struggle that's often best treated with a combination of medication and counseling.

The Law of Boot Straps

When you are depressed, some well-meaning people will tell you to just "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps." The problem is when you are clinically depressed, you don't have bootstraps.

The Law of Music, Part 1

Music can either lift you up or keep you down. Listening to certain kinds of music while depressed is like pouring gasoline on a fire and then wondering why it gets worse.

The Law of Music, Part 2

Make your own list of uplifting, positive, energizing music.

The Law of Coping

You need to have a variety of tools in your tool bag to effectively cope with depression. Here's a few suggested tools:

Talk about it. Trying to handle depression on your own is like trying to do your own open-heart surgery.

Write out your feelings. Getting it out on paper can get it out of you.

Take a drive and ease your mind.

Cry if you need to. There's a great line in Pat Conroy's novel Beach Music that goes something like: "Men die younger than women because men have not washed their faces enough with their own tears."

Exercise. If I can get a client that is depressed to exercise regularly, I know we are part of the way home.

The Law of Lifestyle

I've come to believe that there is such a thing as a "depressive lifestyle." Over-working, over-stressing, expectations of perfection, a critical, complaining and cynical spirit, focusing on the negative in life, feeding a sense of hopelessness through what you read and listen to, all these things contribute to a depressing life.

The Law of Discovery

Discovering they are depressed, while frightening for many clients, also gives a name and a beginning understanding of the struggles they have experienced.

The Law of Warning Signs

Many people feel like depression sort of snuck up on them. They didn't see it coming. As you work your way out of depression, it's crucial to develop a list of "early warning signs." These allow you to take early action to prevent a recurrence.

The Law of "Like Minded People"

If you surround your self with depressed people, you're likely to stay depressed. Or get depressed if you weren't already. And if you surround your self with positive people, it's a lot harder to get and stay depressed.

The Law of Focus

Focusing on everything that is wrong with your life and the world is a great way to stay stuck in depression. By the same token, focusing on everything that is right with your life and the world is a great way to move on out of depression.

The Law of Recovery

The really cool news is that people can and do recover from depression every day. Recovery begins with the decision to recover, and then selecting the best guides and creating the best map for your journey back to the passion of life.

The Law of Getting Stronger

This one comes from a special client of mine who has a wealth of experience in this area. Instead of only praying that circumstances change for the better (which is a good thing to do) pray and work on getting your self stronger to deal with whatever comes your way.

As Chicago, one of my favorite bands still sings:

"I'm feelin' stronger every day............"

How to Diagnose Depression

Depression is a medical condition. It is not just on one's mind. It is not an imaginary illness. It is a real disorder that requires diagnosis. Hence, a person who suspects himself or herself of being depressed must undergo a depression test to confirm the existence of the said disorder. Eventually, depression is like any other illness that demands treatment.

Medical practitioners and mental health experts usually conduct several depression tests to diagnose whether a patient is suffering from depression or is merely experiencing other medical diseases that manifest symptoms similar to that of depression. Physical, laboratory and other examinations are included during a patient's evaluation aside from the depression test. However, the primary tool to diagnose depression is through the symptoms experienced by the affected person.

Mental health professionals generally devise an assessment tool for depression. This tool is consists of questions that pertain to the symptoms of depression. It attempts to elicit what symptoms are experienced by the person seeking for mental health assistance. A person who manifests or experiences five or more of the symptoms for two weeks or longer is considered depressed. The following symptoms of depression are included in the tool used for depression test:

1. Loss of appetite that results to weight loss
2. Over eating that results to weight gain
3. Insomnia or difficult of sleeping during sleeping hours
4. Hypersomnia or oversleeping during waking hours
5. Feeling of worthlessness
6. Feeling of helplessness
7. Feeling of hopelessness
8. Feeling of too much guilt
9. Lack of energy or always feeling tired
10. Loses interest on previously enjoyed activities
11. Problem on concentration or focus
12. Difficulty of making decisions or remembering trivial details
13. Frequent suicidal thoughts
14. Restless, aggressive or irritable

The abovementioned symptoms are to be evaluated during the depression test. However, other medical conditions must be ruled out first through other diagnostic examinations.

The other tests conducted to ensure that the patient is not suffering from other diseases include blood tests, CT scan or MRI, electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram. The blood tests are done to verify that the symptoms manifested by the patient are not caused by anemia or thyroid hormone imbalance. Another component of the depression tests are radiology examinations such as CT scan and MRI. These are used to confirm presence of brain tumor. Furthermore, electrocardiogram is used to test existence of any cardiac condition that might have caused the symptoms or the depressive disorder itself. Lastly, electroencephalogram is utilized to assess variation or abnormalities in the brain activity of the affected person. All of these diagnostic examinations are done together with the depression test. But then again, these examinations are intended for ruling out other medical conditions, not exactly to diagnose depression per se.

Indeed, depression is a serious illness. It can cause functional and social disabilities to the affected person. In fact, it is one of the most common causes of death these days. Therefore, as early as possible, a person suspected for depression must submit himself/herself for depression test and treatment. Depression test is a reliable examination to diagnose depression. However, the result of a depression test must be analyzed by a medical or mental health expert to ensure that the diagnosis is accurate.

5 Hot Tips on How to Fight Depression and Win!

Learning how to fight depression can be complicated if you don't have the right guidance and resources. This article will discuss several methods that can be implemented to beat depression once and for all.

Depression is a fight, make no mistake about it. It can cause you to feel a great deal less than alive and actively prevent you from living your life to the fullest potential. Depression may come on without warning and simply make you feel that what you have is worth less, what you do is somewhat devalued, and that your life overall is simply not that great.

The reality is that there are ways to overcome those feelings and combat the symptoms in many cases. You can learn how to fight depression, and how to win the battle once and for all.

