What Is Fitzgerald Trying to Say About the American Dream in 'The Great Gatsby'?

The American dream is such a major theme in The Great Gatsby that whether you are studying it was just reading it for fun you must be wondering what Fitzgerald is trying to say about. Some people argue the book of the criticism of the American dream, some people think Fitzgerald is trying to say the American dream is dead, others think the criticism is solely of Gatsby who paid the price of living too long with a single dream. Let's have a look at some quotes from the Great Gatsby.

Gaby's dream is the most prominent of the book. It is all encompassing, it has taken over his life completely. He thought he loved Daisy, but when he finally met her after all these years he found that he still wanted more. He wanted her to say that she never loved another man. He couldn't be happy with what he had, he has to be perfect. He is an example of people who abuse the American dream.

Character's like Myrtle and Wilson look up and Daisy and Tom. They want what they have, they think that they have achieved the American Dream. The reader knows different thought, we can see exactly how happy Daisy and Tom are. Behind the fa癟ade of perfection they present, their perfect marriage, in their lovely house with their beautiful daughter, they are both bored and unhappy. With no job and no purpose in life they have grown 'restless.' Both of them have affairs and neither seems to care about there child. Fitzgerald is trying to say that life isn't what you imagine at the top.

It is obvious that, at least in the world of the Great Gatsby, money doesn't buy you happiness. Unfortunately it is just as clear that the lower classes are obsessed with money and view it as their ticket to living the dream. When you only look at their bank balances Gatsby and Tom are both wildly successful and that is all the lower classes see.

The photograph that Gatsby's father carries around with him becomes the symbol of this obsession of the lower classes. Instead of carrying a picture of his son he carries a a picture of his house, a symbol of his wealth, and what proves he is a success. Just as Gatsby was lured by Dan Cody's expensive yacht, so the next generation will look at this photo and think that if they work hard enough they can come from nothing like Gatsby and be as happy as him. The sad fact is we know Gatsby was never happy and when he died no one came to his funeral.

What can we draw from this then, does Fitzgerald think the American dream is dead. On the contrary I believe that he thinks it will continue perpetually, the people always look at the rich and wish they could be like them. And so the book is not telling you the American dream is dead is telling you that it will always live on and be wary of its promises.

5 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Depression

1) Wake up in the morning
2) Get Passionate
3) Identify your Depression Triggers
4) Update your Mental Associations
5) Learn to breathe slow and deep

1) Wake Up in the Morning

There are 2 reasons why waking up in the morning - the earlier the better - helps get rid of depression;

1) Between 3am and around noon the human endocrine system is in 'waking mode'. This means your hormones are guiding your body to be active and alert rather than rested or sleeping. If you wake up during this time, you will have access to more than double the amount of vital energy you would if you woke up in the afternoon, evening or night. It is extremely depressing to wake up low on energy.

2) Because all people have more energy in the morning, and most have rested in the night, people are more optimistic, kinder perhaps, and more cheerful in the morning. Your idea of the world will be a happier one if you woke up at this time. In the afternoons and evenings most people are tired, stressed or burdened. You will be waking up to harder more difficult world - whether you can see this or not - and this can take its toll on you.

Our idea of the world goes a long way in causing depression or getting rid of it. No matter what you feel of life in general, either way its just half the picture. By waking up in the morning you choose to enjoy the lighter side during your waking hours. It makes a BIG difference. Try it!

2) Get Passionate

I know I might owe your visit here to searching the net for relief from depression, but we really need to stop focussing on Depression so much. The fact is, no matter what our reasons for being down, we are not going to move on from here till we get involved in something else. The more we think about depression, the higher our chances get of experiencing it.

Its now time to get passionate. Almost 90% of people with depression say they find relief when they are doing something they are passionate about. I do believe that one of the quickest ways to get relief from depression is to actually get involved in something passionately and whole-heartedly. You just have to take the first step towards your passion, nature and God will do the rest.