1. Find Trusting, Objective Support

One of the worst ways to approach your depression is to keep quiet about it and pretend that you're fine. Discussion and treatment are the best way to work through your depression and to find ways to combat the effects of depression on your life.
Finding some means of support, whether that support is a group that you join, or a good friend who listens well, is something that you simply can't live without when you are fighting depression or any other kind of an illness or condition.

2. Consider Professional Help Through Therapy and/or Medications

In depression, one of the best ways to fight it is to spend some time working through the problems that may have led to your depression as well as the medications and other treatments that you may be prescribed. Very often in our lives, anger and upset over things can lead us to think negatively. You can encourage your own depression by focusing on those things that are or have been negative about your life.

3. Forgive Others, Forgive Yourself

Learn to forgive yourself for mistakes and learn to forgive others. Holding on to the things that others have done which have hurt or offended you is a real problem for many people who suffer depression. It's not always possible to forget, but it is possible to see it more dispassionately and to forgive the injuries and move on.

4. Consider Volunteering

If you can, spend some time volunteering for others. Soup kitchens, support groups, clothing stores, anything that you can do that will help you to help someone else tends to remove your focus from yourself. While it is needful to be concerned with your own well-being, sometimes you need to step away and focus on the problems that others are facing too in order to see your own in a new light.

5. Get Some Exercise

Exercise is a well-known method of releasing endorphins in the body. The endorphin is a natural method of elevating the mood. If you do nothing else over the course of the day, do at least ten minutes of physical activity. The feeling of well being that you can take away from a little exercise even when you are simply not motivated to accomplish it will amaze you. When you are exercising, you are releasing into your body a natural way to combat your depression. Spend some time with physical activity every day.

Using simple techniques such as biofeedback, exercise, yoga, and other methods, you can learn how to fight depression and win!

Break Up Blues - 5 Strategies to Get Over Depression Over a Break Up

Most people experience a break up at some point in their lives. The feelings of sadness and loss can be very significant and effect many areas of life and functioning. Sometimes, symptoms persist and can become full blown depression. Lingering sadness, anxiety, lethargy, loss of joy in activities, changes in sleep and eating habits - these can be symptoms of depression that should be addressed. It is very important to take good care of yourself during this difficult time. Here are 5 strategies to help you get over the depression of a break up:

1. Eat well and healthy. Steer clear of junk foods and processed sugars, and eat mostly fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. If you have trouble with your appetite, try carrying around healthy snack foods to eat throughout the day. If the opposite is true and you overeat, try limiting your intake to meals, and be sure you aren't eating while distracted, like in front of the TV. Set a time to stop eating in the evening.

2. Try taking supplements. It is always advisable to consult your health care provider before trying new supplements. A food based multivitamin is a good start, as well as calcium if you need additional calcium, and fish oil. Fish oil has many physical benefits including the promotion of healthy brain function. L-theanine is a good anti-anxiety natural supplement, and 5 HTP (hydroxytryptophan) is a helpful natural antidepressant that increases serotonin, a mood regulating brain neurotransmitter.

3. Exercise regularly. Consult your physician to determine the appropriate level of physical activity for you, then adopt a regular cardiovascular-focused plan. This type of exercise releases endorphins into the body through the sustained elevation of heart rate. Try working up to 45 minutes 5 times a week. Not only will you feel better emotionally, but your physical health and body image will improve.

4. See a counselor to talk things out. Spend time with friends and family who can be supportive as well. A professional ear can be valuable and the feedback very beneficial. It may be helpful to have someone to help you sort out what went wrong in your relationship and how to avoid repeating future negative patterns in relationships.

5. Practice self care on a daily basis. Make a list of small things you enjoy dong and cross one off every day when you've completed it. Make new lists once old ones are exhausted.

Natural Remedies For Depression

Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting 9.9 million American adults, or approximately 5 percent of the adult population in a given year. Many people suffering from depression are not aware that there are natural remedies for depression that are a safe and effective alternative to psychiatric medication. Lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications, stress reduction and exercise can also have a positive effect on depression symptoms.

Common symptoms of depression are:

o Feeling sad, blue, incapable of feeling pleasure.

o Change in appetite. Eating too much or not enough.

o Sleep disturbance, sleeping too much or too little.

o Feeling hopeless, worthless, guilty, low self esteem.

o Loss of energy, no motivation, no interest or pleasure in activities.

o Persistent physical symptoms such as aches, pains, headaches, stomach aches, and pain which no physical cause can be found can also be a form of depression.

o Thoughts of death and suicide.

Causes of Depression
Depression can be triggered by traumatic life events, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, allergies, medical illness, lack of exercise, drug and alcohol use, and digestive difficulties. These triggers are known to cause or contribute to neurotransmitter imbalances and depletion.
Finding the cause of depression means addressing the biochemistry of the brain. This can require testing such as Neurotransmitter testing, blood chemistry panels, thyroid and hormone testing.
Proven Natural Depression Remedies

Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT)
Targeted Amino Acid Therapy or TAAT is designed to address neurotransmitter deficiencies or imbalances. Neurotransmitters are synthesized from various amino acid precursors. Serotonin, for example, is synthesized from 5-HTP, and oral doses of 5-HTP have been shown to significantly elevate serotonin levels.

A non-invasive neurotransmitter lab test is available to measure your neurotransmitter and hormones levels. This test will determine which neurotransmitters are too high or to low. If an imbalance is present targeted amino acid therapy can help bring them back into balance thereby reducing or eliminating symptoms such as anxiety or depression. The program uses a combination of specific amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that will increase your body's production of neurotransmitters. These formulas can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies your practitioner may prescribe. The right balance of these chemicals can set the stage for restoring your health. You brain and nervous system will once again send strong signals to the rest of your body.