3) Identify your Depression Triggers

Your 'Depression Triggers' are those little incidents or places or people that trigger depression in you. They might be something totally unrelated or insignificant to your life in general. For example, the first time I adopted a pup, she pooped and peed all over the place for months and months. I just didn't know how to toilet train her, and then she was in the habit of eating things that upset her stomach. I cleaned up after her night and day using Lizol (disinfectant). My work was affected because of the time I spent just keeping the place clean, I hardly had time to rest, and I was constantly embarrassed and tense when people came to visit - it was a very difficult time for me.

A year on however and long after the nightmare was over, I found myself getting depressed every time I saw a Lizol bottle or smelled Lizol. For no reason I would go from being perfectly happy to feeling really low on energy and even hopeless - the same hopelessness and sense of failure I used to feel whenever I realized I hadn't been able to toilet train my dog.

I realized then that the smell of Lizol was triggering Depression in me, and lo and behold the second I became aware of it, it stopped depressing me! I even find it sort of funny now that a bottle of disinfectant could affect me that way.

We need to be aware of the little triggers that depress us. Then, we either remove them from our lives or face them and work it out or laugh it off. We need to resolve the issue in our hearts so we can face life in the moment and not be so affected by incidents of the past.

When we get depressed because of these triggers from the past, we are essentially carrying umbrellas long after it has stopped raining. Now isn't that a waste of energy?

4) Update your mental associations

From the moment we are born our brains start compiling a database of information on related things. For example, we associate church with God, sunshine with a happy day, hospitals with illness or pain, and so on. These associations lie beneath most of our sub-conscious reactions to life long after our childhood. Sometimes though, they can become irrelevant and be more of a pain than a help.

Many of these associations are also inherited from our parents and ancestors. For example, until a few decades ago most households made fresh bread every day right in the home. The lovely smell of fresh bread made people feel secure and well. The generations that followed began to buy bread from the market, but we all still associate the smell of fresh bread with well-being and peace. It is an inherited association. Real estate agents report that houses that smell of fresh bread sell much faster than other houses.

Similarly we have mental associations that can trigger depression in us. The scent of the cologne that someone we had an unpleasant experience with wore, a bus or train station where we said a final goodbye to a loved one, or even things like pencils, books, furniture, certain foods etc.

I had a terrible experience as a teenager when a friend I loved and cherished stopped talking to me without explanation. I made repeated phone calls but there was no answer - I know it was just my home number that was being left unanswered. It left such a terrible hurt in me that for years later I got stressed out and upset around phones.

The day I became aware of how I had associated phones with pain and trauma, it all stopped. Phones don't depress me anymore. I can't believe I was once so affected by a little electronic instrument!

Get yourself a pen and paper or open a blank document on your computer. Make a list of all the little things that deeply upset you. Then find out why they affect you so. You'll find yourself so relieved and laughing when you see how little insignificant things were troubling you so deeply all along.

5) Learn to breathe slow and deep

When we breathe fast and shallow, our body assumes we are in stress because that's what we naturally do in moments of stress. When we breathe slow and deep, our body assumes we are resting now.

If we have made a habit of breathing fast and shallow, we have made a habit of keeping our body in stress mode. Naturally we are depressed. How can we expect our nervous system to rest and feel well if it has to constantly be on the alert? How can we expect to fall asleep peacefully if our body still thinks we are on the battlefield?

Its just a simple little thing, and the No.1 cause of real clinical depression that is a long term hormone imbalance. Just breathe deep and slow. Do it every time you're watching TV (especially if you're watching a news channel!), do it while you are walking or working, or cooking, and please do it in bed. There's almost no stress related condition that cannot be healed by beginning to breathe deep and slow.

It really is a return to childhood because that's how we breathed as children. We took in air in huge trusting doses and felt it right till our tummies. We slept well, ate well, and were able to learn, play, grow and enjoy life.

Glossery of Syptoms and Mental Illness Affecting Teenagers

Being a teenager is not easy. Adolescents feel all kinds of pressures -- to do well in school, to be popular with peers, to gain the approval of parents, to make the team, to be cool. In addition, many teenagers have other special problems. For example, they may worry about a parent being out of work or the family's financial problems.

Adolescents may be hurt or confused by their parents' divorce, or they may have to learn how to live with a parent's alcoholism or mental illness. Despite these pressures, it is important to remember that most teenagers develop into healthy adults.

Unfortunately, some teenagers develop serious emotional problems requiring professional help. This glossary of brief definitions was developed to help teenagers, parents, teachers, and others learn more about the major mental illnesses, symptoms, and mental health issues which affect teenagers.
Please remember: All the problems described in the glossary are treatable and some can be prevented. In every case, the sooner a teenager gets help, the better.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

Use and abuse of drugs and alcohol by teens is very common and can have serious consequences. In the 15-24 year age range, 50% of deaths (from accidents, homicides, suicides) involve alcohol or drug abuse. Drugs and alcohol also contribute to physical and sexual aggression such as assault or rape. Possible stages of teenage experience with alcohol and drugs include abstinence (non-use), experimentation, regular use (both recreational and compensatory for other problems), abuse, and dependency.

Repeated and regular recreational use can lead to other problems like anxiety and depression. Some teenagers regularly use drugs or alcohol to compensate for anxiety, depression, or a lack of positive social skills. Teen use of tobacco and alcohol should not be minimized because they can be "gateway drugs" for other drugs (marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and heroin). The combination of teenagers' curiosity, risk taking behavior, and social pressure make it very difficult to say no. This leads most teenagers to the questions: "Will it hurt to try one?"

A teenager with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse and a lack of pro-social skills can move rapidly from experimentation to patterns of serious abuse or dependency. Some other teenagers with no family history of abuse who experiment may also progress to abuse or dependency. Therefore, there is a good chance that "one" will hurt you. Teenagers with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse are particularly advised to abstain and not experiment. No one can predict for sure who will abuse or become dependent on drugs except to say the non-user never will.

Warning signs of teenage drug or alcohol abuse may include:

a drop in school performance,

a change in groups of friends,

delinquent behavior, and

deterioration in family relationships.

There may also be physical signs such as red eyes, a persistent cough, and change in eating and sleeping habits. Alcohol or drug dependency may include blackouts, withdrawal symptoms, and further problems in functioning at home, school, or work.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Anorexia Nervosa occurs when an adolescent refuses to maintain body weight at or above a minimal normal weight for age and height. The weight loss is usually self-imposed and is usually less than 85% of expected weight. The condition occurs most frequently in females, however, it can occur in males.

Generally, the teenager has an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight. Self evaluation of body weight and shape may be distorted and there may be denial of the potential health hazards caused by the low body weight.

Physical symptoms can include:

absence of regular menstrual cycles

dry skin

low pulse rate, and

low blood pressure

Behavioral changes commonly occur such as:

social withdrawal

irritability

moodiness, and

depression

Without treatment, this disorder can become chronic and with severe starvation, some teenagers may die.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is the fearful anticipation of further danger or problems accompanied by an intense unpleasant feeling (dysphoria) or physical symptoms. Anxiety is not uncommon in children and adolescents. Anxiety in children may present as:

Separation Anxiety Disorder: Excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or from those to whom the child is attached. The youngster may develop excessive worrying to the point of being reluctant or refusing to go to school, being alone, or sleeping alone. Repeated nightmares and complaints of physical symptoms (such as headaches, stomach aches, nausea, or vomiting) may occur.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Excessive anxiety and worry about events or activities such as school. The child or adolescent has difficulty controlling worries. There may also be restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep difficulties.
Panic Disorder: The presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent worries about having attacks. Panic Attack refers to the sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness, or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom.

There may also be shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, choking or smothering sensations, and fear of "going crazy" or losing control.
Phobias: Persistent, irrational fears of a specific object, activity, or situation (such as flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). These intense fears cause the child or adolescent to avoid the object, activity, or situation.