5HTP 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid. It is found in high concentrations in the brain and acts as a building block for the brain to make serotonin. Under the proper stimulus the brain will turn 5-HTP into serotonin and/or melatonin. Because of this mechanism, 5-HTP is a very gentle yet powerful product to support mood. 5-HTP may work synergistically with certain nutritional supplements to support mood. This nutritive amino acid may also support a healthy sleep cycle. Serotonin is involved in mood regulation, sleep, and appetite control.

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is an amino acid that has been reported to safely alleviate depression in some people in doses of 1000 mg twice a day. Acetyl-L-carnitine is a form of carnitine that has shown superior absorption effects to regular L-carnitine.

L-Tryptophan

L-Tryptophan is the precursor to Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, which is deficient in depression. L-Tryptophan is a natural relaxant and helps alleviate insomnia by inducing normal sleep. L-Tryptophan reduces anxiety & depression; helps in the treatment of migraine headaches; helps the immune system; helps reduce the risk of artery & heart spasms.

SAM-e

SAM-e is involved in more than 35 biochemical reactions involving enzymatic transmethylation. Methylation is the process by which the body rids itself of compounds, synthesizes neurotransmitters, makes components of cartilage, regulates enzyme activity within the cell, and maintains the flexibility of cell membranes. Serotonin and other brain chemicals require methylation to be synthesized. SAM-e promotes healthy joint function and comfort , boosts mood and emotional well-being. The suggested dose of SAMe to treat depression ranges from 400-1600 mg a day.

St. John's Wort
Numerous scientific studies have addressed the effectiveness and safety of standardized St. John's Wort extract. There are many biologically active components in St. John's Wort, including: naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin), xanthones, phloroglucinols, and various flavonoids, including flavonols and proanthocyanidins. It is thought to work by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. Hypericin extract appears to inhibit serotonin uptake by postsynaptic receptors and increase synaptic dopamine concentration. Recommended dosage 300 mg three times a day.

Natural remedies for depression can provide persons suffering with depression a safe and effective alternative to taking pharmaceutical medications or enable them to reduce the dose.

If you are taking an antidepressant, don't stop taking it on your own. Supplements can be used to reduce dosages of prescription medication or provide an alternative, but this should be done under medical supervision.

Dietary Remedies

Folic acid is needed to make the neurotransmitter group called the catecholamines including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Research suggests that folic acid depletion may help contribute to depression, anxiety and panic.
Sources: Asparagus, Beets, Brussels sprouts, Bok choy, Peas, fresh, Beans, dried, Chick-peas, Soybeans, Lentils, Oranges, Turkey, Cabbage, Savoy, Spinach, Broccoli, Avocados

Magnesium may be beneficial for depression by helping in the formation if certain neurotransmitters and because it helps muscles to relax.
Sources : Spinach, Avocados, Chocolate, Pumpkin seeds, Oysters, Sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Quinoa, Almonds, Barley.

Niacin is needed for nerve cell function. Niacin helps the body to release energy from carbohydrates, control blood sugar, and maintain proper nervous system function.
Sources: Rice, brown, Lamb, Pomegranates, Tuna, Chicken, Turkey, Wheat

Omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the cell signaling, and compose part of the cell membrane making it fluid. It reduces inflammatory processes, and is involved in several aspects of neurotransmitter function. Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been found the diet and cell membranes of depressed individuals. Sources: Salmon, Trout, Tuna.

Vitamin B6 is a cofactor vitamin required for the manufacture of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin. Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters that promotes feelings of wellbeing. Vitamin B6 may also help boost the immune system during times of depression and anxiety.
Sources: Sweet potatoes, Avocados, Bananas, Mangoes, Sunflower seeds, Tuna, Chick-peas, Salmon, Pork, fresh, Potatoes, Turkey, Chicken, Bok choy, Rice, brown, and Barely.

Vitamin B12 is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. It works in concert with other B vitamins. B12 supports the nervous system and assists the body in converting food into energy.
Sources: Beef, Yogurt, Tuna, Lamb, Oysters, Trout, Crab, Clams

Lifestyle Changes
Have a home environment that provides natural light
Use as much natural lighting in your home as possible. Unnatural fluorescent lighting can be especially aggravating. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression caused by insufficient natural light. People who live in areas with a prolonged winter are prone to this type of depression. If you are not getting at least 15 minutes of exposure to natural sunlight consider purchasing full spectrum lighting for the rooms you spend most of your time.

Physical Exercise
Exercise can be one of the safest and most effective methods of decreasing depression. Cardiovascular exercise combined with calming exercise such as walking several times per week can be very beneficial. Try walking, swimming, bicycling, jogging, yoga, tai-chi, skiing, and tennis; even golf burns calories.

Sufficient sleep
Many people cannot sleep with depression. A restful night is a key ingredient to help many deal with the daily stresses of life. If you have depression and anxiety getting a good night's sleep is very important. Avoid stimulating activities before going to bed, like reading a book, or exercising. Some dietary supplements that are helpful in establishing sleep are melatonin and kava kava. Alcohol is a depressant, and it can greatly interfere with your sleep patterns. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes before going to bed.

Stress-Reduction Techniques
Stress depletes neurotransmitter levels. Mind/body breathing exercises, physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, self-hypnosis, massage, meditation, and biofeedback are just some of the stress reduction techniques used for depression. Listening to music, relaxation CD's, and visual imagery are also effective stress reducers. Meditation is a great tool to prevent those negative thoughts from taking over.

Adrenal Fatigue - The Reason You're So Tired

Imagine you're walking through the woods one afternoon and come upon a bear. Instant fear elevates your adrenaline levels and sets off your fight or flight instinct. You turn and run, not looking back, until you're at a safe distance from the bear.

Only after you're out of harms way does your adrenaline level return to normal and your body calms itself down. This is how an adrenal gland operates, unless you're experiencing one of three stages of adrenal fatigue.

3 Stages of Adrenal Fatigue

Stage One: A normal functioning adrenal gland produces many hormones, the most important being cortisol, a hormone that helps the body deal with stress. Stage one of adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal gland increases production of cortisol. When cortisol levels elevate, it's similar to seeing a bear in the woods and becoming frightened. In this stage, the body will stay in a high stress state, never calming down and never being able to escape the bear.

High cortisol levels occurring in stage one usually causes increased sugar cravings, anxiety and depression.

Stage Two: In stage two cortisol levels are unstable. They fluctuate up and down, sometimes from week to week, day to day, or even hour to hour. A person who suffers from stage two adrenal fatigue may feel fine one day and then the next be extremely fatigued. The adrenal gland will first give the body a low period, where it doesn't pump any cortisol, but then it becomes stressed and compensates by pumping too much cortisol.

In stage two a person will generally crave more sugar to increase energy levels.

Stage Three: The third stage in adrenal fatigue is complete fatigue. The adrenal gland ceases to pump out hormones causing low levels of cortisol, serotonin, DHEA and epinephrine. A person generally feels very depressed in the third stage.

When a person reaches this stage and seeks medical help, physicians often place them on anti-depressant drugs instead of looking at adrenal gland function.

Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

*Fatigue- trouble getting out of bed
*Insomnia
*Afternoon lows- extreme fatigue mid-afternoon
*Sugar cravings
*Depression and anxiety
*Inability to lose weight
*Decreased sex drive
*Inability to handle everyday stresses
*Light headedness upon standing
*Often getting sick - cough, sore throat, cold and flu
*Thyroid disorder
*Hot flashes- not associated with menopause

Other Effects on the Body

Adrenal fatigue can be very taxing on the body. Not only does it affect the immune system but also gut health. It can affect the stomach's intestinal lining, breaking down the integrity of the intestines and causing diarrhea, constipation, inflammation and irritable bowel syndrome.

Hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and DHEA are affected by adrenal function. These hormones are decreased as the adrenal gland places its focus on producing more cortisol. Lower levels of these hormones can cause many other complications.

Cortisol levels also have an effect on blood pressure, elevating levels when more cortisol is produced, and lowering blood pressure when there is less. Over time, however, blood pressure will become elevated, as well as higher cholesterol levels and chance of developing diabetes.

Treatment Options

Testing adrenal function is done through a simple saliva test. After assessing the results, there are a number of different treatment options, which vary from case to case.

People live very busy and hectic lives. They often burn the candle at both ends and don't take the time they need to relax and bring the body out of stress mode. A huge part of treatment is stress control. This can be done through meditation, yoga, running, reading or however the individual is able to calm the body down.

A healthy diet is also very important for healthy adrenal function and should consist of less sugar and carbohydrate based foods. Breakfast and lunch should never be skipped, and should include more protein based foods and vegetables with small portions of complex carbs. If a person is too busy to eat, then they most likely have an adrenal issue, and they need to take a few minutes to relax and enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or a piece of fruit.

Adrenal fatigue is often treated with nutrients, as well as B and C vitamins. Some herbs that are commonly used are rhodiola, ginseng and Glycyrrhiza (licorice).

It is very important to note that each person is different and therefore each treatment is different. A person that feels they may suffer from adrenal fatigue should always consult a naturopathic physician before beginning to take any herb.

Original Article Source: http://www.holistichealingnews.com/?p=4331

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Phobia and Obsessions

Psychosis is never too far away from you when you are suffering from bipolar disorder. You will do well to be on the lookout for such symptoms that come about when you are in the severe depressive phase of your manic-depressive illness. Soon enough, your own delusions can take you over completely, and if nothing is done, it can lead to very dangerous grounds - the end of which might be much more disastrous.

You may experience symptoms of all kinds of false beliefs or hallucinations when you are suffering from bipolar type of disorder. Certain false sensory perceptions will seem so real to you and the real people around you tend to fade into the woodwork. Such things happen often in the disease, whether you are manic or depressive.

Phobia and obsessions are about two of the most common symptoms of the depressive state of bipolar disorder. In the manic phase of the condition, you may instead feel powerfully, yet incongruously, happy. You may not notice this though, but the person next to you should notice it enough to try and get you so see a doctor in a hurry.

Knowing these symptoms can help you or your loved ones get quick help for you, especially before it gets very critical. Like everything else in life, early action in handling it has been known to help lots of victims. It can help you too, no matter how useless you think your case might be. I know people who have had it worse in terms of bipolar disorder, but they were able to effectively control it at the end of the day.

How to Get Diagnosed With Depression

Depression is a serious illness but every type of depression can be treated. But the main problem is how to get diagnosed with depression? The following points can help you in getting diagnosed with Depression.

• How to diagnose Depression

Depression can't be diagnosed by any laboratory test. Depression can only be diagnosed by your symptoms traced out by your doctor. You and your family's medical history are also underlying factors.

• 
  Types of Depression  

In order to diagnose depression it is very essential to understand the difference between the different types of depression and their symptoms too. Mainly depression falls into two categories - Major and dysthymic.  

• Symptoms of Depression

If you are experiencing 4 or 5 of these symptoms within the period of 15 days especially sad mood, loss of interest, fatigue, lack of concentration, poor sleep, poor appetite, bad memory and irritability, that means you are suffering from depression. But these symptoms should not be caused by any illness, drug abuse and medication.  

• Can a screening test diagnose Depression

A screening test alone can't diagnose depression completely. But it can help you to a great extent to get familiarize with the symptoms of depression. It helps you to decide weather you need a professional help or not.  

• Whom to Consult

If your screening test indicates that you are suffering from depression, you must visit a doctor as soon as possible. Now, surely you will ask what kind of doctor you should visit. You must go to a psychiatrist in place of your family doctor or a physician.  

The Mania of Bipolar Disorder: What Goes Up. . .