ATTENTION DEFICIT/ HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

ADHD is usually first diagnosed during the elementary school years. In some cases, symptoms continue into adolescence. A teenager with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder has problems with paying attention and concentration and/or with hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Despite good intentions, a teenager may be unable to listen well, organize work, and follow directions. Cooperating in sports and games may be difficult. Acting before thinking can cause problems with parents, teachers, and friends. These teens may be restless, fidgety, and unable to sit still.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder occurs more commonly in boys and symptoms are always present before the age of seven. Problems related to ADHD appear in multiple areas of a youngster's life and can be very upsetting to the teen, his/her family, and people at school. Symptoms of ADHD frequently become less severe during the late teen years and in young adulthood.

BIPOLAR DISORDER (MANIC DEPRESSION)

Bipolar Disorder is a type of mood disorder with marked changes in mood between extreme elation or happiness and severe depression. The periods of elation are termed mania. During this phase, the teenager has an expansive or irritable mood, can become hyperactive and agitated, can get by with very little or no sleep, becomes excessively involved in multiple projects and activities, and has impaired judgment.

A teenager may indulge in risk taking behaviors, such as sexual promiscuity and anti-social behaviors. Some teenagers in a manic phase may develop psychotic symptoms (grandiose delusions and hallucinations). For a description of the depressive phase see depression. Bipolar disorder generally occurs before the age of 30 years and may first develop during adolescence.

BULIMIA NERVOSA (BULIMIA)

Bulimia Nervosa occurs when an adolescent has repeated episodes of binge eating and purging. Binges are characterized by eating large quantities of food in a discrete period of time. The teen also has feelings of being unable to stop eating and loss of control over the amount of food being eaten. Usually, after binge eating, they attempt to prevent weight gain by self-induced vomiting, laxative use, diuretics, enemas, medications, fasting, or excessive exercise. These teen's self-esteem is strongly affected by weight and body shape.

Serious medical problems can occur with Bulimia Nervosa (e.g. esophageal or gastric rupture, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney failure, and seizures). Other psychological problems such as depression, intense moods, and low self-esteem are common. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve outcome and decrease the risk of worsening depression, shame, and harmful weight fluctuations.

CONDUCT DISORDER

Teenager's with conduct disorder have a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which they violate the rights of others, or violate norms or rules that are appropriate to their age. Their conduct is more serious than the ordinary mischief and pranks of children and adolescents.

Severe difficulties at home, in school, and in the community are common, and frequently there is very early sexual activity. Self-esteem is usually low, although the adolescent may project an image of "toughness." Teenagers with this disorder have also been described as "delinquent" or "anti-social." Some teenagers with conduct disorder may also have symptoms of other psychiatric disorders (see ADHD, depression, alcohol and drug abuse).

DEPRESSION

Though the term "depression" can describe a normal human emotion, it also can refer to a psychiatric disorder. Depressive illness in children and adolescents includes a cluster of symptoms which have been present for at least two weeks.

In addition to feelings of sadness and/or irritability, a depressive illness includes several of the following:

Change of appetite with either significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain

Change in sleeping patterns (such as trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much)

Loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed

Loss of energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down for no

reason, "burned out" Feelings of guilt and self blame for things that are not one's fault

Inability to concentrate and indecisiveness

Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

Recurring thought of death and suicide, wishing to die, or attempting suicide Children and adolescents with depression may also have symptoms of irritability, grumpiness, and boredom. They may have vague, non-specific physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches, etc.). There is an increased incidence of depressive illness in the children of parents with significant depression.

LEARNING DISORDERS

Learning Disorders occur when the child or adolescent's reading, math, or writing skills are substantially below that expected for age, schooling, and level of intelligence. Approximately 5% of students in public schools in the United States are identified as having a learning disorder.

Students with learning disorders may become so frustrated with their performance in school that by adolescence they may feel like failures and want to drop out of school or may develop behavioral problems. Special testing is always required to make the diagnosis of a learning disorder and to develop appropriate remedial interventions. Learning disorders should be identified as early as possible during school years.