Depression gets a lot of press, in books, articles, on talk shows. On the other hand, mania gets very little attention. In the various books dealing with bipolar disorder, there are lines, sometimes paragraphs, and very rarely, a few pages devoted to dealing with someone who is manic. Furthermore, much of what is written is counsel about hospitalization.

However, in this day and age, it can be very difficult to hospitalize anyone, particularly someone who is as clever and persuasive as a manic person can be. What, then, is a caring person to do, when someone important to him or her is in the full swing of a manic episode?

Dealing with a person who is manic is confusing at best. He or she is constantly testing everybody's limits, manipulating others' self-esteem, exploiting others' vulnerabilities, and projecting responsibility.

The people who love that person can get heaved off balance. They need resources for ballast. While the manic person is flying high, so full, so convincing, so strong, it does not seem possible that he or she will ever crash, especially if it goes on and on. However, eventually the mania will run itself out, and what almost always follows is a deep and dark depression. This is when the potential for suicide increases dramatically and is also when the support person will need a great reserve of strength.

Unfortunately, however, by the time the manic person crashes into depression, the family member is exhausted and lost, and may miss making appropriate decisions in response to their loved one. From a one-down position, powerless in the face of their loved one's mania, they are suddenly thrust into a position of needing to respond with direction and authority to their loved one's depressed passivity.

The resulting feelings of impotence, guilt, confusion, and self-blame can only weaken a caring person and make that person more susceptible to the impaired reasoning and countless accusations of the person who is manic. What follows are some thoughts and recommendations for how to survive the manic episode of a loved one.

1. A person who is manic can be quite persuasive especially about his belief that there's nothing wrong with him. You may find yourself with dangerous doubts about whether your loved one is sick at all. Remember that this is an illness, one with potentially fatal consequences

2. You must be solid within yourself and confident in the knowledge that you are dealing with someone who, although seeming in control, although insisting he has total command of himself, is in actuality quite out of control, if not of his present situation, then of the direction his situation is likely to take him. Remember that his judgment is impaired about what is best for him.

This can feel very disloyal, yet is probably the kindest, most responsible attitude you can have. With this attitude, when it becomes necessary, when your loved one plummets, you will be able to assume the responsibility needed. Believing him, trusting that he knows what is best for himself is like trusting a five-year-old to know that playing in the street is dangerous and can get him killed.

3. If you give in to your doubts, you may be drawn into your person's reality, which can only lead to your feeling more crazy and self-doubting. It is vital to remain shielded as best you can against such feelings. Knowledge and awareness are the best tools, along with professional guidance and support from people who care about you and understand what you're going through.

4. Do not try to deal with mania by yourself.

5. Find a psychiatrist who knows mood disorders, and form a strong alliance with that person.

6. Join a group for people dealing with the mania of someone they love. If your spouse or partner has bipolar disorder, find a group for couples who have dealt with the mania of one of them.

10. Read, go to lectures, and study bipolar disorder. Become a member of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and receive their mailings.

Does Your Teen Suffer From Depression?

There are several types of depression that are diagnosed by health care providers. Types of depression are determined by the duration of the symptoms and the severity of the symptoms. Depression in teens may look different than depression in adults, so it may be harder to discover. There appears to be a common thread in the disorders with teens. Teenagers are generally hiding their emotions and feelings and so they express these emotions through behavior. When your teenagers behavior has changed from communicative to no communication, from respectful to disrespect, from normal opposition to loss of judgment from being OK with the family to little or no involvement, a drastic change in clothing, friends, grades and/or attendance these are all signs of a disorder. Discovering which disorder it is can be the tricky part.

Some symptoms of depression are:

Sad or low mood, sleeping more or less than usual, eating more or less than usual, loss of interest in normal activities, irritability, aggression and hostility can also be signs of depression.

Some flags or warning signs for parents to look for: anger outbursts and explosiveness, running away, substance or alcohol abuse, isolating from family and friends, withdrawn, anxious or nervous, lack of eye contact, wearing dark clothing or a change in clothing style, hair in the face, hygiene is deteriorating, hyper-sensitive.

Some of the behaviors you may see are: self harming like cutting or burning skin, suicidal thoughts, threats, or attempts, new group of peers or maybe losing friends, school performance is declining or trouble even going to school, spending an abundant amount of time in their room; using internet or texting, easily angered and defensiveness, running away, staying out or not coming home, experimenting with drugs and alcohol, disengaged in activities they use to do.

Types of medication to ask your Dr. about: Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Luvox, Prozac are among a few of the anti-depressant medications available. Generally medication will ease the symptoms but they will not cure the issue. Talk to your health care provider to see which medication will work the best.

When do you intervene and what does the intervention process look like: parents need to begin intervening when you begin to notice grades falling, or your child isolating and avoiding family and friends. When they don't make eye contact or the eye contact has changed from how they were making eye contact. If they have changed their appearance like clothing or hair covering their face and eyes, or you notice a change in hygiene. If there is any changes in sleeping and eating patterns. If they are more defensive than normal or their anger has turned into tantrums. Interventions from parents can be anything from sitting down and talking one on one in a very clam manner. Letting your child know you are worried about them and ask them to tell you what is going on so you can help them is the best approach. If this is unsuccessful you may need to do something more severe like; getting them to a outdoor program for 45 - 60 days, or a short term residential program where they can learn to cope with their problems. Parents' may also try going to the family doctor to see if they will talk to them or a therapist, the most important thing is to get them talking.

What will insurance pay for: You will need to check with your health insurance for coverage but most insurance have some type of mental health benefit and drug and alcohol benefit. Insurances are very picky about what they cover. Generally, they will cover for Depression or a Mood Disorder. They will give so much percent to Individual Therapy and Group Therapy on an outpatient basis. If your teenager needs long term treatment you will need to jump through the hoops of your insurance carrier for them to help pay for a residential facility. They like to see that you have tried outpatient therapy first before jumping right into long term treatment. Insurance companies will not pay for an outdoor or wilderness program. There are instances where you can submit to your insurance the individual and group therapy your teenager receives in the wilderness/outdoor program you can also submit the same for a residential stay.

Who can you go to for help: Some schools and school counselors may be able to provide information to help your teen. You may also go to your local community mental health center, or your religions clergy. You may also find a family therapist or counselor that specializes in teens.

Is Chocolate a Mood Stabilizer?

Why do so many of us crave chocolate when depressed? The common sense explanation is simple emotional eating. After all, chocolate is probably the world's number one comfort food.

However, psychiatrists have traditionally identified loss of appetite with classic depression, and labeled depression with increased cravings for food as "atypical depression".

Now there is new thinking that speculates this atypical increased appetite and food cravings may not be "mental" symptoms, but instead may be an attempt by the body to rebalance itself. In other words, cravings - including the craving for chocolate - may be rooted as much in physiology as in mental or emotional health.

In a recent Australian study, the overwhelming craving of choice was for chocolate. The study participants reported that chocolate made them feel less anxious and irritable, as well as less depressed. Researchers began to suspect that the chocolate cravings were not a symptom of depression, but rather an attempt to re-balance emotions and over-all equilibrium when they did some further study into the personality types of the chocolate cravers. The group rated high on measures such as anxiety, self-criticism, irritability, sensitivity to rejection, and self-focusing.

Chocolate is surprisingly complex and contains over 350 chemicals. Some of these chemicals like tryptophan can increase serotonin - the "feel good" neurotransmitter. However, it is only present in small quantities - not enough to have a measurable effect. Also, chocolate triggers the release of endorphins and opioids, well known for creating feelings of well being. Chocolate also activates some of the same the same brain receptors as marijuana - but again this effect is very small and you could never eat enough chocolate to get "stoned" as with smoking a joint.

So does chocolate have a future as a mood stabilizer?

In summary, chocolate does have a settling effect, especially for those of us who suffer from things like anxiety and irritability. Further, it is possible that our chocolate cravings do represent a natural "healthy" attempt by our bodies to re-balance. The downside? The helpful chemicals in chocolate are present in such small amounts that the effects are only mild and are very short-lived. Compared to the mood swings, weight gain, and blood sugar disturbances caused by all the fat and sugar, any fleeting benefit is greatly outweighed in the long run.

Now THAT is depressing!

Steroids in Baseball

Steroids should be banned from the game of baseball. The integrity of baseball is diminishing because of the over use of steroids by big time players. Anabolic steroids are a synthetic version of the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone in its normal state promotes and boosts muscle development and growth. When it is supplemented with steroids, you have an increase of muscle mass, reduction of body fat, and enhanced endurance. Steroids can be injected into an athlete's body in three ways; the butt, the shoulder, and the thigh. Jose Canseco stated in his book Juiced that over "85% of baseball players use steroids" (136). Steroids have caused a lot of health consequences to baseball players who have used them over a long period of time. Baseball has attempted to toughen its drug policy by a plan of having random testing during the season.

On March 17, 2005, there was a congressional hearing about BALCO. BALCO is located in California. BALCO is a nutrition center that has been known to distribute steroids to such players' as Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and Jason Giambi. There were five players summoned to testify in front of Congress; Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco, and Curt Schilling. During this period, Bond's trainer, Greg Anderson and BALCO head Victor Conte, were not subpoenaed in California by the House Committee for investigation. I believe that Greg Anderson and Victor Conte should have been subpoenaed, because they had such a big role in the involvement of steroids in baseball. After the hearing was over congress pressured baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to begin applying stricter regulations and to have a zero tolerance policy in correspondence to performance enhancing drugs (Wikipedia). To illustrate the lesser penalties, in 2004, the policy consisted of; first positive test resulted in a suspension of ten games, a second positive test resulted in a suspension of thirty games, the third positive test resulted in a suspension of sixty games, the fourth positive test resulted in a suspension of one full year, and a fifth positive test resulted in a penalty at the commissioner's discretion. Players were tested at least once per year, with the chance that several players could be tested many times per year. In 2005 the penalties were toughened; a first positive test would result in a fifty game suspension, a second positive test would result in a hundred game suspension, and a third positive test would result in a lifetime suspension from MLB (Bodley 1).

Anabolic Steroids have major scientific side effects on the body; the negative effects that steroids have on the body should be the main the reason why baseball bans players from using them. Here are all the health issues that a player will have to deal with sometime or another during and after the use of steroids. There are strong indications that tumors of the liver are caused when the anabolic steroids contain a 17-alpha-alkyl group. Also anabolic steroids may lead to hepatic carcinoma. A well known side effect of AS in males is breast formation (gynecomastia). Gynecomastia is caused by increased levels of circulating estrogens, which are typical female sex hormones. Most of the investigations have been focused on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and in particular the effect of anabolic steroids on blood pressure and on plasma lipoproteins. Anabolic steroid users may become dependent on the drug, with symptoms of withdrawal after cessation of drug use. The withdrawal symptoms consist of aggressive and violent behavior, mental depression with suicidal behavior, mood changes, and in some cases acute psychosis. Steroids also have some side effects that aren't as bad. They are premature balding or hair loss, dizziness, mood swings, including anger, aggression, and depression, believing things that aren't true (delusion), extreme feelings of mistrust or fear (paranoia), problems sleeping, nausea and vomiting, trembling, high blood pressure that can damage the heart or blood vessels over time, aching joints, greater chance of injuring muscles and tendons, jaundice or yellowing of the skin; liver damage, urinary problems, shortening of final adult height, and increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer (downshen).