OBSESSIVE- COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

Teenagers with OCD have obsessions and/or compulsions. An obsession refers to recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive and cause severe anxiety or distress. Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviors and rituals (like hand washing, hoarding, ordering, checking) or mental acts (like counting, repeating words silently, avoiding). The obsessions and compulsions also significantly interfere with the teen's normal routine, academic functioning, usual social activities, or relationships.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Physical abuse occurs when a person responsible for a child or adolescent's welfare causes physical injury or harm to the child. Examples of abusive treatment of children include: hitting with an object, kicking, burning, scalding, punching, and threatening or attacking with weapons. Children and adolescents who have been abused may suffer from depression, anxiety, low selfesteem, inability to build trusting relationships, alcohol and drug abuse, learning impairments, and conduct disorder.

POST- TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

PTSD can occur when a teenager experiences a shocking, unexpected event that is outside the range of usual human experience. The trauma is usually so extreme that it can overwhelm their coping mechanisms and create intense feelings of fear and helplessness.

The traumatic event may be experienced by the individual directly (e.g. physical or sexual abuse, assault, rape, kidnaping, threatened death), by observation (witness of trauma to another person), or by learning about a trauma affecting a close relative or friend. Whether teens develop PTSD depends on a combination of their previous history, the severity of the traumatic event, and the amount of exposure.

Symptoms include:

Recurrent, intrusive, and distressing memories of the event
Recurrent, distressing dreams of the event.

Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring
Intense psychological distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event and consequent avoidance of those stimuli.

Numbing of general responsiveness (detachment, estrangement from others, decreased interest in significant activities)
Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (irritability, sleep disturbances, poor concentration, hyper-vigilance, anxiety).

PSYCHOSIS

Psychotic disorders include severe mental disorders which are characterized by extreme impairment of a person's ability to think clearly, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately. Psychotic symptoms can be seen in teenagers with a number of serious mental illnesses, such as depression, bi-polar disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia, and with some forms of drug and alcohol abuse. Psychotic symptoms interfere with a person's daily functioning and can be quite debilitating. Psychotic symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.

Delusion: A false, fixed, odd, or unusual belief firmly held by the patient. The belief is not ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture. There are delusions of paranoia (others are plotting against them), grandiose delusions (exaggerated ideas of one's importance or identity), and somatic delusions (a healthy person believing that he/she has a terminal illness).

Hallucination: A sensory perception (seeing, hearing, feeling, and smelling) in the absence of an outside stimulus. For example, with auditory hallucinations, the person hears voices when there is no one talking.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

A psychotic disorder characterized by severe problems with a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, and use of words and language. Psychotic symptoms often include delusions and/or hallucinations. These delusions in schizophrenia are often paranoid and persecutory in nature.

Hallucinations are usually auditory and may include hearing voices speaking in the third person, as well as to each other, commenting on the patient's deeds and actions. Schizophrenia does not mean "split personality." Most people develop schizophrenia before 30 years of age with some having their first episode in the teenage years.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Teenage sexual abuse occurs when an adolescent is used for gratification of an adult's sexual needs or desires. Severity of sexual abuse can range from fondling to forcible rape. The most common forms of sexual abuse encountered by girls include: exhibitionism, fondling, genital contact, masturbation, and vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.

Boys may be sexually abused through fondling, mutual masturbation, fellatio, and anal intercourse. Adolescents who have been sexually abused may also suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, feelings of worthlessness and helplessness, learning impairments, and destructive behaviors.

SUICIDE

Suicide is the third leading cause of death (behind accidents and homicides) for teenagers. Each year more than 5,000 U.S. teenagers commit suicide. The warning signs and risk factors associated with teen suicide include: depression, previous suicide attempts, recent losses, frequent thought about death, and the use of drugs or alcohol.

A teenager planning to commit suicide may also give verbal hints such as "nothing matters," or "I won't be a problem for you anymore." They may also give away favorite possessions or become suddenly cheerful after a long period of sadness.