Not only can steroids be dangerous to the human body, but the injection of steroids is just as dangerous. The most commonly way players get injected are through needles. Steroids need to be taken two or three times a week, that's why injecting steroids is so important because it happens so frequently. There are three major areas where steroids are injected; the butt, the shoulder, and the thigh. These three parts are the safest parts of the body to inject steroids because they offer a large area where the needle can be injected safely Injecting steroids the wrong way can cause major health problems. The most notable diseases are HIV and Aids. Athletes can get these diseases by either sharing needles or not cleaning the needle properly (Steroid).

Steroids pose an unfair advantage for players that use them. They help athletes get stronger, run faster, and pitch stronger. A well known athlete Evander Holyfield said "Well, when I think of steroids I think of an image. You have the advantage over someone, which is a form of cheating. I guess it wouldn't be right unless it was legal for everybody. Reason it's not legal for everybody is because it can hurt people seriously (Brainy Quote)." With steroids, players have broken records that people thought would never be broken. Barry Bonds broke the home run record for most home runs in a season. Baseball columnists say "that the record should not count because Bonds broke it using steroids". As a young kid growing up playing baseball, I used to look up to Barry Bonds. I got his jersey, collected all his baseball cards, and tried to watch all his games. Ever since steroids popped up surrounding him, I don't like him anymore. I can not look up to someone that uses steroids. I also can not look up to someone who in my opinion cheated to get here he is at. He has lost a lot of fans because of the steroids case surrounding him. I have lost a ton of respect for Bonds as a player and as a man. Another baseball player that has used steroids to his advantage was Ken Caminiti. He has stated that he won the 1996 NL MVP Award while on steroids (Wikipedia). I don't think that Ken's MVP Award should be taken away because he accomplished the award before any one new that baseball players were using steroids. Professional baseball players that use steroids are bad role models towards young kids playing baseball. It tells kids that it is alright to use steroids to enhance your performance or cheat. When young kids use steroids, it destroys their bodies a lot quicker than it would a grown man. It destroys their bodies in such ways that can destroy their athletic careers for ever. Steroid problems can result when they create imbalances in the body. In young kids steroids build muscle mass so quickly, the rest of the body cannot adjust quickly enough. You get a tremendous increase in muscle mass, but the connective tissue does not catch up. The tendons and ligaments are not strong enough, causing such injuries as ligament tears. Knees are a common victim of overdeveloped muscles. Knee injuries may include a fracture of the femur, the bone connecting the hip to the knee. If the fracture affects the epiphyseal plate, the site where new bone actually grows, the body will grow a bony bridge across the plate, stunting growth in that leg. The other leg will continue growing, causing unequal leg length as the child matures. Although other steroid-induced joint injuries may heal better than this, joints are never quite the same again (Brandser). As a fan of the game, I think players using steroids take away from the integrity of the game. It is not the way baseball should be played. Ryan Sandberg, a Hall Of Fame baseball player agrees with me when he said "We do have a problem in baseball, and using steroids is not respecting the game (Brainy Quote)."

Steroids have made a big impact on the game of baseball. Nowadays, several baseball players have been using steroids to enhance their muscles and their performance. Greats like Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Lou Gherig didn't need enhancement drugs to break records. They were great without the needles whereas today, steroids seem to be almost a necessity for some players. The use of steroids is giving Major League Baseball a bad name. Broken records in the past fifteen years can be blamed on steroids. As a result of steroid use, the sports pace has changed greatly. More homeruns have been hit and more records have been broken. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa are three of the players involved in one of the most celebrated record chases: the single season home run champ. There's no coincidence that all three players are under review for steroid use. Another reason why players tend to use steroids is because they will produce better statistics which in the long run will get them higher salaries. The players I mentioned in the beginning of the paragraph; Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Lou Gherig played the game with respect. They are proof that an athlete can be in the Hall Of Fame with out using steroids. They are the players that gave the game integrity and now the players that are using steroids are taken it away. The players that don't use steroids are the players that young kids should look up to, not the ones that use steroids. As a big fan of baseball, I love to see players succeed with out having to use steroids. Stadiums are losing money because less and less fans are coming to watch the games at the ball parks. They rather stay at home and watch steroid athletes play than waste money to go watch them play.

Steroids have been around in sports for a long time. It wasn't until 2004 that steroids have become such a big problem. Steroids are killing the integrity of the game. A lot of the big time players in Major League Baseball that own records have been able to achieve those records because of the use of steroids, and that's not right. There have been a lot of athletes that kids look up to that have accomplished their goals by not using steroids. Those are the athletes that we should be hearing about in the news, not the ones that cheat. Steroids give an unfair advantage to the people who use them. It makes them run faster, jump higher, and pitch faster. The most important thing about using steroids is the fact that it destroys your body. Not only are steroids dangerous but the injection of steroids is just as dangerous. As the saying goes "cheaters never win," and with the new restrictions they won't.

Psychological Testing: What It Is, How It Works

Psychological testing is a measurement procedure used to describe or predict behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or symptomatic characteristics of the person taking the tests, or the person to which the tests refer (some tests are given to people who know the person of interest, but most are taken by the person of interest).

To stay within the area of clinical psychology (mental health psychology), there are several kinds of tests often used. According to my simple classification scheme developed for educating the public, there are personality, cognitive, behavioral, diagnostic, and achievement tests. Sub-specialty tests, like forensic psychology or neuropsychology tests would actually fall under one or more of these broad categories but with a more specialized focus. Also, some tests incorporate elements of more than one classification.

Please note that my scheme is simply convenient; there are research-based classifications of tests based upon what they do and how they do it. My discussion of other test aspects is also based upon research but does not always use the 'official' terms or terms typical in my field, as I wanted to write a simpler overview. Note also that in counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and other fields there are other kinds of tests, such as 'interest' tests designed to detect interests in different professions, or even in-vivo (live) behavioral tests such as sessions designed to replicate a 'rough day at the office' for important, stressful, and expensive executive positions.