TOURETTE'S SYNDROME

Tourette's Syndrome is characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic. A tic is a sudden, rapid movement of some of the muscles in the body that occurs over and over and doesn't serve any purpose. The location, frequency, and complexity of tics changes over time. Motor tics frequently involve the head, central body, legs, and arms.

They may result in simple movements such as eye blinking, or more complex movements such as touching and squatting. Vocal tics can include sounds such as grunts, barks, sniffs, snorts, coughs, and obscenities. Tourette's Syndrome is always diagnosed before the age of eighteen - most commonly appearing around seven years of age.

It occurs more often in males than females and symptoms are usually present for life. The severity of Tourette's varies a great deal over time, but improvement can occur during late adolescence and in adulthood. Teens with Tourette's Syndrome often have additional problems with obsessions, compulsions, hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness.

Please know that you can share this article with anyone you think this may help. Please just leave the footer intact and make sure that the author gets the proper credit.

PMDD and Depression - Tips to Cure The Symptoms

If you are suffering from depression when PMDD comes upon you near the end of your menstrual cycle then you know just how low and miserable you can possibly feel. Combined with the fact you feel fine after menses, that fear of lapsing back into soul sucking depression can be just as bad as the issue itself! So if you have PMDD and depression - just what can you do?

Here are some tips to help cure the symptoms you suffer with depression and PMDD that might just help you end this spiralling nightmare!

Eating Healthy

The food that we eat has great influence in dealing with such condition as PMDD. We hear contradicting views and new findings about what diet is healthy for you all the time, but these core tips may be helpful when recovering from depression or PMDD. However they are not an instant cure, they do take time to come to fruition.

• Avoid sweets -Eating sugary foods is a no-no in PMDD. High intake of sugar may cause sudden increase in blood glucose level. The body then compensates by producing insulin in response to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). The excessive production of insulin in response to the abrupt increase in blood sugar may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) in return. Sweets alter our body's natural balance and cause the extremes in blood glucose level. If your blood sugar is low, depression may set in.


• Avoid Packaged and Refined Foods -As explained above sudden elevation of blood sugar level may result to rebound hypoglycemia. Aside from low levels of essential nutrients compared to the fresh ones, processed foods are so refined that they easily breakdown into glucose. To avoid this, stick with the "fresh".


• Eat Low GI Foods - These are low carbohydrate foods that are converted into energy at a steady rate which allows your body to utilize it well. Higher GI foods (high carbohydrate foods), however, are the ones that cause the same problems as mentioned above. Introduce low GI foods to your diet and prevent hypoglycaemia.

Work-Out... Works Out!

Everyone knows and says that exercise is good for all. The question is, "How and when should you exercise?" During depression, exercise does not even cross your mind. You will rather prefer to stay inactive. Again, you need to be reminded of what everyone says about exercise. Knowing the right exercise for you will be helpful in promoting the release of your happy hormones, endorphins. Also, studies show that exercise allows you to relax and allows you to sleep well. Here are some helpful tips on how to make exercise effective for you.

• Stick To It- Even just the thought of how you can benefit from exercise and how fun it can be when done in groups is exciting. However, the hard part of it is keeping up with it as part of your lifestyle. Women do encounter this problem with consistency in relation to exercise. If you finally believe what most people tell you about exercising, you may choose to engage in regular exercise. In the end, you will realize that even during depression, you can get out of your pyjamas and get in to your gym clothes. In time, it becomes a habit that is hard to give up.


• Hard work- High intensity workout may not be easy for you and for some women. However, if you work out more intensely, the happy hormones (e.g. endorphins) are released and can stabilize mood. A good exercise usually gives you a boost after. On the other hand, long-term effects are appreciated after days of being consistent with the program.


• Strength Training - Most women prefer cardio over the weights. This may also be true to you. Strength training allows you to develop your endurance. This exercise allows you to work on the muscles of the body and can trigger the release of your "feel-good hormone", the endorphins.

Herbal Medicine

Medications given for PMDD works for temporary relief of symptoms only; just like an antipyretic to a fever. As long as the root cause of the condition is not treated, then same problems recur. Also, drug dependence may also arise. This is something you do not want to happen. The action and the benefits of these agents may be fast yet these can wear off in time. However, safer remedies can be found in your garden. Alternative herbal medicines can pose lesser risks and can be considered as a long term treatment option.