I am not going to give away any test secrets, but what I will present is a brief overview of each category of test, some examples by title only, and some basic information on how tests are generally interpreted. You will not learn from this post any useful secrets of the tests themselves. This is intended only to inform the public of the value of psychological testing.

'Types' of Tests

Personality tests can sometimes overlap with diagnostic or symptom-related tests. Broadly, a personality test is designed to describe or predict usual attitudes, behaviors, or traits related to the examinee's interpersonal perception (how they see others) and intra-personal perception (how they see themselves). Famous examples include the MMPI-2 (which is structured and taken with paper and pencil) and the Rorschach (which is less structured and involves interviewing the examinee about their perceptions of inkblots).

Cognitive tests are used to describe or predict a person's mental abilities. For instance, two persons may each have reasonable ability to creatively solve problems, but which one can do so more quickly or more flexibly? How strong is a person's concentration and memory? Is the person better at solving problems verbally, structurally, nonverbally, holistically? The list of cognitive ('thinking') abilities that can be tested is very long and detailed. Cognitive tests include IQ tests, neuropsychological tests, and specialized instruments used in research, to name only three types. Famous examples include the WAIS-IV, WMS-IV, Stanford-Binet V, Bender-Gestalt-II, and many, many individual neuropsychological tests and test batteries.

Behavioral inventories are based upon the report of people who know the person in question, or upon direct examiner observation of the person in question. One good example of when these measures are used is in cases of ADHD diagnosis or determination of a given person's ability to function in their day (for example, used together with an IQ test to determine the possibility of mental retardation or developmental disability). Examples include behavior checklists or the Vineland-II Adaptive Behavior Scales. Behavioral assessment is also common among practitioners of applied behavioral analysis, which is used for treating very serious behavior problems in the developmentally disabled or with the extremely severely mentally ill.

Diagnostic tests frequently use an interview format, though some of them are given with paper and pencil like a personality test. Some interviews are highly structured (and are thus more reliable), but they tend to be less flexible, may alienate or bore the examinee, and may not be as adaptable to a given case. Some interviews are not very structured (and are thus less reliable), but are more flexible and interactive. Usually a good assessment will somehow manage to include parts of both types of interview style. An example would be the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID, a comprehensive structured interview) or the Beck Depression Inventory (paper and pencil, but focused only on depression).

Achievement tests measure how well the examinee does on academic measures of reading, writing, and mathematics (to name three broad categories). Other measures that test mainly knowledge could probably be categorized as achievement tests as well. It is important to understand that the results of these tests will be partly associated with the person's cognitive abilities, for example because knowledge tests usually involve some reasoning ability and some consideration of speed, exactitude, or both. Examples include the Wide Range Achievement Test - 4 or the high school SAT.

Interpretation of Tests

Tests are often interpreted according to whether they use or do not use some 'standard' or 'reference point,' and according to what that reference point (if any) is.

Rater-based reference point--in this interpretation, the test being used usually only refers to categories--diagnosis, for example. Structured interviews often fall in this category, and the only purpose of the test is to tell whether the person has a diagnosis or not. Comparison along a continuous line of percentiles or scores is not a part of this referencing. Here, the main concern is the reliability of the agreement between two or more examiners and the validity of the categories between which they choose.

No reference point (other than the examinee)--this can tell us a lot about the qualities of an examinee, but there is no way to measure those qualities against the same qualities of other persons. However, some tests that can measure against other people also include elements of this 'qualitative' description. This type of interpretation simply interprets 'type' of content and 'amount of X relative to Y for this examinee,' but not 'amount of X or Y relative to others.'

For example, one could note that the examinee did better on measures of concentration than on measures of reasoning, but could not compare these statements to the performance of other persons. Of course, here we are assuming that the number of questions or items for reasoning and for concentration are equal and that each reasoning item is of the same difficulty ('hardness') as each corresponding concentration item. Being able to evaluate difficulty is difficult without some outside reference point, and this brings us to norms...

Norm-based reference point--in this interpretation used by many psychological tests, the score of the examinee is compared to the scores of other test-takers (usually hundreds to thousands of other examinees). This allows the scores to be interpreted in terms of their distance from the average (usually the 'mean') and in terms of percentiles. For example, a person whose score on a measure of extraversion (outgoingness) is 'one standard deviation above the mean' is at approximately the 84th percentile relative to his or her peers in regard to that one characteristic.

Criterion-based reference--in this interpretation, also used in many tests and often used in conjunction with norm-referencing, certain score levels on the test are known to be highly associated with certain behaviors or outcomes (criteria) with some degree of probability. Usually this knowledge is acquired through research done in developing or confirming the results of the test. For example, a test could help one decide which person to hire for a job; a particular score on a test designed to measure organizational ability (the ability to prioritize and sort) might be highly correlated with success in a particular executive position. Other test results might be highly predictive of suicide or another more clinical concern.

Often norm-referencing is used to give some idea of how an examinee compares to peers, while at the same time criterion-referencing research is used to tell the interpreter of the test what the score means in terms of imporant associated outcomes. For example, a high IQ score is not just 'higher cognitive ability than most of her peers,' it is also usually predictive of high academic achievement and high-level professional employment. Of course, these predictions are not perfect, and neither are norm-based interpretations (or any interpretation for that matter).

For this reason, all good tests have information about their 'reliability.' Reliability gives knowledge about:
The usual error rates of a test
The amount of expected error in any score
The degree to which portions of the test agree with or are sensibly related to other portions
The degree to which separate raters agree, and/or
The degree to which one examinee's scores on a test at one time agree with their scores at another time).

Good tests also should have information available about their 'validity':
The extent to which the test actually measures what it is supposed to
The degree to which the test adequately measures a specific type of content
The degree to which the test is sensibly associated or non-associated with other similar and dissimilar tests and/or
The degree to which the test actually has a reliable association with important outcomes

Hopefully this overview will be helpful for anyone curious about psychological tests!