There are many herbal formulas that can be helpful in PMDD. St. John's Wort, is one of the wonder-drugs. It mimics or has the same benefits with antidepressant medications. The good thing about it is you don't get to suffer side effects.

This may be found in your backyard or maybe along the neighbourhood. If it is hard to look for one, you can visit online stores. The recommended time to take this is at the start of your menses and days or weeks after it. This may allow better outcomes in treating the symptoms of PMDD. Remember, do not use it with other antidepressant drugs and always seek for the expert's help.

Everyone Needs Support

Support is as important as diet, exercise and herbal remedies. When you experience depression, you need the help of your family and friends. You want to feel that you are understood and that you are accepted in a way. A good support system will create an environment that can pave your way to recovery. Educating the family about PPMD is very important in establishing a good support system.

How Do We Measure Happiness?

What is happiness, and how can we measure it?

The first "happiness study" was published in 1978, in the Journal of Personality and social Psychology. The question the researchers asked of people who were interviewed was: what do you think will make you happy?

The researchers thought this would highlight some fundamental elements that contribute to happiness in most people's lives. They assumed money and comfort would probably be mentioned as main contributing factors by the people interviewed. What they found, instead, was that people often mispredicted which future events would make them happy. They predicted material possessions, financial improvements, a vacation, etc would affect how happy they would feel. In reality, though all these things can make one feel better, at least temporarily, they didn't make them HAPPY. People who had good things happen to them seemed to be as happy as people who did not.

Some more recent books in this field (The Politics of Happiness by Derek Bok, Happiness around the world: the Paradox of Happy peasants and Miserable Millionaires by Carol Graham and Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert) reached similar conclusions, thirty years or so later. Peasants in Bangladesh, for instance, report twice the level of happiness as the Russians, who make four times as much income, one of the books quotes.

Clearly, according to these studies, there seems to be no direct connection between the amount of income (though having more money of course can make life easier) and one's level of happiness.

I am not surprised by these results, as the people who come to my office feeling unhappy come from all different socio-economic backgrounds and yet they express similar feelings about how they see their lives. Happiness is very complex concept difficult to define, and the factors that contribute to it are many.

One element, for instance, that is absent in these studies is the level and quality of social and emotional connections a person has in his or her life. We know people who are alone tend to be unhappy and more vulnerable to depression and other emotional symptoms. We know they tend to have poorer health than people who are in happy relationships. If we measure wealth not as G.D.P. but as social capital, perhaps a different picture may appear.

If we go back to the Bangladeshi peasant, for instance, we may see that his strong family and social networks may create a positive counterbalance to the challenges and stressers that come from his low income. Looking at this problem this way, we may discover that this peasant is actually "richer" than the wealthy American who lives in a huge suburban house all alone and disconnected from his family and community.

Jean Baker Miller, a psychologist who became quite known in the seventies, was the first to point out the value and "wealth" offered by healthy, supportive, accepting social connections for individuals. The lesson here is that, in addition to all the elements that these books studied to determine what creates happiness in people, the importance of healthy social connections should be ignored when we research what makes people happy.

Options For Natural Cures For Depression and Anxiety

Do you suffer from depression and anxiety? If you're a normal human being, chances are good that you experience some form of depression and anxiety at least once every couple of months. If your symptoms are troublesome to the point that they're hindering your ability to live your life, maybe it's time to consider natural cures for depression and anxiety.

Anxiety and depression can be the result of a number of things, of both an internal and external nature. Low-grade physical illness may include infections of a viral, bacterial or fungal nature, and can contribute to many different emotional and physical symptoms. A thorough physical examination may be a good place to start.

It's common with emotional issues like depression and anxiety to treat only the symptom. Popular SSRI prescription drugs are sometimes offered as a main treatment option. Natural cures for depression and anxiety, on the other hand, attempt to support the body's natural ability to rebalance itself. Practitioners of natural treatments focus on getting to the root of the problem through lifestyle and dietary evaluation.

Energy Psychology

Energy psychology may be the next wave of science and health in the decades to come. Energy psychology is a relatively new set of techniques that use Eastern approaches to the mind and body. There are many different forms of energy psychology, the most well-known being the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Practitioners claim that tapping acupuncture points while thinking about an anxiety-producing event can cure anxiety and phobias.

Research studies have confirmed positive results and many thousands of people claim to have benefited from energy psychology. It's safe, free of side effects and it may work for you, so it's at least worth your consideration.

Supplements and Herbal Remedies to Combat Depression

A couple of excellent dietary supplements as well as herbal remedies have been identified that help to combat anxiety and depression effectively. St John's wort is easily considered the most prescribed natural depression medication, with SAM-e nutrient on the number two spot.

D-Phenylalanine and 5 HTP, both amino acids as well as Omega 3 healthy fats, are all highly recommended supplements with benefits for anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder sufferers.

Have you ever heard of the herb passionflower? Well, if you're a regular sufferer of anxiety or depression, its time to memorize the name. Passionflower is a great remedy for sleeplessness as well as anxiety, which frequently accompanies depression feelings.

Before opting for prescription drugs, make sure you're getting enough sleep at night (at least seven hours is "normal"). Also, be sure to get regular exercise, (outside in the fresh air is ideal), and that you're eating regular, balanced meals.

These would be the first natural cures for depression and anxiety to explore and the easiest to apply. Plus, gentle herbal remedies like St John's wort, lemon balm, passionflower and lavender can work well with these tactics.

It's essential to keep in mind that you first have to test and try the option before you will know if it will work for you. We are all unique individuals and that which works for one may not work for the other. In general, natural remedies and nutritional supplements are safe and have very few to no adverse side effects.

Current Treatments For Depression

The biggest problem with depression is how it affects the lives of those who live or work with the person with the condition; over the years medical science has discovered a number of different types of the condition. For someone who hasn't suffered from the clinical form it must be a difficult condition to understand; although we can all become depressed about situations on occasion. Initially, it is important you recognize you have issues, and to get professional medical guidance to help you; professionals can help with the situation but also discover the root cause of the condition.

Throughout our lives there will be many occasions when we will feel low in the same way that there are times when you feel really happy; usually these feelings subside after a short while and are not considered symptoms of depression. The main difference with a depressed person is the level they have reached with whatever is causing the condition; eventually if the situation is allowed to continue, the problem will just get worse. In many incidences like this, a person believes that if they ignore the problem it will just resolve itself but this rarely happens; dealing with the issues as early as possible will save someone from making themselves ill, physically and mentally. For the sufferer it is important to get the necessary help to find the best "current treatments for depression" for their particular case.

Another common cause is found in the workplace and problems can arise in the relationships with co-workers; without an intermediary stepping in these circumstances often result in the person suffering with panic attacks as well. This type of situation can make carrying out normal work duties difficult and will often result in the person taking long term sickness leave; counselors can be very helpful in these situations as they are non confrontational which is especially helpful for people this vulnerable. There are times where a person has been prescribed medication for an illness, for example, and a side effect caused by the chemicals in the medication is depression; these can produce symptoms and feelings that almost identical to a person who has emotional issues.

Such people will need to consult their doctors so that the right treatment can be prescribed and the symptoms disappear. One of the biggest problems is where the symptoms of depression do not seem to have any cause that can be discovered; a doctor will need to delve deeper into the person's background. The problem can arise when the person cannot see that a certain situation or event for instance, as the cause; getting help is the first step in solving the problem.

One type of is called Manic Depression although the correct term is Bipolar Disorder; it can actually take up to five years to get the diagnosis correct! Whatever the cause, getting help is the most important thing but the sufferer should be willing to take up responsibility and get the necessary help. Delay is the worst thing to do, so seek medical help as soon as you realize the problem is not going away; by taking action you can expect improvements and a sense of relief in your mind and body.